1961 Dorset El Dorado Boats maiden voyage 10/02/2016

1961 Dorsett El Dorado restoration completed. 10/01/2016

This weekend I was able to put he boat into the water. I have a few adjustments to make it was to be expected I'm just glad she didn't sink and she started at the launch ramp. On Friday 09/30/2016 I received my haul numbers I cut the numbers and it was off to the races.

1961 Dorsett El Dorado restoration w/1959 Evinrude Lark 35Hp

August 6, 2016.  I Installed the motor today and found out quickly that the two protective plastic pieces that I put on each side of the transom made the transom to wide for the motor to fit over it.

After attaching the motor I noticed the it didn't turn port and starboard to the same degree. I will look at it in the next few days and try to make it turn equally  

I'm really happy with the way the Motor hood  turned out. Some afterthoughts like putting on the white trim and painting the Lark insignia made the hood look much better then expected. 

1961 Dorsett El Dorado windshield installation.

1961 Doesett El Dorado came with a patented window that can be unlocked from the front and pivot's from rear ball head screws attached to the fiberglass hull, this allows for the person sitting in the front to pull the window over their heads and climb onto the bow. 

1961 Dorsett Restoration project 2016 Installing the throttle and seats

I added the padding to the bulkhead and hatch its time to wire up the boat not my favorite thing to do. The floor of the boat I did with the same type of paint you would use to paint a truck bed, Its has texture and  is flexible because the fiberglass boat no matter how sturdy will alway flex.

Before I install the throttle I want to put the seats in to be sure where to put them that will be most comfortable when driving the boat. 

The speedometer is not original to this boat but I liked the way it look on ebay.

1961 Dorsett Eldorado reassembly 2016

I go the Rub rail from Wefco company in Canoga Park California  www.wefcorubber.com/ if you need rub rail for your boat you can call them and tell them the year and brand of your boat and thay will tell you the most purchased rubber for your boat. Also you can check out their website and under marine products you will find a page that has actual size views of rubber rub rails that you yourself can match up against yours.

I used PL glue to put the rail on some may say that I should have used 5200 Glue and sealant but it dries to slow and I didnt want the rubber to peal away from the boat.

1959 Evinrude lark cover assembly - 1961 Dorsett El Dorado restoration

Originally the emblems were gold and I didn't like that  with acetone I left the majority clear but I painted the embossed letters "Evinrude"  

I thought that I would replace the original emblems with sticker but I was able to remove the Gold paint from the back of the emblems. I just bought model paint and some fine brush's to paint.

Having the blue paint show though the emblem was just a lucky fact that the white lettering and the blue background look's great.

I bought the white clip on molding for the inside of the boat and after I put the old black molding on I quickly realized that white would look better and Hay I had some left over! Look's great right?

I plan to have the LARK emblem chromed in the future. Also the front of this engine cover had a triangle evinrude emblem that I just don't like so for now I just put screws in there as a place holder. 

1961 Dorsett El Dorado In the midst of Paint and Upholstery

Picking the paint colors wasn't easy, I did a lot of research and found pic's and original brochures showing that most; not all but most of the El Dorado style boats made by Dorsett had the dark color on the bottom of the boat or below the rub rail and white on top, so that's what I wanted to do is make it as close to what came from the manufacturer in 1961. 

About three days for the paint to harden correctly 06/18/2016 by next week the engine cover, steering wheel and top of the boat all will be painted white.  

I first found the color blue or green I have heard a few people call it different I call it Teal anyway I found the color for the seats and then had the paint color matched.

I plan to make a chronological order for each part of the boat from beginning to end once I have completed the project what will be approximately 10 months . 2015-2016