57 Leecraft refurb

[hydroguy2]

New guy here, so be gentle.
I'm getting ready to jump in the pond and refurbish a family runabout, which we rescued from grandma's barn. I don't know much about wood or refinishing so looking for some guidance.

Here's the 14' runabout as it sits today.

here are some of the problem areas:

many area's like this where the varnish is checked and lifting off. looks like an old filler repair

some deeper scratches that were revarnished a while ago

Bottom appears to have old gas/oil oozing thru or staining the paint. Also has a 8" filler patched area towards the front.

deck is in pretty good shape, but the varnish is lifting at every joint and is starting to pull apart back in the motor well.

will probably look at repowering it also. the Evinrude Four Fifty Starflite runs good, but is a little aft heavy for this boat. So may look for a Merc 500 to save some weight off the back.

So can I remove the old varnish? sand? chemical strip? epoxy the bottom? any help or ideas?

thanks Brian

 

[oops!]

Re: 57 Leecraft refurb

beauty.....

start sanding.......when you get to the bottom......lets look at the damage.....it could possibly be dry rot...

then some of the woodie gurus can help with the finish !

 

[62 ROYAL SCOTT]

Re: 57 Leecraft refurb

hey welcome great looking woodie,make sure you can swim. the good thing about it is it's all there .take your time and do it right .i would not change a thing nice trailer you even have the hub caps you can do this 'you in the right place these guys will help you with anything you ask it won'ttake to long. GOOD LUCK AND KEEP US UPDATED WITH PIC'S

 

[hydroguy2]

Re: 57 Leecraft refurb

I think it will make a good winter project, if I don't find to much wrong.

Yep, that's genuine simulated leather naugahyde vinyl, cow print no less.

she has good lines and overall in very good shape.

 

[oops!]

Re: 57 Leecraft refurb

lol.... cow print

i wonder how long the white vynal paint was on there.....that would give us a time line on the product.

 

[hydroguy2]

Re: 57 Leecraft refurb

lol.... cow print

i wonder how long the white vynal paint was on there.....that would give us a time line on the product.

White paint? not sure what you're looking at. The interior is the original cow print vinyl from 1957.

The boat was bought new by my wife's family, We have the original bill of sales paperwork and information package.

 

[oops!]

Re: 57 Leecraft refurb

seriously???...cow print.....lol....cool.....i love it !

had no idea that came out back in 57....

its going to be very hard to replace

that is a real gem you have there.....it could be worth big bux once you fix it.

that is the kind of boat that serious collectors look for......barrett jackson kind of stuff

 

[Luhrs28]

Re: 57 Leecraft refurb

That's an awesome boat. I love the "jet age" fins............really says 1957! And the cow print is super cool. In fact everything on that boat is cool.