It's not a Triumph, but it's cool & fast...

[grandpaul]

Well, the time has come I need to get off my butt and get the old tub refinished and tuned up for summer. I don't think I'll have it done in time for Kevin to ski/wakeboard when he comes home on leave from Iraq, but I'm going to give it a try.

1960 Century Resorter 16' runabout

(Modified dual cockpit layout by yours truly)

Mahogany perimiter planking, beaded Oak paneling topside, marine plywood gunwales & decking

72 Chevy Malibu station wagon seats, slightly modified

This is what is USED to look like right after we refinished it quite a few years back-

Ford 292 V-8 with Holley 600 carb & Mallory dual-point dustproof distributor, Interceptor Marine conversion, 12" brass prop

This is what they looked like at Bucsh Gardens, back in the 60s...

At a minimum, we'll strip off the old paneling and replace it, sand down the mahogany, then shoot the entire topside with a Wagner PowerPainter loaded with varnish.

Then, I'll tune up the engine & change the oil, and swap out the battery with the one from my racing roller starter.

Tossing up the idea of replacing the prop ($$$), the old one got pretty torn up from lowering the cribs to launch in shallow water, the prop hung too low that way.

 

[grandpaul]

We skiied every afternoon on weekdays, and all day Saturday, from about mid-April to mid-October, with an occasional romp around the lake plus a few evening cruises throughout the rest of the year, for about three years straight.
We used to ski 3 or 4 people all the time, or 2 wakeboards; Jason, Kevin and thier freinds were ALWAYS on the lake with us. We tried, but never could pull off so much as a 3-person pyramid; they used to do 10-woman pyramids at Busch Gardens with these exact boats.

We cut WAY back on skiing after my "accident" - Sally was driving, Kevin age 8 "spotting", me at the end of the rope on a brisk, very choppy afternoon; Sally with the throttle pegged, Kevin's hair shooting straight back, I managed to hang on for dear life for about 1/4 mile, then I couldn't manage the rough chop with just the slalom ski, and I lost it but stayed hanging onto the rope (SID!)

When I hit the water, my rotator cuff tore and my shoulder totally flopped out, with my right arm behind my back. Also, my "zip-up" life jacket popped open and when I surfaced, it was up around my neck and head, making it extremely hard for me to tread water with my one good arm in the choppy water.

Kevin never saw me fall, so Sally just kept cruising on around the island on the back side of the lake, then finally they realized I wasn't still up, and turned around to pick me up about 2 - 3 minutes later.

I was in extreme pain, and having a mother of a hard time climbing up the stern ladder with one arm, then I just had to stop and collect my composure, and do my Mel Gibson impression of putting my shoulder back in the socket (that hurt, too).

So anyway, as the boys grew up and moved out, the boat has gotten very little use. It stayed out in the sun for a whole summer which totally trashed the finish, and we had basically cooked the tranny from hot-rodding and pulling multiple skiers, so I had it overhauled at a boat tranny shop.

Here's another cool old poster-

 

[Dilligaf]

COOL

 

[CarlS]

That is a good looking old boat. The grand kids will enjoy it just as their parents did. Way cool. I am looking forward to the progress reports. I bet it has been 35 years since I last skied.

 

[DaveM]

Very cool must have quite a bit of power with that motor in it

 

[MaeLyneS]

That is really cool, Paul. I love those old wooden boats. They have character and class.

 

[Rocky]

I'm not what you would call a "boat person", but I love the old wooden boats and appreciate the workmanship that went into them.
Nice craft :y115:

 

[grandpaul]

Carl & Mae Lynne, that does it. When we get it done, we'll haul it out to Florida and go trolling for gators with you for bait.

 

[CarlS]

We are ready!! I have skied with gators before.