Pop’s WhatIzIt?
Thanks to fellow WoodyBoater Scott Patterson for sending us in this wonderful WhatIzIt request. Now, the most interesting part of all this is how Scott starts this. With A “Sir”, a Sir.. What the? I am a week away from turning 60 and I just got my first “Sir”. And get this, Scott ends this with a “Thank you for your time! “Respectfully” I am so confused. What does someone like me respond to someone being polite? On the internet? I have forgotten, Horrice? Are you reading this? Sir? Respectfully Woody Boater? Anyway, enough of my polite dribble. Here is Sir Scott Patterson!
Sir
I have put in many hours trying to research the proper make, model and year of our boat. I have come up empty so far. I reached out to ACBS and you were recommended due to your standing in the local boating community. I would be indebted if you could help.
My father-in-law gave my wife his boat about 2 years ago so I drove out to Wisconsin and brought it back to upstate NY. He was adamant that the boat is a 1970 Sportkraft. He made sure to reinforce to me that it was with a K and not Sport Craft with a C. All Of the internet research that I’ve done tells me that there’s no such manufacturer.
Our boat is 19′ 6″ long. It has an aluminum riveted hull. It has a cuddy cabin that only comes up about a foot above the fore deck. This part of the design of the boat, coupled with the design of the wooden “spray catchers” as I call them, has made me come up short in my quest for identification. The spray catchers appear to be original to the boat as Pops never had much money so I don’t believe he would’ve taken the luxury to add those. Plus, my wife is pretty sure they were there when she was a little girl.
Finding out the true yr/make/model is important to us as the boat needs a ton of work. We are in a position financially to get the work done but we want to honor Pop and the boat and restore it as much as possible.
I’ve attached pictures of the boat in its current state. I’ve taken the liberty to add some pictures of the framework under the roof of the cuddly and the transom area in case they might help with identification.
Thank you for your time!
That is an UltraKoolKraft in my opinion!
RH,
Thank you! We think so too! It does need a lot of work to get it back to where it should be though.
Scott
Lee Wangstad would probably know.
Bob,
Do you know if Lee would be willing to help? If So, do you know how to get ahold of him? Thank you!
Scott
Mr. Peterson, a quick look on the internet yields some pictures of a similar boat, indeed Sports Kraft, but I think the boat is circa 1960 not 1970. Try the Firberclassics forum http://www.fiberglassics.com/forum/alumi-classics/53148-1957-sports-kraft-habana-express.html
Well, for sure, Sir, it is not a SportCraft, which was a plywood boat made in Perry Florida back in ’60’s.
I looked at SPORTS KRAFT and it doesn’t look like one to me.
However, check out Scottie Kraft…
http://www.fiberglassics.com/library/index.php?title=File:Scottiecrafta57001.jpg
That is what struck me when I read the story and went to Fiberglassics.
Good luck!
Capt. Jones
Cpt. Jones,
This Scottie Craft is very very close for sure! I’m going to try to do some more research on it! Thank you!
Scott
I responded on FB already, but it is a Sports Kraft Habana. There is more info on them here… http://www.fiberglassics.com/library/index.php?title=Sports_Kraft
Chuck,
I found this already and this is what I’m leaning toward. The side windows on the ad for the Habana and Habana Express in the ads that fiberglassics has are not the same as the windows on our boat. I’ve been trying to find out more information about Sports-Kraft boats and was even going to reach out to the Grand Prague newspaper that the ad was in however, the newspaper isn’t in circulation anymore. I’m going to reach out to the Grand Prague library to see if they have the newspaper archived. Fingers crossed!
Scott
It has recent registration. What was it registered as?
Jim,
The registration is from when my father-in-law had it registered in Wisconsin. He had it listed as a 1970 Sportkraft.
Scott
Try Sports Kraft
Appears to be an earlier year of production. http://www.fiberglassics.com/forum/alumi-classics/53148-1957-sports-kraft-habana-express.html
Bill B,
You’ve actually provided the biggest tip so far! I’ve found a picture of a boat exactly like ours! Unfortunately, the boat is listed as a 1957 Sports-Kraft Habana Express. In doing further research, I was able to find a newspaper ad for the Habana Express and unfortunately, although very similar, they are not the same boat. I’m going to keep searching! Thanks!
Scott
Looks to be an earlier year of production. http://www.fiberglassics.com/forum/alumi-classics/53148-1957-sports-kraft-habana-express.html
Here it is, a Sports-Kraft!
You just miss the windshield…
https://www.google.se/search?client=safari&hl=sv-se&biw=768&bih=899&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=eOJdW98FiNBonryVgA0&q=sports-kraft+boats&oq=sports-kraft+boats&gs_l=mobile-gws-wiz-img.3..30i10.42748.44610..45550…0.0…87.161.2……0….1………0i13i10i30.rK6VQf9XC3k#imgrc=L5izNkehTxiVFM:
It tough when you can’t rewrite your comments here….
Try this link: https://goo.gl/images/RRrzop
Algonac Boat Company nailed it in the (gasp) Facebook comments to this article. Here is what they posted:
“There was a “Sports Kraft” brand out of Texas making aluminum boats in that era. This one is their “Habana” models.”
http://www.fiberglassics.com/library/index.php?title=Sports_Kraft
Sports KRAFT ,Grand Prairie , TEXAS,, Fiberglassics Library has a line up early 60’s of Aluminum hulls 18 ft & 21 ft , so it seems like the identity… I was from upstate New York for many years member. What town are you in . ? Here is the Logo / LINK for early 60’s brochure. http://www.fiberglassics.com/library/index.php?title=Sports_Kraft
http://www.fiberglassics.com/forum/alumi-classics/53148-1957-sports-kraft-habana-express.html
Down the thread is a listing of Sports-Kraft models. MFG is listed as well.
Check ou Scottie Craft…
http://www.fiberglassics.com/library/index.php?title=File:Scottiecrafta57001.jpg
My information on Sports-Kraft predates this model. They had various addresses in the fifties, either in Grand Prairie or Dallas, Texas. Definitely unique boats. With a model named “Prankster,” someone at the controls of this company had a sense of humor. From the first models in 1953 through their designs into the late fifties, they were marching to the beat of their own drum. Sorry, but I can’t shed more light on your exact model, but these small cruisers are beginning to see a lot of interest for the purpose that they were intended: trailerable boats with shelter to extend the boating season for young families. The family connection that you have make this one priceless. I’ll keep my eyes open for more information.
Here’s a second image.
Thanks so much Lee, Scott may not realize this, but this is one of the funnest parts of this culture. He may have the only one out there.
Larry,
I’m currently just south of the city of Utica in a small town called West Winfield.
Scott
Thank you everyone for all of your continued help! I found a blog on fiberglassics referencing the Sports Kraft 1958 Habana Express. Within that blog, a gentleman with a username of danvair@yahoo.com posted pictures of his boat and it is exactly the same as ours! Unfortunately, his blog post is dated 6 1/2 years ago and he is also trying to find out the year and model of his boat. I reached out to him by email anyway and with any luck, he’ll see it and get back to me. I signed up to join fiberglassics so I can post on that blog. Maybe the Admins of the site can help me further as well. Thanks again and keep the ideas coming!
Scott
I have almost the same boat. My title says it is a 1959 sportkraft. So there was such a manufacturer. My boat looks almost the same except for railing around front of boat. Transom looks exactly same. Info I found calls it a Havana express. Found ordinal sales brochure online showing my boat.
Shawn,
I’d like to talk to you more about our boats and the sales brochure you have. Can you e-mail me at patterson.scottp@gmail.com ?