Just bought a '58 Skagit 20 Express...

[Kelly]

As far as I know, the boat I just got wasn't well known in the club or classic community. The previous owner had the boat since 1984 and before him a retired Navy guy owned it. The guy I bought it from used it off and on for fishing around his community. It's an outboard model but he's removing the outboard before I pick it up.
I have one week to figure out how to get a trailer ready, or borrow a trailer to pick it up. I'm going to check on the 20' Bell Boy that I found a couple of years ago and see if I can still pick it up and use the trailer for this Skagit. I was going to pick it up for the other Skagit 20' Offshore I thought I had but the guy wouldn't come up with a title.
Anyway, the boat needs a solid cleaning. The kicker that sealed the deal was all of the windows are intact and the seals on the upper deck are pretty good for the most part.
The floor is ok. The cabin floor definitely needs replacing and probably the splashwell. We'll see. There's paint over the gelcoat but I'll see how it cleans up before attempting to strip the paint.

Sorry, no pics until it's in my driveway. I posted early on the last boat and the deal fell flat. Lesson learned.

I hope to have it in my driveway next Monday.

[Kelly]

So having finally paused and put the knowledge I've been picking up from guys like Bruce, I actually looked at the old make-shift HIN tag that was buried under the repaint. It actually had 8 2X 87 stamped on it. So this boat was number 87 in 1958! Pretty cool! Now to figure out how many they produced each month...

[John Nelson]

hmm, thanks for the info John. I've got way too much to do before I power either boat, I just had some time to daydream.

There is a 1350 on c list Kalispell for $550 that's an ok price for the parts if you're up for the rebuild.

[Kelly]

Agreed that most of the older boats, especially cabin cruisers aren't designed for high speeds. Bigger power (within reason) does come in handy though if you have a heavier load that is well distributed making your center of gravity (CG) at or near the bulkhead. While I envision a 90hp, I won't pass up the right 115 either or perhaps even a little more as the weight difference between a 115 and 125, say Merc Optimax, is near zero. Another thing to consider is knowing how to operate power trim. I've been a bassboat owner for nearly 20 years, all with 150hp or bigger (current outboard is a 225 Optimax) and all with power trim. I know how to trim and feather trim any boat in any condition and get the most bang for your buck and smoothest ride 'possible'. Having a bigger outboard doesn't always equal "must go fast". =)
All of this discussion is opinion based discussion anyway. One person may find a way to justify putting a 300hp on a jon boat while the other only powers their 20 footer with a kicker. Tomato, potato.

[Helmar]

hmm, thanks for the info John. I've got way too much to do before I power either boat, I just had some time to daydream.

I think waiting on the power, until the right deal comes along, is a good idea.

I have seen these powered with Big engines and well, anything above 30 mph you are riding on the Flat bottom part of the boat so its Hard as hell riding. They will take it as mine with that 102hp Volvo I/O would get me up to 28mph and it was just too rough up there so I would always back it down unless I was on mirror like water..

Mine is Heavy too with all that oak stuff built into the cockpit area. Looking at mine, you can see her butt is low in the water to me....
Belairinbaysm.jpg

[Kelly]

Uh oh...might have to call

[Bflaherty]

Because I like to browse craigslist when I can't sleep......

Here is another motor for you Kelly!
http://bellingham.craigslist.org/boa/5771009649.html

[Kelly]

hmm, thanks for the info John. I've got way too much to do before I power either boat, I just had some time to daydream.

[John Nelson]

Those motors evolved over a long time I think the 1500 had the best power to weight ratio of any motor 150 hp from 100 ci production models and they run good. From 79-81 the 140 were rebadged 150s. The bad they had iron shafts that don't survive in salt water. They are old enough now to need crankshaft seals and new gaskets at least. A while ago I priced the stainless parts a 150 needed at $800 You also have to ask yourself can I get the the bolts out or will they break off. One of the guys from work got a familiar motor 1982 I went over put a water pump and thermostat in, then it was not getting full throttle, I rebuilt the fuel pump picked a piece of gelcoat out of the main jet and replaced a coil. I barely got it to idle. Then it wouldn't run on the lower cylinder it had water in it. At that point I took it home, it needed new gaskets crank seals separator plate in exhaust and the block milled the liners were protruding it got honed and rings too. All the parts looked like they only had about 50 hrs on them. its alright now.

[Kelly]

Hey John, what do you think about the late 70's Mercury outboards? This one has my interest for the blue Skagit:
http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/boa/5724868396.html

[bruceb]

Neat, Kelly. Can't wait to check out each boat, someday you can compare the cornering !

[Kelly]

The Skagit factory made 2 20 foot hull molds, one for inboard, one outboard. Think from conversations with factory workers, the idea came out that they had a production crunch, so they built outboard boats with inboard mold, hence the keel ends forward of the stern to accommodate the driveshaft. The lack of a keel at the stern on this particular hull gives it a neat cornering characteristic.

Bruce my blue Skagit has the short keel...kinda cool to have one of each style. I'll grab a pic next time. It definitely wasn't an inboard at any point.

[Helmar]

Security cams, okay.

Attached short video of your visit to Boston Harbor. Don't have a date on this....couple months ago.
This video is presently not public...other than this link.

Tim

https://youtu.be/IbzXhjvfIaA

Hi Tim.
Been looking at some of your other videos of the San Juans........I never made it. The only time I have ever been up to the San Juans was when we came across the Ferry, you ran us around the island and back just in time for me to run up and move the RV in the loading line.

Its not like I didn't try either. First time the weather was iffy but Marty said, lets go anyway, we started out and then I was having issues with the 20 Skagit offshore of mine.
Marty had is 17 Saborcraft with his 50hp Honda 4 stroke on the back, he would get 50 feet away from me and I would loose contact with him due to the fog. After the first time he lost me, he told me to just stay on the same heading and he would find me again.
Every time I tried to run her up, she would start bogging down so we turned around and went back to Mistery Bay.

Than after that, Carol kept me broke enough I was never able to get her fixed and back in the water. Finly, John Nelson came to my rescue.
He Totally Created a Exhaust elbow from Stainless and brought it over with a automobile head as were we could get water to the rear cylinder of that Volvo b-18.
But, never had the time or money to finish her up. (story of my life it seems)
Seems I enjoy working on them more than running them anyway..

One of these days, San Juans, as its on my bucket list

[McSkagit Tim Jones]

Security cams, okay.

Attached short video of your visit to Boston Harbor. Don't have a date on this....couple months ago.
This video is presently not public...other than this link.

Tim

https://youtu.be/IbzXhjvfIaA

[Kelly]

Thanks Tim. It is a security cam...I have cameras all around the house and I can pan around with the one above the boat. I can even do all of this from an app on my phone