gergAlicious
Seaman
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2011
- Messages
- 53
Hi all, just wanted to introduce myself and post up about my '57 Feather Craft Vagabond II (I believe). I got the boat years ago from my dad's uncle, after my grandfather's funeral. It had a '59 Lark 35 on it and ran like a top.
I didn't have the funds to do much with it at the time. A production company from California rented it from us in the late '90s for an insurance TV commercial. I never saw it, but the paycheck back then was nice.
Negative side is they ran it in low water and sucked trash / dirt into the pump and ruined the impeller and water pump housing. Luckily, a local marine shop in Hammond, LA had a new setup in the box right out of the early sixties - dust and all.
Fast forward many, many years later and the boat has been in storage at my uncle Tommy's place since we moved to NV. He passed away almost 2 years ago, and my dad moved the boat to his place. I since moved back to Louisiana and the boat is coming home in a couple of weeks. Sad to say, the Lark is long gone - don't remember what the deal was.
However, through a very interesting turn of events here in Monroe last week, I met a gentleman that collects and restores old Johnson outboards. He had ONE engine he was willing to sell (because it was not a Johnson
) and it happened to be a . . . . . . . . 1957 Evinrude Big Twin 35! Almost a story written to be.
Here is the boat:
And the engine:
I have the original bill of sale, as well las the owners manual for the engine and lots of documentation that followed it throughout its life. $400 in early 1958, plus $8 tax I also got a '56 Big Twin 35 cowl and all the new decals to restore it, as well as the paint.
I'm going to cut my teeth on this cowl before I restore the engine itself (cosmetically). The engine already runs fine with all new ignition components and a rebuilt carb. I also go the simplex controls from a vintage Evinrude for it.
I am going to look at getting the finish back as best I can, then take it one step at a time as I have with my automotive efforts in the past.
Very excited - Hope to update soon.
I plan to pull it with my '60 Single Cab VW:
Maybe even with my fully restored '65 sunroof deluxe:
I didn't have the funds to do much with it at the time. A production company from California rented it from us in the late '90s for an insurance TV commercial. I never saw it, but the paycheck back then was nice.
Negative side is they ran it in low water and sucked trash / dirt into the pump and ruined the impeller and water pump housing. Luckily, a local marine shop in Hammond, LA had a new setup in the box right out of the early sixties - dust and all.
Fast forward many, many years later and the boat has been in storage at my uncle Tommy's place since we moved to NV. He passed away almost 2 years ago, and my dad moved the boat to his place. I since moved back to Louisiana and the boat is coming home in a couple of weeks. Sad to say, the Lark is long gone - don't remember what the deal was.
However, through a very interesting turn of events here in Monroe last week, I met a gentleman that collects and restores old Johnson outboards. He had ONE engine he was willing to sell (because it was not a Johnson
) and it happened to be a . . . . . . . . 1957 Evinrude Big Twin 35! Almost a story written to be.Here is the boat:
And the engine:
I have the original bill of sale, as well las the owners manual for the engine and lots of documentation that followed it throughout its life. $400 in early 1958, plus $8 tax
I also got a '56 Big Twin 35 cowl and all the new decals to restore it, as well as the paint.I'm going to cut my teeth on this cowl before I restore the engine itself (cosmetically). The engine already runs fine with all new ignition components and a rebuilt carb. I also go the simplex controls from a vintage Evinrude for it.
I am going to look at getting the finish back as best I can, then take it one step at a time as I have with my automotive efforts in the past.
Very excited - Hope to update soon.
I plan to pull it with my '60 Single Cab VW:
Maybe even with my fully restored '65 sunroof deluxe:
