Just got a "new" old boat. I think it's a 16' Lone Star, but nothing really matches up.

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WolframM

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Sale is still contingent on getting the title for the boat, but it's on our trailer, in our yard now. Seller said "If we can't get the title transferred, I'll give you the money back and meet you at the scrap yard." He's a good friend of mine so I'm not worried about it. The boat was only 50$ anyway.

Anyway, the hunt starts to figure out what kind of boat this is. Almost all the paint is gone, but there's a ghost-line where the old decal was on what's left of the red stripe just under the gunwale. Took a while, but the "Star" symbol and the word "Star" were pretty easy to see, then after a lot of googling, it pops out at me: The boat is a Lone Star Commander.

Except that the open-top, tiller-steer, 3 bench seat Lone Star Commander is a 14' boat, and this boat measures 16' 7" from tip of the bow to the transom, and 57" across the middle seat from gunwale to gunwale. The transom also does not have the dip in the middle, like all the photos I can find of a Commander. There are no boxes under the seats, either.

I think, actually, it's a 16' Lone Star Conundrum! That's what it is!

I'll get some photos tomorrow when it's sunny and clear out, it's getting dark and drizzly so none of my photos are all that good.
 
Took some photos this morning.

zAxL2jCh.jpg


We got the boat on the trailer, but haven't adjusted anything on the trailer yet.

I got a big sheet of stainless steel recovered from a countertop at the same time, so I gotta get that cut down and deliver it to my workshop today. That's what's laying in the boat here.

wsOYtawh.jpg


All the details seem to point to it being the "Commander" model but little details are different.

jH0L1Zhh.jpg


It definitely is a Lone Star boat, though, you can barely see it in this photo if you know what the logo looks like. it took a lot of sitting and staring at it to finally make out what it says.

Gtx1G9dh.jpg


Once the title is transferred, I need to fix this crack in the bottom. It's got two other welded patches already so I know that the welding won't be an issue, but there is one big dent right on a rivited seam that has me worried.

dDmhWlSh.jpg


The crack above is where something got dropped inside the boat, but it's been patched in the past with some tarry black stuff. I will have to get it all cleaned up, run the saw through the crack to clean the edges, and then weld it back up...not opening the crack up will mean I'll never get the dent smoothed back. The dent is about the side of a baseball, the crack is about two inches long or so.

n60A0L8h.jpg


Oh, and the transom is rotten, I'll have to change that board out.
 
Yeah, lots of strangeness. I spent some more time today looking through the internet for Lone Star brochures, and I am still confused with the boat lengths. The closest thing I found today is a 1963-1964 "Big Fisherman" but even that's listed at 14ft 7" length and 57" beam, BUT all the panels and the transom and the seat pans all look correct for the Big Fisherman. So it's just the length that's funky here.

As soon as the title comes through we'll get started on getting it water-ready again!
 
Yeah, lots of strangeness. I spent some more time today looking through the internet for Lone Star brochures, and I am still confused with the boat lengths. The closest thing I found today is a 1963-1964 "Big Fisherman" but even that's listed at 14ft 7" length and 57" beam, BUT all the panels and the transom and the seat pans all look correct for the Big Fisherman. So it's just the length that's funky here.

As soon as the title comes through we'll get started on getting it water-ready again!
100% Lone Star. I'd wager it being a Skipper.

edit: ...ugh. I'm going to change my wager and go with twopass. The Big Fisheman was rated at 12hp, the Skipper at 40.
-but I agree, the measurements aren't correct for the BF.
I guess it's worth asking if the length was measured in a straight line down the center and not following the path of the gunnels?
 
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Sale is still contingent on getting the title for the boat, but it's on our trailer, in our yard now. Seller said "If we can't get the title transferred, I'll give you the money back and meet you at the scrap yard." He's a good friend of mine so I'm not worried about it. The boat was only 50$ anyway.

Anyway, the hunt starts to figure out what kind of boat this is. Almost all the paint is gone, but there's a ghost-line where the old decal was on what's left of the red stripe just under the gunwale. Took a while, but the "Star" symbol and the word "Star" were pretty easy to see, then after a lot of googling, it pops out at me: The boat is a Lone Star Commander.

Except that the open-top, tiller-steer, 3 bench seat Lone Star Commander is a 14' boat, and this boat measures 16' 7" from tip of the bow to the transom, and 57" across the middle seat from gunwale to gunwale. The transom also does not have the dip in the middle, like all the photos I can find of a Commander. There are no boxes under the seats, either.

I think, actually, it's a 16' Lone Star Conundrum! That's what it is!

I'll get some photos tomorrow when it's sunny and clear out, it's getting dark and drizzly so none of my photos are all that good.
It's a Lone*Star and except for the length, it is identical to my 1964 14'/52" Lone*Star. I've been restoring it now for a few weeks. Here are some photo's :
 

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Very interesting, b'c : 14' Lone Star Aluminum Boat- Everything You Should Know - OutdoorBoat
"

What happened to Lone Star boats?


Lone Star boats couldn’t continue their job after 1965. Chrysler Boat Corporation took ownership of Lone Star company in May of that year. The ex-president of Lone Star became the Vice President of the newly formed company. Last, of all, the marine division was out of the running and the outboard division was sold.
 
Could you please share a link to their company ?? I'd like to talk to them about getting a logo sticker and maybe a manufacture replacement for the metal badge w/make model & serial # on it. I have all the info on the original title & registration paperwork.
Thanks for your generous consideration,
Sincerely ...............
 
They retained the name lonestar. Have side stickers on order.
Could you please share a link to their company ?? I'd like to talk to them about getting a logo sticker and maybe a manufacture replacement for the metal badge w/make model & serial # on it. I have all the info on the original title & registration paperwork.
Thanks for your generous consideration,
Sincerely ...............
 
Outboard decal set is name of site. They have decals by year of boat. Have no clue with metal info badge but now you have me looking.
Hey, I found the Outboard Decal Set site and ordered my Lone*Star logo set. Free shipping too. :) Thanks for sharing !! You can't know how much I appreciate the kindness of the ppl I've found on this site and that's for sure & for certain !!
Ahhheeeeeee !!
Still looking forward to hearing about the Lone*Star ppl for that metal Manufacturer's badge if you can find it ?? Thanks !!
 
100% Lone Star. I'd wager it being a Skipper.

edit: ...ugh. I'm going to change my wager and go with twopass. The Big Fisheman was rated at 12hp, the Skipper at 40.
-but I agree, the measurements aren't correct for the BF.
I guess it's worth asking if the length was measured in a straight line down the center and not following the path of the gunnels?
Measurement was straight down the centerline from the point of the bow to the top of the transom, 16 feet 7 inches. Beam was measured at the middle seat, 57 inches from outside of gunwale to outside of gunwale.
 
My boat Looks exact as Big Fisherman but title says it is Gibson, It says Big Fisherman on the badge on back of the front seat base.
I was told it was made by Chrysler sold by the Gibson department stores It is 16 foot boat on title.
I run it with a 73 18hp rude
 
Measurement was straight down the centerline from the point of the bow to the top of the transom, 16 feet 7 inches. Beam was measured at the middle seat, 57 inches from outside of gunwale to outside of gunwale.
Wild. Something is definitely crazy off.
A 17ft boat - using the same formula to calculate your 12hp plate - would crunch out a 60-65hp capacity.
OBC.jpg
 

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