Well Preserved, Well Presented 1968 Evinrude Sportsman 155 On Ebay! Well, What Are You Waiting For?
The trailer is even cool.. as cool as a white trailer can get.. OK its just a trailer..
Are you looking for a cool fun affordable zip around boat and be able to do it in style? Man oh man have we got one deal for you here. This kinda stuff does not come along often, and it’s being sold by a guy that truly knows how to communicate. No worn out pictures from the 1980’s parked in a garage with crap all over it. This is done right, on the right boat and it’s going to sell with no reserve. As always have the boat looked at by someone that knows this stuff. But from the way its being presented its kinda a no brainer. HERE IS THE LISTING ON EBAY.
Nice.Vintage Evinrude Sportsman 155 Boat Original Survivor w/Motor and Trailer
I love this color, it not only looks clean, it feels 100% right.
Evinrude went all out on this stuff. Designed by famed industrial and automotive designer Brook Stevens
Dang, the more I look at this thing the more I like it. The bidding is heavy so clearly i am not alone, but the bottom line is this boat will stand the test of time and be a cool boat to add to a collection.
Here is a sample of an ad, you blow it up.
Nice gel coat, cool graphics
From the listing. “This boat is the Sportsman 155 is powered by the famous “Nail head” Buick V6. Cut down from the V8, this legendary engine was then sold to Jeep and was the V6 used in all the Jeeps and Jeepsters in the sixties and seventies.”
The seller is well known in the classic car hobby and the publisher and owner of Grassroots Motorsports and Classic Motorsports magazines, so he knows his stuff. He is also one of us, a boat nut and got bitten by this boat at Lake Dora a couple years ago.. By the way,, Lake Dora is less than 3 months from now! Woohooo!
And of course for those of you that need more, A recent video of her out on the water.
Uhmmmmmm, ” One mans treasure…” ?
BTW, I met Tim from GRM years ago when I was racing “Autoslasom” or “Solo2” as it was called for a company we owned called SOLOSPORT up here in Canada. He is a really great guy, sharp and informed.
He likes the odd stuff and he has a can-do attitude. After all, he put a Mazda rotary engine in a Triumph Spitfire and made the thing fly. I’m not surprised this boat is immaculate and a great survivor.
UGLY,UGLY,UGLY
Another dog story? Pathetic.
Don’t get me going!
Rough on the Beaver.
Texx can fix it.
He can fix ANYTHING!
yeah, yeah, yeah… if its one thing that we all know. Its that
you will ALWAYS be able to find a ugly tri-hull for cheap out there. its like looking for sand at the beach!
I actually like these, though prefer the slightly earlier, outboard models.
This 1965 lives in the Les Cheneaux area. Every bit as mint as the one in today’s story. Yes, by all measures unattractive. Maybe even “ugly.” But ugly becomes interesting and amusing and fun over time. Like old VW micro buses.
The molds and tooling for these OMC Evinrude and Johnson boats were purchased by Chris-Craft and moved to the Cortland, NY plant about 1970/71. CC continued to make them, of course changing the names. Ted Thompson told me about the negotiations he and his brother Bob made with OMC and the trip they made to Waukegan, IL to sign the deal.
Andreas
As design goes, this is the late 60’s.. Early boston whalers etc, this was cutting edge stuff, and one must apreciate it for that. At least its gold in Golden Harvist or avacado. Which by the way can also be iconic. This boat very soon will be part of any true collection. Like a well designed ranch house. When done well, amazing, when not, crap.. This little sucker is the archatype of that design.
Just because it’s old doesn’t make it classic.
Fiberglassyboater.com?
Evolution of the Hickman Sea Sled from the 20s .
Here is one from Smith Mountain lake in 2011
I think Alex might have this one right – not all vehicles which attracted interest were attractive – they were in many cases functional and the comparison to a Microbus is seemingly appropriate. Not the prettiest boat by any means but it would be very functional little vessel. Perhaps the automotive equivalent may also be a 1977 Buick Station Wagon with fake wood on the side?
Man is this thing cheap- grab a little perspective here. People want more than this for a “project” woody that will need $50k more just to get it in the water and which will then be worth $25 or $30k. If a fellow with limited needs or resoruces wants something unconventional and neat looking to hit the water with, it is very hard to beat something like this. I’m even thinking about it just to leave in FL for my annual spring trip there.
That’s a great idea.. I agree Paul, its fun and for the money this boat would out shine a new Cobalt any day. For the price of the trailer alone. Call it Butt Face and have fun with its uglyness. I personally think its cute, Like people think pugs are cute.. it is what it is, and I appreciate that focus. Brooke Stevens was an amazing designer. By the way, Brooke was the creator of the concept of “planned Obsolescence”. That’s the charm here. Its so bad its out of date, which is why its cool.
Mr. Stevens would be happier if everyone could remember his real name: Clifford Brooks Stevens. Thank you.
Well, for late ’60s early ’70s. I think my litte 17′ Chris Craft Corsair ski boat with a 327 engine was about ad good as you could get especially for skiing but not bad for fishin’ or just ridin around. I don’t have one of those techie phes that takes pics but I’ll find one and most likely Texx will work his magic.
There is an earlier non-bow rider style of this design on our lake here. The windshield is even further forward, and considerably so. I believe it is an outboard, and because of the way the prevailing wind blows, I often see it in profile while it is moored on its’ buoy, as I drive by. Very “unique” styling, but I have to think Matt has the pug analogy right – those dogs are so ugly they are cute. Brian R. is also right – though I would add that there are plenty of old wood boats which have much less design, functionality or style put into them than this boat, and they are thought of as “classic” – simply because of hull material, not aesthetic design attributes.
In my opinion, design is more important than hull material in determing what is classic. I would say this Tri-Hull is certainly a distinctive design and both exceedingly well preserved and usable, but I would not call it classic. That said, these tri-hulls were a venerable and popular design in their day. How many families bought these and got into boating in them? They apparently worked quite well – so maybe on that basis they should be called a classic?
What defines a classic, anyway? Market acceptance of a relatively staid but functional design through sales volume, like a U22, Resorter or Arabian? Sales failures but a really unique design like a CC Cobra or Gar Wood Speedster? Is it independant of sales volume? I don’t know, but it is not just hull material as far as I am concerned. In my view, it is a successful and unique design which distinguishes real classics from everything else, whether it is cars, boats, architecture or most anything for that matter.
Along the same lines (literally) were Johnson boats of this era.
The one in this photo is even cooler than the eBay one.
Come on people. Not all boats are going to be beautiful in the classic sense. And, as my wife just said, even the lowliest of these babies has more design than a pontoon.
Back in the day there were a lot of these OMC craft on good ol’ Go Home Lake (Ontario) . Based on advertisements we surmised they came in two colours of gel-coat but it seemed to us that one hundred percent of those shipped to our lake sported the same shade , a sickly flesh colour that had the added advantage of being highly susceptible to bleaching by the sun . Based on their blatantly unattractive finish (almost a deer hunter camouflage colour) coupled with their lumbering boxy appearance most cottagers on Go Home (and quite likely many other Muskokans) quickly began calling them “tanks” .
Alex, I believe Johnson and Evinrude were all part of OMC at the time, so it is probably a bit like the difference between Chevy and GMC trucks – not much. A 1968 Johnson tri-hull is probably about the same as this one is.
Here’s a front pic of that boat. Does that windshield actually pivot up? Reminds me of Mr. Rooney’s sunglasses on Ferris Bueller.
OK, thats very cool. For the money give it to the kids instead of some ..Gulp,, ugh Jet ski.. there I said it.. The mosketos of the boat world..
How can anyone think this isn’t cool!? Came close to buying one just like this last summer in Milwaukee. Might still be for sale.
Not only does the windshield pivot, it does so at the push of a button! Electric cool.
a lot of boat for the money,even at 5k.no maintance,just use it,go to shows, It is not like you have to keep it for ever,and it should always be worth what you pay to a point,,Bill Anderson
If you need a plastic toy, You can get a 1965 Donzi Ski Sporter 16 for 5,000 and it really IS worth the money (and always will be) or how about a Formula Junior…there’s one on eBay right now at $2,500 ending in a couple of hours! So many better places to put your money.
that looks way cool, and is probably a nice deal. But, it is only a tiny sportboat and if a guy wants to carry a few people and/or some supplies, the Donzi couldn’t be considered. Never the less, it’s a great boat and these should pull more dough than that, or so I would have thought. There are lots of really neat little glass boats available for peanuts, if folks just expand their horizon’s a bit.
The pic is actually a baby 14 Donzi…very rare. The Sweet 16 or Ski Sporter 16 can seat 5-6 people….
Mr. Rooney.
I am beginning to feel like you are trying to challange me.
How about a woman, a dog, and an Evinrude?
A woman, dog and evinrude walk into a bar…
Bartender says, What`s with the dog?
Woman replies:
My little 17′ Chris Craft Corsair ski boat with a 327.
There was a reson that the tri hull is not produced anymore and if you ever rode in one on a choppy lake or river you would know why. It’s too hard to keep your beer in the glass, especialy in those cup holders.
My 1970 Winner Bimini Tri-Hull, a fun boat that the kids love and it gets thumbs up everywhere we go. An extra cool factor is the push button electric shift 1970 Evinrude 60.
Beauty is in the eye….
Denis D
Think “Jetsons” and you will be in the era (and mindset) this boat was designed to please. Pretty cool in their own way and very well done from a pure design standpoint. Plus, that particular series of tri-hulls was a good riding boat. I have a love of tri-hulls, having owned a 13′ Boston Whaler from 8th grade through college – (looking for another early 13 now, but it’s got to be right) – and those I have been in ride no worse than the typical Resorter…
Funny how tri-hulls are pretty universally dissed, unless they say Boston Whaler on the side. Yeah, some are pretty ugly – (Fiberform with the windshield all the way forward comes to mind) and many were poorly built, but the 70’s and early 80’s were not exactly a time of quality transportation choices in this country – they echo the era.
But, the point made by another above about getting families into boating is right on. My generation got there in plywood daycruisers/runabouts (see pic). In that alone is the value.
A friend and I took one of these that was in nearly the same condition apart several years ago – a guy bought the motor/drive out of it for another boat, and someone else wanted the boat and converted it into an outboard for his family. These Evinrudes were well-done, well built boats.
Dick, I concur with you on the Fiberform tri-hulls. I saw one on our lake a couple of years ago and talked at length with the owner. Just a hideous thing, but they loved it – celebrated its homiliness, actually. I had a Fiberform – a 1967 16′ Voyager O/B. They are very common up here because they were built in Spokane and they had a plant in Kelowna for many years. I think that these tri-hulls are more ugly when the dash/windshield is so far forward (like a ’60’s Detroit built van), very stubby looking things.
Still, what is not to like about them at the price point they sell at? My god, is there any cheaper way to go boating in something that is not off the rack than things like this? I wonder if the people that dump on these unprepossessing bits of utilitarian function also hate all paintings that are not Renaissance masters? How about cars that aren’t Duesenbergs or Bugatti’s? Makes my head spin sometimes.
There is 3 tri-hulls posted on our local “trader” right now for FREE. That’s still too much imho.
Are they in competition with all the “free” cruisers out there? In 99% of cases, project boats have little or no value – fiberglass, mahogany, cruisers or otherwise. Sad but true and the margin is that much thinner for something like this boat, which is not worth much at the best of times.
I bet if there was a Craigslist in the 1960-1975 period, it would have had plenty of “free” old mahogany boats – the type we venerate here. Why were they free? Because their former owners had bought Tri-Hulls. How is that for an ultimate irony?
I like this boat a lot.There are Brook Stevens design elements on every inch of this boat. They were very solidly built and the Buick V6 was very quiet and powerful.
Too bad he doesn’t have the Evinrude trailer to complete the package. The trailers are beefy.
Speaking of TRI HULLs, we have one, a 1998 Sea Ray SunDeck 24ft. We bought this bought in 2001 when we sold our Marina in Grand Haven. These were very popular in Florida but rare in the Great Lakes. We love the FRONT squared off bow, to beach up with, and get off the boat, even has a stow away boarding ladder in the anchor locker. We can take 12 people on board, and cruise all day.
The TRI Hull runs smooth even out in Lake Michigan 3 or 4 footers; not real fast, but comfortable.
Matt, your age and design background are showing. I’m with you though. You bring your gal and that minty boat, I’ll bring my gal, a fondue set, and a six pack of tab and we’ll all have a great time rocking around in the chop!
Quite possibly the ugliest boat produced by anyone, period. Woodyboater changing to Plastic Boater?
Still infinitely better than a couple of aluminum tubes with a board and lay-z-boys strapped on top, and zig zag artwork along the sides.
I love these, but probably would never buy one. I am supprised no one mentioned the I/O. They break and are almost impossible to buy parts for or to find anyone who will work on them.
I have a 1965 Mercruiser I/O and it is difficult but not impossible to find parts. Parts can be problematic for all kinds of old junk. Just try finding parts for a Scripps or a Chrysler Royal. Having done that, not much scares me.
As I wrote earlier, I like this boat. But naming it could be a challenge. While shopping with the kids today, snapped this pic. Name fits. Better than say, another Wet Dream or Play Buoy or Aquaholic (groan).
One interesting thing about those early OMC outdrives is that they are not attached to or dependent on the transom at all. The drive assembly is solid with the engine, which is fully mounted to the stringers. All the lift and thrust is transferred directly to the boat through the engine mounts. The rubber boot is the only component mounted to the transom.
I personally like the arrangement as there is no possibility of the drive being misaligned, it is arguably smoother, easier to service, – plus, they tilted better than anything. One could easily beach an OMC drive boat.
The transom on that Evinrude is all fiberglass, about 1/4″ thick, no plywood to worry about, just a hole for the drive, sealed by the boot. But as elegant and well-engineered as it is, the achilles heel and reason that version of OMC drives was fairly short-lived, is the many boats sunk due to cracked boots or ones chewed by muskrats, etc.
I guess nothing is perfect! 🙂
Hey…a GOLD STAR to anyone who can locate one of these utterly bizarre Brooks Stevens-designed ‘Rooney Lakesters’ somewhere in a secret abandoned combination garage/boathouse!
I actually played with a plastic toy of this outrageous hybrid as a kid…little did I realize someone tried to make it in real life…good old Brooks!
My toy car slid apart and became an outboard boat with a bizarre dune-buggy mothership/trailer combo…just like the real thing!
Incidentally, I grew up about a mile away from the Brooks Stevens Auto Museum in Mequon, WI. He designed everything from vacuums, to toasters, to cars like the Studebaker Hawk and the Gaylord (look it up)…even the Oscar-Mayer Wienermobile was his brainchild. Trust me, not everything from his studio was a work of art, or even workable…but he WAS creative!
“Hey, Mr. Stevens- that’s a pretty wicked dune buggy and/or boat, but…
UHH…where does the CAR engine fit into your design, hmmm?”
“…I didn’t think so!”
OMG people…here’s one of those toys on ebay!!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1960s-Processed-Plastics-Co-Beach-Runner-Car-Boat-Combo-Orange-/281238673546?pt=Diecast_Vehicles&hash=item417b21988a
the dodge K-Car of the lake!