restored swiftcraft

[BackyardBoats]

Hey all, just thought I would share some pics of my dads 70's swiftcraft explorer that I restored. It was loads of work but well worth it. I've got many pics of all the stages but here is just a few, hope you guys enjoy.

[PADDLES]

that looks great mate, good work

[tropicrows]

Great job there, how big is the explorer. How long did it take and did you, and did you repaint it with 2 pack or re-gel coat it. I did the same thing with my swiftcraft dominator.

[kitty_cat]

wow looks the goods well done , few fish now and all the hard work is worth it

[BackyardBoats]

thanks for the kind words guys, it took about a year to complete. It's 5.6 meters and I believe they were used as coastal rescue boats, I repainted in 2pack and then I freehand masked the graphics, airbrushed before the final coat of clear. The transom was that bad I was able to scrape out all the wood with a paint scraper! Replaced the dash for the new gauges, replaced the rear floor and bilge area. All fibreglass was done with west systems epoxy which I can't recommend enough. A new suzuki 140 four stroke replaced the old blue band merc and I have to say it's fantastic. Cheers all, Geoff.

[Chimo]

Great job Geoff, is that your Dad in the pics?

I had a Swiftcraft Falcon with a 100 HP Evinrude; about 14ft 6'' with same bow and fore-deck, very dry, but going into big wet or broken waves it got to be a bit of a scoop. That's when I figured it was time for a bigger boat!

Cheers
Chimo

[GBC]

Chimo that would have flown.
I also had a falcon with a 55 evenrude and it went just fine. Coming back across the bay one day the back to back seat fell through the floor. A quick look through the 'new' inspection hatch showed I was cruising around on weet bix stringers. Got home, unbolted the engine and towed the old girl to the dump. Bit of a sad day really - My grandad willed me the boat, and we'd had plenty of good times chasing the winter whiting off Dundowran in her through the seventies.

The time (money) you've spent really shows BYB - congrats.

[Chimo]

Hi GBC

Yep it did fly, we used it for skiing as well as fishing. Like I said when we started to get greenies up across the fore deck and then up the screen and on to the lap we figured it time for an up grade. Great boat tho and over the years it / I towed most of the inboards back to the ramp at the ski club; and there were at least 20 of them and one eggbeater!

Cheers
Chimo

[nigelr]

BYB - she looks like a brand new boat, fantastic!
Lots of good times ahead - cheers.

[PADDLES]

hey BYB, the number one question is ............. does the old bloke like it? they can be hard to please sometimes :)

[BackyardBoats]

Yep that's dad in the pics and he is very happy!

[lethal098]

Top stuff looks awesome,

can i guess you are in SA?? Not amny quality ramps around with pontoons like that anywhere elses.

Cheers Lee

[HH565L]

Fantastic restoration work BackyardBoats. you should be proud of how it's ome up. 8-)

[Rodpal]

Yep that's dad in the pics and he is very happy!
gee wiz that is one of the best/ most successful refurbs i've ever seen and yah, your comments above are gold

must have been a few fibraglass itchy nights involved with that lot but well worth the end result - realy well done man, really well done

thanks for sharing
cheers rod

[BackyardBoats]

cheers all, thanks for all the kind comments, I'm in victoria and the boat ramp is at altona.

[fishing111]

Very nice job BYB, top stuff. That's a fair drop from 200 to 140hp, any major difference in performance you've noticed?

[BackyardBoats]

never had the 200 in the water as the bores were scored, but I can say that bilge pump is just as loud suzuki! She gets up on the plane very quick for a heavy boat so there is plenty of power for me. Here is a pic of my next project, note the custom trailer lol. Picked this one up at the local tip and just had to have it.

[PADDLES]

you've just gotta make this one black and red BYB .................. to the bat mobile ....................

[BackyardBoats]

lol everyone calls it the bat boat

[fishfeeder]

You will need an Elvis Suit to go boating in the new project !!

Cheers

[Chimo]

Hi ByB

Is that a Javelin? Cannot read the chrome letters on the tail!

They were a great ski boat way back when.

Cheers
Chimo

On second thoughts I dont think it is, they had a differnt shape across the transom, the wing went out the sides:-?

[Cheech]

You spent a year, and decided to do it again? Gluten for punishment. :) Actually I thought it looked like an old Cadillac.

I picked it as Victoria due to the rodholders.

Excellent job. I have an old 21ft swiftcraft and have been considering 2 packing it. I had not considered doing a clear coat. Did you do 2 white coats and 1 clear?

[MINE09]

Hey all, just thought I would share some pics of my dads 70's swiftcraft explorer that I restored. It was loads of work but well worth it. I've got many pics of all the stages but here is just a few, hope you guys enjoy.
Well done mate, great job! Hopefully in 20 years time i'll still have me 2007 yalta craft in the family n have the patience n persistence u've needed to restore the swiftcraft:)

[matt fraser]

Take it back to the tip.........Quick!

Matt

[GBC]

Is that a bellboy?

Definitely needs a 60's car to tow it with and match it to.

[wayno60]

an EK or an FB holden have the same fins.....car and boat matching.....pfffff.

[BackyardBoats]

The letters say 'merlin' not sure of the make and nobody seems to know I have even contacted Kevfin. It's not a bellboy. 3 coats of colour and 4 coats of clear, the more clear you use the more you can colour sand or wet rub to get it flat. 1 coat of clear will not give you the gloss that comes after 2-3 coats. Funny Matt my wife said the same thing.

[FishHunter]

That looks really good

[deckie]

What a cracker. That model has such good lines. Brilliant job.

Luvvin the bat boat. Damn cool winter project. Why would anyone throw her away ? She'd look damn sweet on the back of an EK or an early 60's Val.

Just picture yourself cruising to the ramp with right elbow resting on the window of this matching beauty. Colour coordinated with the bat boat, perhaps in stunning turquoise and white, she'd be a true head turner and an absolute chick magnet. ;D

[Angla]

Your victorian ramps are far superior to what we have to contend with in qld.

The resto looks great.Happy days for all who ride in her.

Cheers
Chris

[GBC]

Just had a look on google images and there's other merlins on there of a similar vintage.

[Chimo]

http://rides.webshots.com/album/430938933IBvahI

[BackyardBoats]

cheers chimo it's similar to the banshee

[wayno60]

Now really what were they thinking when they designed that???
if its from the 60's i know why.......Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds....