Hey y’all from Alabama

[Blackwaterforge]

Just purchased a 1959 Lonestar Eldorado.
Picking up next weekend. It appears to be in nice condition. It has a 1979 Mercury 115 hp outboard motor. I am going to rewire as the wiring is a mess. I plan to pull the floor to check rivets for leaks and paint the inside.
This forum has a lot of great information and I am sure I will have lots of questions.
I am planning to add kicker motor as the lake were I live has 650 miles of shoreline some of it remote. Should I consider moving fuel tank and battery forward since the engine is larger than the boat was originally rated for?
Thank y’all

 

[airshot]

Running an engine over the boats rated HP is a serious liability on your part. Insurance company won't cover it, and any accident you might be involved in makes it your fault from negligence on overpowering !! How big a gambler are you ?

 

[Stand Up]

Welcome aboard @Blackwaterforge .
If I'm picturing this correctly, this boat is covered with a canopy?
I'd love to see a picture of it.

 

[Blackwaterforge]

Here is a picture of the boat.
18’ and very few dings to be a 59

 

[Crazyboat]

I think the max rating is 80HP, that should move her along nicely. Just be careful with the overpower. It was fun when I was a kid, but it can cost a lot as an adult

 

[Tin Man]

Welcome! As others have mentioned, be careful with that 115hp. Find correct specs and stick to it for everyones safety. Remember, that the motors of that vintage were 2 strokes which are lighter than current 4 strokes.... so that also needs to be considered. Enjoy, and share pics of your build!

 

[Stand Up]

Here is a picture of the boat.
18’ and very few dings to be a 59

Beautiful. What a great looking boat. It was made a year after I was born.
Please post pictures of your repairs and additions/deletions.
I can't believe you found such nice old boat.

 

[Canoe]

Nice looking tin boat. I see you are in Alabama. Are you cruising the TN river or a lake in the area? I was driving by the Guntersville area last Sunday and saw a nice selection of boats in the marina, but not too many were out and about that were in sight of the highway.

 

[Blackwaterforge]

Nice looking tin boat. I see you are in Alabama. Are you cruising the TN river or a lake in the area? I was driving by the Guntersville area last Sunday and saw a nice selection of boats in the marina, but not too many were out and about that were in sight of the highway.

We live on Smith lake Winston county.
Thanks for all the replies.
I am sure that I will have a lot of questions