Herters Help

[Speedliner1]

Hello,
New member here, long time boater, new to collecting/restoring.
I found this Herters Flying Fish this past Monday in a barn. My questions are:
1) What year does it look to be?
2) Is it a Flying Fish or another model?
3) Where did Herters put the serial number tag?
4) Could someone post a picture of the serial number tag?

I've identified the outboard as a 1959 Evinrude 50hp Starflite 50.

Thank You !!

 

[alldodge]

Re: Herters Help

Hello,
New member here, long time boater, new to collecting/restoring.
I found this Herters Flying Fish this past Monday in a barn. My questions are:
1) What year does it look to be?
2) Is it a Flying Fish or another model?
3) Where did Herters put the serial number tag?
4) Could someone post a picture of the serial number tag?

I've identified the outboard as a 1959 Evinrude 50hp Starflite 50.

Thank You !!

:welcome: to iboats

Wow, another boat I have never seen, that's cool. Did a bit of looking around and found the boats are rare and you could be sitting on a real gem. With the engine being a 59 I would bet the boat is to, but no guarantee. Here are some links

Departments
Herters - Classic Boat Library
Herters Factory - Fin City Forums

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Herters Help

With a full rebuild it be worth what even that costs and yes it needs one, with out that its salvage.

 

[Speedliner1]

Re: Herters Help

Well, Figured out the mystery. It is offically a 1959 Herters "Flying Fish Deluxe", with the original 1959 Evinrude "Diamond Jubilee" 50hp outboard, sitting on the original 1959 Herters full roller trailer. These boats had no wood in them to rot. All the stringers and transom are aluminum. Pretty Cool.
Evinrude Fat Fifty had not been fired in 26 years. After a good freshen up with some healthy work Rebuilt carb, magneto, fuel hoses, water pump, etc. she sounds great. It will be important to keep all of this original package together.

 

[alldodge]

Re: Herters Help

Well, Figured out the mystery. It is offically a 1959 Herters "Flying Fish Deluxe", with the original 1959 Evinrude "Diamond Jubilee" 50hp outboard, sitting on the original 1959 Herters full roller trailer. These boats had no wood in them to rot. All the stringers and transom are aluminum. Pretty Cool.
Evinrude Fat Fifty had not been fired in 26 years. After a good freshen up with some healthy work Rebuilt carb, magneto, fuel hoses, water pump, etc. she sounds great. It will be important to keep all of this original package together.

That is cool

 

[Speedliner1]

Re: Herters Help

After Much, Much Scrubbing..... She looks a bit better now. I always tell my wife about projects I drag home.... "Honey, You've got to look past the dirt"

 

[gm280]

Re: Herters Help

WOW wouldn't take much to turn it into a batman boat. Those wing-looking things remind me of an old if I remember correctly '57 Ford tail lights. It even looks like it has turn signals and brake lights on the wings too. Make sure you post any up dates or changes. By the way I have an old Herter's outdoor catalog still.

 

[Speedliner1]

Re: Herters Help

Thanks Much. I'll attack all of the mechanicals/wiring/steering cables etc first.
George Herter was an interesting guy as history says. Started the Sporting / Hunting mail order business. Some say he fathered the idea for the now Cabalea's and Bass Pro.
Since my user name is Speedliner 1, I though I'd post what I'm finishing first before starting on the "Flying Fish".

This is a 1958 14" Speedliner Mahogony "Contessa" with Johnson Super-Seahorse 40.

 

[gm280]

Re: Herters Help

Thanks Much. I'll attack all of the mechanicals/wiring/steering cables etc first.
George Herter was an interesting guy as history says. Started the Sporting / Hunting mail order business. Some say he fathered the idea for the now Cabalea's and Bass Pro.
Since my user name is Speedliner 1, I though I'd post what I'm finishing first before starting on the "Flying Fish".

This is a 1958 14" Speedliner Mahogony "Contessa" with Johnson Super-Seahorse 40.

I see two thing looking at your pictures. First, you do very high quality work. And second, you love what you are doing. It shows... Do keep us posted with your continuing projects. I love seeing what others are working on...

 

[Willyclay]

Re: Herters Help

Welcome to the iboats.com forum! The members here are great and the experts can answer any questions about your boat, motor and trailer. Love the bronze prop on the 40HP Johnson. Good luck with your newest project!

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Herters Help

That is looking good ~~ but I like the Herters better. So lucky that one has no wood and this one is all wood. I did a lot of finish carpentry and trim so have a good idea of the time and effort you have invested...

Thanks Much. I'll attack all of the mechanicals/wiring/steering cables etc first.
George Herter was an interesting guy as history says. Started the Sporting / Hunting mail order business. Some say he fathered the idea for the now Cabalea's and Bass Pro.
Since my user name is Speedliner 1, I though I'd post what I'm finishing first before starting on the "Flying Fish".

This is a 1958 14" Speedliner Mahogony "Contessa" with Johnson Super-Seahorse 40.

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Herters Help

Speedliner1. Cool boat to restore. One thing I noticed in your pics IS that the motor is a long shaft and the transom is not. Just saying. Not trying to upset anyone. I own a 14 and half fiber open Herters, 1954 still on the water today. I am so pissed of at myself for getting rid of those old Heter catalogs from days gone by. Look for them at garage sales ALL the time. What an idiot I was.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Herters Help

Thanks ~~ I used those catalogs to purchase hunting equipment. The 'days gone by' sure makes a guy feel OLD in the morning. :grumpy:

Speedliner1. Cool boat to restore. One thing I noticed in your pics IS that the motor is a long shaft and the transom is not. Just saying. Not trying to upset anyone. I own a 14 and half fiber open Herters, 1954 still on the water today. I am so pissed of at myself for getting rid of those old Heter catalogs from days gone by. Look for them at garage sales ALL the time. What an idiot I was.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Herters Help

Although I'll never leave the coast, I am jealous of you guys in the center, especially the arid areas, for all the cool old stuff that can stay relatively well preserved just sitting there; our stuff just melts in the humidity and salt air even inside. You can still run the old outboards; we can only go back 50 years at the most.

 

[Speedliner1]

Re: Herters Help

Good Eyes ! Yes it is a longshaft. But in '59 Herter's changed their aluminum transom to use all longshaft engines as he felt the industry was leaning that way. I'll post a update progress picture soon that shows better the cavitation plate is even with the keel. Just itching to drop her in the water for a maiden voyage tho !!!

 

[Speedliner1]

Re: Herters Help


Well, I decided I needed a finned tow vehicle for the two vintage boats... So, much to the wifes dismay I drug this out of a barn in eastern oklahoma. It's a 1961 Thunderbird. Needs Love, but all there. Factory A/C car which will be nice. Already got it running, interior is nice. Needs paint. But most important... I found a factory Hitch for it !!

 

[Willyclay]

Re: Herters Help

Great find! One big attaboy on the hitch.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Herters Help

Awesome match ... can't wait to see it all put together.

 

[Speedliner1]

Re: Herters Help

Guy's here are a couple of Before and After of the 1959 Herter's "Deluxe Flying Fish"
It hasn't seen water in 30 years

 

[nickcunn]

Re: Herters Help

nice, you did excellent work on that boat.