TOPIC: New Boat, Need Advice

Hi everyone,

I have been a long-time follower of this site and I just picked up my first vintage fiberglass boat this past Friday. Overall it is a solid project but needs a LOT of work. I don't even know for sure what make and model it is. I was told that it is a 1957 Glastron but I haven't been able to locate any evidence of this. It is 14' long.

I have walked around in the boat and the floor and stringers are solid. There is one small hole in the floor that appears to have been repaired at some point in the past. The hull is very solid but has some small nicks that will need to be repaired. The only bad thing is that the transom is totally rotten.

Please let me know if you can identify this boat or offer any suggestions for the restoration.

Clem, nice score. Absolute classic.

I would look closely at the images here and at ClassicGlastron.com

Many manufacturers copied the Glastron design with slight modifications and it takes a careful comparison to tell them apart.

Looks like a RedFish to me. Possibly a 1960 (if it has an indent on the side of the fin), or a 1958 +- 1 if not. Larry in Idaho

Oops, I changed my mind, after looking at the picture closer. Now I don't know what it is ... but it is well worth owning. Larry, again.

larry's right....not a production redfish or glastron....a picture of the top of the bow and one of the dash would help....looks like she's a keeper...john

It's not a Glastron. The deck definitely looks 1959 Redfish, but not the hull. The RF hulls were very similar to the 1957 Glastron. Not much in the Gallery re 1960 RF. Anybody have one or have some liter.

Great find, BTW.

yes i have a 1960 red fish and some ads....the 1960 and 1961 red fish are alike except for the rub rail and the seats....the 1960 had the lawn chair looking aluminum frame front seats and the 1961 had the moulded in fiberglass buckets with plywood backed pads john

stringers are OK. There are many threads on transom repairs since it is such a common problem. Research "Seacast" as well. I'll let the pros who have actually done a transom chime in with their suggestions. Good luck on a nice looking boat.

Hey guys I appreciate all of the replies. After hours and hours of Google searching I still can't find any boats that are identical to mine. Several are very similar, but none exactly like it. I'll try to take some more photos of it soon.

I went ahead and pulled the rotten wood out of the transom. It is clear that someone replaced the plywood in the transom before and did a terrible job. I'm thinking of going with Seacast or Nida-core. I've read great reviews on both and it seems pretty simple. I also pulled the interior out of the boat so I can start building new seats for it.

More updates coming soon. I really want to have this thing out on the water by the end of the summer!

so that the pros here can give their opinion.

I also got a 1957 10hp Johnson Sea Horse motor for free from a neighbor. I know that's not adequate power for this boat but it was free and it runs so I'm not complaining. More photos and updates to come..

Cloud white Merc will look the best hanging off the back.Keep the free 57 johnny for future use. Nida makes Sea Cast.

theclemsondude wrote:

I also got a 1957 10hp Johnson Sea Horse motor for free from a neighbor. I know that's not adequate power for this boat but it was free and it runs so I'm not complaining. More photos and updates to come..

Yaa. You'll want at least a 25 on there. 35 would be better. I'd stay at 75 or under though. (if it were me)