Friday morning, I was rolling through Craigslist, as I do numerous times daily, on the prowl for a good deal. Noticed a guy selling a 14 foot Alumacraft, with slight corrosion issues, for 100 bucks. Can't pass that up. Called the guy, and he sent me a few more pictures, and a few descriptions. Now, there was no way I could leave it. Paypalled the guy 100 bucks, so he wouldn't sell out from under me, and met dad at his work at 6. He and I drove the rest of the way down in the truck to pick it up (75 miles each way from his work, which is about 45 from the house). This thing fits absolutely perfectly in the back of a full size long bed pickup. Nice snug fit in between the side walls, with the keel on the tailgate.
Here are a few pictures. It is a 1985 Alumacraft T14XL. The previous owner is a retired aircraft engineer, so he was very meticulous, and all work done so far was done superbly. Most boats I get are from people who haven't a clue, and usually cause more damage than help.
Original interior layout. Seems there was plywood on top of the aluminum, making "pods" at the transom. The only thing missing was the splashwell, as the previous owner said it was too corroded (this boat originally spent time in salt).
Yes, that is a livewell on the port side.
Here it is with the stuff that he removed, due to corrosion, or to remove the partially rotted transom.
The transom does have 2 holes for the livewell pump and drain, and seeing as the existing livewell won't be big enough to use for bass in a tourney, or for flounder or seatrout or reds when I go salt fishing, I probably won't reinstall it. I probably won't put any livewell in, as this won't be a tourney bass rig (won't sell my Yazoo until I restore the 1988 18' Alumacraft bass boat sitting out back).
The previous owner didn't want one either, so he made a nice cover for the back end (hence the shined up part of the transom). It looks quite nice, so I will probably use it. A little 5200 sealant, and rivets that match the rest of the hull will make that look like it was intended, and not merely a patch.
No dents I can find.
Here is the only issue. This is the reason he started disassembling it.
Apparently, some of the salt water managed to get between the two layers of aluminum here right behind the keel, besides these 2 holes (one goes all the way through), there is a little bubbling in the area. I will probably have to cut out a small section around the area, and replace it with a new piece of aluminum. Merely patching the holes will not stop the corrosion, so it will start making other holes later on. Right now, I have it while it is young, and has really only affected a 2 inch by 8 inch section, which is actually in a convenient spot to patch.
Little bit of rust presumably from bunk fasteners.
The guy also had a real nice 2 year old Continental galvanized trailer, which actually met my specs (longer tongue than what is considered correct for a 14 footer), for 350 extra, but I didn't have that laying around. Really wished I did, but that wasn't going to happen.
Not exactly sure what I am going to do with it. Were it a 16 footer, I would easily mod it, and sell my Yazoo, as a vee would probably suit my rough water a little better, but I am not sure I would be happy with a 1.5 foot drop in length.
It is a long shaft, and rated for a prop rated 35 (by '85, all motors were prop rated). The earlier model of this boat, back when motors were still crank rated, was 40 horse, so I can run the crank rated 40 longshaft on this just fine. I am sure it will fly as well.
I have always had utmost respect for Alumacrafts, but every time I get another, they never cease to amaze me. They do the little things that make a difference, and truly are one of the best built boats on the market. Both this, and the 18 foot bass boat we have are absolute tanks.
Here are a few pictures. It is a 1985 Alumacraft T14XL. The previous owner is a retired aircraft engineer, so he was very meticulous, and all work done so far was done superbly. Most boats I get are from people who haven't a clue, and usually cause more damage than help.
Original interior layout. Seems there was plywood on top of the aluminum, making "pods" at the transom. The only thing missing was the splashwell, as the previous owner said it was too corroded (this boat originally spent time in salt).
Yes, that is a livewell on the port side.
Here it is with the stuff that he removed, due to corrosion, or to remove the partially rotted transom.
The transom does have 2 holes for the livewell pump and drain, and seeing as the existing livewell won't be big enough to use for bass in a tourney, or for flounder or seatrout or reds when I go salt fishing, I probably won't reinstall it. I probably won't put any livewell in, as this won't be a tourney bass rig (won't sell my Yazoo until I restore the 1988 18' Alumacraft bass boat sitting out back).
The previous owner didn't want one either, so he made a nice cover for the back end (hence the shined up part of the transom). It looks quite nice, so I will probably use it. A little 5200 sealant, and rivets that match the rest of the hull will make that look like it was intended, and not merely a patch.
No dents I can find.
Here is the only issue. This is the reason he started disassembling it.
Apparently, some of the salt water managed to get between the two layers of aluminum here right behind the keel, besides these 2 holes (one goes all the way through), there is a little bubbling in the area. I will probably have to cut out a small section around the area, and replace it with a new piece of aluminum. Merely patching the holes will not stop the corrosion, so it will start making other holes later on. Right now, I have it while it is young, and has really only affected a 2 inch by 8 inch section, which is actually in a convenient spot to patch.
Little bit of rust presumably from bunk fasteners.
The guy also had a real nice 2 year old Continental galvanized trailer, which actually met my specs (longer tongue than what is considered correct for a 14 footer), for 350 extra, but I didn't have that laying around. Really wished I did, but that wasn't going to happen.
Not exactly sure what I am going to do with it. Were it a 16 footer, I would easily mod it, and sell my Yazoo, as a vee would probably suit my rough water a little better, but I am not sure I would be happy with a 1.5 foot drop in length.
It is a long shaft, and rated for a prop rated 35 (by '85, all motors were prop rated). The earlier model of this boat, back when motors were still crank rated, was 40 horse, so I can run the crank rated 40 longshaft on this just fine. I am sure it will fly as well.
I have always had utmost respect for Alumacrafts, but every time I get another, they never cease to amaze me. They do the little things that make a difference, and truly are one of the best built boats on the market. Both this, and the 18 foot bass boat we have are absolute tanks.
