February 19, 2011; Surprise find at the Detroit Boat Show!

Almost two months ago I was at a boat show and happened upon a restored Glastron 1968 Jetflite. It is the only model of boat that had the seats I've been looking for. The same used in the original '66 Batboat! This particular year of boat was in red.

Had I known a Jetflite would be at the Detroit Boat Show I would have brought a ruler with me. lol


This is owned by Wilson Marine, a boat dealership here in Michigan. Will contact them later on and see if I take measurements in the future. :)

It is most likely on display in one of their large showrooms along with their other stuff.






They did a great job restoring this boat. This is the first restored Glastron I've ever seen.








The aluminum around the outer windshield measures 3/4 inch. The base is slightly thicker. I suspect the same trim was used on the Batboat. At least it looks like it to me. Will see if they will let me get a measurement later on.


Sorry for the lopsided photos. :/

Batboat Rebuild: Seat Mystery Solved Part 2

The 1966 Glastron fiberglass boat catalog that I mentioned here three weeks ago came in the mail a while back. (I paid $13.89 for mine and another recently sold for $26, he he he.)

The pointed seat design shown in a '66 Jetflite V-143 Super Sport appears, from the back, to be a closer match for the ones used in the original Batboat than the '67 Jetflite V-143 mentioned in another blog post.

'66 Jetflite V-143 Super Sport

1966 Batboat

'67 Jetflite V-143 Super Sport

It looks like when it comes to having my own seats made I'll need to get hold of one of those and interpolate the dimensions of the Batboat's to base a new pattern on.

The Jetflites are the only boats built by Glastron with those pointed, turned up seating and are unique to that model.

Catalogs show Jetflite hulls had the seat bases molded into the deck from 1965 to 1970. From '66 to 69 pointed seats were used but not in 1970. The model was discontinued 1971.


The Batboat's seats were specially made and upholstered in glitter blue vinyl, as shown above. This is one of the scant close up glimpses of the original seat. It doesn't get much better than this, sadly.

The 1966 Jetflite V-143 Super Sport

The '66 catalog also shows the same type of metallic blue steering wheel used in the original Batboat.

As a side note, the model Glastron based the Batboat on is on the '66 catalog cover; Dark Jade Crestflite Stern Drive V-174 Super Sport. According to the back page specifications, it was only available as Dark Jade and White in 1966 but the photos show blue, also shown below.

Floor Vinyl Is Here

Roll Of New Vinyl Compared To The Original Flooring As Used On The Foot Board

Earlier this week the second roll of vinyl for the Batboat came in.

This time it was the flooring and it is really impressive seeing it in its full size. Exceeded my expectations.

The black leatherette vinyl came in a few days earlier and it is really nice and professional looking, also.

Both are stored in my stairwell waiting for the completion of the Batboat.

Next is to order the Zodiac Blue but that will be done next summer. Unlike the blue flooring, this glitter Zodiac style seems like it will be available for years to come.

I can't wait to get back to work on the Batboat again.

The foot board has four decades of grime on it so its sort of a close match.

A big thank you to Gary and Connie Siliven of Gary's Upholstery. They sent me the samples, helped with my order and provided great, personal service. From now on I'm getting my Batboat upholstery stuff from those guys. They are the only ones I found that would send samples and some of their prices are lower.

Stay tuned! I am uploading some of the backlog of rebuild updates this evening.

More samples arrived from Gary's Upholstery

The original '69 blue Naugahyde (above) and two texture samples.

The matches for my Glastron's four decade old blue Naugahyde came in today.

I need a match, but in black, for the Batboat's side compartments and the areas under the windshields.

The one to the left, Naugaleather MI 2284 Raven, is good but does not have the luster or the thickness of my original.

The other is bu alg coal @ $20.99 yd (this one is not on their website). It almost matches the texture, thickness and shine of the original. The leather grain is not as tight but it looks great.

Strangely, bu alg coal feels like the stuff I saw when I was at JoAnn Fabrics last week. Will check it out tomorrow.

The black vinyl and the floor vinyl mentioned in the previous post will be ordered by Friday.

Stay tuned! Some of the backlog of Batboat rebuild updates will be uploaded here this week.

The best has yet to come!

Some Vinyl Samples Arrived Today

On Saturday I requested some samples of marine vinyl from Gary's Upholstery, Tampa, Florida. http://www.garysupholstery.com/. To my surprise, they arrived today three days later.

They are the only vendor I've found that will send samples and their prices seem lower than most others so I'll get the stuff from them.

The large square in the upper left is Dark Blue 323980 vinyl flooring http://www.garysupholstery.com/ntomarfloor.html. It is slightly darker but almost a dead ringer for the coloring of my original floor vinyl but not dark enough for a Batboat. I'll have to figure something out.

Nautolex Marine Vinyl Flooring - Dark Blue 323980

Sample of the original flooring.

The interior of the 1966 Batboat seems to have been a sold blue and the only solid color decking I can find is marine carpet but carpeting in boats is a bad idea because of moisture retention and mold issues. Perhaps I can put carpet over the vinyl floor? Or dye the vinyl floor a solid dark blue? Or leave it as is? This is something to think over.

Only 2 or 3 foot of the deck will be visible because of the seats and I am moving the dash back one foot.

The two sparkle samples shown to the right of it are "Zodiac" Naugahyde Cascade ZD 20 and Blue ZD 21. Cascade won't work. It's got some green in it. However, the Blue looks like a close cousin to the blue metallic used in Glastron's 1967 V-143 Jetflite. One inch pleats would have to be sewed in.

"Zodiac" Naugahyde is the stuff you'll find upholstered in kiddie carnival rides and looks great.

"Zodiac" Naugahyde Blue ZD 21.

Pleated glitter blue vinyl as found in a 1967 Glastron V-143 Jetflite was probably the same material Glastron used for the 1966 Batboat's arm rests and seats.

The small side storage compartments in my craft were originally lined with black leather vinyl with one inch pleats built in. For this I requested a swatch of Charcoal Grey "Zodiac", seen in the lower left corner of the samples. I thought that may work. Its nice stuff but has way too much sparkle. The sample in the lower right is Black BRK 43 http://www.garysupholstery.com/naugahyde/ngburksh.html. Something of this type will be fine. About two foot of it on each side of the boat will be barely visible anyway.

Black BRK 43

The material used in the side storage compartments in my 1969 V-145. Leather texture with one inch pleats built in.

This morning I mailed in a sample of my original "Ocean Blue" dashboard Naugahyde for Gary's Upholstery to match for texture but in black. Whatever they come up with will be used for the compartments and for the spaces under the Batboat windshields.

My swatch of vinyl is from 1969 and probably close in manufacture to what was used for the dashboard of the 1966 Batboat.

I will have to act fast on the blue vinyl flooring because it is no longer made. Apparently, folks want only earth tones these days. (blah) Its $20 a yard and I'll have to order three yards (I need six feet four inches, actually.)

First I have to come up with rent money. $200 $80 more to go. :P