Retro Crestliner Discussion Forum

MnStreaker · Joined: 24 Jun 2010 Posts: 6 Location: Moorhead, MN

I recently purchased a 1958/59 15' Jetsteak at an auction. This is my first antique boat and I am looking to learn anything I can about restoration, figuring out the year, etc. I appeaciate any information that you "experts" can help this "novice" with.

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

Jetstreaks were available in 12, 14, and 15 foot versions in 1958 and 1959. Your 15 footer is rated at 60 HP max. Jetstreaks in good restorable condition are somewhat rare with the 12 footer being the most desirable, as, like a small sportscar, it has no rear seat, but all of them are very desirable unless they are badly damaged or have been been totally stripped of all hardware, fin inserts, seats, etc. If you haven't done so already, check out the 1958 and 1959 catalogs at this site for specs and info on your boat. For the coolest look, find a motor from approximately the same year if it didn't come with a motor. Back then, only Mercury made a 60 HP, and the first ones had no gearshift, and are called dockbusters - to reverse them, you had to shut them off and turn the key the opposite direction and the powerhead started up spinning backwards - these are a pain to operate and are called dockbusters for obvious reasons. Johnson/Evinrude made a V-4 50 HP in 1958/59 and they will push the boat well but mess up handling a bit becuase they are very heavy and are arguably the biggest gas hogs ever made - the 60 HP Mercs were inline 6 cylinder and are pretty heavy too. I think the ideal motor for your 15 footer is a 35 to 40 HP Johnson, Evinrude or Mercury from 1957 up into the early 1960s, but if you want to go newer, the inline 4 cyl 50 HP Mercs will do well too. Scott made a 3 cylinder 60 that was pretty good, but parts are really hard to find. Smaller Scotts were problematic from day one. I don't remember if the 15 foot Jetstreak has a transom for a short or long shaft motor - it may have been offered in short and long versions -measure it - approx 15 inches is short and approx 20 inches is long.
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At the retrocrestliner site homepage, you probably noticed the "Jetstreak Interior" catagory where someone posted good details for making new seats if you need them.
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Many of us (myself included) wish we could find a good, restorable Jetstreak in any size at a reasonable price!
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Post some photos!
Dave
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57 Commander 12 Custom Deluxe 550
58 Commodore 14 Speedster (modified)
58 Cadillac Riviera 14 split deck
Dozens of old outboards

MnStreaker · Joined: 24 Jun 2010 Posts: 6 Location: Moorhead, MN

Thanks for the information Dave. The 15' Jetstreak came with a 40HP Johnson Super Seahorse Eletromatic ('65?). I can get it to run on carb cleaner, but it isn't drawing gas like it should yet. I'll get there eventually. If the right motor comes around, I would like to replace the motor with an age appropriate motor once I determine the year.

The hull is in very good contition, with only 2 small dings. Most of the hardware is still there, but I am missing the glow stick and drain plug.

I am not sure how to post a photo to this site, but will try another time.

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

A few years ago I just went into a local Crestliner dealer and they stocked brass drain plugs to fit the late 1950s models - I needed one for my 1958/59 Commodore Speedster. It's the older 1 inch plugs that are hard to find. If you have trouble finding one, let me know I can see if that dealer still has them - they will mail them out.

You might find a glow-stick on E-Bay, if not, there are new ones that are similar available at places online like Overtons or Iboats 9see links below) Most of the new ones are longer but with some modification, you can shorten them.

Check out these:
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http://www.iboats.com/Adjustable-Height-LED-All-Around-Stern-Light/dm/cart_id.804603471--session_id.653178742--view_id.341472
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http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?i=71246&pdesc=Stow_Away_Telescoping_Stern_Boat_Light&str=stern+light&merchID=4005

To post a photo, you have to upload the photo to a photo hosting site, like www.photobucket.com It free.
Then on this board, post the "IMG" address that photobucket gives you - it will be in a list below the photo at photobucket.

The Electromatic 40 HP Evinrudes have an electric shift mechanism in the lower unit. They are good if water never got into the grease, and if the proper gear oil was used - it's a special gear oil - available at Evinrude dealers. That motor should work well on your boat.

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

64pacer · Joined: 01 Jul 2010 Posts: 2

pics of mnstreaker's boat. before then after washing.

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

Nice boat, Take your time doing the restoration and have fun. I wish I had a 15 footer for the extra space and freeboard.

I would offer my opinion on age-appropriate vs. modern motors, as I worked on late-1950's outboards when new, have restored some within the past ten years, but recently went modern.

If you have your boat on a lake where you can easily paddle back, or hitch a tow, then an antique motor is the way to have an all-original eye-catching classic.

But, if that's not the case, and storms, wakes, and waves could imperil you, then I'd advise you consider a new motor. Being "authentic" is not cool in 3+ foot waves when your engine starts hesitating.
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1958/9 14' Crestliner Jetstreak

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

Wow! Just washing it did wonders! Nice find!
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I'd like to add to Day_Cruiser's comments on motors. Yeah, the older, restored ones do need more TLC than a newer motor - The old Johnsons and Evinrudes tend to be a bit more reliable than the old Mercurys, and I wouldn't go far from the landing with a Scott or Chrysler (Chrysler later became Force). The newer ones are more reliable, burn less gas (especially the four-strokes), and four strokes are quieter. What the older ones have going for them are nostalgia, cool looks, lower cost, and a lot of low end torque!
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I grew up driving Dad's Crestliner Voyager 14 which is very similar hull and weight to your Jetstreak 15, also rated at 60 HP Max. With a 1960 40HP Johnson - nearly the same as yours - I could drop the trim pin to the bottom notch and pull three teenage skiers out of the water - try that with newer motors of the same HP!
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The other thing to watch on motors is weight. To much weight will screw up the handling some. Your 40 weighs round 150 pounds. Four stroke motors are notoriously heavy - for example, a 40 Yamaha 4-stroke weighs a whopping 215 pounds!
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Sooooo.....look at the pros and cons and how and where you plan to use the boat and the choice is yours!
Enjoy your boat!
Dave
_________________
57 Commander 12 Custom Deluxe 550
58 Commodore 14 Speedster (modified)
58 Cadillac Riviera 14 split deck
Dozens of old outboards

64pacer · Joined: 01 Jul 2010 Posts: 2

Well we took mnstreakers jetstreak out on the water this weekend and she actually floats and had no leaks and ran like a top. Clocked it with my jet ski and it goes 31mph. what a fun boat to watch on the water and to drive. So the decision has been made to do a complete restoration. So we will be looking for paint codes and many other items of information in the future. Thanks

bigwheel · Joined: 19 Jul 2010 Posts: 17 Location: MN

Hello everyone.

In my infinite wisdom, I just drove 1,200 miles from Minnesota to/from Kalamazoo, MI towing a 2-axle trailer to buy a $400 boat. I picked up the 15' Jetstreak that Nathan Smith has posted in the user photos area. Nate barely got started on it and realized that it was going to be a lot of time and money.

The boat has 752 stamped on the side, and looks like a 15'. But measuring straight line from the very front to the very back, it is only 14'. I'm assuming that it was just a strange way of measuring.

Does everyone's Jetstreak 15 measure that way, or do I have something different?

Bob Shepherd

lvflyncrest · Joined: 20 Jul 2009 Posts: 34 Location: Dubuque, Iowa

I don't feel bad now, I drove 600 miles for my Flying Crest!!--I think this is like an illness or something!
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pj

'59 Flying Crest

bigwheel · Joined: 19 Jul 2010 Posts: 17 Location: MN

Just giving this thread a bump to re-ask my question:

Does anyone have a Jestreak 15 that is actually 15ft when measured direct line from the very front to the very back? (Mine only measures 14ft)

I now have the entire boat completely stripped of hardware, ready to find someone to blast the paint off. I'm also wondering if sand blasting is okay, or if I need to use something more gentle on the aluminum. (like soda blasting)

Thanks.

Samster · Joined: 26 Aug 2009 Posts: 17

I've seen aircraft that have been sandblasted and the skins are full of tiny little pock marks. Terrible. Mind you the aluminum was probably in the .020 to .032 range in terms of thickness. I think my Buccaneer has .061 so I can't see sandblasting doing any damage to that. Even so I would start carefully with as low of pressure possible and do a small area that isn't so obvious to test.

I think I just saw the Jetstreak on the classifieds and he said he used soda and that boat looks amazing.

bigwheel · Joined: 19 Jul 2010 Posts: 17 Location: MN

Yes, I'm a little afraid of the pitting from sand blasting that you mentioned, and thinking that I'll get someone who has equipment that is gentle enough for aluminum.

The boat in the classifieds looks nice. But that is because it was polished professionally by the guy selling Jestco products. I assume he put a lot of work into the job. The interior (dull gray) was not poshed, and is presumably what it looks like after only soda blasting.

I've read good things about soda blasting, but also read that there are a lot of other good alternatives. No first-hand experience, though. I did strip a Viking 14 using chemicals and then polished it with Filtz. It looked nice and shiny, but was way more work than I want to do again.

mak3r0fth1ngs · Joined: 05 May 2009 Posts: 41 Location: Alexandria, KY

You shouldn't have a problem sandblasting your boat. I just blasted mine, a 58 14' Voyageur, with screened and dried play sand from Home Depot and a sand blaster from where I work. It worked so well that I'll be doing my 55 15' Voyageur in a week or two. I was just careful not to sit in any one spot for too long and also held the tip of the gun a bit back and feathered it back and forth like a spray gun to try and blend the areas blasted one I saw the paint start to disappear. This made for a great surface to paint on. Good luck!

bigwheel · Joined: 19 Jul 2010 Posts: 17 Location: MN

Well, I chickened out and am having the hull plastic blasted. I'm hoping that I can polish (rather than paint) parts of the hull, and want to avoid any pitting from sand. According to the guy doing the work, plastic is similar to soda blasting, except that they recycle/reuse the plastic beads.

Off-topic. While riding bicycle on some back roads, I happened to find yet another 15ft Jetstreak laying in the woods next to an old unused cabin. The boat is in sorry shape, with so much mulch/dirt laying in the bottom that there are now a couple small trees growing inside. I spoke with the neighbor, and found out that the owner is well into his 90's, living in an old folks home with limited mental capacity. His niece (who had nothing to do with the man and is not very friendly) somehow has power of attorney, and never goes to the place. The neighbor says that the old man was a great guy. A multiple-war veteran with lots of scary stories. Anyway, I'm trying to track down the niece, but not having much luck. Sad situation, but I'm hoping to rescue the boat.