IMP Boats Origins: The Red Fish Boat Co. (see photos)

[1961SHARK]

The Red Fish Boat Co.

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IMP produced boats for the Red Fish Boat Co. of Clarksville, TX for a few years in the late '50's and early '60's. When Red Fish Boat Co. declared bankruptcy, Iola Molded Plastics (IMP) bought the molds and jigs, and began production under their own name.
The early boats made by IMP for Red Fish are now very collectible, some selling for buckets of cash. I'm in the process of bringing a 1961 15' Red Fish Shark runabout back into shape. You can view some "Before restoration" photos of my boat at http://myboatproject.3dup.net
There is also another brand-new site for Red Fish Boat owners and fans at www.redfishclassics.com

[matt & lasabrea]

Hi all,

My husband and I just bought our first boat it's a Red Fish of some kind. Hence the problem is we don't know what boat style it is. My closest guess is a 1963 16' Apache and it came with a 1964 75 hp Evinrude Starflite IV outboard motor. We can't seem to find any identifying numbers on it from the manifacture and the only thing we can find simply says "Red Fish" on both sides. I have read the info. about Red Fish going out of business in 1962and IMP taking over, which is why I'm so confused. Any help or info. on identifying our boat would be great!

Thanks alot,
LaSabrea

[boatbob5]

Hi, How did you guess it was an apache? I have same problem trying to find style of 16 and half foot red fish. mine came with 40 scot atwater. boat bob 5

[boatbob5]

Originally Posted by boatbob5

Hi, How did you guess it was an apache? I have same problem trying to find style of 16 and half foot red fish. mine came with 40 scot atwater. boat bob 5

found sites for some red fish.

[jgowdy2]

well new here I am trying to find some info on an IMP IOLA Mohawk. i have no idea of the year i am thinking late sixties. i found a picture from a brochure from red fish with a boat with the name Mohawk on the side and it looks a lot like mine I just cant find anything else. other than restoration I was wondering how big an outboard the boat would support. the boat is in great shape although it has no seats or motor. it was in a barn covered by a canvas tarp for 15 to 17 yrs the old man died and the new owners of the property gave me 50 bucks to haul it off for them

[boatbob5]

I wrote to you on your wedsite, great looking shark.Nice buff job I was going to paint mine but I may try your way. How did you find the original sale clipping? It looks like the boat to the left of your clipping could be the boat I have. I cannot find the model that I have. Also there is a formula to find out board max hp.I would just weigh motor you have ,prop pitch and dia.of prop and go for one 10 to 20hp more. bob