restoring a 1962 Redfish

[tailfinsgal]

OK, I'm new to this site----here's my project. I'm thinking of buying this very weathered 1962 Redfish boat (Craigslist ad). Guy wants only 200.00 for it and the trailer it's on. The boat appears structurally sound enough, but is just an empty hull. Windshield is included, but isn't attached (it's in the back of the boat) which is probably a good thing. Also has a small, old outboard that comes with. All of this has been out in the weather for I'm guessing several years, and the fiberglass is totally oxidized and maybe pitted as well.

The attraction for me is, of course, the tailfin style of the boat! Restored, it would be beyond cool! It's small, about 14'. The finish would be two-tone---white hull and a color on top. I have a picture which I will try to attach.

I do have a sincere passion for early 60s boats and cars. (My dream career would be to do nothing but find and restore cars and boats from that era.) I don't, however, have any experience with fiberglass----like mainly at this point, how do you decide if something is a good project or just too far gone? I can do that with cars, but am pretty naive about fiberglass. I'm seeing paint in patches in the late stages of delaminating, for instance.

Should I keep looking for an easier project? I'm semi-retired, and have no problem with putting in the labor running a sander or buffer. I don't want to get into an impossibly deep money-pit, however. Thanks for any advice!

 

[jigngrub]

Re: restoring a 1962 Redfish

The cosmetic appearance is second to the structural condition of this boat, but they both can be fixed with enough time and money.

You'll need to make the boat structure safe and sound before working on the cosmetics, this usually means transom, deck, and stringer replacement.

I'm not sure if you're seeing the gel coat delaminating from the boat, or another coat(s) of paint delaminating, we need pics of the boat for that.

 

[Piece715]

Re: restoring a 1962 Redfish

^+1 pics of the boat are needed to fully understand ur questions... best way to tame the mobs... trust me

There is plenty of fiberglass instruction on this site. Many first timers have mastered it by following the pro's suggestions. It is time and labor intensive but again many have succeeded this task. Im a tinny soooo no itchiness in this area good luck in ur project. I do suggest lots of research before starting any project and there is no better information source for boat restorations then here on iboats. Never touched a boat before in my life and in 4 years I have a completely custom 1986 Sea Nymph that I know every wire and bolt in, repairs and maintenance is a breeze. Just remember READ... Smooth waters to ya

 

[tailfinsgal]

Re: restoring a 1962 Redfish

Gotcha

I'm trying to post the picture from Craigslist.....these things take time for my slow brain. Hopefully I'll figure it out.

Like you said, I don't know if I'm seeing the original finish coming off, or if someone painted it a long time ago with just some sort of funky paint.

Thanks for getting back to me.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: restoring a 1962 Redfish

Restoring the old Classics is a passion of mine too!!! There's nothing that can't be fixed. It just takes time, effort, and $$$!!!
Lot's of expert advice here on the World's largest Boat Restoration Forum!!! You have found the right place. To download pics from CL copy them to your PC. Then create a FREE Photobucket account and upload the pics to there. HINT: Use the Original Version NOT the new one. Once uploaded, Hover over the pic and select the bottom link (IMG Code) then paste the link into your iBoats post. Looking forward to seeing the "Fish" By the way it's one of the most desirable boats of that era. Not a whole lot of em' around.

 

[tailfinsgal]

Re: restoring a 1962 Redfish

OK guys, I have succeeded in posting two pics of the Redfish (on my original post). Only took 9 hours and a good night's sleep!

Cute boat, no doubt. Does the hull look too weathered to restore?View attachment 181674

 

[jigngrub]

Re: restoring a 1962 Redfish

It doesn't look any worse than any of the other classice that've been restored on here.

Take a look at this thread:

http://forums.iboats.com/boat-resto...epair/1959-lake-n-sea-restoration-518629.html

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: restoring a 1962 Redfish

Need close ups of the gelcoat to see how bad it is. Did you check into getting a PhotoBucket account?

 

[tailfinsgal]

Re: restoring a 1962 Redfish

Not yet, I have to let my brain rest after figuring out how to upload those two jpegs yesterday.

Next time I go over to look at the boat (I haven't bought it yet) I'll take my camera and get some closeups of everything. Once I get pics onto my computer I can attach them to a post, now that I know how.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: restoring a 1962 Redfish

Using the iBoats Pics is a real PITA. I Highly recommend you use the Photobucket method.

 

[tailfinsgal]

Re: restoring a 1962 Redfish

Just as an aside---my family vacationed at the Lake of the Ozarks every summer from the mid 50s through the 70s. Our family boat was a 1955 Chris Craft Capri. You talk about a beautiful boat! Mahogany with blond oak center-detail on top. I remember the pull-out throttle, as well as the sound of that engine in full roar. What a special boat it was, now that I more appreciate just what it was(!)

We'd sit up on the back of it with our feet down in the back bench seat with the wind shredding our hair. Dad finally let me learn to drive it when I turned 10. It was a family 'rite of passage'.

He had it totally restored in about 2000 and sold it to a guy in Wisconsin (I think).

I miss that boat, and those days.

 

[tailfinsgal]

Re: restoring a 1962 Redfish

OK, I'll give it a try. Thanks

 

[jigngrub]

Re: restoring a 1962 Redfish

I'll be as old as that boat is someone has repainted it and that's what's flaking off. Previous owners do some pretty dumb stuff, and real bad paint jobs aren't uncommon at all.

 

[tailfinsgal]

Re: restoring a 1962 Redfish

That's certainly true. My main concern is the fiberglass itself having broken down due to being exposed to the weather (freezing, thawing, hot sun, etc.) with not much of a seal on it. Does fiberglass become brittle or crumbly over time? I'd hate for it to break up on the water after hitting a wave!

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: restoring a 1962 Redfish

I love those old Redfish boats. Sooo classic. Iboats is a great place to get help on your project, big forum with lots of knowledge.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: restoring a 1962 Redfish

Did you look at that thread I posted in post #7? Did you see how weathered that '59 model was?

The wood will rot in a decade or so if a fiberglass boat isn't cared for, but the hulls will live a very long life.

A fiberglass hull can get weathered and "splintery" (slivers of glass sticking out), but that can be fixed too. Grind it down smooth and put a layer of cloth and resin over it and it's good as new.

Unless that hull has some bad holes or gashes in it, it shouldn't be that bad of a fix... but even holes and gashes can be fixed too.

 

[tailfinsgal]

Re: restoring a 1962 Redfish

Well, it's official: I just bought the Redfish I mean, how can I go wrong for 200 bucks?

It's going to be a project just getting it from the guy's yard out to my house---I'm going over to check out the trailer this weekend and see if it even rolls. I'm sure I'll need to put new tires on it or even just buy two new wheels altogether. Then there's the 15 mile trip out of town to my place.

I'll take more pics to post---close-ups of the finish, etc.

I'm really enjoying that other thread with the '59 Lake and Sea. I'm learning a lot just from seeing what he's doing.. Great idea with the rolling platform for the boat. I'm going to do that also. More in a week or so. Thanks for all your replies, comments, and advice---I'm sure I'll need lots more!

 

[jigngrub]

Re: restoring a 1962 Redfish

You should probably buy new tires on new rims and new hubs with all the guts. You can get the hub with assemblies with bearings and greases seals already installed and greased for about $60 each.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: restoring a 1962 Redfish

Andgott's thread has lots of great info, and his Lake & Sea turned out great!

Congrats on the pending pickup of the Redfish..

 

[tailfinsgal]

Re: restoring a 1962 Redfish

'62 Redfish update----we got the boat towed out to my place with no probs. I will post pix soon.

I'll tell you right now the floor will need to be cut out completely and replaced along with the plywood deck. I'm hoping the stringers underneath are still in decent shape, though (heh heh). The floor looks like the worst of the repairs needed. Looks like someone tore out the back bench seat which left holes in the floor which let water in to rot the plywood.

I'll put the word out right now (with you guys) that I'll be needing all the hardware for this boat----steering, lights, gauges, throttle, wiring, seats, everything.

Checked out some vintage rebuilt outboards and saw a couple of '60 Mercs, totally rebuilt and running "excellant" for $900. One was a 70 hp. Real pretty outboards.

Which raises the question: how much horsepower can I put on that little boat? It's 15' and weighs 350 lbs. Can I put a 70 on it?

I'll post more later with pix.