1960 uniflite 17foot boat questions

[Kat Moore]

My dad bought this boat a few years before I was born. I have many memories of the summers we spent on vacations... They would water ski, fish and all kinds of lake and even some ocean adventures. Up until I was about twelve. My dad always stoked it in its own shed... Took very good care of it and it was rarely in the water over night unless we were camping with it. My dad recently passed away... And we want to find out how to get an appropriate value on it. Eventually will sell it as he was the boater in the family and the mechanic and none of the rest of the rest of us are.... So it would be nice to be able either barter it for services... Or sell it to get the money to make a living space for my mom to live with us when she is ready... I live in deer park wa and mom is in Buckley wa... Where the boat is currently. I will be traveling over there next week to get photos of it and stuff. I know it cleans up easy as we spent one day cleanings tin high school for my dad, was not too bad at all. It used to have a hard top, but dad modified that by cutting out the center of the top...and making a canvas top with windows so you could stand up to drive it...and to also give some shade on those hot days. About 10 years ago he bought a newer motor for it and I think only had it out to lake fish a few times since then. It also has an older trolling motor I think. Anyhow this forum was the only place I found online that seemed to know what the unfiltered boats were. So would love it if anyone would have advice for us on how to evaluate the value of it. I know it rides like you on smooth water cause of the keel on the front, even on choppy waters.dad was very proud of that when everyone we camped with would be jarred around in their boats! Thanks in advance ...and will get some photos to post next week.

[Kelly]

Hi Kat,

Sorry for your loss. It sounds like your dad was a real boat captain and loved to be on the water.

As far as value, it's tough to say. Runabouts can be a tough one to sell sometimes. I've seen them sit on craigslist for quite some time and to my surprise, they usually aren't asking too much for them. They are well built little boats though, and if it's in good condition with a solid floor, solid stringers, and a solid transom then perhaps it will sell quicker than those on CL that need more attention.

Without seeing pictures, the range for a price can all over the map. Classic glass boats haven't caught the big pricetag wave like the wood boats or classic cars have. The truth is, you could get $100 to as high as $2500. The high side would be little to no work needed and has a re-power like you said. Obviously the low side is it would need everything, which doesn't fit your description of it.

Looking forward to seeing the pics though!

[Kat Moore]

found some prints of it....here is the photo right after he put the newer motor on it in 1998... all shined up too. raised the seats and put new boat seats...floor is good as far as i can tell...will get photos of the hull next week. Sorry its just the back view.. couldn't find the side view photos... Might find some some next week too but will take current ones.... what do ya think as a first glance? I appreciate your info!.

[Kelly]

Understanding those pics are older, if it still looks close to this you'll have a great chance of fetching the higher end of the price spectrum.
For somebody looking for an all original Uniflite, the missing hardtop will hurt a little. Your father saved it some though by adding the canvas. How is the canvas today? Brittle? Pliable?
I'll add this, a lot of people that are starting to get in the hunt are just looking for a stylish, cool old boat and aren't as concerned with "all original" like car guys...yet.
Though it's a re-power, it's an older re-power with a Mercury 70 hp (merc always added that extra "0" to make it sound really tough) and it's a 2 stroke. I wouldn't necessarily make the re-power the power selling point. The condition of the Mercury is the selling point.

If I was in the hunt, I would consider this one if the current pics are close to this condition.
Is that an early Ford Bronco or an Int'l Scout hooked up to the boat?

[Helmar]

I can't quite make out the model on this one.
Looking forward to more pictures when you get them.
Welcome aboard by the way.

[Kat Moore]

thanks.. mom told me it was bought in 1960... and its 17ft.... I know the logo is uniflite but in looking at whats online I have not found one like this in the old photos. but then there is not much out there. Its in this condition... just dusty... he took it out on the lake twice... and then its been parked ever since. Will check the condition of the canvas too... he bought the best he could when he did it and his sister was an upholsterer... so they got the best available....at the time....Anyhow... I am going to be going through old photos when I am there next week and hope to find some of us camping and the older than me family... waterskiing... back then.. he had 2 evinrude(sp?) engines on it... they drank the gas for sure.. and one was always giving him trouble it seemed.. but when they both ran it was a powerful little boat in my eyes as a kid!
thanks for the welcome.. its a great memory in our past but nothing I see us doing in the future as my husband is not a mechanic at all and we dont live any where near water... hehe. Mom said she might still have the paperwork of when they bought it so that will help identify it. Ya.. when he redid the top.. I know he did not save the piece he cut out... I remember it going to the dump. it was all about comfort for him back then!.. this was his pride and joy for sure!

[Kat Moore]

Oh and that is an old willys jeep in the front of it... that my dad repaired and got running again.. a guy traded him the jeep and a fur coat for some work dad did on his car..... another fun vehicle that my dad played with making better. He did sell that one a few years ago for a nice price too.

[TheBronze]

Looks very clean in the photo at least. Is there anything left of the hard top? If the basic frame was there, it could be rebuilt...

[Kelly]

I can't quite make out the model on this one.

It's the same model as this one:

[Kat Moore]

found a couple more photos from my moms camera back then.. from the front.. anyhow.. you can get a little better look at it. Yes its this clean... has always been this clean...Dad never let it get grungy ...anyhow will get current photos next week..... [ATTACH]16111[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]16112[/ATTACH]

[Kelly]

I like your dad's style, he had some cool stuff! The boat looks good, I stand by my earlier comment on price if it still looks like that. It's unique for sure with that set up, but it's still very stylish. Looking forward to the recent pics!

[Kat Moore]

THanks Kelly.. yep he had style.. hehe He was a welder for 30 + years at kenworth truck company there in Tukwila Wa...He never made anything weak. We always said if he was gonna make it it was out of 1/4 inch steel and would last several lifetimes!... should have seen that jeep when he took it in. no floor... no windows... and well rusted through so bad in all sides you could see daylight through it. it was a great project for him and fun to drive when it was done! Thanks for all the feedback! looking forward to seeing it again. Is there some place to go to get an appraisal on it? or do they even do that for boats at all? just curious! thanks.

[TheBronze]

That windshield looks... out of place? Seems like it is too far forward or too big for the boat. Was that part of the hard top option I wonder?

[Helmar]

That windshield looks... out of place? Seems like it is too far forward or too big for the boat. Was that part of the hard top option I wonder?

I think this was a modification that was more for convenience and in my honest opinion would take away from the value. She is a working boat now. To try to restore that by re fabricating the hard top is going to be a very costly process.
The condition of the boat on the other hand would increase the value, as a working boat I feel.
Sorry.

[Kat Moore]

the lower windshield is the one that came with the boat. the upper one was what my dad put on it.. Ya.. not looking to restore it so to speak... just find someone who wants a good little boat for fishing and waterskiiing....weekenders. I may have a neighbor interested in it for trade out on some carpentry work we need done.... adding a couple rooms to our house... so might work out perfect for him ... just looking to find any more info I can... and then getting a figure for him to work with. If he dont trade for it we will atleast know what it could be worth and try to sell it later...
it is alot easier to stand and steer the boat rather than climb under that hard top and sit to drive it.. you can see better when your going fast... and its just easier on the back of us older folks! I am sure thats why my dad modified it..!plus it gave more shade to everyone on the hot days on the water.... and rain cover if you got caught in a shower!