1957 Bell Boy Project

[Wickline]

Here a a couple of pictures of my Bell Boy to look at. Hope to have it finished and on the water this year.

[Marty Loken (Norseboater)]

Dave -

You're doing a great job--I hardly recognize the boat!

Really like what you've done with the seating...a nice improvement on the old arrangement. Can't wait to see the boat on the water this year.

- Marty

[slo-mo]

Beautiful job, Dave...You have great taste-although you stole my paint color for our '55 Bell Boy express that is under resto. The pale yellow is as stunning as envisioned.

Bravo! See you on Lake Stevens.

[Wickline]

Just a couple of more pictures.

Also I am looking for a couple items if anyone has any of them.
Steering wheel
bow chocks (same shape as originals)
batterie switch
fuse block
light switch

[slo-mo]

With all of the attention this Bell Boy will garner you will be lucky to leave the dock.
Your shiny rig is is going to need some "motational fortitude", what is your weapon of choice?

[Wickline]

The Engine I have is a 1966 Mercury ss 1100 short shaft. with factory power trim/tilt.
I will need to do a litle work to it. Compression is good but i have no spark at this time. I haven't even looked at it yet I thought finishing the boat first would be good motivation.

[Steve_Kiesel]

Dave, that is a sweet looking BB. I love those hardtops. Keep up the good work.

That shop in the first post looks familiar. :drool5:

[Mark_Denis]

That looks great Dave! I'm really liking the new seat layout, may have to do something similar with mine.

Can't wait to see it finished! :)

[Wickline]

Yes that is a familiar shop Steve. Think I saw your boat there a couple of weeks ago.

[Tim McCrain]

Man, that BB is looking sweeeet. Will really make a nice package with the Merc!

[halffast32]

Great lookin boat! That merc is a gem!:D Will be a super combinaton.

[BellBoyBob]

Hi Dave:

Just BEAUTIFUL! I love the yellow / cream color combo. Very elegant... What king of paint did you use? Was it sprayed or rolled and tipped.

Very inspirational!

Bob

[Wickline]

Yes the paint was sprayed y Ross (Yardman). The yelllow is some i had left over from a jepp that i have been building for the last 17 years (hoping this project goes quicker) the white is a ford white. Not sure what kind of paint ross got for that he told me but i do not recall.

[bellboy57]

It looks great. I am a little surprised that you are using such a big motor. I hope that you beefed up the transom. I have a Merc. 650 short shaft on my 57 Bellboy convertable. Have you ever rode in one before? I have owned my boat for almost 25 years with a lot of experience in all kinds of water conditions. They don't ride very well in rough water because of the flat bottom. It will be nice to see it on the water.

[Yardman]

Hello Bob, the hull was sprayed with Nason Fulthane, A 2 part urethane. The color is Wimbledon White a color that Ford used for many years in the 60's and 70's. I agree the off white really sets off that yellow! Dave won't be sneaking anywhere in that BellBoy.
Sort of a funny story, I met Dave on the ferry. I was returning from the Park and Hide that Helmar and Marty have in the deep suburbs of Quilcene Wa. I had gone over there to pick up a fiberglass hardtop for my BB 16. I looked back in the line and I could see Daves BB well behind me in line! I told my Dad who had come along for the adventure, there is another BellBoy Hard top on this here ferry!!! What are the chances of that? Well needless to say by the time we were underway Dave and I were in a great boat chat. He lives not far from me and we are looking forward to cruzing together although I'll never keep up with that big ol Merc he is planning to use. Thats O.K. I went fast alot when I was a kid. Now I'm low and slow! Good luck on your project! - Ross

[BellBoyBob]

Ross:
It is just gorgeous in the pictures. Do you think that a careful and patient roll and tip application of Interlux Perfection after sanding off the current Pettit down to the gelcoat and priming with Interlux Primkote will give me THAT kind of gloss? Or, should I prep the boat and let my sprayer at Canandaigua Lake shoot the color coats with Nason (which he has experience with and prefers for gel coat painting??)

Thanks,

bob

[Yardman]

Bob, I have seen some fine examples of roll and tip paint jobs, but I am a spray paint guy all the way. - Ross

[Wickline]

Bob there are some pictures from the 2009 Mason Lake event of my cousin’s red and white Fleet Form with us riding it. I t was rolled and tipped. It turned out beautiful and there is not a visible brush stroke on it.

I have grown up around the flat bottom fiberglass boats and yes I know they do not handle that well in rough water. I have a couple of 650 motors lying around as backups if my 1100 does not work out but I think it will be just fine. The transom is new and beefed up so I don’t think it will be a problem. The boat I ran the most as a kid was a 1959 Fiberform 14' that my uncle and grandpa assembled at the Fiberform factory in Spokane and used at our family place on Deer Lake. That boat was a runner until a few years ago when the transom started to sag a little. I am thinking if I can get my hands on it that will be my next project. I am told by my mom that was the fastest boat on the lake for many years with a 40 hp Johnson. She would race anyone she could find.