Arkansas Traveler?

[geekomatic]

I bought a 1958 Arkansas Traveler Runabout last week. Until then, I've never heard of the things.<br />It had about two feet of dirt/leaves in it,but it's clean enough to actually see the inside now.The hull is actually pretty solid.Any info on these babies would be great.I can't even find anything on the web referencing these boats.

 

[DJ]

Re: Arkansas Traveler?

I don't think they're made anymore. But, I do recall them being produced as late as 1988. At least I think so, the engine was an 1988. <br /><br />No matter, it can be made serviceable.<br /><br />Let us know what your plans are and we'll help.

 

[DJ]

Re: Arkansas Traveler?

geeko,<br /><br />Look what I found.<br /><br /> http://www.fiberglassics.com/arktrav/

 

[geekomatic]

Re: Arkansas Traveler?

DJ,<br />Oddly enough, This is the only reference to this boat on the entire web.As far as serviceabilily<br />(hell,is that a word?) I'm in the middle of getting it cleaned out enough to actually take an inventory of what needs to be done.I'm gonna take a few photos and post them. There's a few tiny little doo-dads that are bugging me.Otherwise it looks pretty solid.Thanks for the info.<br />Jim-Bob

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Arkansas Traveler?

At some point they dropped the "Arkansas" and pretty much went by the name "Traveler".

 

[geekomatic]

Re: Arkansas Traveler?

You know, I would love to post a few photos of this little project of mine. This UBB code garbage is not working at all. Whatever happened to HTML tags or being able to just copy and paste photos!!?? Holy Cow! Getting a bit Gimped here. <br />Anyway... <br />I've got a bare interior that's gonna need seats and carpet.There are two ribs that run the length of the boat on the bottom, with a drain hole right between these ribs that runs down the middle of the boat from front to back.Should I cover all this with marine plywood before carpeting? Mind you, I'm thinking pretty far ahead at the moment. This is a new thing for me.My questions are all gonna sound VERY dumb at first,so be gentle...

 

[DJ]

Re: Arkansas Traveler?

Geekomatic,<br /><br />No dumb questions here.<br /><br /><br />As you "dig in", we'll be here.

 

[geekomatic]

Re: Arkansas Traveler?

And the knowledge and Advise is appreciated more than I can say.<br />On that note:<br />The rub rail was dry rotted like nobody's business, so I went ahead and removed it. It was like pulling old electrical tape off of a 50 year old cable.Nothing to it.Now I've got at least 100 old screws that circumvent the boat that I absolutely,positively cannot remove using conventional methods. I have tried a set of vise-grips.Nope.Electric (not a re-chargeable) drill.Nope. Nothing turns these things.Should I just take my Dremel tool and cut them off at the base and start over? From what I can tell, they are drilled thru the fiberglass,and into a wooden 1" by 3/4" slat (teak?) that runs the entire length of the boat.<br />Trouble # 2:<br />On the back of the boat,the transom appears to be a metal plate that also attaches to the same kind of wood (teak?).The fiberglass has pulled away from the wooden plate.The wood itself appears to be OK.It's not squishy at all.There's also a wooden brace that runs from left to right inside the boat just forward of the transom plate that is covered with fiberglass.The 'glass appears to be doing the same thing in two spots.One on the right, other on the left.Again, the wood still appears nice and hard. It looks as if the weight on the motor has "pulled" the entire back of the boat and caused this little issue.I suspect this was caused by the fact that the motor was left on the transom for over three years. Any ideas on my little theory?? Or I am thinkin' too hard?

 

[shipoffools]

Re: Arkansas Traveler?

I can't help with the fiberglass questions but I owned a 1961 Arkansas Traveler in the late 70's it was a 16' Ski-Jack. The boat was built like a tank and loved rough water, the Ski-Jack had the "flight deck" a wide square deck into a sharp V bow. I fishe Lake Ontario, the 1000 Islands and Finger Lakes with it. When I got it it had a 30 Merc and would barley plane I found a 60 Evinrude and the thing would move. http://www.fiberglassics.com/arktrav/ Is the only information I've seen on the web, but take heart I recently redid my 76 Starcraft Bowrider and all my questions were answered here.

 

[geekomatic]

Re: Arkansas Traveler?

Wow! Somebody actually owned one of these! From what I've seen so far, they were built very well. <br />I truly hope to have thing little guy ready for the trout season next year. I live on a river that's full of rainbows and brownies (Chattahoochie). So far I've used a big canoe<br /> with a trolling motor.Great for going downstream, but pretty tough getting back up because of the current.I think this guy with the old Evinrude 18hp should do the trick,and look mighty cool doing it! Looks like it's going to take me a full year to get it to where I want it.I do have the patience, but very little knowledge.