---

I am just beginning a fixup, refit/refurbish on a 1969 Sakonnet I bought out of MN last fall and moved to PA. The boat is in amazing shape considering the age and I am first trying to abide by the 'do no harm' rule here, my boys want to use this boat this summer, so I can't strip her down completely. I have several questions about what is original and what isn't:

* When did whaler go from plastic to stainless steering wheels? The wheel on this boat looks cheap and doesn't appear to fit so I question if is original. Where do I find a more original wheel? Any harm in a newer stainless model?

* Did the fishing platform have hinges? Was the wood actually Mahogany as the plans indicate?

* When did Whaler go from the white rub rail to the 3 piece rail? This boat has a black 3 piece rail. Is it original or newer? Looks like it has age to it.

There will likely be many more questions to come. Thanks much for your guidance.

john

---

I am not the authority on this, but I may be able to help on some.

I believe a stainless "destroyer" wheel was optional all years.

The fishing platform had hinges for the center section (assuming it is like mine in the picture). This opened up an area below deck and in front of the console. The fishing platform was always made of fur not mahogany.

[img]http://usera.imagecave.com/davidk/WhalerRestoration/DSC00671ccccc.jpg[/img]

---

The first Whaler with a stainless steel steering wheel was the original Outrage, introduced in 1970. That fopur spoke wheel used teak as well.

The familiar five spoke stainless steel "destroyer" wheel did not appear until the early 1970s. A 1969 Sakonnet would have had a white plastic steering wheel.

The bow platform was made of Fir (not fur), painted white.

The three piece rub rail was introduced in 1972. It used a white receiver track with a black insert (in a few cases red).

---

Then again, I once had a '69 Camaro with a fur steering wheel!

---

As Tom mentions, the front platform was made from fir.

However, if someone was going to have to replace or build a new front platform from scratch, the mahogany is hard to beat for looks. The mahogany is beautiful.

---

In the schematic drawings that I printed for the front platform, most of the drawings spec'd solid Mohagony, only one drawing spec'd fir. Elswhere I read that the Mahogony was painted white standard????? Not to doubt anyone, just would like clarification. The pieces are fairly heavy.....and have a pretty condensed grain.

---

It may well be that at different times the platform was made of different woods. Because it was specified as being painted white, I imagine the factory would have had some liberty on what wood was used.

---

Tom....fir it is....I wish it was mahogany (sort of). It would look great varnished, but I know it would be almost impossible to do. I had a heck of a time just painting mine. There is more opportunity to get drips than I could have imagined. And getting a good coat of paint inside the slats of wood is very difficult. I doubt I could have made it look decent in varnish.

---

If you really want to be fancy, just use teak and no finish at all. Very salty and nautical as well as durable with minimal slip hazard.

---

well as I pick through this decking it looks like the trapdoor section was rebuilt and is made of some type of fir or pine/soft wood, there is no hinge on it. The side walk parts of the decking are a darker mahogany looking wood...not the same for sure.

john

---

FYI...for anybody that has the hinged deck area...mine had a very unusual decrative chrome hinge. The hinge is not made any more. If you have this hinge, you know what I'm talking about. I know a place that has a large quantity of new old stock of these hinges. Let me know, and I will direct you.


[img]http://usera.imagecave.com/davidk/DSC00825small.jpg[/img]