Retro Crestliner Discussion Forum

DeathWish · Joined: 23 Aug 2010 Posts: 25 Location: New York

I bought what was registered as a 1958 Crestliner. It was last registered in New York 2002. However the ads I have seen on this site do not show a double cockpit model in 1958. I have a lot of questions the first would be where to look for an ID plate?
Thanks

mnobfan · Joined: 06 Sep 2010 Posts: 8 Location: Kenneth, Minnesota

From reading other posts there is no ID plate. Look on the starboard side around the driver on the outside of the hull for the model and serial number to be stamped in. May also be under the transom cover. Number on the outside maybe covered with paint and hard to see. About 1/4 inch in height. Number on the transom maybe upside down.

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

Good chance that if the hull is painted, the paint might be covering the numbers on the starboard outside.

One more place to look is on the inside wall, starboard side, middle of the boat. Probably stamped upside-down.

DeathWish · Joined: 23 Aug 2010 Posts: 25 Location: New York

Here is the number I found, A155H. It shows up in two places, one on the Transom and the other is on the top of the gunwale just where the front deck ends on the starboard side. I have read several other posts and see how difficult it can be to ID one of these boats. It also appears as though the company did a lot of mixing and matching and didn't change parts or materials until they ran out of what they had on hand.

Based upon what I have read here are some of the key points regarding my boat would be:

1. It has the drain through ribs.
2. It takes the 3/4" drain plug.
3. The corner Brackets say Crestliner
4. The emblem appears to have been the one with the waves underneath it.

I have posted some new pictures here.
http://www.deathwish-outboards.com/crestliner[/img][/b]
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bigwheel · Joined: 19 Jul 2010 Posts: 17 Location: MN

Based solely on pictures, I'd agree that it looks like a 1958 Commander Speedster 12ft, with center deck. If so, that would make it model# 520. I don't know what A155H is, but based on location, it sure looks like a model number.

http://retrocrestliner.com/images/1957catalog%20p5%20and%206.jpg

Nice boat!!!

DeathWish · Joined: 23 Aug 2010 Posts: 25 Location: New York

520 is what I thought but the 1958 catalog does not show that model.
I am not sure but from what I have read A is the designation for Commander.

155 would be the number in the production run.
H ? might be an option code.

The 1957 catalog shows a comparison page. At the bottom some letter codes explained. They apply to the chart they are with but no one seems to know if they are what is stamped into the hull.
O = optional
C = aluminum air chambers
S = styrofoam
R = red
G = silver grey
There is no H listed but it might explain some of the Cs people have come up with.

Another thing I noticed was in the 1958 catalog all the new models had the new logo while the standard models are pictured with the older one.
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Samster · Joined: 26 Aug 2009 Posts: 17

I don't know if this helps but it looks like there is greenish paint on the inside of your transom. I believe I read somewhere that at some point Crestliner started painting the insides grey. Not sure when.

DeathWish · Joined: 23 Aug 2010 Posts: 25 Location: New York

From what I have read the non skid green was standard from 54-58.
In 1959 Silver gray was standard on the open model 501 and optional on the front decked 510. Those were the only models available in 1958-59.

I have the Crestliner transom corners and a bow handle so that I believe makes it a 1956 or newer. If there was some idea of how they numbered the hulls it would help. Did they start from one or one hundred? Did the numbers carry over from one year to the next or just start from the beginning again?

I am hoping to find out it is a 56 or 58 because I have motors to cover those years.

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

Just based on the 3/4 inch (instead of earlier 1") drain plug, and still having green paint inside, and the "wave" style emblem outside, I'd say it's a '57. Just an educated guess, I'm no historian.

Mine's a 56 - used to think it was a 55, but I'm 90% sure it's a '56 after research.
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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/

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

I thought the 1 inch plug was the later one.
Infact Dan at Crestliner told me its the same plug used on the 2011 sportsman series

DeathWish · Joined: 23 Aug 2010 Posts: 25 Location: New York

The other day I quickly measured the plug hole with a tape measure. It looked more like 7/8" so I took the plug and threaded it into a 3/4 pipe coupling and it fit nicely. Now upon closer scrutiny I see the plug is not a pipe thread. It actually measures .985 with a dial caliper. so that may make it a 1" plug? The plug I have was purchased by the person I got the boat from. He said it cost him $40. I will post a picture of the plug at

http://www.deathwish-outboards.com/crestliner
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bigwheel · Joined: 19 Jul 2010 Posts: 17 Location: MN

I don't know about the other sizes, but you can pick up the 1-inch screw-type drain plugs at a Crestliner dealer for about 15 bucks. Very good chance that they have one or two of them in stock.

scotty1957 · Joined: 07 Jul 2004 Posts: 195 Location: Ames, IA

I think it's a 1956 model.
If 1957 it would have the new 3-digit numbering system for the model. Those are the model letter "A" and serial number you found, although the serial number is a bit odd. Probably never really know for sure - but that's my guess.

http://retrocrestliner.com/1956%20Crestliner%20Catalog,p.2.jpg
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'55 Commander 12'
'55 Admiral 16'
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DeathWish · Joined: 23 Aug 2010 Posts: 25 Location: New York

I have been hoping to see some other model numbers posted so I might compare them and try to figure out how they went about it.
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scotty1957 · Joined: 07 Jul 2004 Posts: 195 Location: Ames, IA