J. Studebaker Boat ? A Rare Find

[justchange]

Re: J. Studebaker Boat ? A Rare Find

Just a suggestion. When you wash it. Get yourself a gallon of acid as used to remove oxidation from aluminium fuel tanks on trucks. It removes mostly all the oxidation and makes polishing much lass labor intensive.

Great find by the way. I hope you and your family get much enjoyment from it.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: J. Studebaker Boat ? A Rare Find

Thanks Captain and Albert. I will have to look into that Soda thing. Not familiar with that. However, I really don't mind sanding it. It will be a fun project with the kids. I just hope sanding it is the preferred standard of restoration for the DIY. Will the boat sustain damage or aluminum loss from a light sanding?

From what I have gathered, I need to buy drywall sanding blocks and Mothers Mag. I first gently sand the oxidation and stains off, then apply Mothers?

I also read info here on using Sharkhide? Some say it is good - yet it is not a wax? Closest dealer is 168 miles from here...lol

Well, I have more research to do here before we leave today to purchase some products to start the job. Any tips or links to tips before we start would be very welcomed.

D

Before going the sanding route, try rubbing on some air conditioner coil cleaner. Another idea is to put it on a trailer and take it to a truck cleaning company. They can pressure wash with a chemical cleaner. Those tanker trucks, aluminium gas tanks etc.,come out like new.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: J. Studebaker Boat ? A Rare Find

Nice work, it is cleaning up well...that's a good product that I'd never heard of. Can't wait to see the next steps...hope you get somewhat warmer weather soon.

 

[The_Kid]

Re: J. Studebaker Boat ? A Rare Find

Found this picture. Might give you some ideas. It's being pulled by a 41 Studebaker pickup. http://s271.photobucket.com/albums/jj154/oletrux4evr/LVL 2009/?action=view&current=DSCF0156.jpg

 

[jeeperman]

Re: J. Studebaker Boat ? A Rare Find

That sure as heck looks like your boat bigdoug!! The only things I see different are the steering wheel, the windshield and the dash guages which might have been options.

 

[bigdoug]

Re: J. Studebaker Boat ? A Rare Find

Found this picture. Might give you some ideas. It's being pulled by a 41 Studebaker pickup. http://s271.photobucket.com/albums/jj154/oletrux4evr/LVL 2009/?action=view&current=DSCF0156.jpg

WOW! Great find! That's the boat. I will have to give some serious thought on how to paint the bottom that way. I like how he put Studebaker on the side of the boat. Plus the vintage engine.

Cool!



Doug

 

[bigdoug]

Re: J. Studebaker Boat ? A Rare Find

Thanks to the rest of you for your fine comments and ideas so far.



Doug

 

[Fisherball]

Re: J. Studebaker Boat ? A Rare Find

Funny that Ohio has no record of that number but they make you keep it? Spiffy old boat!

 

[bigdoug]

Re: J. Studebaker Boat ? A Rare Find

I wonder if people would have just put numbers on the side of a boat back then. No puters to check up on them...lol



Doug

 

[Basher 55]

Re: J. Studebaker Boat ? A Rare Find

I own a 1951, 14 foot Studebaker. I've owned it for 25 years now. I am a fishing guide on the Susquehanna River. I use my Studebaker named the Old Timer 4 or 5 times per week during the fishing season. It is indestructible, it's very well built. She handles ruff water and drafts only 5 inches, which is great for shallow water on the river. I have a 15hp 2 stroke Mercury on it. I stripped it down to bear aluminum. Each year it takes a little work to keep her looking good but after 59 years of service there is no quite in her.
A few years ago at a public launch a man approached me and offered me $3,000 for the boat. He didn't want the engine, trailer or any other equipment just the boat. After declining his offer (sentimental reasons) he sent me a Christmas card for the next few years. As it turns out he was a collector of vintage boats. He sent me some details from the manufacture all of which cannot be confirmed. Studebaker bought re-cycled aluminum from the government after WWII. Most of the aluminum was from B-24 Liberators as well as other older aircraft at the time. Studebaker was one of the for runners of welded boats (most were riveted) for its time. The need to keep the aluminum thicker for welding reasons is why these boats are still around. From 1951 through 1956 they only made specialty boats for customers. Later in the decade they sold there business to the now Star-craft marine. I've yet to find any other owner of a Studebaker. You've got yourself a great vessel. I really don't know how much they are worth. A tip this gentleman gave me was don't alter the hull don't drill holes etc. It'll drop the price.[/ATTACH]

 

[bigdoug]

Re: J. Studebaker Boat ? A Rare Find

Thanks for the info Basher, that is really great news. The boat is really strong.

I just had mahogany wood floors put in and I did drill some more holes for pole holders. I will have to get some new pics up.

It is just a great boat. My biggest problem is the old trailer. I still have more weld jobs to do on it and of course my 1965 9.5 evinrude is temperamental...lol

Yours looks so clean and shiny, proof you took great care of it! Good job.

I wood sell mine for $3,000 because I am not that attached yet, but she will probably stay in the family because most people have no idea what an all welded boat is worth?

Thanks again for the info,


Doug

 

[CN Spots]

Re: J. Studebaker Boat ? A Rare Find

Probably the only boat on iboats that's ever flown over Germany. Awesome find!

 

[bigdoug]

Re: J. Studebaker Boat ? A Rare Find

Thanks, only on this site can a person get such great info on boats from well informed people.



Doug

 

[Basher 55]

Re: J. Studebaker Boat ? A Rare Find

Big Doug,


Just spent the last 12 hours in my Studebaker with a client. It's a great river boat. Very easy to handle in fast moving water. If I have only one person to guide I use it every time, it's a river guides dream.

It does take time and some elbow grease to make her shine. The first time was the toughest because someone painted it gray so I had to strip it first. A tip is never use sand paper or any-other abrasives. I use Mothers Mag and Aluminum polish. It's good stuff. The more you apply it the better it looks.

You'll find out, there is one problem with the old girl, it is finding a trailer that she'll like. I have yet to do this! Sometimes she'll trailer like a dream, then there is the other times.... Anyway I have a Load Rite "LIL" Ryder (little Ryder) it has bunks over the trailer tires and a wide roller center on the neck. It's not too bad of a set-up. I would call mine a semi-V boat but if you really look at it the bottom is flat with only a V shape 3 feet forward. It's a tough boat to trailer.

I drilled holes in mine as well. I also have mahogany floors, for which I drilled many holes. I figure I can fill them if needed. This is the first boat my father and I bought so it holds good memories. I have too sons as well so selling it is out of the question. Maybe 20 years from now I'd consider it. Now no way!

Post some pictures of yours after she's fixed up. I'd love too see it.

 

[bigdoug]

Re: J. Studebaker Boat ? A Rare Find

it is finding a trailer that she'll like

Man...you ain't kidding. We can not get this trailer right, even after we keep welding new boards and rollers...lol


I will keep looking for a good solution to the trailer.

I do love the boat. I have been killing the crappie with it. It does get a lot of attention on the water. People just laugh when they see my junk trailer.


Doug

 

[Basher 55]

Re: J. Studebaker Boat ? A Rare Find

I have a 15 hp 2 stroke Mercury on a 15 foot boat. It takes too long for it to plane out. With only one person it bounces bad at speed. I cannot trim the engine, that won't work. I am thinking of putting a foil on the engine. I figure a dolphin, stingray or some other brand. Concerns I have are, will a foil impact my overall speed? Another concern is drilling holes into the engine for mounting does it weaken the mounting?
It's an old boat (1951 Studebaker) I'll call it a semi V hull. From the bow back only about 2 feet is V Shaped from there to the stern it has a flat bottom. It is not your classic semi V configuration. With my son in front (200 pounds) and I in the rear (240 pounds) at full speed my bow is out of the water about a foot. Other than loosing weight (never gonna happen) and moving my gas tank and battery forward is there any other ideas to have it plane out better. Or is a foil the ticket? I don't want to lose speed at full throttle.

Basher 55

 

[Danielschultz]

Re: J. Studebaker Boat ? A Rare Find

i just purchased a boat from a private individual he had almost no knowledge of the boat other then it said studebaker on the side when i went to register it i found out it is a 1959 studebaker 14' aluminum boat i have searched and searched the net for info on this boat and found nothing it doesn't have the steering wheel like this one does but it does have the 2 sideways bench seats in the back it is amazingly clean boat for its age.

 

[Basher 55]

Re: J. Studebaker Boat ? A Rare Find

Daniel,

Check on page two of this post. You've purchased a rare vessel

 

[budcarson]

Re: J. Studebaker Boat ? A Rare Find

I have a 1956 Studebaker 22. It is approx. 14 foot all welded aluminium.
It was purcashed new in 1957 by my great grandfather in Yuma Az. He bought it for
a fishing trip to Alaska. I found a newspaper article my Grandmother had saved from 1958 with a picture of the boat on top of his car while preparing for the trip.
He later passed the boat to my grandfather then my grandfather to me.
I remember fishing all over Arizona in this boat while growing up.
I still use this boat to this day. In fact, I just got back from a Lake Mead yesterday.
The boat is very well built. It is still sound and doesn't leak.
I,ve never seen or heard of any others like it until now.

 

[budcarson]

Re: J. Studebaker Boat ? A Rare Find

Mine also has Studebaker written on the side.
I'm pretty sure it is original.
Actually it has Studebaker 22 written on both sides.