WELCOME TO RIVER DAVES PLACE

Alright, school me...V-drives...

Tank

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2008
Messages
19,909
Reaction score
44,989
When talking about 60's to 70's V-drives...who all made the wood decks? Who are the "good" builders? I realize price depends on condition but what are these boats going for usually?

I'm an offshore guy but have always loved V drives. ;)
 

Sharp Shooter

The "anti-yuppie"
Joined
Oct 4, 2007
Messages
7,243
Reaction score
17,495
Many builders offered wood decks back in the day.

v-drive_ads.jpg



Left to right. Aquacraft, Patterson and Sanger.
DSC01848.JPG
 

rivergames

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2008
Messages
15,828
Reaction score
12,931
One day when i decide to get a wood decker, I would either go Patterson or Mandella. If the deck is in rough shape, I would love to have Harlan Orrin put a nice new deck on it. :thumbsup

Now I need to wipe the drool off the side of my mouth and stop day dreaming about cruising up to Fox's in a wood deck flatty :rolleyes:
 

Gelcoater

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2009
Messages
21,608
Reaction score
36,031
those are some good lookin boats,craftsmanship :thumbsup
 

lebel409

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2007
Messages
3,099
Reaction score
584
You could put a wood deck on anything...

Rayson, Mandella, Litchfield, Wickens, Mandella, Aquacraft, Miller, and I'm sure many others had this as an option. Miller and Giroux are still making them new...

In my mind, I see a 19-21' boat (cruiser/GN) as a perfect canvas to use the wood without compromising the lightweight virtues of a 18' toy/race flat. The wood will add some weight, but a cruiser will be heavier anyway so you won't be expecting the thing to be stupid fast, just fun.
 

RiverDave

In it to win it
Joined
Sep 13, 2007
Messages
123,251
Reaction score
150,686
Having a new wood deck put on a boat is much much more cost effective then you would think.. If you had an old boat that the deck was sun beaten on, you could likely replace it with a wood deck for about as much as a high priced gel..

I was kind of always under the impression that it would be 10's of thousands of dollars. I asked Harlan one time what it would cost to put a wood deck on a 21 cruiser, and he told me about 4 - 5K depending on a variety of options.. That would be him fabricating it, and you varnishing it etc..

RD
 

Sharp Shooter

The "anti-yuppie"
Joined
Oct 4, 2007
Messages
7,243
Reaction score
17,495
This boat has the appearance of a Patterson but is actually a Barron Sprint with a Patterson deck. The boat ran 116 mph with a legal SS engine (single 4 bbl 427) before Don Christie took over and repowered it and had it painted.

DSC05835.JPG


DSC05832.JPG
 

jetboatmatt

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 15, 2009
Messages
1,683
Reaction score
271
Karen's Camera 014.jpg

Karen's Camera 017.jpg

Karen's Camera 022.jpg

Karen's Camera 023.jpg

Karen's Camera 020.jpg

Karen's Camera 013.jpg

Karen's Camera 026.jpg My POP'S boat was the 3rd boat ever built by Al Lavey it was a 1963 Lavey Flat bottom with a Kieth Black 426 dodge wedge with the cross ram manifold. It had a white Ash deck and transome... I will try and post a pic. I wish I had this boat now...
 
Last edited:

jetboatmatt

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 15, 2009
Messages
1,683
Reaction score
271
Karen's Camera 013.jpg

Karen's Camera 011.jpg

Karen's Camera 016.jpg

Karen's Camera 018.jpg Sorry these are pictures of pictures!!!! not great quality!! My cousin Gary Painted it twice first it was (Essential) then (Ziiiiiipppp) He has been in Hot Rod Magazine about four times. He lives in Whashington state!!Thats me the little blonde kid lol!!!
 
Last edited:

Magnuman

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2007
Messages
265
Reaction score
112
This boat has the appearance of a Patterson but is actually a Barron Sprint with a Patterson deck. The boat ran 116 mph with a legal SS engine (single 4 bbl 427) before Don Christie took over and repowered it and had it painted.

DSC05835.JPG


DSC05832.JPG



That not a garage is it?
It looks more like a showroom.
 

Tank

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2008
Messages
19,909
Reaction score
44,989
Great looking boats. Anyone have any pics of other brands? Love the wood decks. F*ckin awesome!
 

Dave Sammons

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2009
Messages
222
Reaction score
144
Great looking boats. Anyone have any pics of other brands? Love the wood decks. F*ckin awesome!

Here's one that I'm doing right now...
A 1975 Litchfield runnerbottom...that getting a 540 inch injected Chevy...
After this project is done, I'll be starting a Riviera with a brand new wooddeck that'll be getting
an all aluminum 426 hemi...(second photo)



5187SAT_036.jpg


wd_006.jpg





This one's for sale...
Shockwave...1966 Superstock National Champion All wood Patterson...all original(restored)...
I think he wants 26K...


SAT_035.jpg
 

Gelcoater

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2009
Messages
21,608
Reaction score
36,031
Great looking boats. Anyone have any pics of other brands? Love the wood decks. F*ckin awesome!
0511101523a[1].jpg

0511101524a[1].jpg

0511101528a[1].jpg

I know i posted these earlier this year,but fits this thread.
 

Rexone

an ordinary American
Joined
Sep 19, 2007
Messages
3,366
Reaction score
424
When talking about 60's to 70's V-drives...who all made the wood decks? Who are the "good" builders? I realize price depends on condition but what are these boats going for usually?

I'm an offshore guy but have always loved V drives. ;)

I know Harlan Orrin, John Miller, and Jim Miller (brothers but not same company) still all build very nice wood stuff.
 

rick32

Member
Joined
Apr 19, 2008
Messages
19
Reaction score
0
Jim Wilkes a a few beauties he's fix'in up now...wowwee!

-R32:cool:
 

74 spectra20 v-drive

74 spectra20 v-drive
Joined
Nov 27, 2008
Messages
2,030
Reaction score
2,844
63 Spitfire, not too many made, you can see the early patterson influence on this boat, wide beam narrow transom.
This was done by Kenny Meyers at B&K, the same guy who did Nick Barron's Hallett

My 77 Sanger will eventually be a wood decker as well, it is a super lite layup and eventually the deck will give way. We are playing with how to build a wood buble deck. Harlin actually built the original Buble deck for Sanger so he is on the list to talk to.
 

Attachments

  • 4.1.jpg
    4.1.jpg
    38.9 KB · Views: 282
  • 4.jpg
    4.jpg
    40.7 KB · Views: 289
  • 5.3.JPG
    5.3.JPG
    137.8 KB · Views: 263
Last edited:

djunkie

Broke mo fo
Joined
Sep 24, 2007
Messages
32,821
Reaction score
4,275
Patterson. My old boss owns this one. :thumbsup
 

Attachments

  • 1146100_0808.jpg
    1146100_0808.jpg
    81.4 KB · Views: 265
  • 1146100_0854.jpg
    1146100_0854.jpg
    85.4 KB · Views: 265
  • 1146100_0855.jpg
    1146100_0855.jpg
    95.5 KB · Views: 289

work2ski

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2010
Messages
534
Reaction score
113
63 Spitfire, not too many made, you can see the early patterson influence on this boat, wide beam narrow transom.
This was done by the same guy who did the Hallett

My 77 Sanger will eventually be a wood decker as well, it is a super lite layup and eventually the deck will give way. We are playing with how to build a wood buble deck. Harlin actually built the original Buble deck for Sanger so he is on the list to talk to.


Where were these pictures taken???

Looks like a very cool river.
 

Attachments

  • 4.jpg
    4.jpg
    79.7 KB · Views: 220
  • 4_1.jpg
    4_1.jpg
    77.1 KB · Views: 238
  • 5_3.JPG
    5_3.JPG
    215.2 KB · Views: 242
Last edited:

RyanPartridge

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2008
Messages
2,043
Reaction score
53
Ryan, very good... If you know Kings river you should bring that Beautiful Schiada you just finished up next July with us. I would love to see that boat in person you did and absolutly beautiful job with your restoration.

Hey thanks!

I've never been to Kings river but my buddy said he knows some folks who take their flattys there. Maybe I'll check it out next year. :thumbsup
 

ERiggen

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2008
Messages
383
Reaction score
189
my dads 1960 18' Campbell
 

Attachments

  • b-slammer-01.jpg
    b-slammer-01.jpg
    45.6 KB · Views: 262
  • b-slammer-04.jpg
    b-slammer-04.jpg
    47.6 KB · Views: 209
  • b-slammer-03.jpg
    b-slammer-03.jpg
    45.8 KB · Views: 186

Perry Rennie

Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2018
Messages
15
Reaction score
7
Curious on what these wood decks are going for price wise. Might have one about to hit the market.
 

sintax

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2008
Messages
6,733
Reaction score
11,193
Curious on what these wood decks are going for price wise. Might have one about to hit the market.

anywhere from $500 to $100,000 i suppose. How much are stocks worth?

you'll have to dig up a lot of info to get a real estimate. A million variables come into play on a boat.
 

FlatBottomGuy

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 28, 2019
Messages
76
Reaction score
88
Curious on what these wood decks are going for price wise. Might have one about to hit the market.

IMO...it can be tough to compare one boats price to another when you get into boats like this...I put them in the same playing field as hot rods, some are worth a lot to the right buyer and some might look like they are worth a lot, but in reality are not worth much at all. And sometimes you just get lucky haha.

Post up a pic of what you have...
 

rivergames

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2008
Messages
15,828
Reaction score
12,931
One day when i decide to get a wood decker, I would either go Patterson or Mandella. If the deck is in rough shape, I would love to have Harlan Orrin put a nice new deck on it. :thumbsup

Now I need to wipe the drool off the side of my mouth and stop day dreaming about cruising up to Fox's in a wood deck flatty :rolleyes:
Oh Shit! Looking back on this from almost 10 years ago, I now have a brand new 1975 Patterson wood deck that is in the glass shop!
 

Tank

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2008
Messages
19,909
Reaction score
44,989
Funny, my buddies dad has a 67 Hallet V-Drive he's been toying with the idea of selling. Original owner, garage kept whole life. restored about 15 years ago. But now the glass tanks are leaking through to the hull, so that needs to be repaired. Still would be a bitchen boat to own and play with.

Edit...Well, seriously may be picking this thing up. They were out running it last weekend. Runs like a top. Stored under terry cover in garage its whole life. Things a time capsule. It's not wood deck but damn this thing would be fun on the river.

00D0D_8ZASwSoNBRTz_0x20oM_1200x900.jpg
00E0E_aVBo6WmoiYiz_0x20oM_1200x900.jpg
00O0O_eulQPnr45rnz_0x20oM_1200x900.jpg
00q0q_2KOya9Q07dez_0CI0t2_1200x900.jpg
00u0u_4qyKTlaurujz_0x20oM_1200x900.jpg
00w0w_kVClSnSjdFvz_0CI0t2_1200x900.jpg
00909_gNzNvbqgajcz_0x20oM_1200x900.jpg
01313_8kaw50Frja4z_0lM0t2_1200x900.jpg
 
Last edited:

74 spectra20 v-drive

74 spectra20 v-drive
Joined
Nov 27, 2008
Messages
2,030
Reaction score
2,844
The wood deck market place is pretty small, they are a pain in the ass to take care of, takes an OCD person to own one and have it last and they are expensive to restore if needed. I believe that the way one of these was restored also plays into the equation and I am talking about materials. Polyester resins to Epoxy. The one below was restored in the late 80's early 90's as far as the deck and floors, all done in poly, the newer resto's done in epoxy should last longer and not be as fragile. have not been around them, I believe Andrew (rivergames) did his in epoxy. Agree with the comment above that there is a wide range on price, if Hell froze over and we had to sell my Dad's I would start off in the 50 to 60 range I think and hope no one offered.

I love them as my Dad has had his since 65', its more of a family heirloom than anything, he can't really get in the dam thing any more at 87' and no one else is asking about getting it ready for the River so it sits covered in shipping quilts.
image1.jpg
IMG_1825[1].JPG
 

port austin pirate

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 16, 2010
Messages
1,017
Reaction score
2,140
Funny, my buddies dad has a 67 Hallet V-Drive he's been toying with the idea of selling. Original owner, garage kept whole life. restored about 15 years ago. But now the glass tanks are leaking through to the hull, so that needs to be repaired. Still would be a bitchen boat to own and play with.

Edit...Well, seriously may be picking this thing up. They were out running it last weekend. Runs like a top. Stored under terry cover in garage its whole life. Things a time capsule. It's not wood deck but damn this thing would be fun on the river.

View attachment 1012486 View attachment 1012487 View attachment 1012488 View attachment 1012489 View attachment 1012490 View attachment 1012491 View attachment 1012492 View attachment 1012493

first v-drive flat was a hallet very similar to this only had center deck, very nice rideing heavy layup boat mine had a 396 chevy i think it was a 325 hp with a 350 hp hydraluic cam single four barrel and bassett over transom dry header fixed cavitation plate boat had the name Sundog with a picture of a large Pluto dog face on the deck Kids loved it, had the fiberglass tanks around 8 gallon as I recall, you could ski all day on one fillup, very nice ride loved that old girl. the one your looking a would make a great fun cruiser, good luck in your search.
 

woodagain

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2009
Messages
176
Reaction score
423
When talking about 60's to 70's V-drives...who all made the wood decks? Who are the "good" builders? I realize price depends on condition but what are these boats going for usually?

I'm an offshore guy but have always loved V drives. ;)

This is my original 74 Litchfield 2 months old.
I had Harlin Orrin put a wood deck on a few years back and Dave Sammons rigged
D3237DA8-3BE8-4822-ACDE-E4EAF48D9783.jpeg
666A4E5F-1E18-43FF-9AA3-B2447FB87827.jpeg
EC4AA04D-604F-4BA9-9279-B543635EA98D.jpeg
 
Top