We found this early 1950’s Correct Craft Atom Skier during a trip through Georgia in March of 2024. It had been purchased for it’s unusual 90 hp 4 cylinder Graymarine engine which was to be rebuilt and put into a 1950’s Chris Craft. This hull was a wreck, but had all the original hardware and was destined for the burn pile so, of course, we bought it. My wife Tisa was drawn to the boat when she saw it. She has since been surprised by how much work a little project can be.
I brought it back to the 1000 Islands in spring of 2025 and began to work on it. I saved a good portion of the framing mahogany above the chine, none below it. The image in the boat shed with no decks shows the results in November as I about to put it on an original Correct Craft trailer and head to South Carolina for the winter where the process continues.
The 60 hp Graymarine has few hours and doesn’t need a rebuild, but the Paragon reverse gear has a 3-bolt coupler which needed to be changed. This led us to have to switch to a different transmission, a Joe’s Capital reverse gear with a 4- bolt coupler. While we had it apart, we rebuilt it. The plan is to make the boat, which has been named Tisa, have a vinyl interior similar to a Ski Nautique from the 1980-90’s, complete with ceilings and a wrapped engine box. Ski Nautique is a Correct Craft brand which reminds me of the time in my life when I was consumed by waterskiing.
At the beginning of February, most of the boat has now been at least primed with some of it in paint. The wiring is complete except for the attachments to the engine and battery. The steering wheel is restored and the steering box rebuilt. If you ever get a chance to rewire or replace a steering box with the front decks removed, I highly recommend it! I’ll be beginning the interior soon.
After taking a break from creating videos for The Wooden Boat Experience on YouTube, I am now filming this project and have a number of videos of it showing the progress.
We still plan to have this boat on the St Lawrence River this summer!
