My dad and I purchased a 1975 18 footer in August of 2012. We've slowly been working on it, refurbished the motor, did some work on the trailer, added the CLASSIC (and completely necessary) blue and red on the front. We replaced the rubber rub rail around the outside edge of the hull, and now we need the aluminum end caps to finish the job. Does anyone have a lead on where I might be able to find something like this? Thanks for all the help. It's great to see that some people still enjoy the old style boats and like to see them out on the water instead of at the landfill! Stay classy...
When I rebuilt my boat I removed those fittings and continued the rubrail around the corner and finished it off with a stock end piece near the motor cutout. I think it looks better that way. When Marcbano rebuilt his boat, he wanted it original so I gave him those pieces. I have not heard of any changing hands here other than that one time. jim
Like we talked about Jim...those original parts are very rare and almost impossible to find. Some of those aluminum end caps I've seen on a few of the older 18's I've looked at over the years were so badly pitted from sitting in the elements, I don't think they could have been refurbished. Most of the guys who replace the rub rails currently use the plastic end caps like the Taco or Wefco kits come with. Not original...but does give it the "finished" look. Bob
I forgot about that conversation Bob. I like the rub rail to continue around the corner of the deck because as you know when Pam was skiing in the tournaments I worked around unfamiliar docks and other boats. The rubber rail gives it a little cushion if it does touch another boat or dock. jim
There is a guy in Tacoma Washington who apparently put an add on Cragslist to sell or part out an 18 I-O with a locked up Chevy V8. I contacted him to try to get the pylon. We agreed on a price and he said he would call me back when he had it removed and was ready to ship. A month later he had not called, so I called him back. Turns out he is struggling with parting the boat out and thinking again of rebuilding himself. He told me he was going to think about it some more. I told him about this website and explained that if he wanted to sell the boat or the parts that he should post here. If someone was to call and make an offer for the end caps it might help him to decide. It would be a good thing for both of us.... His name is Tom, 253-235-4403.
