"67" Dorsett Catalina

Hello
Just bought a "new" old boat on craigslist.
Had to up the price $100.00 so the owner would hold it for me.
Just joined this site to get advice on restoration.
She is in good shape but I want to bring her all the way back.
So I will be looking for odds and ends.
A windsheld to start with as the one on her is cracked.
Looking forward to to reading all your post.
Craig D
Pics to come soon....

[Skagitguy]

Craig, Welcome to the wonderful world of Boating,NWCBC and Dorsett boats. Was this the one listed yesterday ? I do know of a auto glass store but it on this side of the water in Lynnwood. Check over on your side in Bremerton Area. I had one put in that was bigger ( Dorsett Farallon ) than yours for $245.00. That's a nice looking boat and sure you will like it. Chuck

[timw]

Yea, another Dorsett

[Skagitguy]

Yea Tim, There are coming out of the woodwork now ! I counted about 10-12 of them even more maybe ? 4-5 Farallon's alone. Chuck.

Wrong it's a "1963" dorsett

Went out and picked up the boat Monday and the Title reads 1963.
The older the better in my book...
Thank you all for the welcoms. Here she is
Craig

[Steve_Kiesel]

Looks like a good score Craig. I sent the seller an email, but never heard back. Obviously I was too late. Enjoy the Dorsett, there has been a lot of them coming to the group lately.

[Dave C]

Looks like a good score Craig. I sent the seller an email, but never heard back. Obviously I was too late. Enjoy the Dorsett, there has been a lot of them coming to the group lately.

Ditto from me.

It's to bad these sellers don't have the courtesy to email back saying it's sold or ANY communication back Oh well it's thier loss. It looks like we could have gotten into a bidding war and the seller could have laughed all the way to the bank

[KSKI]

1963 - Good Year

A barrel-back 1963 Catalina is infinitely more interesting than a 1967 Catalina. Of course, I could be a little bias. I also have a white hull 1963 Catalina. I am one year into a complete (replace all wood) restoration. I have enjoyed every minute. I am sure you will as well. If you run into any problems or have a question, drop me a line.

[Straycat]

To me that's a '60-'61 Catalina, '63 had a diff hull, '62 had a sunvisor over top. Could be an inbetwen I guess. None the less nice score...................

"63" Dorsett

Well is been sometime now since been on this site.
I took my "63" Dorsett Catalina to Defiance Boats in Port Orchard to have them repair and gel-coat the bottom of the boat due to cracks and spider webbing.
$3000 later I get my boat back.

They did a very nice job on the hull however when inspecting the bilge space through a hole they cutout in the decking they found that the strangers were all rotten. My heart sunk!

I told them to hold the work on the boat for the time being. I got a call back after a few days from the manager stating that his boat engineer had looked over my boat and decided it could be filled with flotation foam.

I told him to go ahead with the repair. They also put foam in the forward bow as well.

I then got a call telling me that I needed a new transom . My Heart Sunk!
I told them to go ahead with the repair.

They did a very nice job on rebuilding the Transom with a composite material.

I now have the boat back and will be working on the detailing.

I will posts and pictures of the repairs and new transom soon.

Looking for a windshield and other miscellaneous parts.

What may seem like a good deal at first can change rapidly. I am in this now $4100 and it looks like there is no end in site.
Craig D

[Helmar]

Well is been sometime now since been on this site.
I took my "63" Dorsett Catalina to Defiance Boats in Port Orchard to have them repair and gel-coat the bottom of the boat due to cracks and spider webbing.
$3000 later I get my boat back.

They did a very nice job on the hull however when inspecting the bilge space through a hole they cutout in the decking they found that the strangers were all rotten. My heart sunk!

I told them to hold the work on the boat for the time being. I got a call back after a few days from the manager stating that his boat engineer had looked over my boat and decided it could be filled with flotation foam.

I told him to go ahead with the repair. They also put foam in the forward bow as well.

I then got a call telling me that I needed a new transom . My Heart Sunk!
I told them to go ahead with the repair.

They did a very nice job on rebuilding the Transom with a composite material.

I now have the boat back and will be working on the detailing.

I will posts and pictures of the repairs and new transom soon.

Looking for a windshield and other miscellaneous parts.

What may seem like a good deal at first can change rapidly. I am in this now $4100 and it looks like there is no end in site.
Craig D

Lets see.
Replace all the wood.
Replace any glass that is needed.
Repair and paint.
Replace the power.
Replace the steering.
Replace the trailer.
upholstery.

Yep, new boat, But Wait !!

You spent less than the cost of a new show room boat.
You have a restored Classic that does not depreciate like a new boat.
Talk to most any boat surveyor, your classic is built better, plus with the new closed cell flotation foam, is Safer than a new boat.

Me, I look at it as I spent my money on something to enjoy and just didn't drink it away in some bar.

A Classic boat may not be as cool as a Classic Car, but I would bet its a hell of a lot cheaper to rebuild/restore, and you still have a head turner.
:TwoCents1:

[Lootas1]

Yah, but aren't hours spent in a bar better than hours spent under a boat prepping and painting?

[bham-rick]

Makes sense to me !

Well is been sometime now since been on this site.
I took my "63" Dorsett Catalina to Defiance Boats in Port Orchard to have them repair and gel-coat the bottom of the boat due to cracks and spider webbing.
$3000 later I get my boat back.

They did a very nice job on the hull however when inspecting the bilge space through a hole they cutout in the decking they found that the strangers were all rotten. My heart sunk!

I told them to hold the work on the boat for the time being. I got a call back after a few days from the manager stating that his boat engineer had looked over my boat and decided it could be filled with flotation foam.

I told him to go ahead with the repair. They also put foam in the forward bow as well.

I then got a call telling me that I needed a new transom . My Heart Sunk!
I told them to go ahead with the repair.

They did a very nice job on rebuilding the Transom with a composite material.

I now have the boat back and will be working on the detailing.

I will posts and pictures of the repairs and new transom soon.

Looking for a windshield and other miscellaneous parts.

What may seem like a good deal at first can change rapidly. I am in this now $4100 and it looks like there is no end in site.
Craig D

Take the slow bleed or pay a bit more in the beginning and go boating ? :Shocked:

[Dave C]

Yah, but aren't hours spent in a bar better than hours spent under a boat prepping and painting?

NAW Not to me the're not. :NoWay1:

[Tim McCrain]

Take the slow bleed or pay a bit more in the beginning and go boating ? :Shocked:

I think a lot of folks (including myself) really enjoy bringing one back to life, just like you're doing with your Larson. I know the motorcycles I've purchased, new or nice vintage, didn't bring me any where the pleasure I got out of the basket case that I brought back from the dead. Did it make economic sense? Naahh, but that wasn't the point.