So I bought another classic boat

fergal.b · 12-10-2013 5:47pm #1

Not the sweetest looking classic boat I have ever seen :eek: but I think it has a bit of character

She is a microplas microboat and was made in the 50's & 60's going by the serial no I'd say she is an early one but I don't know how many were made, I only know of two others in existence and they are in the UK.

fergal.b · 12-10-2013 5:55pm

There is a little clip of one here http://www.britishpathe.com/video/take-to-the-boats-aka-national-boat-show at the 1962 boat show.

file.php?id=1822&t=1

And if it's good enough for Petula Clark it's good enough for me

davlacey · 12-10-2013 7:39pm

seen this on adverts are u going to put a steering wheel in and whats the max size outboard it would take

fergal.b · 12-10-2013 7:52pm

davlacey wrote: »

seen this on adverts are u going to put a steering wheel in and whats the max size outboard it would take

I'd say it will take up to 10hp. I have the red and white steering wheel that I was thinking about using on it, not sure yet

I also have this 3.9 Merc that will push it along and I spotted an engine on DD that is the same as the one in the black & white photo so I sent him an email.

davlacey · 12-10-2013 8:42pm

id love this a speed boat that you could throw in the boot. make a mold and id buy one of your mini botos for me the little one

kfod · 12-10-2013 8:45pm

That's a funny little yoke! Be some craic

fergal.b · 12-10-2013 8:47pm

davlacey wrote: »

id love this a speed boat that you could throw in the boot. make a mold and id buy one of your mini botos for me the little one

You can buy this one when it's done

If I don't use it as a tender for the crackerbox:D

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sogood · 13-10-2013 1:23am

Hey Fergal, unless I'm mistaken, Microplas was what Microplus was originally called. And speaking of which, now that the summer season is winding down for me, I can get back into the resto of my Microplus. That and a million other things to catch up on, but hey, it's better than daytime TV.

Skuxx · 13-10-2013 9:16am

That's one of the funniest looking boats I've ever seen Fergal, best of luck with her, she couldn't have gone to a better home!

breghall · 13-10-2013 10:51am

and just when the wife thought she'd get her yard back, along comes Fergal once again....:D

Looks like a novel little craft though.. enjoy.

fergal.b · 13-10-2013 12:02pm

I spotted this on ebay and just had to have it:) it's from 1958 Motor sport Mag, if anyone has any more info on them or comes across any info on them I'd love to see it, I have also singed up to the Microplus forum to see if they can help.

aujopimur · 13-10-2013 2:47pm

It looks like a big shoe

Stheno · 13-10-2013 2:49pm

It's very quirky looking good luck doing it up.

Any idea what colour you will paint it?

fergal.b · 13-10-2013 3:00pm

Stheno wrote: »

It's very quirky looking good luck doing it up.

Any idea what colour you will paint it?

:D:D

Stheno · 13-10-2013 3:04pm

fergal.b wrote: »

:D:D

Gorgeous

As soon as I saw the pics up above, I thought it would look great in red

neris · 13-10-2013 8:07pm

Id say that will be alot of fun in a nice lumpy sea

Conchir · 13-10-2013 8:36pm

If you get a flat sea I'd say it'll clatter along at a good pace. As neris says, might be a different story in worse conditions

Also, that colour scheme would be beautiful, go for it, can't wait to see

miss no stars · 13-10-2013 9:04pm

I want one

Stheno · 13-10-2013 9:04pm

Conchir wrote: »

If you get a flat sea I'd say it'll clatter along at a good pace. As neris says, might be a different story in worse conditions

Also, that colour scheme would be beautiful, go for it, can't wait to see

Having spent plenty of time the past few weeks in lumpy seas, I can't imagine being out in something like that in those conditions!

miss no stars · 13-10-2013 9:05pm

Stheno wrote: »

Having spent plenty of time the past few weeks in lumpy seas, I can't imagine being out in something like that in those conditions!

Be grand, they said...

fergal.b · 13-10-2013 9:11pm

Microplas started out building some of the first fiberglass kit cars before they changed to microplus boats so I thought a two tone paint scheme of the time would suit it.

It may have been Elvis with his Mistral that put the idea of building boats into their heads.:D

miss no stars · 13-10-2013 9:13pm

Are you keeping or selling it once done?

Stheno · 13-10-2013 9:14pm

miss no stars wrote: »

Be grand, they said...

Didn't a squib capsize in Howth a couple of weeks ago? /shudder

miss no stars · 13-10-2013 9:19pm

Stheno wrote: »

Didn't a squib capsize in Howth a couple of weeks ago? /shudder

Wasn't me

I didn't hear what happened - we broke gear and went in early and I haven't been back down since due to life getting very very busy... But I did hear that one crew were in the water watching their wayward squib sail merrily off on them...

Seriously big swell that day, breaking waves and all. Great fun running with them!

[/tangent]

Stheno · 13-10-2013 9:32pm

miss no stars wrote: »

Wasn't me

I didn't hear what happened - we broke gear and went in early and I haven't been back down since due to life getting very very busy... But I did hear that one crew were in the water watching their wayward squib sail merrily off on them...

Seriously big swell that day, breaking waves and all. Great fun running with them!

[/tangent]

NO idea either, just read that they capsized

and were rescued by a puppeter I can just imagine bobbing about watching the boat on it's merry way

It was a bit rough today as well.

Sorry for going OT fergal

fergal.b · 13-10-2013 9:34pm

miss no stars wrote: »

Are you keeping or selling it once done?

I'm not too sure, I can fit it in the car "MPV" next to the wheelchair or I can also put it on the roof rack with a bit of help " it's like one of those storage boxes

" so this makes it very versatile for me if I ever want to stop off at a canal or river and go for a little spin:) As davlacey suggested I might take a mold of it if I thought they would pay a few quid to make, in the 50's they cost about 3 weeks wages so I guess the price will depend on who I ask how much they earn as I'm not going to go on mine

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miss no stars · 13-10-2013 9:39pm

fergal.b wrote: »

I'm not too sure, I can fit it in the car "MPV" next to the wheelchair or I can also put it on the roof rack with a bit of help " it's like one of those storage boxes " so this makes it very versatile for me if I ever want to stop off at a canal or river and go for a little spin:) As davlacey suggested I might take a mold of it if I thought they would pay a few quid to make, in the 50's they cost about 3 weeks wages so I guess the price will depend on who I ask how much they earn as I'm not going to go on mine

.

All up in the air for me at the moment work wise but providing it comes back down to earth I'd be interested in a mould. They're VERY cute.

On a related note, I wonder if accessible boating will see a resurgence now that so many people are broke...?

fergal.b · 14-10-2013 6:31pm

I'm thinking about doing up one of these instead of the Merc as I think it will suit the "boat" a bit better. I did put an offer on a non runner white one on adverts but I don't think he was toooo impressed

I might up it a bit if I can't find another:) If any of you have one or one of the white ones up to 10hp in the back of the shed give me a shout. I don't want to spend too much on it as I know how much they cost to restore and you can never get your money back on them.

fergal.b · 15-10-2013 5:25pm

Looks like it was red to start with.

pedroeibar1 · 15-10-2013 5:31pm

fergal.b wrote: »

Looks like it was red to start with.

Did somebody shoot it to put it out of its misery? (That was a Seagull on the stern?)

fergal.b · 15-10-2013 5:49pm

pedroeibar1 wrote: »

Did somebody shoot it to put it out of its misery? (That was a Seagull on the stern?)

Don't be so mean to her :eek: she has not been put out of her misery she has been given the breath of life

I just removed the bow handle so she can show her true colours :P

The photo with petula looks like a seagull engine alright but I think the one from the boat show is a jet engine made by Warren.

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pedroeibar1 · 15-10-2013 7:00pm

:DI was being cheeky! But that image of the Seagull brought back horrid memories of rowing home because it got damp/moist/took a humour/went on strike.
The 'Mistral' car body in the advert does look somewhat similar to the old Lotus Eleven, nice lines.

fergal.b · 16-11-2013 1:47pm

All filled and sanded down I also made a mockup of the screen from some scrap plastic. I'm still not sure if I will go through the hassle of adding a steering system and throttle control might just try it with the tiller arm first and see how goes. Next job is to coat it in pre-kote primer.

fergal.b · 25-11-2013 5:20pm

All primed up with Pre-kote, now what colour to paint it I have some red,white and black left over

HeidiHeidi · 25-11-2013 6:23pm

Has to be red

Stheno · 25-11-2013 7:06pm

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

Has to be red

Agreed

fergal.b · 25-11-2013 7:29pm

I didn't win the little johnson on adverts or should I say he wouldn't accept my offer He said he would prefer to see it rust away :eek:

so I will have to go with the Merc and that's why I was thinking black with chrome trim but if it's red you want then red it shall be

pedroeibar1 · 26-11-2013 1:12pm

I too agree on red - Rochelle red by International would be nice. And you need a wheel, The effect of a tiller bar would spoil the image.

fergal.b · 26-11-2013 1:46pm

I just told a guy on another post that it's not worth the effort converting these engines to remote

on this boat as it's so small I would also have to make my own steering and remote cables to fit.
I will have to think about this it might be worth the challenge

.

fergal.b · 26-11-2013 4:32pm

Looking at this photo again it looks like the steering wheel is just for show and doesn't seem to be connected to the outboard

I think I will also need a bikini babe to help me work it out

breghall · 26-11-2013 5:09pm

Tiller extension would really work either as it's too deep craft?

pedroeibar1 · 26-11-2013 5:22pm

fergal.b wrote: »

I think I will also need a bikini babe to help me work it out

Shame on you Fergal, an' you a married man! Here's one (to keep you out of mischief)

:p:D:D

fergal.b · 26-11-2013 5:33pm

pedroeibar1 wrote: »

Shame on you Fergal, an' you a married man! Here's one (to keep you out of mischief) :p:D:D

There would definitely be no room for a steering wheel :eek:

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neris · 26-11-2013 9:26pm

fergal.b wrote: »

There would definitely be no room for a steering wheel :eek:

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Thered be no boat

fergal.b · 29-11-2013 2:16pm

I rang up about this little trailer as I thought I could do it up to fit, I asked was it roadworthy as I would be towing it home he assured me it was and that the bearings were just done and it had good tyres. So off I went this morning to have a look The guy couldn't make it but would send his brother around to meet me.
WELL HOLY CRAP :eek: the tow hitch was hanging on by a flake of rust and the rim on one of the wheels was gone I don't mean buckled I mean gone the inner tube was visible all around the inside of the wheel and the tube was sprayed silver to look like the wheel :eek: What a chancer :mad:

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breghall · 29-11-2013 6:16pm

fergal.b wrote: »

I mean gone the inner tube was visible all around the inside of the wheel and the tube was sprayed silver to look like the wheel

.

Well now that's a new one i've never heard of.... spraying an inner tube silver to make it look like a rim...god some people are just lousy f...s

tin79 · 02-12-2013 12:56pm

fergal.b wrote: »

I rang up about this little trailer as I thought I could do it up to fit, I asked was it roadworthy as I would be towing it home he assured me it was and that the bearings were just done and it had good tyres. So off I went this morning to have a look The guy couldn't make it but would send his brother around to meet me.
WELL HOLY CRAP :eek: the tow hitch was hanging on by a flake of rust and the rim on one of the wheels was gone I don't mean buckled I mean gone the inner tube was visible all around the inside of the wheel and the tube was sprayed silver to look like the wheel :eek: What a chancer :mad:

So did it tow home alright

Surely you couldn't leave that bargain!

Actually on a similar note I once drove from Dublin to the very coastal tip of Connemara to look at a boat. The pics looked good, talked to the guy on the phone he assured me it was in good nick. So one Sunday morning we set off to view it. Had all the gear , tailboard etc, and were set to tow it home. It was a Dell Eurosport 15 with a Yam 50.

After a long drive we pulled up outside his house. Got out said hello to the guy, took one walk around the boat, gave him a dirty look...got back in the car and went home.

He told me on the phone there was no rust, all was in great conditions. The photos much have been taken years ago.

It was in bits. Trailer a ball of rust, engine mounts in rag order, wood all rotten, seats destroyed, hull fouled, about an inch of leaves in the bottom, he had the engine already started when we pulled up and it was spluttering and jerking away and dropping revs. Did he think I wouldn`t notice.

fergal.b · 04-12-2013 6:51pm

It's not looking pretty so far plus the cable is a bit long so I will have to cut it and rejoin it "not something I recommend doing":eek: I did play around with a chain drive steering system using pulleys but I think the cable is the best of a bad lot:) I might cut a hole at an angle on the back of the boat and see if I can bring the cable inside instead of coming over the top. Next job is to make a plate from the engine to a link arm connected to the steering shaft, I also have to build a dash to take the steering system but I'm not sure if I will do the throttle and gear shift as they will be right behind me if I need them:)

fergal.b · 10-12-2013 5:27pm

As we are having a bit of good weather I decided to do the painting.

This is the look I went for.

I also made a little dash.

The finish isn't too bad so I don't think I'll go through the fine sanding and polishing as I will be using it just for a bit of messing about

elfy4eva · 10-12-2013 5:32pm

Wow it's nice to see something that was so weathered with time given a new lease of life! :O

toshiba2010 · 10-12-2013 7:46pm

can,t wait to see it finished . looks great already i,d say it will be a cracker when it,s done . fergal . you are a genius .:)

So I bought another classic boat

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