Retro Crestliner Discussion Forum

mort · Joined: 16 Oct 2010 Posts: 11 Location: Kentucky

I just brought home a Jetstreak.
So far I have been unable to uncover a hull or serial number. I have stripped the paint from the area below the rub rail on the starboard side beneath and behind the windshield location with no luck and I do not have a plastic plate or any apparent mounting holes on the dashboard.
The boat measures 14' 2 1/2" from the rubber molding at the stem to the aft side of the motor mount. At the tips of the fiberglass windshield mount I measure 63 1/2" from one rubber rail to the other. At the transom, I get 57" across what should be the waterline. By the catalogs, I seem to have a 14 with the beam of a 15.
So, I am a bit confused. Could somebody point me toward possible locations for an ID number?
I appreciate any help on this and the many future questions I will have.
Don

Russ · Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 10

Mort, I have a 14 footer and the ID number is located in the area you mentioned you already looked. My suggestion is to post a few pictures, especially of the transom. Those of us that have Jetstreaks can pretty easily identify which you have just from looking at it.

mort · Joined: 16 Oct 2010 Posts: 11 Location: Kentucky

Here we go

Russ · Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 10

15 footer...no doubt

Russ · Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 10

15 footer...no doubt

mort · Joined: 16 Oct 2010 Posts: 11 Location: Kentucky

Russ,
Please humor a newbie. What features tell you that this is a 15?
Also, are there any places other than the starboard side where I might find a hull number? I have stripped the entire side from the rub rail to the rivet line with no success.
Don

Russ · Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 10

From the outside, you can tell that the 15 footer has a broader transom than the 14 footer. The internal pic, however, is the dead giveaway. The 15 has four transom braces, whereas the 14 only has two.

As for the numbers, I don't know where to direct you if you didn't find them on the starboard side. That's where mine are, and I know some other guys have located theirs in the same place.

mort · Joined: 16 Oct 2010 Posts: 11 Location: Kentucky

Thanks Russ.
Good info on the transom braces.
Looks like I will be stripping the entire ship anyway, so I'll keep looking for an ID number.
Don

squirrelboydeluxe · Joined: 12 Jan 2010 Posts: 24

Don-
If I were you, I wouldn't worry about the hull #.
There is no record of what they mean anyway- only the vauge memories of the old-timers; bless their hearts.
As you strip the paint, you'll find it anyway- I know I did on my Voyager Hardtop & Commodore 820.
On this site you will see the catalogs for each year; this is the fastest & most accurate method of hull identification. That is how I figured out my Commodore- & all the catalog showed was a line drawing anyway. But it was enough; turns out there were FOUR versions of the same hull that year.
The year can be a little trickier.
The Voyager Hardtop was only made in '55, '56, & '57.
In 55 & 56, the spray rail (on the side of the hull) was in two overlapping pieces. In 57, it was one long, uninterupted piece. That is how I figgered out the year.
Be prepared to obsess over this boat. Of all the Crestliners, the Jetstreak is far & away the most desireable. You lucked out.
We love to hear details of the "rescue", not necessasarily the price, but how did you find it, where, etc.
I hate paint stripping, but to me, aluminum should be polished. I could care less about alarming the "purists". I know what looks good to me & everywhere I take these boats people go nuts. There is nothing quite like a polished alum boat on the water on a sunny day. I can't usually go more than a few minutes 'til someone flags me down dying to check out the boat- but you get to meet the nicest people.
George B