Looking for J Craft history

[David]

There's a V bottom J about a 20 minute swim from my place. I think the molds were lost in the fire when the Orillia area factory burned.

[DoktorC]

There's a V bottom J about a 20 minute swim from my place. I think the molds were lost in the fire when the Orillia area factory burned.

I think that hull mold might be out in the weeds at J-craft lol..

[wildcatt]

I think that hull mold might be out in the weeds at J-craft lol..

Was that a DL or SK bottom Dok?
I had the SK bottom on mine.

[DoktorC]

Was that a DL or SK bottom Dok?
I had the SK bottom on mine.

I converted the SK mold to match my stock DL bottom....

[jcraftrookie]

200 opti. she gets spooky at 70.

[David]

That might just be the normal V bottom chine walk. Have you driven a fast V bottom before? Do you have solid mounts and a foot throttle? How high is the engine? Raising the engine usually helps driveability. Some basics plus seat time and you'll be fine.

[jcraftrookie]

Good points David. I jumped into this boat greener then a green bean and **** my pants the first time it walked on me. WOW! Then I started tinkering with set up and what not and she's been behaving nicely. No footy and only single cable steering so she'll go squirrely quick. But seat time has been key, yes. Only thing I'm really dieing to do is install the aforementioned ski pole...

[Shayward]

Are they still doing repairs on J crafts?

[jcraftrookie]

As far as I know, yes.

Good luck!

[David]

Yup, still doing repairs. Just don't expect it done this summer, as they have lots of work.

[FUJIMO]

to the top

[peterse90]

If I remember correctly most of the very early J-Crafts (mid 60's) that John Jones built were 16 footers and were inboard V-drives. I very much remember having an early J-Craft pamphlet that only had inboards - no outboards and the pricing started with a 327 Chevy. Can't remember where they were built way back then but very much remember when they moved up to the corner of Hwy 48 & Regional Road 23 east of Pefferlaw.
I remember the V-bottom 18 'bubble-deck' at the Montreal Boat Show February 1980 when I worked for Mercury Canada. Really good looking boat.
I also remember that for a few years they used 19's at the CNE Aquarama ski show at the Ex in Toronto with V6 Johnsons so I'm thinking late 70's early 80's. Many of these were sold after the show and found their way onto many cottage lakes in Ontario.

[largecar91]

I remember a V-drive J-Craft on Rice Lake in the 70's named the "Executioner". Sounded great. It ran ok. I think it sunk.

[peterse90]

If I remember correctly most of the very early J-Crafts (mid 60's) that John Jones built were 16 footers and were inboard V-drives. I very much remember having an early J-Craft pamphlet that only had inboards - no outboards and the pricing started with a 327 Chevy. Can't remember where they were built way back then but very much remember when they moved up to the corner of Hwy 48 & Regional Road 23 east of Pefferlaw.

Here is the pamphlet I was referring to. Yes they did make an O/B and judging by the Merc in the picture this looks to be mid 60's. The phone number on the cover was Markham/Gormley area (just north-east of Toronto). A 'turn-key' 16 J-Craft with 327 listed for $5,800 Canadian, a blank outboard was $1,495. Not sure if John had dealers back then, I have a feeling he was selling direct.

[David]

We bought a new J Craft last year and ran it with a 115 HO. This year we put a 150HO on it. A lot of people come up to admire it and tell us about their old J Crafts. Thanks for the history Peter.