The Antique and Classic Boating Society now recognizes fiberglass boats 25 years or older, built before 1992, as a part of our boat history: classical glass. As the next generation moves into remembering the boats they saw growing up, you will hear stories about Glastron Carlsons, early Cobalts, Glasspar G3’s, Chris Craft Lancers, Century Coronados, and many more
It all started with a request for a pink boat by Susan Tenney, the current president of the Bob Speltz Land-O-Lakes Chapter of the ACBS. I knew of a 1983 Century Cardel, which is the V-drive version of the 21′ Century Coronado. We sought out the seller and decided that we should go out for a water test, and so we did! At that time, we discovered that the exhaust manifolds was filling the cockpit with fumes. But beyond that, the 400 C.I., 330 H.P., Chrysler V8 had tons of power. So, we continued with a compression test and, after some negotiations, were able to acquire the Cardel for a reasonable price.
The boat has a particularly Deep-V and is a great ride for Lake Minnetonka. It sits eight people comfortably and has an upholstered sundeck and teak swim platform. In our photo essay, we’ve included the our shop photos as we began the process. We moved the boat into our shop and mapped out all the hardware. We then disassembled her down to her bare bones. As you scroll through the photos, you’ll see that upon opening the caverns of fiberglass where the stringers lay, high wood moisture content encased in the stringers created a perfect environment for deterioration. They had rotted from the inside out in both the main hull of the boat and the engine stringers. So, we replaced the stringers and found ways to improve on the factory-original fiberglass work. In addition, we beefed up the strength of the floor and started to upgrade her condition as a whole. The photos will currently take you to her new colors and what Susan chose as her new name: “Tickled Pink”.
“Tickled Pink” will be making the round to many boat shows this year after we customize her to a new standard. This particular project is not about restoring her to if she had just left the factory; Susan wanted her to be a unique, standout boat. We know it will be a personal design statement for Susan.
The “Tickled Pink” is an excellent example of entering the market of boating. Depending on how far you want to go, you can find turnkey excellent preserved originals priced reasonably. Or you can go over the top and have everything personalized to your liking. Whether it’s in classic fiber glass or great classic wooden boats, the value proposition to get on the water has never looked more inviting. Prices are very reasonable, especially if you’ve compared any new boat pricing at the boat shows. We have a current team of nine amazing people restoring and caring for some of the finest boats in the world. We also are Lyman, Sea Skiff, and Skiff Craft artisans. We are incorporating the best new design elements to put a fresh update to these classic rides. Please stay in touch with our progress and contact us with any questions if we may help with your restorations, from canoes to commuters. Share the boating life with your family and friends today!
Nautically yours, F. Todd Warner.
