| 4/07
This site was like a port in a storm after I, quite
by accident purchased a 1954 Larson Commodore. I had no idea these
even existed or the rich history behind the company and the man.
I was looking for a trailer for a Dory that I built when I came across
an ad on Craigslist for an old aluminum boat on a trailer for $400.00
dollars. The only catch was that there was some camping gear as well
and I had to take it all. Turns out it was this great old boat with
a 28HP 1978 Mariner,(new impeller now as good as new) on the trailer
I needed, and as it turns out the camping gear consisted of 22 new
sleeping bags, 15 tents, 19 life vest, 10 person rubber raft, rubber
kayak, a bunch of oars and paddles. I felt like I was robbing the
guy, but he said it was from a closed down summer camp and it all
had to go. Living a good honest life I guess does work out sometimes.
After a lot of research I decided to bring back the Larson into usable
shape, not show quality by all means, but something close to the original.
The color of the inside hull is as close as I could tell by the left
over chips and the red bottom in color and waterline matches the old
photos as far as I can tell. The wheel is from a 1950’s Peterborough
Lakeside and there is a faint outline where a windshield used to be
on the bow cover, (though no evidence of a wheel was ever installed
on the boat).
The last thing I want to do is put a classic 1950’s motor in
place of the Mariner then I’ll feel that I have done the Larson
name justice.
R. Mark Chesbrough
[email protected]
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Before, in progress, & completed Crestliner restoration
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