Arkansas Traveller DUT-14HD

[jboudreaux012266]

I have acquired this boat and have questions :
The bow cap is aluminum, there is no fiberglass on this boat whatsoever.
What year model is this?
Did this boat originally have a steering wheel?
How about a short windshield?
It appears the rivets and wood look original but I'm not sure?
I will keep this post updated as I progress with trying to restore it.
The serial number was stamped upside down as well.

 

[mbullen]

Nice find!
Traveler's "DUT" designated Deluxe Utility. The "-14HD" means 14ft, of course. HD being another level of trim/accessories.
It came fully rigged. Wheel and windscreen included.
I've found the first entry for "DUT" to be about 1956. I do know that the later DUT models had the hybrid glass deck/aluminum hull for which AT is known. (the attached pic is from 1958 and shows the hybrid deck and different seat backs)
Given the idea that yours has an aluminum deck and wooden gunnels, I would estimate 1956 at the latest. Probably earlier as the standard UT-14 was available from the get-go right after the end of the war. It's not hard to imagine that "DUT" was available earlier, too, despite what paperwork I've seen.
Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with Traveler's serial system and have no idea how to decode #43973.
It appears that would be a sequential production number assigned to all models similar to how Duracraft ran their serials sequentially off the production line.
Perhaps we'll hear from other AT owners that have a known year and serial to compare.
It's a great boat, though. A desirable brand, as well. Known for it's toughness. That hull was a favorite of the civil agencies like law enforcement, rescue, etc.
The deluxe version just added the family-oriented sport stuff.

 

[jboudreaux012266]

Nice find!
Traveler's "DUT" designated Deluxe Utility. The "-14HD" means 14ft, of course. HD being another level of trim/accessories.
It came fully rigged. Wheel and windscreen included.
I've found the first entry for "DUT" to be about 1956. I do know that the later DUT models had the hybrid glass deck/aluminum hull for which AT is known. (the attached pic is from 1958 and shows the hybrid deck and different seat backs)
Given the idea that yours has an aluminum deck and wooden gunnels, I would estimate 1956 at the latest. Probably earlier as the standard UT-14 was available from the get-go right after the end of the war. It's not hard to imagine that "DUT" was available earlier, too, despite what paperwork I've seen.
Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with Traveler's serial system and have no idea how to decode #43973.
It appears that would be a sequential production number assigned to all models similar to how Duracraft ran their serials sequentially off the production line.
Perhaps we'll hear from other AT owners that have a known year and serial to compare.
It's a great boat, though. A desirable brand, as well. Known for it's toughness. That hull was a favorite of the civil agencies like law enforcement, rescue, etc.
The deluxe version just added the family-oriented sport

Thank you for your help. I must say the way you explained everything in such a fluent manner was a very pleasant surprise. You should be a writer for a boating magazine or something. I have every intention of restoring this boat over the next few months. Since I'm not sure what it looked like originally, I'm going to restore it to what I would have wanted it to look like as a mid 1950"s runabout. I will try my best to do it justice. I look fwd. to the day me and my grandson can go out boating. Even though he would take it out as is tomorrow (he is 8). Thanks again .

 

[Ronbedard57]

Thank you for your help. I must say the way you explained everything in such a fluent manner was a very pleasant surprise. You should be a writer for a boating magazine or something. I have every intention of restoring this boat over the next few months. Since I'm not sure what it looked like originally, I'm going to restore it to what I would have wanted it to look like as a mid 1950"s runabout. I will try my best to do it justice. I look fwd. to the day me and my grandson can go out boating. Even though he would take it out as is tomorrow (he is 8). Thanks again .

 

[Ronbedard57]

Pretty!
If there are holes in the area where a windscreen would have been, then I'd look for one to mount there. They're not impossible to find used, and new ones aren't outrageously expensive.
The wooden gunnels look rough but they might clean up OK. New stock (white oak is good) wouldn't set you back too much. The fasteners seem rusty, and maybe I'd change those.
There's alot of info here about replacing or re-bucking leaky rivets if you should encounter any. That's a good first (or early) step in the process.
There was a steering wheel, and finding a vintage one won't be hard.
I've got an old AT, and I really enjoyed the restoration. There are some very knowledgable members here that can help as you go along.
Best,
Ron

 

[jboudreaux012266]

Pretty!
If there are holes in the area where a windscreen would have been, then I'd look for one to mount there. They're not impossible to find used, and new ones aren't outrageously expensive.
The wooden gunnels look rough but they might clean up OK. New stock (white oak is good) wouldn't set you back too much. The fasteners seem rusty, and maybe I'd change those.
There's alot of info here about replacing or re-bucking leaky rivets if you should encounter any. That's a good first (or early) step in the process.
There was a steering wheel, and finding a vintage one won't be hard.
I've got an old AT, and I really enjoyed the restoration. There are some very knowledgable members here that can help as you go along.
Best,
Ron

Wow that turned out beautiful… thanks for the info and pics

 

[jboudreaux012266]

Pretty!
If there are holes in the area where a windscreen would have been, then I'd look for one to mount there. They're not impossible to find used, and new ones aren't outrageously expensive.
The wooden gunnels look rough but they might clean up OK. New stock (white oak is good) wouldn't set you back too much. The fasteners seem rusty, and maybe I'd change those.
There's alot of info here about replacing or re-bucking leaky rivets if you should encounter any. That's a good first (or early) step in the process.
There was a steering wheel, and finding a vintage one won't be hard.
I've got an old AT, and I really enjoyed the restoration. There are some very knowledgable members here that can help as you go along.

Ron I forgot to ask were you able to find a vintage windscreen for yours or did you have one made to your dimensions?