New Owner

[lamphega]

Well I have done it-always loved these boats and when I saw one on e-bay last week I took a chance. 1974 Hardtop with 165dHP engine that had been restored awhile ago and need to be spruced up. My family and friends think I am nuts. "You are going where to get what?" See I live in Western NY and the boat was in Alabama. I say was because at this point it is sitting outside my hotel room in Tennessee. 700+ miles to go! It really seems to be in good shape, engine runs, interior is all original and even the seat vinyl looks good. I will send Pics when I get home...that is if the bearings and all the other onld trailer parts hold up. And maybe soon I can have it out on lake Erie. Wish me luck.

 

[ziggy]

Re: New Owner

.that is if the bearings and all the other onld trailer parts hold up.

maybe ya should stop by a tire store and have the check it out for ya before ya hit the road again...
i traveled 500 + miles to get my boat. before i came back. i went to the tire store for some new rubber and new brgs w/fresh grease. it made me feel like i at least had hope of getting home. fwiw. i tried going 2 years on my wheel brgs. w/o service. that didn't work. i smoked one on the 20 mile trip to the boat ramp. wan't much fun R&Ring wheel brgs. at the boat ramp either. and i got tools with me all the time. at the time, not wheel brgs. though. point being, better safe than sorry. food for thought, hope ya make it safely home whatever ya decide to do.

1974 Hardtop with 165dHP engine that had been restored awhile ago and need to be spruced up.

congrats. way to go. what color did ya get?

My family and friends think I am nuts. "You are going where to get what?

after they get a ride, they'll change their tune i bet... very cool boats.

looking fwd. to you pics. sounds like ya got a winner there. hope it provides ya with as much enjoyment as my nineteen has given me. which is a lot...

edit. are ya gonna be doing your own work on your boat? if so, click here for some real useful info to keep your new ride in tip top shape. also, fyi. AristoCraft is still open. some parts are still available. keep them in mind. great company to work with.

 

[lamphega]

Re: New Owner

Well I am home with my new old boat. One bearing I replaced at start of trip and no other problems. Tomorrow I will take some pics. It has a brown top and brown seats that are still marked Aristocraft. The carpet will need replacing eventually and I really need to dig into the wiring, will probably replace most if not all. Anybody have a schematic? Probably too much to hope for. The Mercruser 165 starts and runs well with the cuff on, gas is old I bet. Would love the tarp/curtain for back. Still figuring out switches as unmarked but for now the battery is charging, only 2 years old, will see if it takes/holds charge. Duck work for blower old and cracked-have not tried blower yet. Next to the battery is a funny small hole with cut-outs, Bilge pump location? None present now. Would like an auto as there may be times I would leave at dock a day or two. Have not found and anchor light/pole yet-take it that flag pole type thing on rear deck is for that. I also notice 2 other holes in rear deck, oval shapper, ventilation? Anyway 1000 miles and I am home with it and love this boat. Got a lot of comments in motel and rest area parking lots on way home. My goal right now is to get it water ready by a vintage boat poker run in Sept. Oh, I might take a short spin first but first I need to get it fit for duty.

 

[ziggy]

Re: New Owner

glad ya made it home safe lamp.

Tomorrow I will take some pics

looking forward to seeing your new boat. i just love looking at all the different AristoCrafts...

Anybody have a schematic? Probably too much to hope for.

it's in the link i gave ya to s/m #2.

Would love the tarp/curtain for back

give Bill or Scott a call @ AristoCraft. they had some made up a couple of years ago, don't know if they still have some left or not. do try and acquire one though. the aft curtain when deployed makes for full enclosure. this opens up new kinds of boating in foul weather...

Still figuring out switches as unmarked

assuming yours is like mine. there is the key switch. on, off, start. there are two pull switches. on is for nav. lights. one pull is anchor light, two pulls is full nav. lights. the other pull switch is. one pull for blower, two pulls for bilge pump. i have a horn. which i think is aftermarket. it's a momentary push on switch.

Duck work for blower old and cracked-have not tried blower yet. Next to the battery is a funny small hole with cut-outs, Bilge pump location? None present now.

the hole next to the batt. is the intake for the blower.

it's a squirrel cage blower. odd for most boats i've seen. still available from AristoCraft best i know.

best i know, this is how it's plumbed. i believe mine is proper from AristoCraft.

Have not found and anchor light/pole yet-take it that flag pole type thing on rear deck is for that.

Check with perko. the anchor light poll it came with is nla best i know. i replaced mine with one that was similar. if ya need me to. i can go back through my receipts and see if i can come up with a part number for ya, just ask.

Bilge pump location?

mine was glues to the sole at the very back. by the garboard drain hole. i didn't like that since i could get to it to service it.

this is what i came up with instead of gluing it down.

I also notice 2 other holes in rear deck, oval shapper, ventilation?

yep, the aft starboard one is blower exhaust.

Got a lot of comments in motel and rest area parking lots on way home.

you'll get used to it...

can't wait to see yer photos...

 

[lamphega]

Re: New Owner

Here are some Pics I took.

 

[lamphega]

Re: New Owner

Missed one or two

 

[ziggy]

Re: New Owner

wow lamp, ya got a real nice one... sweet... i think that's the first gold one i've seen. very nice.

some comments on your pics. hope ya want them...

so are your gauges the originals? imho, they look newer than the era.

other than that, it looks like ya got pretty much the same as i have. the hole down on the port side of the dash is where i have a horn switch at. i don't think nineteens came with horns though.

looks like ya got the same pull switches i have. they should operate like i described before.

you'll probably wanna have one solid fuel line between the fuel pump and the carb. with a splice in it, i don't the it'll meet uscg standards, even for the era.

looks like ya got a new fuel pump. though i suspect it to be an auto version. which is what i believe it likely came with. an auto fuel pump. a marine fuel pump will have a third line that runs from the fuel pump to the carb. if the diaphragm ruptures, the fuel goes up the hose and dumps into the carb. instead of in the bilge where it is an extreme explosion hazard. fwiw. i still have what i believe to be the oem fuel pump on my boat. i know there's the safer version available. i just watch mine like a hawk. first sign of trouble and i'm getting a new aftermarket one with the third line.

sure do like the look of your dash and side panels. i assume it's contact paper like mine is. sure looks stylish and in very good shape.

don't know if ya got side windows for your hardtop. but if ya don't they're still available from AristoCraft. i just got some last week. their kinda special windows. they're bubbled.. cost was just like advertised over at the AristoCraft web site. $150 for two. $25 shipping and yer hip.

thanks for the pics. i'm sure everyone is enjoying them. i know i am.

any questions i can help with, let me know. i've been maintaining mine and using it for 5 years now. i'm still very happy with it too. it's a very versatile boat...

so where ya gonna be boating at? ya got a lake close by?
i do most of my boating at my local watering hole noted by my avatar. i do the missouri river, though not this year, it's closed due to floods. i've also done some other lakes that are within 300 or so miles of me. not this year though. getting out this year has been a bummer for me. my 'ol lady has new random hours at her work. includeing weekends. man, i'm bummed for her, and me. less boating time..

anyways, ya got a great find there.. hope to hear more about her...

if your gonna do your own work. stick around here on iboats. these folks here have saved me thousands in repairs i've done myself. with their help and my trusty oem service manual..

i'll be interested in hearing how fast yours is. last time i checked, mine was worth about 41 or 42 mph, gps @ 4300 rpm. wondering if yours will be similar? if so, then we are both doing ok. if one is different, then i will suspect one of us will have some work to do.

congrats...

 

[lamphega]

Re: New Owner

Thanks...and thanks for all the information. I do have a bit of work to do before I take her out...like the fuel lines. And the wires going to the switches up front is in need of a redo, will be putting in fuse box also. I love this forum, i am getting so much info so I will be sticking around. Side panels are like thin wood. I really want the aft curtain and side windows but need to work on the money end of that deal, got an e-mail from company and they are available. Most of my boating is done on Lake Erie, a body of water you need to pay much respect to. Luckily I have been boating for a long time although its been a few years since I owned a boat...been playing with Jetskis last 10 years or so I owned a 19' Fiberform and a Larson 17' in the past-all on Lake Erie. The lake is about 5 miles from here and have family with homes on the shore.

 

[ziggy]

Re: New Owner

I do have a bit of work to do before I take her out...like the fuel lines.

most of the work i've had to do to mine has been on the drive end. fwiw. check your rubber good. drive shaft bellows, shift cable bellows, if these leak, your sink. probably. here's some good info on regular things that need to be done. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=288430 go to #5. i know its about winterization and summerization. but it touches on all the things that are necessar to maintain an i/o.

And the wires going to the switches up front is in need of a redo

the s/m i linked ya to really does have the proper wire dia. for you. exactly what you need.

will be putting in fuse box also.

don't know what ya are wanting to do. but i put one in like this... got it here on iboats. i just stuffed it up under the dash...

dbkerly modded his hole dash and put in a real nice set of lighted switches on a custom made dash he did. there's pics of it some where in the aristocraft forums.

so I will be sticking around

it's a good place to hang around at... welcome...

Side panels are like thin wood

really. i thought they all had either contact paper or carpet. do you think someone redid it or does it look like it's from the oem?

I really want the aft curtain and side windows

yeah, do that...

but need to work on the money end of that deal

yeah, i can relate to that too. unfortunately..

Most of my boating is done on Lake Erie,

that sounds fun. extreme boating... be carefull. i like extream boating and best i can tell, a nineteen is built for some extream boating. specially when your all buttoned up with full enclosure.

been playing with Jetskis last 10

i did that too. only 9 years though. wore out a 95 sts 750 and got up to 235 hrs on a new 02 fx140 before i'd had enough.

man, sounds like your all set. large lake within 5 miles. man, i am envious...

 

[lamphega]

Re: New Owner

I was wondering about the side windows-are they removable? I was just thinking how nice they were for camping but I don't want it too hot in the summer

 

[ziggy]

Re: New Owner

I was wondering about the side windows-are they removable?

yep, they sure are..

I was just thinking how nice they were for camping

yep, they're real real nice for camping. make it or break it nice even. i love them. usually have them in.

but I don't want it too hot in the summer

i just took mine out the other day. mostly due to breaking one of them. last two times i been out it's been horrid hot. 100*F +. w/o the windows i kept the hardtop slid full fwd and still attached to the windshield. it was as cool as it was gonna get under the shade, with the breeze blowing through w/o the side windows in... it was a most enjoyable time, considering hot horrid hot is was... but like i said. mostly. i run with the windows in, if i'm hot, i slide the top back.

having the side windows in place most certainly lets ya boat into way cooler weather than ya normally would, and still be warm.. i've slept on board down to mid 40's over night lows. aft curtain deployed then too... imho. the side windows are most important.. i just can't tell ya how important i think they are to the overall satisfaction with the boat.. they've saved my bacon in some pretty seriouis storms too.. nice and dry inside. everyone else running for the ramp. i'm just out floating in the crummy weather not bothered by it..

fwiw. i'm chopping up my new ones soon. started the starboard one yesterday. cut to fit. so far so good, but still got a little trimming to do then move on to the one that's broke on the port side... then i'll be hip again...

 

[lamphega]

Re: New Owner

How do they install-are they clipped in or just popped in? You buy them from manufacturer or what? I started on the wireing on mine...what a nest!

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: New Owner

Whoever heard of a boat manufacturer staying in business 30 years after they produced their last mass produced boat? Just to provide parts. My hat's off to them.

I too had a 1969 model Aristocraft, purchased in 1974 with a 140 hp Mercruiser. It was a good, efficient hull--with plenty of room. The only problems we ever had were Mercruiser problems--not the fault of the hull. I bought a 17' V Hull w/470 Mercruiser to replace it in 1980--$6,000 new w/o trailer.

I couldn't handle the hard top, as it's pretty hard on the skull--hard to get into the seats. I only used the top in the Fall for leaf cruising. It's also pretty loud with the top on.
The hard top distinguished it from other boats, however.

 

[ziggy]

Re: New Owner

How do they install-are they clipped in or just popped in?

they got some special brackets that have a screw that holds them in place.

i was gonna snap a pic of the bracket and screw, but alas, i can't find my camera right now.. grrrr. assuming i find it, i'll snap a pic of the bracket and screw. the bracket is aluminum, has a slot in it and has an offset to it. long end of the offset holds the window in, the flat end of the offset sits against the window frame on the inside. there are 2 brackets to ea. window. the screw is special too. instead of a screw head with a drive to it. i has a knurled knob so you can use your fingers to put them in. i have only three in use. the 4th broke when it wouldn't come out. they are alum. screws. you should be able to see where these screws go as there will be two holes on the inside rail, on the top rail where these screws and brackets go.

You buy them from manufacturer or what?

the window is available from AristoCraft. i don't know about the bracket.

I started on the wireing on mine...what a nest!

did ya get the oem pdf of the service manual so ya have hope of getting it right?

Whoever heard of a boat manufacturer staying in business 30 years after they produced their last mass produced boat? Just to provide parts. My hat's off to them.

i hear ya. my hat's off to them too. what an outstanding, American business... the kind of biz that America is built on. and i emphasize the word built. they are all American boats imho. right down to the last screw.

I couldn't handle the hard top, as it's pretty hard on the skull--hard to get into the seats

i don't find it so bad. but then again. i work out of a van. it has a chair w/ workbench inside it. i have to bend over all the time in it. i guess i'm used to it so i don't find it so bad. i've only whacked my head a time or two on the hardtop in real rough water. i it on a type IV throwable all the time and still have 8-10'' of head room. i'm 6' tall.

It's also pretty loud with the top on.

hum. i've never had my top off. i've never thought of that. guess i thought that it was pretty quite for a boat. i can talk w/o yelling while underway. when i put on the aft curtain though. then i think it gets louder. notably louder.. ya can hear any idiosyncrasies of your engine anyways..

The hard top distinguished it from other boats, however.

ya it does. and it slides too.... too cool imho...

edit.
i found my camera. it was in the 'ol ladys boat bag, not in mine where it was supposed to be. anyways.

there's a pic of the brackets...

 

[lamphega]

Re: New Owner

Thanks, looks just like those old storm window clicks. Wondering if I could make my own windows out of plexi. I am going to order curtain from manufacturer but can't afford to order all from them. As always you are the best-Thanks.

 

[ziggy]

Re: New Owner

Wondering if I could make my own windows out of plexi.

don't know why ya couldn't. they just wouldn't have the bubble to them. fyi. the window is Plexiglas #2111, coke bottle green. assuming your windshield is tinted green. think i've seen blue tint and clear ones too. i don't know their numbers. pretty sure that's right. i ended up getting my center window panel from my local glass store and i'm pretty sure that's the number i used. got the number from ArisoCraft. even w/o bubbled glass, it would put you enclosed when ya get your aft curtain. imho, this is a good goal. like i've said before, being able to go full enclosed is an amazing plus on a boat and not many have the capabilities. we've got some pretty classy boats with our AristoCrafts i'd say..