TOPIC: 1963 Correct Craft Debonnaire Restoration

We are currently restoring/remodeling a 1963 Debonnaire. Here are a few progress photos...cabinet, engine and engine enclosure:

Thanks for sharing the progress report Jan, you guys do some fabulous work over there at Nautilus!

WOW!!

That is a creative Gal there.. You always said you were a inboard guy... Maybe we need a spring time dust off , / rat rod rally
on your lake in the South east . ? I get this Carlson
rigged, but wont have near the HP as Pinky.

Again SWEET. .I can see this trend going forward .

Concerning the restoration of vintage fiberglass boats (and a lot of wooden ones too!), I've always thought that originality is highly over-rated. The boat builders/factories were in business to "crank 'em out" for profit and the designs and appointments were made to that end. They didn't have the time or the profit margin to gild the lily and remain competitive. We do. I guess our "creations" are simply my interpretations of what could have been. This particular boat may or may not(?) have been originally owned by Jayne Mansfield. Assuming the rumors are correct, the owner elected to paint the Debonaire "Jayne Mansfield Pink." I assumed that Jayne would settle for no less than a matching pink big block Chevy. Ya know, it doesn't look half bad!

absolutly beautiful work!

Aside from the windshield, which is still at the glass shop, the restoration is finished. The engine that came with the boat blew up when we did our first shakedown cruise so we bought a long block big block Chevy and transferred everything, which is why the engine is now black and pink instead of all pink. The 2nd shakedown yielded 4,300 RPM/49 MPH @ WOT. Here are some photos taken this afternoon:

Absolutely gorgeous!

Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bob

That's a fine boat you've built. I'd love to see video of it ripping across the lake.