Texas Maid Invicta Introduction
This project is a little more short term. I was
searching Pirate4x4.com looking for a
CJ-7 when I ran across this add for a $100 boat. Being the junky
boat collector that I am, I took a peak. The boat seemed to be a
steal, something had to be wrong. The pictures made it look like
it was in excellent shape, though. I called the guy and he told me
that he bought the boat a couple years back and used it a few times, let
it sit for a year and now the 60 hp motor wouldn't start. He
thought the timing might be off, but claimed to not have anytime to work
on it and wanted it out of his driveway. My interest was
peaked. I asked for some interior pictures and he provided and it
looked just as good as the outside. It also had no seats and a
cracked windshield, but sat on a really nice trailer I could sell for
500 bucks all by itself. I told him I would be there (Santa Rosa,
CA) the following Friday.
I arrived and found the boat was everything he
promised. A very nice boat, especially considering its age.
He cranked the engine for me and it cranked great, but did not
fire. What the heck, the hull was good, the trailer was worth 5
times what I was about to pay him and I have a motor if this one is shot
(and I suspect it isn't). Then things turned sour, sort of.
The trailer has a 1 7/8" hitch, but I have a changeable ball.
Unfortunately, the 2" ball had rusted on tight. Well, we
decided to remove the whole ball assembly and use his ball. Of
course, we couldn't get the nut holding mine on to move. I knew a
$100 boat was to good to be true, so off I went to Kragen to buy a new
hitch and ball. Well, true to form, Kragen had hitches with
1" holes and balls with 3/4" shanks. Lovely! So,
43 dollars later, I bought the hitch and hoped the guy would still sell
me his ball. He did, but we didn't have the right change, so I
ended up giving him $102 total. I installed the new hitch and
ball, hooked up and headed home.
A little research and I found what I had bought.
The boat is a 1965 Texasmaid Invicta. It is 15' and upon closer
inspection in need of a good coat of something on the floor to seal
it. Otherwise it feels and sounds solid. It also needs some
cosmetic addition to the interior, but the exterior and paint looks
pretty good.
The engine is a mid sixties Gale Industries Seaking 60
HP V4 made for Montgomery Wards. Gale is the red-headed step child
of OMC, who also makes Johnson and Evinrude motors. Gales are
pretty much carbon copies of J/E motors, but sold to Wards and such to
be re-badged. Cool, a good motor with lots of spare parts
available.
In short, this was a steal! I will do what's
necessary to preserve and restore the boat and fix the motor, but that's
all. I plan to document those steps here for your viewing
pleasure.
