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Another NW BellBoy owner

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  • Another NW BellBoy owner

    Hello there,

    I'm coming from large sailboats so this is a completely new adventure for me. We were looking for another sailboat when we came across a '58 16' Express for a price that eventually ended up being around $100. Sailboat can wait for a hundred dollar boat.

    The boat had been sitting for a decade when we got it but wasn't a total loss. The outboard will turn over but without a fuel line I haven't had a chance to see if it actually will work. It's a '61 50hp Merc. I'm used to diesel inboard Yanmars so there may be a few questions asked on here.

    I will post pics of it later today.

  • #2
    Welcome to the group.

    We have several folks (including myself) that has gone though those from stem to stern and know ever inch of the boat...

    Looking forward to photos too.

    Heres mine.
    Attached Files
    Helmar Joe Johanesen
    1959 Skagit 20ft Offshore, 1959 Skagit 16ft Skimaster,
    1961 17ft Dorsett Catalina.1958 Uniflite 17 ft
    Outboards: 2.5 Bearcats, 3 50hp White shadow Mercs
    2 40hp Johnsons, several smaller Old kickers for a total of 12

    Our Sister club
    http://www.goldenstateglassics.com

    Oh, and Where is Robin Hood when you need him??

    Comment


    • #3
      That's great to hear! Anybody in the PDX area?

      Comment


      • #4
        Here it is after 8 hours of cleaning. Not bad but not great.
        Attached Files

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by Zoolander, post: 22710
          That's great to hear! Anybody in the PDX area?
          We have several folks in Oregon with me included.
          I have two shops, one in Quilcene Washington and one going together in Sandy Oregon.

          I am hoping to put together an introductory event in the Portland area as soon as I can get things settled down.

          Here is the tread about it..

          [ame="http://www.classicboatclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3893"]Roll Call for Oregon Members - Northwest Classic Boat Club Forum[/ame]
          Helmar Joe Johanesen
          1959 Skagit 20ft Offshore, 1959 Skagit 16ft Skimaster,
          1961 17ft Dorsett Catalina.1958 Uniflite 17 ft
          Outboards: 2.5 Bearcats, 3 50hp White shadow Mercs
          2 40hp Johnsons, several smaller Old kickers for a total of 12

          Our Sister club
          http://www.goldenstateglassics.com

          Oh, and Where is Robin Hood when you need him??

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by Zoolander, post: 22711
            Here it is after 8 hours of cleaning. Not bad but not great.
            That is a rare breed. I myself have only seen 4 of those, that makes 5 in the northwest that I have seen...

            Good score
            Helmar Joe Johanesen
            1959 Skagit 20ft Offshore, 1959 Skagit 16ft Skimaster,
            1961 17ft Dorsett Catalina.1958 Uniflite 17 ft
            Outboards: 2.5 Bearcats, 3 50hp White shadow Mercs
            2 40hp Johnsons, several smaller Old kickers for a total of 12

            Our Sister club
            http://www.goldenstateglassics.com

            Oh, and Where is Robin Hood when you need him??

            Comment


            • #7
              Another Welcome ,
              Cool Boat,nicely priced.
              Older trailer boats seem to have common weak spots,Bow eyes and straps ,Rear tie down loops and cleats should all get new bolts as they can fail when you are winching on/off or on road.
              Had a winch stand fail as I winched a Dorsett on trailer once time,luckily had a cargo strap within reach and had a bow line to hold on to as the stand took a dive.Rainwater had collected repeatedly in the stand tube with rust weakening it until it failed with the load on a ramp.
              Put the plug in and check for leaks with boat filling up inside if you don`t trust it.Takes 6 inches to match water pressure from outside.
              Some "Plastexx" by Meguiar`s will clean those hazy windows up too.
              Some Oregon members should be chiming in soon,Bruce Drake always shares good stuff from down south....
              TimM
              unk.year 10` Mahogeny "DragonFly"racer
              15` SAFE boat w/120 hp Johnson
              SeaRay 175BR
              Hi-Laker lapline
              14` Trailorboat

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by Helmar, post: 22714
                That is a rare breed. I myself have only seen 4 of those, that makes 5 in the northwest that I have seen...

                Good score
                I've definitely had a heck of a time finding any info on them. A youtube walk around video has been the best asset as to what it's supposed to look like so far. I'm guessing this forum will be a big help, too.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by Tim_Mattson, post: 22715
                  Another Welcome ,
                  Cool Boat,nicely priced.
                  Older trailer boats seem to have common weak spots,Bow eyes and straps ,Rear tie down loops and cleats should all get new bolts as they can fail when you are winching on/off or on road.
                  Had a winch stand fail as I winched a Dorsett on trailer once time,luckily had a cargo strap within reach and had a bow line to hold on to as the stand took a dive.Rainwater had collected repeatedly in the stand tube with rust weakening it until it failed with the load on a ramp.
                  Put the plug in and check for leaks with boat filling up inside if you don`t trust it.Takes 6 inches to match water pressure from outside.
                  Some "Plastexx" by Meguiar`s will clean those hazy windows up too.
                  Some Oregon members should be chiming in soon,Bruce Drake always shares good stuff from down south....
                  TimM
                  That's some great info, these trailers can always seem a bit sketch.

                  Here's a shot of the interior, plenty of work to be done. Everything appears to be original, though. Well, what's left.
                  Attached Files

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Zoolander, post: 22720
                    That's some great info, these trailers can always seem a bit sketch.

                    Here's a shot of the interior, plenty of work to be done. Everything appears to be original, though. Well, what's left.
                    I personally would put a bulkhead in with a door.
                    I mean if you have a woman first mate, you need a Head with some privicy

                    Did it have any seats in it. I see the brackets are still in place.
                    I can show you what it had if you don't have them..

                    Marty at Island Boat Shop also had one of these that he did some work on so he knows the boat inside and out too.
                    Helmar Joe Johanesen
                    1959 Skagit 20ft Offshore, 1959 Skagit 16ft Skimaster,
                    1961 17ft Dorsett Catalina.1958 Uniflite 17 ft
                    Outboards: 2.5 Bearcats, 3 50hp White shadow Mercs
                    2 40hp Johnsons, several smaller Old kickers for a total of 12

                    Our Sister club
                    http://www.goldenstateglassics.com

                    Oh, and Where is Robin Hood when you need him??

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Welcome to this, the best site for Classic Glass enthusiast! Congrats on acquiring a great Bellboy. There are several members that know about this boat and can help you to restore and update in such a way that the classic appearance is not compromised but the modern amenities can be enjoyed. Here are a couple of shots of my family heirloom, purchased new by my dad in 1960. This is the Bellboy 404 Express - 19 ft. Merc 1350 for power.
                      Best,
                      Bob
                      Attached Files

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        that is indeed rare. nice buy. have fun working on it.

                        Outlaw
                        John & Colleen Weston
                        Carlyon Beach, Olympia,WA
                        lookin for the right boat

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Bell Boy 16

                          Here is a picture of the Bell Boy 16 I found on Puget Island near Longview, WA. It was $400 or $500 with a really nice vintage trailer. Somehow it wandered over to Marty land where it was restored. It had the same curved bulkhead on one side with a curtain track to close off the forward area. I have seen essentially the same model with wood panels on both sides as well. It had front seats like yours, and two aluminium and fiberglass seats at the splashwell corners. The windshield had been slightly chopped by a prior owner but was the original. Really nice lines on the boat, hard to resist. I am in Scappoose Oregon.
                          Attached Files
                          Bruce H. Drake
                          1956 Bell Boy Express 21'
                          1957 Norseman 19' woodie
                          1961 Glasspar Seafair Phaeton 17'
                          1957 Lyman Runabout 13' woodie

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Congrats! I'm mid restore of a 404 Express (like Bell Boy Bobs). You have your work cut out for you!
                            John Forsythe

                            '59 Bellboy 404 - Pretty Girl
                            Past Affairs:
                            '61 Marathon - Jammie Dodger

                            Comment

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