TOPIC: Fiddynine Glass Craft Olympia

About a year ago I picked a '59 Glass Craft Citation from the middle of the Washington desert (yes there is desert in Wa.) It's was stripped and taking up a bay of my garage whilest I completed my '59 Wacanda Delta Deluxe II.
Well in the mean time I discovered (a couple of times) this Glass Craft Olympia in Emmett, ID. Apparently Neil didn't want it bad enough - or ran out of room). Anyhow I'm thankful to get her.
Also thankful to my middle picker brother, he was able to pick her up in Emmett and take her to Walla Walla, WA. And since I had to go down to get it from him, I thought it would only make sense if he made a short 5 hour trip to Redmond Oregon to pick up a Merc 58A that I also couldn't resist. Come on bro it's only $4.00 a gallon. He must have owed me cuz he went and got it.
Yadda Yadda - long story short - Both the Glass Craft and the 58A are in the big bay and the following thread will document the resto of Gracie - Yes Gracie Glass Craft she will be known as.
I don't think this will be a real labor intensive restoration, but this will be my first attempt to do the entire project - sand, prime, paint, upoholstery, steering, wiring, etc. and document the process. I have done a little of all the above on various boats , but not all on one boat.

Gracie in Emmett Idaho wanting to come north.
Gracie at new home in Priest River, Idaho with sister GC.
Gracies Cockpit

So this was last week and hopefully tomorrow I'll post pics of Gracie NAKED - Woo Hoo .

Sweet, congrats, those are going to be great projects. Can't wait to watch Gracie come along!

Bob

dang... that came out of my neck of the woods?! you musta snagged it when i wasn't looking! good looking boat, and looking forward to progress pics!

I am glad Gracie went to a good home.
And posting naked pictures of her on the internet, well, this is gonna be a popular thread! Go man Go.
Neil

Well I promised you --- Here she is butt naked. Once again my back is not in the same shape it used to be in before I climbed around, under and inbetween every nook and cranny. I swear they must put some of these logos and trim stuff on before putting it together.

Oh yea my arms look like I've been in a big fight with a Rose Garden as well.

Flipping her over today and begin the sanding and filling.

Tom

Dash is in great shape with only one hole to fill - There was some sort of modern ammeter in there.



So Gracie is going to be dressed up in '55 Pontiac Bollero Red. As you can see the red has a big tendancy toward orange.

Gotta love the armrests and bottle opener.

The transom is in excellent shape with only some minor holes to fill.

The rubrail is in real good condition for its age. There is some slight cracking over the whole thing, but I have had great success in the past totally cleaning it and then rubbing acetone over it and it tends to meld the cracks together and softens and smooths the whole thing.

Rub Rail End Look

Ok Gracie got flipped Friday. Sanding ...Filling .... Sanding ....Filling .... Sanding... etc etc.

It's now Tuesday and the Primers go on. Duh - what are all these little pin holes about - they just seem to creep up everywhere. They are just like snowflakes - every one is different. Fill sand fill sand fill sand.. Done. More primer. Looking good. My paint should be here tomorrow.

My plan is to get get 4 coats on the hull with wet sanding in between and then a good buffing before turning her over.

Primed....

Looking good there Tom, she's coming right along.

Duh - what are all these little pin holes about - they just seem to creep up everywhere.

Between the pinholes and the mysterious crazing that kept popping up overnight, I was about ready to throw in the towel myself! Very aggravating but hang in there, you'll get her done.

Looking great! That's a really cool hull design, too.

Those pin holes are a pain... You'll go over the hull time after time, and somehow they seem to reappear... Eventually, you'll get 'em all. It is one of the more frustrating parts of the job, for sure!!

She's coming along nicely, great job!!!

Bob

Well - Spray - sand - spray - sand plus two more times...

Hull is done. I'll let her sit for about 5 days before I turn her over and begin the same process with the top (what's the correct terminology for the top?)
Tom

Sure looks good! I love a NAKED hull.

One shinny boat you got there.

Excellent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's called the "deck" by the way.

Bob

Your hull looks great Tom, all your hard work really paid off!

Well I haven't posted any progress lately, but that doesn't mean I haven't been busy.

I finished preparing the deck and gave it two coats of primer. Before I gave it the final coat of primer I decided to fit the windshield as I am using the shield from my 59 Citation which is way cooler but had a slightly different curvature on the bottom and different method of mounting. So some grinding of the plexiglass and many on/offs holes drilled etc. - I got it ready so when I go to install I won't be scratching up the beautifully finished deck.

Gave the deck its final primer today.

In between sanding and priming I worked on the Sterling Trailer. Disassembled the entire thing. Ground & blasted and primed and painted and reassembled. Hubcaps and fenders still to be painted color of deck.

Also got the Merc 400 running beautifully and did the exterior beautification. I think it came out great. Not perfect, but from 10' - Great.

Tom

Final coat of primer.
Electrical fenders and hubcaps almost ready to go.

Excellent work, it looks GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bob

First coat of final color. Woo hoo...

Looks GREAT! Isn't it nice to shoot color? Makes things start to look finished!

Looks like Gracie is almost ready for the big dance! She looks fantastic, love that color. (Looks like Butterscotch on the computer. )

If you did all that in only a month you have wayyyy too much time on your hands. I'll have the wife make up a honey-do list for you.
Great work and progress. Can't wait to see pictures of Gracie on the water.
Cal

Whew -- Done spraying and now just waiting to buff.
Most all trim pieces are polished and ready to go back on. Windshield is ready and Merc is poised and wanting to be hung. Don't get excited Gracie...

Trailer is ready to go under.

I'm starting some upholstery now. We got snow yesterday and our aluminum boat sunk at the cabin when a big storm came through. Spent the day bringing her up bailing her out and tearing the 25hp Merc apart - drying out and fogging etc. She's fine now.


Tom

Tom, howcum it takes me a year to do a boat and you get it in about a month? Me thinks youre a pro with a staff of 9 people who work all through the night so you can take pictures in the morning.
Really looking sharp. How 'bout we have a race to see who gets to a launch ramp first. Gotta have pictures.
Cal

I like the orange. It will be a nice addition to the Priest Lakes 2nd annual Glassic boat show! Plug Plug

Well we're almost there. Upholstery is measured and on it's way.

I couldn't wait. I had to put Gracie in. She ran like almost like a charm. A little more tweaking on the 400 and she'll be perfect. She handled the water and waves like a trooper. That little watchamacallit on the side threw those waves to the side like nobody's business. \

So the Wacanda and the Glastron SeaFlite Seville Cruiser will also be in the water this week in time for the 2nd Annual Priest Lake Glassic Boat Show.. Lookin for at least 30 boats ... Weather looks like mid 80's and no wind on Sat & Sun -- Thank you God !!!!!!!!!!!! It's gonnabe fun !!!!!
Tom