Old Sportcraft

A conversation among Whalers
JKites
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue May 04, 2021 10:51 pm

Old Sportcraft

Postby JKites » Tue May 04, 2021 11:28 pm

Over the last few years I have been trying to find information on my boat. By my somewhat untrained eye, the hull lines are Boston Whaler, however the construction does not seem to be typical Whaler.

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Fig. 1. 1960 Sportcraft boat metal tag.
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Fig. 2. 1960 Sportcraft boat foredeck.
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Fig. 3. 1960 Sportcraft boat hull at bow, from side quarter
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Fig. 4. 1960 Sportcraft boat hull at bow, from ahead
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Fig. 5. 1960 Sportcraft boat, as seen in Figure 3.
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Fig. 6. 1960 Sportcraft boat, transom from astern.
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Fig. 7. 1960 Sportcraft boat, with identification somewhat visible at on hullside.
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There is no foam from what I can tell and no molded deck hatches in the typical locations.

The hull dimensions are pretty spot on when compared to the old 16 footer dimensions.

Emblems on the side of the boat identify the manufacturer as Sportcraft. The registrations I got with the boat had it registered as a 1960 Sportcraft. The only factory identification on the hull is a stamped serial number on a transom tag.

It does not appear any modifications have been made to the boat over the years so I am assuming it is fairly original to how it left the factory. The "Sportcraft" emblems could have been added by a prior owner but, the construction details are what makes me question that theory. I have looked through many old Sportcraft brochures and have not seen any mention of this particular model in their catalogs.

I purchased from an owner who had it for many many years and It sat in the water at their camp in New Hampshire. It was a little rough around the edges but after a good cleaning and some maintenance it has been a great boat.

-Jeremy

jimh
Posts: 11673
Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2015 12:25 pm
Location: Michigan, Lower Peninsula
Contact:

Re: Old Sportcraft

Postby jimh » Wed May 05, 2021 8:39 am

Hi Jeremy. The boat seen in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 is not a boat made by Boston Whaler. The most definitive image is seen in Figure 3 which shows a very unusual chine line in the hull sides near the bow.

If the boat has an identifying mark indicating it was a SPORTCRAFT boat and has prior registration as a 1960 SPORTCRAFT boat, the most reasonable inference I can offer is the boat is a 1960 SPORTCRAFT boat.

The website and the forum do not collect information about SPORTCRAFT boats.

Old fiberglass boats are often nearly indestructible in ordinary use. Even after 60-years they can useful boats. I believe you own an old 1960's fiberglass boat that was not made by Boston Whaler.

JKites
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue May 04, 2021 10:51 pm

Re: Old Sportcraft

Postby JKites » Wed May 05, 2021 8:47 am

Thank you Jimh. The search continues.