Retro Crestliner Discussion Forum

Dgrin 56Vik · Joined: 23 Aug 2010 Posts: 5

Here's My project.
Pretty sure its a 56 Viking. Little bit of the original red bottom. I'll know when i find the serial #.
In the boat I found glove-box door & knob, possibly a cov top, seats, corner pieces of aluminum interior and 12 inches of water.
Hoping to have her cleaned up and ready for paint & polish this winter.

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1st attempt of posting a pic on anything

Dgrin 56Vik · Joined: 23 Aug 2010 Posts: 5

here's the pic

http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb429/Dgrin56Vik/56CrestlinerViking-1.jpg?t=1283614387

OutBdNut · Joined: 27 Mar 2005 Posts: 593 Location: Minnesota

Nice find! You don't see many of those walk-through deck Vikings!

Dave
_________________
57 Commander 12 Custom Deluxe 550
58 Commodore 14 Speedster (modified)
58 Cadillac Riviera 14 split deck
Dozens of old outboards

Chris · Joined: 15 May 2004 Posts: 270 Location: North West

Very nice! You'll love that boat. I'm really enjoying mine. I'm in the same boat (sorry ), in that mine is basically un-restored, but I'd love to get new paint and a polish on it eventually. It's truly a keeper.
_________________
Chris
1956 Commander 520
1956 Viking
'55 Johnson 10,'57 Johnson 18,'55 Johnson 25
1958 Evinrude Lark 35

http://www.retrocrestliner.com/viewerphotospage53.htm

http://s127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/7car7/Aluminum%20Runabouts/My%20Boats/

Dgrin 56Vik · Joined: 23 Aug 2010 Posts: 5

I have fired the motor after installing WP and wp valves. Runs petty good. Haven't run her in reverse yet due to lil wiring prob in the control..starter will spin for reverse by jumpering. got a gasket kit for the engine. has a water leak on the side water jacket.
Hoping to get a few good runs out of her. Little worried about possibly flipping her with that much HP on a 14' boat. With the prop at 6000 rpm should be about 45mph.
Any thoughts or words of caution with these direct reversing Mark units?

Chris · Joined: 15 May 2004 Posts: 270 Location: North West

I'm definitely no expert, I've never had a Mercury, but I'm guessing that's what they call the "dock-buster" motor. I'd think an owner who's sharp and knows his motor wouldn't have much trouble, but I guess there's a reason for that nickname.

Your boat, if a '56, is rated for 50 horsepower. If a '57, rated for 60. It's a beautiful looking motor, but I think I'd be a bit intimidated by it - and I'm definitely a gear-head hot-rodder, so it takes a lot to scare me mechanically speaking. Not so much by the power, or the no neutral, but for the weight.

I have a '64 60hp Evinrude V4 engine that I bought, yet I think I'll be putting it up for sale - I think it's just too much weight for this boat. Guessing your Merc is the same if not more weight.
_________________
Chris
1956 Commander 520
1956 Viking
'55 Johnson 10,'57 Johnson 18,'55 Johnson 25
1958 Evinrude Lark 35

http://www.retrocrestliner.com/viewerphotospage53.htm

http://s127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/7car7/Aluminum%20Runabouts/My%20Boats/

Dgrin 56Vik · Joined: 23 Aug 2010 Posts: 5

Thanks Dave, u got a few nice old boats yourself. Saved her from the scraper.

As for the motor, yes it has been a bit intimidating/exciting. What iI really like about it is, with a shift of the timing, she runs backwards.
Talked to a couple old local outboard mechanics. They gave me a few good warnings about the old Direct- Reversing. Like - Leave the prop off till ya put her the water. People/kids love to turn propellers. One pop could ruin a day.(Even with the battery unhooked)
I guess it's hurt quite a few mechanics over the years.

As for the weight. Weighs as much as me...about 180lbs but with 66hp.
Alot of aluminum and no tranny. I believe boats in 56 may of been rated hp and by partially available motors and their weight. Never the less, I may be pushing it here. Chris, what does your 64 Evinrude weigh?

My dream is to take her to Sandpoint Idaho 50s boat show next year. Sure would be nice ta show her trimmed up with a smooth running Tower Of Power.

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Chris · Joined: 15 May 2004 Posts: 270 Location: North West

Not really sure what the V4 weighs. I seem to recall the 35 horse twin weighs somewhere around 150, I'd have to take a guess and say the V4 is at least 190, maybe more. It's not just 2 more cylinders, everything else is larger/heavier on it.
_________________
Chris
1956 Commander 520
1956 Viking
'55 Johnson 10,'57 Johnson 18,'55 Johnson 25
1958 Evinrude Lark 35

http://www.retrocrestliner.com/viewerphotospage53.htm

http://s127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/7car7/Aluminum%20Runabouts/My%20Boats/

OutBdNut · Joined: 27 Mar 2005 Posts: 593 Location: Minnesota

Dad put a 60 HP V4 Johnson on his '58 Voyager14 back in 1965. Once you got used to it, the power was great, and I loved it. With a 10x12 prop, and the trim pin all the way up, I did 41 with it, but used a 10x11 prop most all the time with the trim pin one notch off the top. - I loved it and a quick turn would cavitate a bit, but I wouldn't let just anyone drive it because with that power on that light of a boat, an inexperienced driver could get in trouble!The 12 inch prop struggled too much to plane it when pulling up a slalom skier. Overall, the boat handled better with a 40 Johnson - less weight had a bit to do with it. The 40 weighed around 150, while the 60 V4, if I remember right was around 250 pounds.
-
With that dockbuster, the couple I knew of on our lake back in the 1960s were a nuisance when pulling a skier - had to shut it off if the skier wasn't ready when the slack was taken up - bad for a beginner-skier. Also - the things seemed to idle a lot better in forward than in reverse, but maybe the timing, etc., wasn't set up right?
-Dave
_________________
57 Commander 12 Custom Deluxe 550
58 Commodore 14 Speedster (modified)
58 Cadillac Riviera 14 split deck
Dozens of old outboards