I bought a Forgotten Antique Boat. Will It Run After Many Years? 

Bentley is quite the hard worker, a man of few words and it always looks like he knows what he's doing.

Man, I wish I had a father or a father figure to spend time and show me stuff like you do with your son. I'm older than you are now Derek, but you're saving your son from possible years of problems in his life by spending time with him like this. I have to applaud you.

I did a little researching on the old inerweb and found a similar boat with same performer badging made in 1961, biult by performer boat corp, a division of U.S. fiberglass. I hope that helps you find more history on your new vessel. Love your show i have seen every episode. So if you need heip keeping cool this summer, im a big fan. 😅

Love the fact you are including your son on projects. We need more parents like you spending quality time and teaching things like troubleshooting to their kids. It's skills that they will carry forever.

Derek it is a 1960 performer islander, it was a clipper style boat I had one just like it!! Hope you all enjoy it!!!! They are hard to find but very easy to work on and from what I can see the common updates like steering cable were done already to your boat!!

its been said already, but the sight of that old chevy pullin that old boat was priceless. so was the sight of a man workin side by side with his child. great episode, Deeke. I love this channel.

Toolbox before the x-box...kids of today need more of this...he's a lucky boy to have you showing him..!

Man your kiddo is so well behaved, intelligent, and hard working - excellent work! I could watch you guys work on stuff all day 😂 like hanging out with my uncle Brent again

Old outboard mechanic here. Your motor is the descendent of a long line of 3-cylinder loop-charged OMC engines, starting with the old 1960's 55hp models with Motorola Ignitions and maker points (involuntary shudder). They are not great idling engines due to their extensive piston porting, but make good power for their weight. Proper winterization is a must, as they are know to rip the top piston rings off the pistons on first crank with rusty cylinders, and beat the pistons and cylinder head to bits. The main jets are in the bottom of the carb bowl and plug up if the carbs are not run dry. The ignitions are alternator-driven, with the stator and charge coil providing the power, the triggers delivering timing, and the external coils stepping up the voltage to the plugs. Water pump impellors should be changed occasionally, an easy job once the shift connector under the bottom carb is unhooked. Have fun!

It is surprisingly easy to replace the transom. 2, 3/8 inch plywood glued together is the exact thickness to replace. Try to get as much of the old one out in as much of one piece to trace out the new. I did it myself on my dads old boat that had the same 70 hp Johnson. I had zero experience doing that kind of thing but I never let that stop me.

It just always brings me pure simplicity of the definition of joyful when I tune in. It feels like home, like being an adult and walking into your parents house and grabbing a soda pop out of their fridge and plopping down on their couch, just like ya did 30+ years ago as a child, thats what VGG is to me. Thank you! ❤

A boat is like a "free" puppy! There's NOTHING free about it!

I think either the water pump impeller is shot or the drain hole is blocked off with a dirt dauber or something, should be peeing a stream of water from the top of the lower unit. Looks like you turned it the right way by hand, but you can't ever turn an outboard backwards because that impeller can only go one way without breaking the blades off if they are older.

I salute you as a Father, you do such a great job with the boys. Much respect.

I have had several 70's Johnson outboards that never quit. They run forever.

It is heartwarming to se the smile on Bentlys face when you get that old motor running. I wish i´ve had a dad like you, when i grew up. I´m trying my best to do stuff like this with my kids, and learn them to apreciate the thing we have, and also learn them if you take old stuff and repair it, you will ha nice stuff that you can use. Also if we do it together, we will probably have a great time together and we will ha a fun memory. Keep up the good work Derek ! We love watching your videos. / E.P , Östergötland, Sweden.

Old boats are always full of surprises! Rats, roaches, spiders, and a running motor! One major concern that may have to do with the water pump that you mentioned is that I didn't see any water stream from the powerhead. If the pump is working you should have warm water streaming from a hole on the backside of the powerhead. No warm water coming out means no heat is coming out. Leads to an overheated motor.

That boat was made for the car! Looks so dang cool together!!!

Bently is a hard worker I love that the boys and Jessica are involved in your projects

Your first boat video from years ago is still one of my favorites. Crang is hilarious 😂😂😂😂

Derek, your boys will cherish all you do for them and with them for the rest of their lives. You are everything a father should be and more. Cheers and cold snacks to you,Ty for all the content!

be sure to check the water pump. Every old outboard I have worked on/gotten started has always had a messed up water pump or corroded out housing. Great work :)

I’m a mechanic in New Zealand I love watching your videos as most of your methods are a dying art. Appreciate you brother 👌🏻

Thank you Derek! You actually got my 15 year old boy to sit down n watch something with old pops!!

In my shop class back in the day we had an ancient ignition system simulator that plugged into 110. It had a setup to mimic a distributor cap and rotor and you could control the speed and spark intensity. Of course is was from the days when safety wasn't a thing so it was all out in the open. We mainly used it to play jokes and shock the crap out of each other.... Yep good times.

Good on ya for saving that old cruiser!!! A good friend of mine found one in similar condition. The transom was shot (just like yours). We pulled the whole top off of the boat, removed the old transom, did some fiberglass work, built a new transom, did a little reinforcing, and dropped the top back on. A few tubes of sealer and she was back on the water!!! Looking forward to see where you guys go with it from here! Thanks for another great video, Bieri Family!

I didn't dig too deep on research, but found an Islander Performer boat for sale that looked a lot like that. It was billed as a 1979 model, but agree that it has a 1960s appearance. I imagine the company was building them for years with little changes. Heck, if it floats, what can you improve on. As many others have said, you are doing a great job with the boys. Teaching a kid how to use their hands to handle tools is a lot better than having them use them for pushing buttons on a mindless game.

I love the fact you include your sons and teach them about this stuff. Glad it runs. I think the boat would be a fresh water titanic. Great video

Man this so cool!!! My first revival was a bass boat that was sitting for 10 years. Couldn’t have gotten her running without your videos. You’re awesome man!

Bentley is definitely your right hand man. Always jumping right in to help out. You’re a very lucky man to have a family that enjoys your passion for getting old vehicles (and boats) running.

That was so retro seeing the old Chevy with a cabin cruiser behind it.❤️😇🙏

That's a twin to the first boat I piloted as a kid when my dad was teaching me. Very cool find!!! Also, when workin' in those little spots with the vacuum, put a funnel on the end of the vacuum for maximum reach and it'll get down into tight spaces like next to car seats as well. Love it guys! Keep up the good work!!!

Make sure you check the water pump impeller, I didn't see it squirting water out like it should, they are usually rubber so sitting would make them rot out. Love the videos, I've been watching a long time, would love to see you wrench on an old international pickup!

Derek.. I am currently living in Thailand. I found your channel about 3 months ago. Man... you bring me back home. I've youtube binged on your channel since. I love your episodes with you and your boys. My sons were always welcome when I was wrenching. Your boy is awesome. Reminds me of my son. He is now in his early 30s and way better at wrenching than I ever was. It's been so much fun watching all your videos past to currently. You and your family are ace's Thznns for giving so much joy. I look forward to every new video each week now. My son also watches back in the States. Your channel is something we can share even if we are apart. "I'll be dipped in "%$#/"... was something he heard often out of my mouth... you give us a lot of laughs. What a quality program you have created. Thanks from the bottom of my heart. Much love

Derek, your wrenching skills does a feller's heart good. I always like the videos where you have your sons help you. Your love for them is evident. A guy appreciates the content. Keep up the great work.

You can replace that transom. It’s not as hard as it seems :) it would be good content. And the boat matches the car. It would make an awesome set

My dad always told me the best days of owning a boat are the day you buy it and the day you sell it 🤣

That boat is super cool, don't give up on it! I know replacing stringers and floors and a transom can be daunting, but how cool would that boat be when restored?! I helped my old boss restore an old '60's two seater speed boat years ago, the interior looked just like a mid-'60's Corvette!

Hey Derek and family. I still watch y'all's channel when I get a chance, just been busy the last few months doing maintenance around the home. Thanks for all the great videos. God bless you.

You DESERVE your beautiful family!! You're Raising those young men right!!

Looks like a 1960 Performer Islander - Love the left hand drive boats.

This reminds me of my father working on boat motors 45 or so years ago in my youth. He'd put them in a 55 gallon drum and fill with water. He is 86 now and in hospice. All kind of fond memories have been replaying through my mind the last couple of weeks.

Awesome as always.Thanks for sharing and taking us along

always make sure you polish those carbs before every season. especially multi cylinder two stroke. by the time you reallize a carb is plugged it will spit alum powder out the exhaust and the corrisponding pistons are melted

Boat revival, nice!! The revivals are my favorite. I know they’re expensive and take time, so thank you. 🍻🤙🏻

Excellent content, your little fellas are growing up fast, every video they grow a foot. Nice to see old school values with your family.

Love your shows Derek. I'm clearly late to the game and just discovered you on MT. Now I'm searching around for boat fix videos and you're here too. You make learning to DIY fun and entertaining!! Never seen a car show so much fun to watch, keep it up.

For a spark tester I highly recommend the one with the ground lead and red thumb screw to adjust your gap. Once you find that sweet spot and get used to it you can diagnose coils missing under a load (weak won't jump the same gap that their neighbors will) highly recommend if you don't have one over that little harbo freight one

50s boat pulling with a55 Chevy awesome

How cool is that. You've got a vintage car pulling a vintage boat and the same collar at that. It's doesn't get any better than that. Looks as though your boys are coming along just fine in helping out... great video 😀

Good video glad to see that your boys like to help. Looks like you have a lot of fun. I can tell you are a great dad.

Never heard "Bring the thunder" before a feller went ahead and brought the thunder. Could barely figure out what in tarnation was going on... That upholstery will buff up real nice. Perfect.

It's painted red, the stripe was white It was eighteen feet, from the bow to stern light Secondhand, from a dealer in Atlanta I rode up with daddy, when he went there to get her Put on a shine, put on a motor Built out of love, made for the water Ran her for years, 'til the transom got rotten A piece of my childhood, will never be forgoten It was, just an old plywood boat A '75 Johnson with electric choke A young boy two hands on the wheel I can't replace the way it made me feel And I would turn her sharp And I would make it whine He'd say, You can't beat the way an old wood boat rides…

Sir, I’m relying on my memories, not expertise. But that’s 60s to early 70s based upon the boat and the engine. Of course, it would have been made over many years. First restoration I did with my dad was an old boat. First engine I ever helped rebuild as well. Looking forward to this - thank you for all you do! ~ Chuck

Father and I just rebuilt and restored an old pontoon boat that had been sitting for 30 years. Tore it right down to the frame as the old interior and floors were completely shot, father designed the layout he wanted and made all the interior himself. Has an old ‘85 Evinrude E50 on the back and she runs great. Went through it top to bottom. Didn’t have a trailer for it so my father and i bought and old two axel boat trailer and went to work fabricating it to hold a pontoon boat. Quite the fun project.

I love your channel. Learn something new every time! Check pistons are round - check. I wasn't worried about square ones until now. I'll check them for sure every time now.

That’s one of the coolest things I’ve seen, pulling the old boat with the old car!! Love it!!

Your choice in tow vehicle is spot on. Carry on

Nice change of pace, I am a boater so this was a nice respite. You got yourself a good solid base unit with some work she definitely would be a sweet rig, that old Johnson 70 you couldn't ask for a more reliable motor, FYI she was only running on two cylinders, probably a bit of debris in one of the carburetor float valves preventing fuel flow. I would rebuild that transom and floor myself just to see that thing up and going again. (I'm a bit far away.) Would be nice to see a series of this to fruition. Great content as usual, thanks Derek.

Loved seeing the boat and car together. Made my day… We had a boat like this back in the day, called her the Pelican Troller. 😊

If it runs, whatever you do, pull the leg off and put a new water pump impeller on, otherwise you will cook it , only a cheap small rubber thing, but makes a big difference to cooling. By the look of the speed holes in the cover, someone has already had overheating issues . Great to see you work with the boys again 😁

I am sure a Million People said this already, but it looks like the pisser hose is clogged... I had the same Problem on my Boat... also my transom was just as bad and i hollowed it out with a chain saw then picked up some deep pour resin and poured me a new one! worked great!

Y'all are the best. America needs more folks like you.

I spent a lot of time with my dad restoring old boats. They were the best years of my life. He gone now, and how I miss him!

I love when you come out with a video Friday evening just when I thought it was going to turn out to be a boring night❤😂😂

Just what i needed. Feel like crap today. Thank you Vgg!!!

This brings back memories of my Dad and I. We bought and old boat fixed it up. I really miss him we loved fishing . We liked to just get out there didn't matter if fish were biting or not. May God bless all!

Another great video! Nice to see something marine related. I've seen mention of the water pump impeller by others but I'd also like to mention seeing the amount of wasps and mud wasps it may just be a clogged water outlet hose. Happens to me multiple times a season. Usually just needs a quick smack against the boat to get the mud out. My impeller is over 10 years old (not recommended) and has never let me down. Good luck with the project!

Thank You Derek, you have made working in the shop fun again!

Finally a boat video! :D Thank you Mr. Derek for all the entertainment through the years!

Years ago I bought an old 1959 boat with 1966 Mercury outboard and it sat for over 5 years and I got it running no problem and took it out several times before I sold it

Awesome to see you doing another boat Derek! My first restoration about 5 years ago was a boat, a 1985 Concord Mach II with a blown engine, holes in the hull, trashed interior etc. It was in such terrible shape that I honestly think I would have passed on it had it not been for your channel. However, seeing some of these old girls that you brought back to life inspired me to go for it and am I ever glad I did, turned out better than I could have imagined. Love the channel bud, keep up the great work.

I had a Johnson 70 like that. It was on a Lakeland boat. (The company that built truck caps). Might think about dropping the lower unit and checking out the rubber spider water pump dodad. It's probably dried out and cracked. I think you should consult the boys about the next boat.

Since the day i first saw your first boat project with your brother ive been WAITING SO LONG for another one! hoping to see this beauty head out on the water or see another sea worthy vessel revival ! wooooo!!

Dad had a 1968 Johnson 55, which became the 70 that you have. It had plenty of power, and sipped gas. Ran great for many years. You have a great outboard, now just need a boat to go with it.

Derek those old Johnsons are usually 2-stroke. Looks like the impeller needs replacement as the “pee” of the engine is weak. I usually run the motors out of a cut up drum to ensure that the water supply is more than sufficient. For the prop you might want to look at “Solas” for an OEM replacement. But its usually best to buy d prop when you know what pitch you need to match the hull so that its a buy once kind of scenario.

I’ll never forget watching you and your brother with the boat revival and fishing. Such a great episode 🎉

I got my hands on a '71 Evinrude with the electronic shift off a salvaged saltwater boat. After some research it was a two year production run and surprisingly enough that lower unit is impossible to find parts for. After more investigation it had no compression after I got it freed up. I got lucky when a guy showed up to buy it and offered $125 because I had the throttle/gear selector and the decorative plate. The motor was scrap, but he was restoring an old boat and wanted those parts that literally cannot be found anymore. He was super excited over that little plastic plate and it worked out well for both of us. My point is the guys that do revivals for a living have way more luck than I do getting stuff going. It must be a seventh sense. Currently working on a 98' Ski Nautique with the Pro Boss GT-40 for a friend that got run over by a yacht. We still have glasswork to do but it'll hold water probably so we're trying to get to the lake before the season ends. Waiting on a prop, strut bushing, and packing and we might have a chance. Another enjoyable video from VGG. Especially seeing the boys working alongside dad. These kids are growing up right and learning what most kids don't. I taught myself how to work on vehicles and my dad taught me carpentry, plumbing, and a tiny bit of household electrical. This is great stuff to see.

Nothing like an afternoon hanging out with dad and tinkering on the boat. Wonderful!

I used to say, people would watch Derrick mow grass. Then, came Vice grip lodge! Great job, Derrick! You've, got what it takes!😀 I'm, happy for you!

Derek, you never fail to amaze me on projects. What's next, a diesel locomotive, Saturn 5 rocket?

My buddy and I redid my 1971 Alumicraft. It was a purple fiberglass ski boat we lovingly named Barney. You can replace the transom. Definitely takes some work but can be done. Then PL9000 adhesive secures 1/4” marine grade plywood extremely well to the floor. Those old boats look good on the water just like a classic car looks good rolling down the road. Don’t give up on it! She’s just waiting for someone to love her! 😁

Watching the kids work on stuff with you is the best.

Thanks for hard work. You never disappoint.

I would love to you completely redo the entire boat and make it look like it did when it was new.

Love seeing you with the kids

Ski boat, its like driving a bus without power steering. A heavy, never worry in a demolition derby, boat. BEAST. Water skiing is fun off that, throws a huge wake.

That's awesome 👌 its cool that the boys help out. You're a great dad letting them help with your projects

I'd put the boat at around the very early '60s (I recognize the Ride Guide steering wheel). The engine looks newer than that, Johnsons in the early '60s had much differently shaped engine hoods than the hood on yours.

How wonderful, how lovely to see children working with dad.

Wow. I had this same boat. 15' 10" with a Johnson 60 v quad. Wing tanks were long gone. Freshly painted darker blue and white. Got rid of the 60 after a few trips on San Diego bay. What a fuel pig. Cross flow dumps a lot of fuel out the exhaust. Swapped on a '86 evinrude 40 two stroke. 30 mph and one 6 gal tank to to fish the kelp beds. Bimini top added. It was so reliable. That 70 is a keeper. Mine was a 1960. Good luck!

My first revival was in 2016 and was a 1967 Larson 18 footer I brought back with my father in law and my brother. This video brings back some memories!

Great content, as always, Derrick. More father/son projects are great. You have a wonderful family and I like seeing family involvement. Blessings y’all.

Most of the time the last 2 numbers of the hull identification number is the year of the boat. These numbers are usually hand etched into these old boats to the right of the motor.

I brought home a 35 Johnson of the 1981 era that sat for 12 years in a barn full of mice. I didn't bother doing anything to it other than a good cleaning. I just sprayed some two cycle oil into cylinders fired it up on some fresh mixed gas and still running her today been 22 years

Neat little boat! Love how it matches that ‘55 Chevy. Sky blue always looks classy.

I love how you get your kids involved, and teach them to work with their hands. I work in the oil industry it's amazing to me the number of young men that don't know how to use tools and work with their hands. The world needs more people like you.

Would love to see you restore the boat!

Derek singing Drive from Alan Jackson might be the best thing ever.

Starting the weekend out right!! Great vid. Funnily enough, My Gal grew up in none other than Bellflower CA. She was tickled to no end when she saw you point out the emblem of where the boat was made. Thank you Derek and the little humans you are responsible for.