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wrote:

You're probably as close as you're ever going to get, unless there was
a radical syling change between the 57's and 58's.

the only difference that I can see (via the post after this one) is the
windshield difference. However, I thought that some boats you could
pick and choose the windshield yourself.

There was no
standardized HIN system back in the 50's.......but you might see if
there is a "57" or "58" somewhere in the serial number. A dash(-)57
would be particularly likely to make it a '57.

from the registration papers, there's nothing that I can see (other
than the "58" or "57" marked on it. Of course, since it's about 460
miles north-east of me right now, it's a tad hard to go take a look.

You mention "registrations". Has anybody got the actual title to the
boat?

that's another sticky issue. The guy who owned it, died in 84. The
women who would know where the title might be, died in 98 (my
grandparents). Neither my dad and uncle (the former owners, now I own
it) don't really know where it is either, altho they have an idea. And
it's 365 miles to where it *might* be, or 460 to where itmight be.

That would establish the year for legal purposes. But not all states
issued titles for boats back in the 50's, and there are still some
states that don't issue titles to this day.

It probably wouldn't have been unusual to put a new 1958 outboard on a
"leftover" 1957 boat. That may be what happened, or the boat could be a
58.

Yah, Ive always wondered about that (on a side note, Ive always wanted
to put the "proper" engine back on it. The original one hit a rock back
in 62, and was replaced with the newer one). But like I said, the guy
who would know for 100% sure, died 21 years ago. And unless he decides
to contact me in my dreams tonite, I think I'm pretty much out of luck
until I can find the title, or just make an educated guess (based on
the windshield).