TOPIC: Saved From the Burn Pile....

While driving out in the country, I spotted a familiar looking classic in a field along the road that I instantly identified as a late 1950's Dorsett Farallon. I stopped at the house associated with the field and asked if the old boat was for sale. The elderly lady said that her now diseased husband had "dragged it in" years ago, that it was in rough shape and that she had no interest in it. It was mine for the taking and none too soon either as they were about to burn it with other "trash" on the property. Retrieving the boat was no easy task as it was on the ground (no trailer) and about 60 miles from my house. I went back a few days later with my 24' trailer and after struggling for 3 hours, I finally got it loaded. The boat is typical of a 1950's boat that has been sitting out in the rainy Oregon weather for years; rotten transom and deck, some fiberglass damage here and there and some corroded emblems and fittings. But on the plus side, it is fairly complete and original with all of the deck hardware, front seats, ice box and best of all, that beautiful 2' tall aluminum mast on the cabin roof. I didn't get a title with it but I know it's a 1958 or 59 because the side trim changed in 1960. On the port side, aluminum cover on the upper transom there is a number stamped; F57 B86. Can anyone decipher this code?
This was the queen of the Dorsett fleet in the late 1950's and it would have been a tragedy to have lost it.

Cool find ! Have fun restoring it !

Excellent find!

Bob

congratulations.. that is cool !! glad you saved it from burning !!

The pictures from 1958 & 1959 Dorsett brochures in the FG library shows the 1959 model with the Dorsett emblems placed where your boat has them. 1958 shows the emblems more mid-ship. HTH

Thanks HTH! You are very observant and I'm sure it is a 1959.
Dan

just to clarify... HTH = Hope This Helps. (I'm CNH)

Excellent find !! Good luck restoring that one .

I have a sot spot for those old Dorsetts, and yours is especially cool!

My first boat was a '60's Dorsett San Juan I picked up from a Boat donation clearance place. It came with no motor and no windows. I slipped it into my garage and spent a winter replacing windows and windshields, and purchasing a Johnson 85 for it. Knowing nothing about boats or how rotten the transoms could get, I was shocked to see how much the transom flexed the first time I launched it. On the advice of a friend I sold it off and found a solid Cruisers 18' cuddy cabin.
Too bad too, because I thought the Dorsett was the perfect little cabin cruiser for my young family.

Wow!
What great lines. I love that mast. Good luck on your project.

Excellent score! would look good cruising along next to my bell boy express 21. I would do her in redorange and white..