1974 Caravelle Mercriser closed bow deep V Hull & a Shoreline tandem axle tilt trailer
I have owned this boat for almost 30 years, I parked it in my shed 5 years ago after the last great running season with it.
The reason it was parked was the following year I bought a larger boat andcouldn'tpart with this boat and all the memories it has in my heart.
Sadly it sat for 5 years, When parked it was properly winterized and stored as I have always stored it over the years.
Last year one day raccoons got into the boat, the next day they were lined up and shot.
The interior side panels were chewed a bit, and the seats also. Not a big deal as the side panels need some TLC and the seats needed replacing when I parked it. The exact same ones that I bought 25 years ago are still available at Overtons cheaper than what I paid years ago..
There were never any mice in this boat, never.
I brought this boat out of my shed, washed it, checked the oil, still looks new and it always stayed clean no matter how hard I ran it. Turned motor by hand, put my battery into it from my new boat, and attempted to start it, there was no spark, I put in new points and condenser and now have spark, the fuel tank seems to of evaporated dry. thats as far as I got.
After I cleaned up this boat it smelled like the lake again, brought back a lot of memories.
When this boat was parked everything worked as it should.
This boat is a classic and an antique.
This boat was the Cadillac of boats in its day.
Years ago my brother and I stripped the floor, stringers and ski storage box out of the hull and rebuilt the floor stringers and ski box from top to bottom and from front to back, the hull was supported in the rear and the bow was hung from the rafters and not sitting on the trailer when glassed back together, it was done right and it was done right with industrial fiberglass and resin. I am a tool maker, so you can only imagine all the fitting and angles that I perfectly fit together. the structure in this hull will be around for hundreds of years.
The floor, stringers and ski storage box as well as the rest of the boat are solid as a rock.
6 years ago, (1 year before parking) the aluminum gas tank was replaced with a new plastic one along with all the hoses, yes, the top cap came off again and it was done right.
Years ago the hull was painted Emron red and still looks nice.
Years ago the engine was rebuilt and ran strong and hard.
Years ago the out drive was rebuilt.
This Shoreline Tandem Axle Tilt Trailer has all new tires including the spare, with new wheel bearings, seals and the rims were sandblasted and painted with epoxy paint just before being parked when last winterized. 0 to 400 miles on tires, I can't remember if I took it out once with the new tires.
Years ago the trailer was completely disassembled and sandblasted and painted with epoxy paint.
This boat makes for a great fishing and ski boat, that is what I have used it for, for many many years. (Lake Geneva and Wolf River in FremontWi.)
This was the best boat I have ever owned, I will tell you why.
Seats 6, fits 8 people if some are children, I loved the closed bow for several reasons, when waves are rough (Lake Geneva) the water just rolls off the bow, and the closed bow makes for a great sun/fishing deck. not to mention all the storage under the bow that has a floor and carpet.
There are high stainless rails all around this boat, that make for great comfort and security measure when moving about and around the top of this boat.
The deep V is great because you dont feel like you are going to fall over the side of the boat, like my open bow boat.
This boat has a much wider isle than the newer boats and gives you a lot more room to move around.
Another thing I loved about this boat is that there is room for a cooler with out over crowding the boat. the newer boats are much narrower and if you put a cooler anywhere on your floor you are tripping over it.
The ski box in the floor goes way up under the floor, my new boat don't have this, you can put your skis and fishing poles under there with much more, I had plastic bins with all the boating necessities in there also. this ski box has a ton of storage.
The rubber bumper all around boat was replaced with new a few years before being parked.
Fenders are galvanized metal and have no rust. They are great for stepping on to get in and out of the boat, unlike my new boat.
I have title for boat and trailer in hand
The side panels need a little TLC,all the wood structure is there and usable.
The engine cover needs a little TLC, all the wood structure is there and usable.
Stern drive H2O pump was new when parked, but would put new impellor as it has been sitting.
No batteries included.
This boat would make someone a nice classic, This strong running boat has lots of life and good years left in it with a little TLC.
You can not buy a boat today like this boat was built, just like you cant buy a car today like they were built in the past.
This boat is a work horse.
Boat has bambini top.
Boat has cover but is worn.
If someone local buys it, I will personally help to get it back to water worthy as I know this boat in and out and would like to see it returned to service opposed to being parted out for its organs.
The trailer is worth what my reserve is.
Good Luck
Mike
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