14ft FishMaster

[Way2slow]

I know this is not the right forum but this one gets looked at more.

Back in the 60's they made a 14' open style fiberglass boat with two bench seats in it called a FishMaster.  I'm looking for one anywhere close to a reasonable drive from Macon GA.

I had one I bought back then and let my son talk me into letting him take it to South Texas to use about 10 years ago.  Well, he's the type that cares little about anything and just left it abandoned somewhere and doesn't have a clue where. 

I don't care what the condition is as long as the hull is still in tact.  All I really want is the hull, don't need a motor. 

I have owned dozens of boats over they years and that has always been my favorite boat for bream and catfish in small lake and most rivers.  Probably the most stable 14' boat on the water. 

I've tried finding a picture of one, but this looks like the hull of one upside down on a trailer. 

Mine was one of their first ones and the name was actually painted on free hand with a brush.

 

[Ski213]

I'll ask around here.  A lot of older boats can be found around the river that I'm pretty close to. 

Also, if you find one in your searches within reasonable distance of central KY, it wouldn't be a problem for me to get it from there to somewhere between here and Macon. 

[PaulSD1984]

I'll keep my eyes open out here in SD. I know its a long ways but I'm always looking online at boats and stuff, got me something to look for now  instead of just looking lol.

[Way2slow]

Wait now, I greatly appreciate it but I said within a reasonable drive from Macon Georgia.  The last time I looked at a map, SD stood for South Dakota.  I think that's getting a little bit beyond a reasonable distance.  I was thinking along the lines of being able to make in a one day round trip. 

This is only a few hundred dollars worth of boat and while I want one, I don't want to spend way more than I pay for it getting it back to GA.

[Catt]

Could Fishmaster be a model or series name?

Under Fishmaster manufacturer I can not find any earlier than 1975.

[Way2slow]

Tell you the truth, not sure.  It just had FishMaster painted on each side at the rear.   I graduated in HS in 66 and it was after that and I went in the Air Force in June of 75 and I got it sooner than that, but when between those two times, I can't remember.  Actually, I was married when I got it, and so it had to have been the early 70's and may have been as late as 75.  I had five boats and sold all but that one and my canoe when I joined.   I have developed a pretty good case of that old folks disease CRS, lately.  

[Catt]

There was a period during the 70s when that hull design was popular but like you I can't remember s...tuff!

[Catt]

@Way2slow read this & see if it sheads some light

 

http://bassfishingarchives.com/features/old-bass-boats-1978-part-3#more-11509

[Way2slow]

This was not a bass boat, more of a fiberglass jon boat.  Didn't even have a live well.  Totally open, but did have a floor.  It had a round aluminum rim around the top edge.   One little storage area in the bow, where you stepped into the boat and two bench seats.  I was running an 18hp tiller Evinrude on it and it would push it about 25mph.   Just realized, it had to be 1973 or earlier, because I bought that motor new with the boat and 1973 was the last year they made the 18hp motor.

[Catt]

The only info I've found on FishMaster is a Bay boat, aluminum Jon boat, or bass boat.

Which is why I questioned if FishMaster was the manufacturer?

The picture & your description is of a Carolina Skiff type boat.

[Way2slow]

Found a 2009 picture of one someone has butchered up but this is what it looks like.  All that junk inside is where someone tried to make it something it ain't.

http://forum.gon.com/showthread.php?t=305243

I have seen two of them in peoples yards over the years, but not since I've been wanting to get a replacement for mine.   Since here in GA is the only place I've seen them, it may have been a small, local manufacture that made them.

Just my luck, I joined GON to send that guy a PM and ask if he knew where that boat might be.  Didn't notice he had been "BANNED" from the site, so that didn't work.

 

[JWRCF]

I registered just so I could post this link...I don't know how old this thread is though. Hope it helps!  https://louisville.craigslist.org/boa/5730542784.html 

 

[Catt]

@JWRCF welcome & thanks for the help

[Way2slow]

Thanks, I greatly appreciate it but I can't take advantage of that one right now.

That's is the boat, a butchered mess of what's left to it but 500 miles, 1,000 round trip, might be a bit more than I can do right now, and it looks like it's going to be a while before I could make it.  I'm having cataract surgery in my right eye Monday, and the following week they are doing surgery on my left hand to take a bone out at the thumb so hopefully my thumb won't throb with pain and be functional again.  That's going to have my hand and arm (also going into the elbow to fix a nerve) in a full cast for a month and then the physical therapy afterwards. 

I noticed Ski213 made a suggestion he might be able to help get one from KY.  Maybe he will see this and I can see what he's talking about.

 

[Ski213]

5 hours ago, Way2slow said:

Thanks, I greatly appreciate it but I can't take advantage of that one right now.

That's is the boat, a butchered mess of what's left to it but 500 miles, 1,000 round trip, might be a bit more than I can do right now, and it looks like it's going to be a while before I could make it.  I'm having cataract surgery in my right eye Monday, and the following week they are doing surgery on my left hand to take a bone out at the thumb so hopefully my thumb won't throb with pain and be functional again.  That's going to have my hand and arm (also going into the elbow to fix a nerve) in a full cast for a month and then the physical therapy afterwards. 

I noticed Ski213 made a suggestion he might be able to help get one from KY.  Maybe he will see this and I can see what he's talking about.

 

That boat is about 100 miles from me and I'm about 400 miles from Macon.  If you want it I can pick it up. Whenever you're able I can meet you somewhere between here and Macon 

[Way2slow]

There are a few problems we would have to work out. 

It may be 2-3 months before I'm able to drive, and especially for several hours,  Right now I can't even grip a steering wheel 10 minutes without having to constantly swap hands and I don't know what it's going to be like after they take that bone out of the base of my thumb.  Would you have a place out of your way you could store it for that long?  

The next problem is it's not that light (200-300 pounds) and too wide to fit between the wheel wells in the bed of your truck, if you are still driving the HD.  If you happen to have a tool box across the front of the bed, without a trailer, it's going to be a royal pain in the a** for you to get. 

[Ski213]

I have access to a couple trailers. Figure I can crib it and strap it down pretty solid. 

I can keep it here as long as necessary. Storage isn't an issue at all as long as it's okay outside. 

[Way2slow]

Ok, if you don't mind going through this much trouble.  Let me give it some serious thought and see what I can work out with the seller, if it's still available.  I do want one, but all this effort on both our parts and probably $500 out of pocket for a $100 boat is kind of stretching it.  Then I have to completely gut it, and replace all that crap they've done to it.  That's probably another $500, which that I had planned on no matter what I found, but the big expense of getting this one more than doubles what I was looking to spend.

         

[Ski213]

Ok. Just let me know. I don't mind at all. I can get it pretty quick if seller is in a hurry. Just need a few days notice to round up an extra set of hands and get the trailer freed up. 

[Way2slow]

Will do

[Way2slow]

Been giving it some serious thought and as bad as I've been wanting one, I think I'm going to have to keep on wanting a little while longer.  What's involved in getting that one to my house is a major task, and then looking at it closely, the stringers look rotten, I'm sure the transom would be and all that wood in the front would have to be replaced to put it back like I want it.  Basically, every piece of wood in it will have to be replaced.  Been there, done that on my other one and it's a lot of work, plus with the cost of fiberglass now, expensive.  I just can't justify to myself spending $1,000 on getting it here and restoring a boat that would probably be worth less than $500 when it was restored.   If it was in GA or a lot closer, I would get it, but that being 500 miles away and getting it here is a show stopper for me..

[Ski213]

Totally understand that. Going through something similar with an old four wheeler I have that needs some engine and machine work. I'll do everything but the machine work but I'll still have more in parts than it's really worth. 

Its a standing offer on the boat if you change your mind or another comes up available around here that's in better shape. 

Also I hope your surgery goes well and it's a quick recovery.