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Guest
Feature: 1963 Thompson SeaCoaster
By Greg Terzian and Arnie
Brulhardt
Photos by Greg Terzian
If you're like
most performance boaters, you have a love for boating in general - not just
high performance engines, the smell of race fuel, and the feeling of
ultimate speed on the water.
Classic boats and
outboards are the foundations for the boats we use today... They were the
tools that established the designs and reputations of both boat and engine
builders.
Arnie Brulhardt's
father purchased this 16-foot 1963 Thompson SeaCoaster in the early 1960's
with a Mercury 50-horsepower outboard. Although fiberglass boats were
fairly popular by this time, most boats were still constructed of wood; a
long-lost art in boat building in the production boat world. This boat
cruised the waters of Long Island's south shore, and although Arnie was just
a child at the time, he fell in love with boating, and his father's
SeaCoaster.
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Shortly after
purchasing the boat, the 50-horsepower Mercury was replaced with a then-new
1966 Mercury 650 (65-horsewpower), adding power trim a few years later.
The boat was very well cared for from the beginning, always being stored in
a garage to protect the varnished wood finish. In spite of this, years
of use in the hot Long Island summers and salt water have taken its toll on
the classic runabout.
Arnie inherited
the Thompson from his father, and he decided to begin a complete restoration
on the boat. Prior to this, the boat remained in storage for years,
and it was going to take a bit of work to bring the SeaCoaster to its former
glory. A thorough inspection of the classic wood boat revealed that
its structure was remarkably preserved, and intact, requiring very little
work. Most of the restoration would involve rewiring and rigging, as
well as stripping the old finish and adding new layers of paint and varnish.
The original cleats and other metal hardware remained in stunning condition,
thanks to a ritual of cleaning and oiling after each use by Arnie's father.
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The vinyl hull
"liners" were reproduced and replaced, and the electrical system was
replaced and upgraded for added safety. The 1966 Mercury 650 was restored,
although regrettably, the old power trim system could not be saved, and it
was removed. Arnie restored the dashboard cosmetics and rigging, and
the seats were made to complement the boat's original interior styling as
well.
Shortly after the
restoration, it was felt that the old Mercury 650 was not up to the task of
being commissioned to the waters Long Island's Great South Bay, so
Arnie retired the engine that has served their family for nearly four
decades. The Thompson's varnished wood transom would be introduced to
modern outboard technology, in the form of a new Mercury 60-horsepower
4-stroke engine. Arnie reports that the new engine is a significant
improvement over the Mercury 650 in terms of performance and maintenance.
Being careful not
to upset the classic appeal of the Thompson's dash layout, Arnie
crafted a gauge pod for the new engine's instruments. The original
cable steering system remains, and has been refurbished for safety.
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Forty years later,
the
Thompson SeaCoaster is again roaming the waters of Long Island, and with
modern rigging and power, it's a safe and reliable boat that will no doubt
continue to service Arnie's family for decades to come. Arnie's
website can be seen at
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~oldspiker/
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1963 Thompson
SeaCoaster Specifications |
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Center-Line Length |
16' 7" |
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Gunwale Length |
18' 1" |
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Deck Length |
69" |
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Approx. Weight, less engine |
850 lb. |
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Load Capacity |
1575 lb. |
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Maximum Horsepower |
90 |
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