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1958 Uniflite

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  • 1958 Uniflite

    Greetings CBC!
    Glad to have found this site. Judging by the gallery pics, you all look like a great group of boat lovers. My wife, son and I look forward to learning about classic boats and hopefully someday get our new boat wet.

    ***(if you want to skip my boating life story, go to the bottom asterisk)

    Pretty much my whole life has centered around modern bass boats. From the time I could walk like a drunk monkey as an infant in the 70s, I've been involved with bass boats. Back then, in what I like to call the birth of modern day bass fishing, there weren't many bass fanatics here in WA. Dad had a great hand in turning that around by starting Capital City Bass and having several "how to" articles written about him in numerous publications.
    Every now and then though, Dad would take us out in the Sound and cruise from Olympia up to the Narrows or some other random location, periodically dropping crab pots and just enjoying life. This is where I really fell in love with the salty air and screeching seagulls.

    As a teenager I worked at the port (Olympia) for a lumber company. My job was to clean up all of the bark and wash all of the equipment. Most of the day was spent watching the boats go by and wishing I was out there idling around while the waves slapped the hull in that familiar tone. Reality would kick in as the sun would shift over West Oly. I knew I only had a few hours to get the bark cleaned up. Frantically I would kick in to high gear and just beat the sunset, but while doing so I kept dreamin' of the water.

    Fast forward to 1 month ago. Dad and I took a trip to Victoria where a friend of his took us out on his 48' Uniflite. This boat was awesome. Twin diesels really pushed this beast. We chased salmon for a while with minimal luck, but alas, I was back in the salty air, listening to the waves and gulls, with Dad.

    Wild hair, meet Craigslist.
    I searched daily for the right machine. Scouring page after page, looking for something that called out to me. My son would get excited each time I yelled to my wife "look at this one!" or "how about this one?" I can tell you, that got old quick...for her. I was still at it. Pounding the keyboard day after day, burning the electrons and getting kinks in my neck from horrible posture at the desk. Pfft! Nothing a pill can't cure, I've got a boat to find!
    Did I really know what I was looking for? It evolved with each potential candidate. Did I know anything about...anything when it came to fixing up a glass boat? No. Still don't. Didn't matter, still had to find a boat! (does this sound like any of you or am I just out in left field?)

    Now it's Saturday (as in a few days ago) and I've made arrangements to look at boat. I saw this boat on several late night CL surf sessions but didn't give it a whole lot of thought. Something about it didn't grab me at first. As my vision evolved for a particular style boat, this boat ended up fulfilling that vision. I knew once I saw it in person, I would own it....
    ***
    I'm sure a lot of folks saw the CL ad for the 1959 Uniflite up in Port Ludlow. Some of you may even know the former owners. In any case, we now own it and are enjoying the cleaning up/discovery process as we go over it inch by inch. I have since discovered that it is a 1958, not '59. It needs the usual transom, floor etc.. but is seaworthy as is, minus the empty transom where there's no outboard. My initial intent is to put an early 4 cyl 50-65hp Merc on it to push me around, but I'm always open to experience over desire. My dad is pushing for a Merc, he's a Merc guy and knows all about them. But I like to gather my intel from multiple sources before I make my final decision.

    Here are a couple of pics...more to upload later.

    Thanks for reading (either version)...

    Kelly

    [ATTACH]14755[/ATTACH]
    [ATTACH]14756[/ATTACH]
    Attached Files

  • #2
    Welcome to the group Kelly. Good looking boat, enjoyed your story. I know what you mean about the salt air. I'm living in Central Oregon now, when I get to visit the Puget Sound, that's one thing I enjoy, getting a hit of the salt air.

    The brand of motor is personal preference. I think there are a couple Uniflites in the group, so others may be able to recommend the proper HP. Good luck with the new boat, have fun on the salt with her.
    Steve Kiesel
    1959 Glasspar Seafair Sedan

    Comment


    • #3
      welcome aboard! nice looking boat you got there.
      john woods
      "be afraid of free women and free boats"~my wise uncle

      Comment


      • #4
        Gotta love the Uniflites. Good to see there is still a few of them around. Welcome!

        Comment


        • #5
          Welcome aboard Kelly.
          I know right were that boat was setting too
          I seen it a couple of years ago as we had a fire close by and I drove right by it. I am in fire district 2 but the fire was on the border between us and Ludlow. We rolled on it so I was able to see it during the day. Ludlow was closer for water so we ran over to them. Never did stop and ask if it was for sale but did see a newer boat next to it.
          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


          • #6
            Thank you for the welcome all! I'm really digging the diversity of boats as well as talent/craftsmanship here. Helmar your Uniflite is phenomenal. ..gives me hope for ours! Thanks for posting those pics. Do you have anymore interior shots? Maybe some you can add some to your restoration thread? I've looked at that thread every day

            Comment


            • #7
              I didn't do anything to the insides as of yet. In fact I haven't figured out what I wanted to do in there...
              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


              • #8
                I hear ya. I'll post quite a few questions in your thread as I think of them.
                I'm anxious to get the boat on the water, even without an outboard
                I found a late 60s 65hp Merc. It's currently on a boat, but maybe I could take the outboard, controls and steering and put it on mine.
                We'll see.

                Comment

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