All this talk about boats and I have to share mine.
I inherited this boat in the late 1980's about 1 year after the motor, electrical connections, fuel connection, and steering cables were stolen, from my recently deceased grandfather.
My Grand Pappy bought this boat new from Sears, Roebuck at the store on Ponce De Leon in the now posh Poncey Highlands. The building has been City Hall East for Atlanta for many years and was recently sold. I believe it is the largest brick building in the southeast per one of our Upstate Cruiser members, Rick. The original motor was a Johnson Sea Horse.
He also purchased the Elgin trailer from Sears at the same time. He had built a wooden boat and sold it. He decided he liked the lower up keep of this boat...The company has gone out of business, they designed boats with the nostalgic look of the 40's and 50's planes, and employed the men and women that built those curved aluminum planes of that era...
It was built on Bishop street in Atlanta, near the waterworks off of Northside Drive.
The boat weighs around 200#, the motor around 125# or so..
I have towed this boat around for 24 years, never putting it in the water or registering the trailer or the boat. But only lived in 5 places that time frame.
One time I filled it up with water to see if it would leak, no leaks, so I thought.
The old metal pressurized tanks have rotted away.
I purchased a tow-able tube back in the mid 90's. It is still in the package.
My Uncle who was keeping the boat for my Grand Pappy, since he moved into a elder condo facility in Sandy Springs, near Atlanta, was about to take it to the scrap yard when I happened to ask about it... because the motor had been stolen and they did not want to put any money into it and thought it was junk.
My father and his siblings learned to ski behind this boat, I learned, my sister learned,,, my father says he and his sister would slalom behind this boat and he is about my size 6’4” 200# (probably 175# back then), he claims his sister would get up on his shoulders while skiing behind this boat… I have a hard time seeing that…
Just before I towed it away, uncle Lynn told me ' "good luck" it will sink if you leave it in the water over night...' ugh..
About 10 years ago I decided I wanted a Johnson Golden Javelin motor (it is a 35 hp and the boat is rated at 30 hp) I did not know this until after the purchase... the internet was still fairly new and the fastest connection I could get was 56k at the time. I found a motor restored for $600 clams, and called a day late... then I found one not restored-no pictures for $800, I felt I might not get another chance since these motors are rare and very sought after... I bought it sight unseen. There are some issues with it, but I do not know if they are from the shipping from NJ or the guys that reassembled it for me or what... I had a boat repair place put the motor together and install some new parts... then I put it on the boat and it sat for 9.5 years or so.
About 9.5 years ago I rebuilt the trailer, I took the trailer apart and had it acid dipped. I rebuilt the axles and installed new bearings, all stainless steel hardware, new lights and wiring, new rollers, new runners with indoor outdoor carpet, new winch rope. I painted the trailer with Rustoleum hardhat stainless with a mist of hard hat gloss black. then moved to the 50 acre farm and became somewhat of an indentured servant for my now ex-gf and her properties. The boat/motor/trailer sat in a barn shed side for the entire time..
Since my break up I’ve got a lot more time on my hands (not taking care of someone’s buildings and 50 acre farm) I figured I would get some of these toys working or get rid of them...
I’m driving the 40 on a regular basis with no major issues..I feel I just need to drive it more to get the minor bugs out before figuring my next steps.
I am almost finished with the 87 60 frame replacement and idiot PO issues…
The 88 62 is working fine and I have a few projects that are coming along nicely (rear box is next).
The 55 which will take years.. and I am not ready to start that…
and I have the boat.....
a 1957 Feather Craft Ranger III in anodized gold with a 1957 Johnson Golden Javelin 35 hp motor.
I have not done much in the last week, but have registered the trailer, cleaned it up, identified some issues, taken her to the lake to test for leaks (have a few) removed some rotted wood, put tubes in the tires, built a lit license plate bracket, tested the wiring, installed some new battery cables...made a needs and wants list…installed another bow bracket on the trailer..the first picture is my boat and motor without the cover on it, the second picture is what the motor might look like when I am done….
