Unmarked Mini-boat. Any ideas?

Discussion in 'Powerboats' started by superbee24, Aug 30, 2013.

  1. superbee24
    Joined: Aug 2013
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    Location: Texas

    superbee24 Junior Member

    Garage find. NO labels or markings anywhere. GREAT full metal flake gel coat. Previous owner said it was made in 1978 by family member in Ohio and been in garage ever since. Bottom looks spotless. Carpet was just old so I pulled it and will replace. Looks like Aqua Lark or Addictor. Looked it over top to bottom front to back. NO HULL numbers anywhere no sign of any tag ever on it.

    Ideas?
     

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    Last edited: Aug 30, 2013
  2. superbee24
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    superbee24 Junior Member

    Oh, almost forgot 8 ft long and about 4 ft wide. I just picked up a 1995 Mariner 15hp outboard for it. Should be pretty fun once we get it all rigged and running.
     
  3. Wavewacker
    Joined: Aug 2010
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    Wavewacker Senior Member

    You'll have fun with it on a private lake or without a motor on public waters, unless you got a title, I assume you didn't as a title would have the name/manufacture on it. :)
     
  4. superbee24
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    superbee24 Junior Member

    Wavewacker - currently jumping through all the hoops to get it registered for full public use. They sure don't make it easy !
     
  5. Ike
    Joined: Apr 2006
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    Ike Senior Member

    No HIN because it was a homebuilt. Go back to the previous owner and gt a bill of Sale. It can be hand written. Doesn't have to be on an official form. Just previous owners name address and phone, Buyers name address and phone, description of the boat, Purchase price and date of purchase. Get him to sign it. Go to your boat registration office and tell them it's a home built. They will give you a form to fill out on which you certify that it is homebuilt. They will then issue you an HIN and register the boat. This looks a lot like the boats at Disney World back in the 80's.

    as usual I forgot something. This boat falls under the USCG special rules for boats 13 feet or less, no more than 2 passengers, remote steering, no more than 40 hp. I think Disney put 10 HP on theirs. 15 HP should be a kick. see http://newboatbuilders.com/pages/33CFR_HP.html

    (b) For boats qualifying under this paragraph, the performance test method described in this paragraph may be used to determine the horsepower capacity.

    (1) Qualifying criteria.

    (i) Thirteen feet or less in length;

    (ii) Remote wheel steering;

    (iii) Transom height (A) Minimum 19 inch transom height; or, (B) For boats with at least a 19 inch motorwell height, a minimum 15 inch transom height;

    (iv) Maximum persons capacity not over two persons;

    Go to the above link to see the test method.

    But I am sure 15 HP would pass just fine.
     
    Last edited: Sep 5, 2013
  6. superbee24
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    superbee24 Junior Member

    Thanks IKE, Yep, I have gone through the steps you listed. It is just a matter of jumping through some hoops, no big deal. Here in Texas, the boat has to be inspected by a Game Warden to verify the lack of Hull Numbers.
    They only do it once a month on the first Friday....Like I said, hoop jumping :mad:

    Thanks for the link.
     
  7. chickenbroth
    Joined: Nov 2013
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    chickenbroth New Member

    mystery boat

    Im pretty sure that is an Aqua Lark, the reason I say that is I have the exact boat and trailer that Im getting ready to restore. Mine has the original Aqua Lark decals. Ill post a pic when I can figure out how to get it on this site.
     
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  8. PAR
    Joined: Nov 2003
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    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    I'll bet anything she actually has a HIN. It's been covered with putty along with the repairs to the bottom (the colors don't match). Back when they where doing the huge metal flake in gelcoat, they wouldn't have used one color on the hull (no flake) and another on the deck cap. It would have all been the same (fade, flake and all).

    This is quite common and usually because there's a problem with the old HIN. It's stolen, it's tied up in legal stuff, they actually don't own it, etc., so the HIN gets covered and they apply for a "Z" HIN. A wise thief will cut the HIN off the boat and patch the area. Someone that hasn't experience with the process will just fill it. Use an access mirror and look at the starboard upper corner of the transom for a patch, from inside the hull shell. Also using the same mirror, look around elsewhere inside. I'll bet another HIN is visible (it's supposed to be), which most boneheads don't know about.

    If the Game Warden is experienced, he'll probably know this and tap around the usual locations for an embossed HIN. If it sounds funny, he'll get usurious. On the other hand, he just might not give a damn and you'll get the appropriate paper work filed. If I was inspecting this boat, I'd be very leery as to it being re-HIN'd.
     
  9. superbee24
    Joined: Aug 2013
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    superbee24 Junior Member

    Well, I got all the paper work completed. I did go back to the seller. He had a small notebook from his Grandmother (she had detailed notes on the build) that he was not willing to part with. PRETTY SURE this thing was not stolen, but hey, who knows!

    PAR-the game warden went over it with a fine tooth comb - mirrored all around and inside/under by helm (heck he was laying on the boat floor with his feet sticking out) - Nothing found.

    The top and bottoms are immaculate - . I paid for it and it has a current Hull ID issued by the State of Texas so Life is Good.

    I picked up a 1996 15hp 2 stroke elec/pull start Mariner for $600.

    Now just waiting to figure out how to put control box and cables on it.
     
  10. superbee24
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    superbee24 Junior Member

    PAR - as far as colors not matching...maybe its the camera, but they are pretty close.
    You can see on the inside pics that the floor and insides of the gel coat are all orange.
     
  11. PAR
    Joined: Nov 2003
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    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    Yeah he suspected something, just like I would have, but you've got a title, so it can be registered.
     
  12. rusty929
    Joined: Nov 2010
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    rusty929 Junior Member

    Disney Boats


    I talked to the son of the once owner of Tamco(I think) who were the builders of the Aqua Larks. He is a member of this forum and I contacted him as I was very interested in the little boats, their history and was confused about all the misinformation out there about who owned the design, when there seemed to be a lot of knock-offs produced.
    Any way he cleared things up and also mentioned that the Disney boats were illegal "cheap" copies of their design which were made after their tender was rejected. This "stolen design" was also determined in court years later with a sizeable payout in their favour. I uploaded some photos at the time from the book "The Legend of Mercury" by Jeffrey Rodengen, which showed the fleet of Merc. powered Disney boats. I'll try to find the thread and let you guys know.
    After much research on these designs I am also confident in saying this boat looks like one of the "Disney copies" of the Aqua Lark.
     
  13. rusty929
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    rusty929 Junior Member

    Disney Boats

    Here is the photo I mentioned of the Disney Boats (Cheap copies of the Aqua Lark),
    and a copy of an Aqua Lark flyer I picked up at the Adelaide boat show as a child, not sure of the year but I'm almost 36 now, so it must have been mid 1980s

    After finding the photo there are some significant differences such as;
    the seats not being moulded with the deck, the bow hump/vent, and the metal-flake.

    Does anyone recall if Disney had any other similar boats at a later time?
     

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  14. rusty929
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    rusty929 Junior Member


  15. mppcalza
    Joined: Aug 2006
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    Location: sacramento

    mppcalza mppcalza

    My guess is that its a knock off... Whose, I have no clue. The hull is very close to the Zamco design but, the flat on the rear of the keel is too short. Ours ran further down. Earlier models may have had the flat, I'm not to sure cause I wasn't making that style when I started working at the plant in 91. I'm digging the hood scoop with the flake though.
     
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