Author Topic: What did I purchase? (Read 13135 times)

catchnedge · « **on:** September 30, 2010, 10:16:08 PM »

Hey gang. Probably shouldn't have done this, since I officially join the unemployment lines tomorrow... yep, my job was eliminated. Anyways, it cheered me up big time to pick up this boat, that's for sure... I guess my wife is paying for this one... no, I should say... I'll be paying for it for years to come!

Best I can tell from the Glastron brochures, this is a 1962 Surflite 153. What do you think?

The transom is a little different from everything I'm seeing in the literature, but the literature doesn't show it very well. The title says it's a 1962 Glastron 15'... that's it. There is no book on the boat, no model number on the certification tag on transom. Also, the tag on transom says the max. hp rating is 75... I don't see any in the book like that? Bit of a mystery. I also looked at the '61 & '63 model boats thinking it may have been mistitled, but they don't look like it either.

Bought from original owners son, who first rode in it at 2yrs old, learned to ski behind it, spent it's whole life on Lake Whitney, TX. Used off and on for ~10 years, then father had a stroke and it sat for the last 40 years in the same lake house garage. Had a layer of grime/dust on it that was hard to get off. Lots of antique goodies under the seats/in the boat.

Has the "tiltair" windshield feature with optional "hard top". Original interior. After removing the 40yrs of dust, found most everything to be in remarkable shape. don't know if engine will run... seems to have good compression. 1963 Evinrude 40hp.

Can see some of the pictures at...

http://s519.photobucket.com/albums/u352/rev1717/1962%20Surflite%20153/?start=all

Rich_V174SS · « **Reply #1 on:** September 30, 2010, 10:28:07 PM »

Would there be any reason it couldn't be a 1962 Starflite 152 because of the white on the bow, that model was also available in the Aqua color. Whatever it is I like it and it looks MINT, especially with the hard top.

catchnedge · « **Reply #2 on:** September 30, 2010, 10:31:43 PM »

Saw that Rich, but I was guessing the Surflite mainly because it came with the "bench type back seats" as opposed to the "hinged rear seat" that provided access to gas tanks, etc. But it does have the white stripe in middle? It kind of has features of a few of the boats. The son did tell me the father special ordered the boat... with what, I don't know.

Rich_V174SS · « **Reply #3 on:** September 30, 2010, 10:34:57 PM »

Ah, I see the differences now in the seating, missed that - the brochure pics are just too darn small for any great detail. I'll go with your original assessment about the possibility it's a 153.

dorelse · « **Reply #4 on:** September 30, 2010, 10:41:19 PM »

Congrats Mark!

catchnedge · « **Reply #5 on:** September 30, 2010, 10:44:00 PM »

Thanks Doran.

GT150 JEFF · « **Reply #6 on:** October 01, 2010, 05:30:59 AM »

Good catch Mark

Sorry to here about your employment

Jeff

Jason · « **Reply #7 on:** October 01, 2010, 09:23:28 AM »

Beautiful!

How do you find these things!!

You need to start a museum.

I think it's Surflight too. All the 15' footers from that time seemed to use the same hull and it was the seating arrangement that made the model. That white stripe my have been an option. The Surflight in the catalog is also missing the bow light too.

Trailer is just as cool as the boat!

Anyway, great find!

Hotwired · « **Reply #8 on:** October 01, 2010, 01:41:15 PM »

WOW! .. Holy Cow! OMG! That is one original GEM! .. NICE!! I think you have the only original hardtop boat around!

Hyperacme · « **Reply #9 on:** October 01, 2010, 05:32:55 PM »

" You need to start a museum. "

Did ya see the one in Cal. ?
Would make a good one for your Glastron museum.

" Sorry to here about your employment "

More time to spend on your boats !

SWEET !
Awesome find Mark !

V153 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 01, 2010, 07:16:27 PM »

Ya that's suweet! Hardtop is a major plus. Yup, looks like a Surflite. Cool boat!

catchnedge · « **Reply #11 on:** October 01, 2010, 09:40:32 PM »

Thanks all! I won't spend too much time on my soapbox, but I loved my job (contractor, teaching Nav students at Randolph AFB), never wanted to do anything else... and our group did a damn good job of it. My job was reorganized/moved to Pensacola, and was converted to GS (thanks to direct initiatives from the current administration), so I had to compete for my own job again. I applied anyway, interviewed, but didn't get the job. How great is that? I guess I didn't play the political game well enough, didn't know the right folks well enough, etc., etc,... I'll keep it nice here. When the current administration talks about how many jobs they create... I think about the 3 private sector jobs they killed for every 1 GS position (Govt employee) they put back on the books. I can't be better qualified for any other job on the planet with my background. So I don't know what I'm going to do. Sorry, a little bitter.
--------------
Saw the boat on Craigslist in Waco, just a few hours away. I noticed that Jason about the Surflite 153 not having a bow light in the book... The bow light on this boat looks like a different design than any of the 62's in the brochure... I wonder if that was bought/installed by the owner? I like it nonetheless and it does have the flag stem which are often missing. The Gator trailer is a little rough around the edges, so I'll try to touch up the paint. Would like to redo the whole trailer at some point... but I don't want to get rid of those awesome decals, which I guess will prevent me from having it bead blasted?... I'm going to pull the hard top off and work on that liner... it's a nylon mesh... where am I going to find that? don't think I can salvage what is there... too frayed on the edges to cover the whole thing. After cleaning the boat up and removing the old TX #s, I see a large area that was repaired on the side of the hull... looks really discolored. I can't believe I didn't see it before. I'm going to have to see if I can habe that repaired to blend in better.

Jason · « **Reply #12 on:** October 02, 2010, 08:10:38 AM »

Quote from: catchnedge on October 01, 2010, 09:40:32 PM

I'm going to have to see if I can have that repaired to blend in better.

After seeing what they did on Brian's boat I am sure the right shop can blend it well enough that you will never notice it. I have a few areas on the V172 that need some touchup work too.

Rosscoe · « **Reply #13 on:** October 02, 2010, 10:05:52 AM »

Fantastic find once again Mark! OK I am going to need detailed pic and measurements of the seats etc. for my 61 Surflite! No hurry since I wont be touching it for a year or so but I am sure mine had the side bench seats in the back and I beleive split front bench. Very nice! I love the hard top. Your hull is way different then mine. Big change in one year.

BTW sorry to hear of the job loss. Its a crappy situation all over. I will say this....People scream about cutting Govt spending and they do and then look what happens. People lose jobs. I'm going to try leave politics out of the club however since this is a refuge for me away from all the BS that is being said and hate being spread. I'll just get pissed.

The bow light on mine is very odd but I like it. Its is just sitting there loose. Glad I didnt lose it pulling this back from St. Cloud!
Does yours have any kind of door covering the battery and gas tank area like mine? I am not sure if that is orginal or not but based on the color, I think it is. Not sure how you'd open that with the rear seats.
I see the brochure says "bow locker" Do you have that and what does that look like or maybe thats just the Fireflite?

catchnedge · « **Reply #14 on:** October 02, 2010, 11:43:44 PM »

Ross, you're definitely right about not discussing politics here... I shouldn't be ranting like I am... just a little pissed about the whole job situation.

You have a really neat Surflite... can't wait to see you fix er up. There really was a big change in fiberglass for '62... I will take whatever pics/measurements you need. I plan to take all the seats out for a good cleaning/minor sprucing up of boxes, etc., so I'll get some really good pictures with a tape measure in hand and send them to you. Just let me know what specifically you need as I go through them. The gas tank/battery area on mine just has a V-shape wood panel in the center that looks like covered the battery area (you can see the strap brackets for the battery just behind the wood), then just open for a 6-gallon tank on each side. I'm guessing this was the original configuration, I don't see any missing pieces or snaps for a vinyle cover, etc. I don't have a back seat that covers the area, just the benches on the side... see pics below.

Also, I don't have a bow locker... just wide open underneath, with the exception of a small panel to rest your feet against that also holds life jackets, etc., up under the bow. I don't have any pictures of that area... I'll have to take some.

MarkS · « **Reply #15 on:** October 03, 2010, 02:57:24 AM »

Mark, you're developing quite a knack for finding pristine originals, good job buddy! Now you have to decide which one to take to "the Classic" next year.

Gook luck on the job search, hope something turns up quickly for you.

Rosscoe · « **Reply #16 on:** October 03, 2010, 09:46:08 AM »

Mark
Far be it for me to chastise anyone for anything. I was just making a general statement. Not aimed soley at you by any means. You are a great guy and I would wish for anyone to lose their job, especially since you liked it! That is not all that common I dont think so sorry if I came off as preaching or whatever.

I will appreciate the pics as you get to them. Like I said, I dont think I'll be touching that boat for a year or so unless I get bored this winter and we dont get so much snow, I cant move it into the shop but I'll take the info as it is available. Since mine has no interior, I'd like pics and measurements of:
The bases
Where they are mounted as measured from something, like the splashwell or some other permenant thing.
Maybe the width of the front bench and size of middle opening. You know...what ever you would think you'd need to build from scratch.
I can not beleive you found TWO boats, that prestine! That is incredible! I'd love to have a hard top for mine.

AndyBean · « **Reply #17 on:** October 06, 2010, 06:34:11 PM »

Great Find Mark! Your on your way to quite a collection. Keep the pictures coming.

Rosscoe · « **Reply #18 on:** November 14, 2010, 08:11:54 AM »

Hey Mark

I may actually start building some seats or at least the bases, this winter. If I could get some dimensions, it would be great.
Thanks in advance.
Ross

catchnedge · « **Reply #19 on:** November 15, 2010, 06:38:31 AM »

Ross, no problem. I finished repainting the inside of the seat boxes, replaced the hinges with larger stainless, and cleaned/put some protectant on the seat cushions... their just waiting for the rest of the boat to get finished before putting them back in. I've been taking some pictures along the way for my own records, and I've taken a few with the tape measure on em' for you... just haven't put them on picasa yet. I'll do that this evening and post a link so you can see em' from all the angles with dimensions.

Author Topic: What did I purchase? (Read 13135 times)

GT150 JEFF