1959 Muir Maid 18 footer

[Mikej2009]

I cannot find much on this boat but i love the history i have found. It came with all of the documentation since new in 1959. Does anyone know of muir maid boats making 18 footers? Is it possible this is the only one?

 

[MrMarty51]

That is a beauty.

 

[jbcurt00]

Yep, not much info
http://www.fiberglassics.com/library/index.php?title=Muir_Maid

Might try searching Muir Plastiglass boats

 

[Mikej2009]

I have actually searched everything Muir related that I know more about the family than I do the boat lol.

I know John (jack) Muir made these boats out of Bradenton Florida. I've only seen 15 foot boats that exist . I don't know how long Muir maid manufactured boats or if there were different models. Although my 18 footer must mean they did!

especially With all the paperwork and even the coast guard inspection from 1960 (all paperwork in great shape). It's a neat boat. Titles are all from the 60's too.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Cool old boat.

 

[Scott Danforth]

there have been about 5000 boat companies that have come and gone in the Manatee/Sarasota/Charlotte county area of Florida over the past 100 years. many of those companies only have made one or two boats. if you include the greater Tampa Bay, there are about double that.

Muir-Maid Boats, Inc. filed as a Domestic for Profit Corporation in the State of Florida and is no longer active. This corporate entity was filed approximately fifty-one years ago on Thursday, May 22, 1969 as recorded in documents filed with Florida Department of State.

could it be the only one, maybe. however remember, Muir went out of business long before the internet came about. so someone has to publish information to the net...... and there was not much documentation from the late 50's and the 60's, much less 30 years later when the internet came about.

BTW, the address that was listed for Muir-Maid boats is a residential area of little florida bungalow style houses built in the 40's so most likely Jack was making them out of his house.

 

[Mikej2009]

there have been about 5000 boat companies that have come and gone in the Manatee/Sarasota/Charlotte county area of Florida over the past 100 years. many of those companies only have made one or two boats. if you include the greater Tampa Bay, there are about double that.

Muir-Maid Boats, Inc. filed as a Domestic for Profit Corporation in the State of Florida and is no longer active. This corporate entity was filed approximately fifty-one years ago on Thursday, May 22, 1969 as recorded in documents filed with Florida Department of State.

could it be the only one, maybe. however remember, Muir went out of business long before the internet came about. so someone has to publish information to the net...... and there was not much documentation from the late 50's and the 60's, much less 30 years later when the internet came about.

BTW, the address that was listed for Muir-Maid boats is a residential area of little florida bungalow style houses built in the 40's so most likely Jack was making them out of his house.

Thanks for that, my hope was someone may have been familiar with muir maid boats back then and could maybe relive a little nostalgia. I did not realize so many companies came and went in the area.

the 63 johnson that came on it has been on it since new in 63. i am hoping to get it running again soon and have this thing floating the mississippi in pool 26.

 

[Scott Danforth]

there is an industrial park off of 301 and just south of SR70 and north of the SRQ airport.

at one time there was Chris-Craft, Welcraft, Donzi, Yellow Fin, Hann and about 25 other smaller boat companies in there. Today, its only Chirs-Craft and Yellow Fin. there is one shop that over the past 10 years has had 5 different small boat companies in there. mostly attempting to make Whaler/Carolina Skiff knock-offs.

Now that Winnebago owns Chris-Craft, they are laying people off left and right, so it may be the end of yet another C-C era.

 

[southkogs]

LOL ... and Chris Craft had shops up in Michigan ... and soaked up other boat makers in Michigan ... and those guys are all gone ... and ... and ...

Cool old boat.

THIS GUY has been writing about old glass boats for quite a while. He may be worth asking a question or two about it. But one thing you should probably know: If it turns out to be even a "one-of-a-kind," that doesn't mean it will become valuable to any real degree. There's a possibility that the appeal will hit somewhere, and in that context there's some value. But overall, it'll be a nice, old boat. "Vintage" boats are typically not equal to "vintage" cars.

I like seeing old glassers brought to life ... especially the finned jobs like yours. So, I say make it pretty and make it go. But you'll have to do it because you want to.

 

[Mikej2009]

This boat lived out most of its life as a rental boat operating in the gulf, owned by Richard Proetz since 1963 - Owner of saint louis auto parts company ( i presume until his death in 2011) . As i realize most of these boats will likely go to waste without a story, i wanted to share what bit i knew and is documented on the net as well as find out any other information on them. a majority of the receipts are all hand written which i thought was incredibly neat to be in such great shape still.

 

[southkogs]

Very cool. I'm kinda' the same way with some stuff. My old Silverine boat was a fun one to pay attention to history with (as much as you could figure out).

 

[Scott Danforth]

LOL ... and Chris Craft had shops up in Michigan ... and soaked up other boat makers in Michigan ... and those guys are all gone ... and ... and ...

that is when Chris Craft was owned by OMC and at that time owned shares of Bayliner and owned Four Winns, Sunbird, and many other boat brands...... they sold off Lawn Boy and bought boat assets from a holding company.

you are right vintage doesnt mean rare and valuable.....

 

[Mikej2009]

Vintage doesnt mean rare or valuable but it is cool as ****, Lol. I think this particular style with all of documentation make it more valuable than some of the others but With it being a Small number made boat (possibly one of a kind) and its history with someone whos auto part business is still thriving today in St. Louis area (Where I live.)

The value of the boat really only affects me when i think of restoring it and insuring it. obviously If its valuable its better for me to put the money in it for a quality restoration, rather than if its invaluable, i can cut corners to make it work for me. (I almost prefer it to be invaluable haha)

aka makes sense to spend 40k a 69 camaro , doesnt make much sense to spend 40k to restore a 1979 pinto lol, but the values are known there so we know that.