TOPIC: I need a1959 Cutter Jet DeVille Specialist

I picked up a sorta-sad Jet DeVille. It was just too cool to pass up --cheap too. I need guidance; I read a post stating there's no wood 'cept in the transom. True? I want to get the old yucky floatation out. Is it just under the seats? Also, cap looks like its glassed in place. I cant remove it from the hull without some major hacking...Anyone familiar with this model? I have a Merc Mark 78A ready to bolt up. It oughta be a kick when its done!

I popped the cap on mine several years ago and haven't gotten much farther. It was glassed with 2" or so wide strips on the inside. I cut through from the outside right down the middle of the joint after removing the three pieces of aluminum rub rail holder ( V-shaped at the bow and two side pieces that wrapped around the transom).

Some plywood behind the dash in addition to the transom, and little bit on the control mount on the driver's side (starboard) on mine. One tiny rotted out piece was backer for the bow eye.

Seat bases are foam filled...I cut out holes and scraped it out by hand for the front seat. Stalled out on the rear seat. I will cut a bigger hole for that seat to get the foam out when I get back on this boat. Right now there literally aren't two parts still connected to each other. I sure hope I can remember how to put it back together.

Does yours have the latches for the rear hatch in front of the transom? I would like to know what they should look like.

Thanks and good luck.

Cron

Also, forgot to mention that the back side of the inside gunwales have plywood backing, as does the front edge of the rear deck. And it has been so long since I reached into the seat base to pull out the foam that I don't remember if there is/was wood inside the front and back vertical parts of the base...it kinda looks like they were formed over some wood on those sides of the base.

Good luck.

Thanks cron. Good info. My Cutter has NO rear deck cover at all. Perhaps it was glassed over? I need to replace the transom & it seems cap needs to come off to make that happen.....the fins & curves are cool, but it complicates things, right?

Moon (that'll have to do for now),

R&R the transom is why I popped the top off...just haven't gotten around to the replacement part yet. I didn't even think about trying to R&R the transom with the deck still on, but that doesn't mean it couldn't be done.

I suppose I shouldn't have even replied the first time since you requested an expert's help. I am far from being an expert but I do have that make/model and really like it's looks.

I presume that isn't yours with the two rear hatch latches. If, indeed, yours doesn't have a rear hatch and won't need them, please feel free to send me any such latches that you come across. That pic is the best pick of those latches I've seen, and I've been looking.

Thanks,

Cron

I replaced my transom from the outside, without splitting the top from the bottom. I also found that the bottom had developed a hook in it. I cut the seat bases out of the hull with a zip wheel on a right-angle grinder and tossed the waterlogged foam chunks. I then ground out what Cutter had put in for some short longitudinal stringers. After jacking the bottom of the boat flat, I then made some 8' long wood stringers and glassed them in with several layers of heavy roving and vinyl-ester resin. Re-glassed in the seat bases and made them airtight tanks. Will post some pics tonight. Transom still needs gelcoat and finishing (this spring). Then it'll get the Fat Fifty or the Merc 800...
Larry
Halfway done. Two layers of MDO plywood, lots o' vinylester resin with thickener.
Stringer addition
Seat bases back in,rolled on some white gelcoat.

Top Notch! All info is good info for sure. I'd love to see pix of that transom repair. Every picture I come up with shows an access door on the rear deck, so I bet mine was glassed over. Not a big deal, tho. I build stuff just for the smiles, exact restoration isnt important. I built this '63 Econoline beast years ago. Its FAR from original, but fun as heck!

Nice work sailor! I was wondering what lurks under my floor. I see drain holes and wonder if I really want to know...I thought I'd have the boat weighed at the truckstop, then cut open the seat boxes, dig out the floatation & reweigh it. If its not overly heavy, I'd leave the floor be.

The chunks o' foam in my boat weighed 50-60 lbs. apiece. Open cell foam. Stupidest idea ever...
Larry

I have a cutter jet, barn find, rough shape but all there, including hardware, what is range of prices I shoul put on it?

We have got to see inside pics and hardware first before a price is tossed out there.

Looking at the rear hatch hardware for your red cutter. Is that hardware stock?