Retro Crestliner Discussion Forum

54fleetwin · Joined: 07 Sep 2010 Posts: 30 Location: North of San Diego

Hello, I just acquired a 810 on labor day.
She is a bit rough.

Well in less than a week, I managed to get the registration taken care, got all the wood cut, bought a bunch of stainless hardware and started stripping the paint.
As you can see, the drain plug is missing.
Anyone have one?

I did pick up a Envirude Lark today with controls.

The boat came with a used unmounted teleflex steering sytem(single heavy push/pull cable.
What do you guys think of using this steering?

I will be updating this thread as the project progresss.
I am still researching paint.
Thanks,
Steve

54fleetwin · Joined: 07 Sep 2010 Posts: 30 Location: North of San Diego

54fleetwin · Joined: 07 Sep 2010 Posts: 30 Location: North of San Diego

Well as you can see I am missing the 2 floation chambers under the seat. By law I have to have floatation built into the boat.
This is what I did

Well 90% of all the ugly paint has been stripped

Heres the dash and transom wood, I have some old neighbors that do wood working for a living and got them to supply the wood and cutting.
They had this whole pallet of Bola(?) wood, said it was equador or something. Its a hard wood and I like the color, makes me wish I had stained the seats dark. Well life and learn

Inside of the boat is painted, not original(please dont stone me)

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

You are making good progress! Will be a nice boat when you are done.
There are two kinds of Teleflex single cable steering rigs. One is made for newer motors, like around 1979 and newer that are made to accept that kind of steering. these work great - if you have one of those "newer" motors that have the hole through the tilt-hinge to anchor the cable into.
The other kind has a bracket that mounts to the transom and has an adapter to adapt to older motors that were made for cable and pulley steering - these don't work as well, as you won't be able to turn the motor as far, and it adds hardware to the transom. If you are using an older motor like this, I'd stay with the cable and pulley system.
For a replacement plug, you need to know the diameter. I'm not sure what year they switched to the slightly larger plug, but I think yours looks like the larger one. These larger ones are available at dealers. I bought a nice brass one a few years ago. The place I got mine does send them through the mail if you can't find one locally. Let me know if you need contact info for them. The smaller plugs are hard to find. There have been several message threads here regarding them - run a search for info.
Dave
_________________
57 Commander 12 Custom Deluxe 550
58 Commodore 14 Speedster (modified)
58 Cadillac Riviera 14 split deck
Dozens of old outboards

Day_Cruiser · Joined: 02 Feb 2004 Posts: 198 Location: Alexandria, VA

I will take a rare exception to Dave's advice suggesting a cable/pulley system over a Teleflex using transom adapter hardware.

Yes, there is extra hardware and holes to be drilled, as well as a little less turning radius. BUT, the trade-off is safety.

Cable/pulley systems were notorious for the cables slipping off the pulleys, especially during hard turns, with disastrous, sometimes fatal, results. There's good reason why they haven't been installed on new boats for the past 40 years.

Years ago, I had heard of several instances in my boating area of boats hitting docks and running aground due to loosing steering control from slipped cables.

Don't take chances with your safety, and cable/pulley is a system with an unacceptable chance of critical failure when compared to a Teleflex alternative.
_________________
1958/9 14' Crestliner Jetstreak

54fleetwin · Joined: 07 Sep 2010 Posts: 30 Location: North of San Diego

I have a teleflex rotary system. 11 feet of cable and the transom mounted tube.
I dont have the rod that goes to the engine adapter from the cable or the engine adaptor.
The teleflex cable just seems to big and bulky to make a nice bend at the back of the boat.

Day_Cruiser · Joined: 02 Feb 2004 Posts: 198 Location: Alexandria, VA

Here's a link arm for you:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Johnson-Evinrude-Steering-link-Connector-kit-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem3cac1a271aQQitemZ260585432858QQptZBoatQ5fPartsQ5fAccessoriesQ5fGear

Why don't you contact this vendor with your questions, as he says he has several link arms?

The arc in my Jetstreak is probably even tighter than in your Commander, due to the fins.
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1958/9 14' Crestliner Jetstreak

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

I agree that cable-pulley systems are more problematic. I make sure I have large radius, name brand, quality pulleys, and the plastic coating on the cable is not frayed. Also be sure the pulleys are mounted properly so cables don't rub or bind on anything. Be sure the cable does not rub hard on the flanges of the stteering wheel cylinder.

Inspecting the system a few times a year for wear and tightness is a good idea too. With these considerations, the cable/pulley system is safe.
Dave
_________________
57 Commander 12 Custom Deluxe 550
58 Commodore 14 Speedster (modified)
58 Cadillac Riviera 14 split deck
Dozens of old outboards

54fleetwin · Joined: 07 Sep 2010 Posts: 30 Location: North of San Diego

Well she is not finished yet. Still needs exterior paint. I did slap my little tiller(54 fleetwin 7.5) on her and took her out for a shake down
All in all it was a beautiful day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CFRIwRq6yw

54fleetwin · Joined: 07 Sep 2010 Posts: 30 Location: North of San Diego

Still have some stuff to do.
However, steering and controls have been added as well as a '58 Evinrude Fastwin 18hp.

I am working on the '58 BigTwin 35 now.

Hmmm.... I wonder which is faster