A Out Back Next To The Barn Find – Rich-Line Racer
Around here on the Northern Neck, the guys back in the days used to race in a certain area known as Glebe Point. They raced everything and anything. And sadly many of the everything and anything of the day, have all gone the way of such things, but every now and then, a little magic happens, and so is the case for todays story.
While talking to a pal here, he mentioned he had an old boat around the corner of his barn. A small Aluminum boat that we could have. LET’S GO! Hey? I love me a fun find, and that gamblers enzyme kicks in. Is it a Starcraft? Crestliner?
A Rich-Line? A WHHHHAT? Oh Wait.. thats a 35 hp on the back of that little sucker. Oh.. Wait one second. YUP, one of the local race boats. And this one has a massive story. As well as that engine. Good god!
And here is the crazyiest part. That little guy on the side? Somewhere in the files that little guy has been here on Woody Boater. I am digging through 60,000 images now. I should come out of the rabbit hole soon…ish…like..ugh
Looks like a 1960 12 Speedster. Image Fiberglassics
This week Wayne Bomb and I will being doing the extraction, and start the rebuild. We Be Going Racing. YIP YAP NOW has a little Aluminum pal! Stay tuned.
That things got some patina for sure. I love the duck tape idle control on the throttle. Don’t scratch the paint during the extraction!
What Chris Craft model is that in your header video?
Thats Alex Watson’s Super Fly, a X18 Jet Boat with a 350 here is the story in the archives https://www.woodyboater.com/uncategorized/chris-craft-xk-18-woody-boater-boat-of-the-month/
Greg, Looks like Alex’s XK 18 Jet.
beat ya to it Greg! HA Story was in February 2011 – Love me that archive. Sorry that the images are on the smaller side, but as you can see they get a little grainy, even the header today is not that sharp resolution. Also that is Salter driving. Yes, little Salter
Is that the steering wheel that Salter got his finger stuck in?
Where is that story?
Nice find!
With Baby Chick gone you should have lots of room for new projects.
Are you sure it wasn’t this guy that was on WB?
Thats me! Ugh.. And with that Merc on the back I am sure it sits like that.
I wonder if there is a surprise under that rag/tarp over the lower unit?
Its official Matt has lost his friggen mind.
Lord yes, I remember those boats and Cliffs Marine and those races. Cool. Go get it.
Cruised this weekend in pretty bay weather!
John in VA
Max horsepower on the 11 1/2 foot boat was 25. And it weighed on 140#!
Awesome fun.
Rich Line, a good boat. Three has been a 14′ Rich line in our family since 1967. My Dads cousin bought it new. My Dad bought it from him in the early 80s. Dad gave it to his granddaughter in 2010. Her and her husband are still using it.
1957 not 1967 . The 50s Rich lines were much cooler,
Looks to me like a 25 hp Wizard built by Mercury for Western Auto in 1956.
He said its 35 Merc. He liked the power and the 25 was too slow. Its black and has white stripes. And a monster prop. The owner is a power guy for sure.
Admiring that early 60’s Atwood Steering Wheel. Great feel from the smooth bumps on the back along with the high style of the center logo. Rich Line boats came from a down the road boat building manufacture in Richland, MO. Later plants in Conway, MO and Ft. Lauderdale, FL added production. Founder Gordon L. Schneider and his son observed a Lone Star boat crossing the Lake of the Ozarks in the summer of ’52 when the father commented he could make an aluminum boat that would plane better. An old Shell Pumping Station in Richland found new life with aluminum boat manufacturing till the early 70’s – – Good Find – –
Yup, a “race boat” for sure……Not to worry; only cosmetic issues with the sad, neglected Merc….
Cliff’s Marine… it has a nice ring to it.
Ok back to work.