Help identifying boat

[boingy]

Hi everyone,

First post.

Can anyone tell me anything about this boat?
Make, model, approximate age, bare weight etc.

Dimensions are 16' long, 7' wide (or maybe 6' 10")

 

[Seajet]

boingy,

welcome to the forums; obviously nobody here knows what your boat is.

You might well have more luck on the Motorboat forum.

One thing I notice is there don't seem to be any mooring cleats or provision for an anchor roller / fairlead, which would seem a problem if using her.

 

[Tranona]

It is possible somebody with a long memory will have clues, but it is just one of many such boats that were built by small builders in the 60s and 70s. Would guess it will take up to about a 50hp outboard.

 

[boingy]

boingy,

welcome to the forums; obviously nobody here knows what your boat is.

You might well have more luck on the Motorboat forum.

One thing I notice is there don't seem to be any mooring cleats or provision for an anchor roller / fairlead, which would seem a problem if using her.

I didn't spot the motorboat forum. Is it OK to cross post to there or do I need to ask a mod to move the thread?

And, yes, well spotted on the hardware . Like so many boats this one is a "nearly finished" project so I have several boxes of fixings, fitting, cleats and stuff ready to go back on. TBH my priority is the very rough trailer. New hubs and bearings, new jockey wheel and some welding.

I'm curious about the make and model but my main reason for asking is so I can get an estimate of the weight as it is on an unbraked trailer. It certainly tows well and feels light but I'd like to be sure I'm legal.

Someone has suggested a Vanguard Thunderjet which certainly shares very similar features but is two foot longer.

 

[Tranona]

Take it to your local weighbridge and get an actual weight. Doubt any published weight even if you find it will be accurate.

 

[prv]

Doubt any published weight even if you find it will be accurate.

+1

Boats like this were made in fairly uncontrolled fashion with buckets of resin in sheds. The designer might have worked out what the weight was supposed to be, but what the hull actually weighs will probably depend on whether Brian or Dave was slapping the stuff on back in 1968, plus all the things that might have been added or taken away in the half-century since.

Pete

 

[QBhoy]

I think it might be a vanguard. There are a few variants with pretty cool names. Looks like a smaller thunder jet. Google it. Have a look at some dawncrafts too. Pretty sure it’s some sort of vangaurd though.

 

[Jim@sea]

It is possible somebody with a long memory will have clues, but it is just one of many such boats that were built by small builders in the 60s and 70s. Would guess it will take up to about a 50hp outboard.

I would have though a 33hp 2 stroke as in the early 1960.s outboards for small boats were smaller that today (and weighed less) I seem to remember that a 16ft Marina GT with a wider transom was only rated at 50hp and again 2 stroke.

 

[ithet]

If you have a bathroom scale (preferably old type with spring), you might be able to weigh under each point where the boat is supported, then add all the values together. Not dead accurate but will give a ballpark indication as long as you are not moving the weight off the other points. You might have to chock each other point by the thickness of the scales as you go.

 

[coopec]

Maybe do a Google (Image) on something like "16ft f/g outboard boat half cabin" Maybe "16ft vintage f/g half cabin"

 

[Seajet]

' Nyet ' to both the above ideas I'm afraid; don't think the bathroom scales idea would work, and as mentioned there are / were loads of boats like this.

The only real answer is two trips to the nearest weighbridge, trailer alone and with boat on.

NB the police in some places see trailed items as easy targets to make out they're doing something, so force trailed boats to a weighbridge to see if it's within the trailed weight spec' of the tow car.

 

[QBhoy]

Did you compare it to the vanguards ?

 

[boingy]

The only pics that have come anywhere near so far are those of a Vanguard Thunderjet but the Thunderjet is 2 foot longer than ours. We have not been able to find a shorter boat in the Vanguard range.

Coming back to the weight thing, yes, I agree that a weighbridge is the only reliable method but I'm in a bit of a catch 22. The trailer is unbraked and currently not roadworthy. It has no mudguards, the wheel bearings are shot and there are rust holes in some of the outer support members. The man structure of the trailer is sound so it is repairable but before I spend too much time and money on it I'd love to know that the boat/trailer/engine combo will weigh less than the 750kg unbraked trailer limit. I think it probably will but there is a risk that I will fettle the trailer and then have to change it for a braked one due to the weight.

Thanks for the help everyone. I think I've just got to bite the bullet and sort out the trailer.