Swift hydro hull number/year?

[twostroke]

Newbie here. I've been restoring and playing with vintage outboards for some time.....but I've decided to relive the days that I had hair and bought a really nicely restored Swift 'Big Dee' with a numbers matching running '59 Merc 55H1. Can anyone help me out decoding a Swift hull number to figure out age?

The number is UHD11206358114. It's on the transom 6"-8" below the top and pretty legible. I'm 99% sure that it's right.

I've got some (crummy cellphone) pics if that would help.

Any help or input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Jim

[DeanFHobart]

Newbie here. I've been restoring and playing with vintage outboards for some time.....but I've decided to relive the days that I had hair and bought a really nicely restored Swift 'Big Dee' with a numbers matching running '59 Merc 55H1. Can anyone help me out decoding a Swift hull number to figure out age?

The number is UHD11206358114. It's on the transom 6"-8" below the top and pretty legible. I'm 99% sure that it's right.

I've got some (crummy cellphone) pics if that would help.

Any help or input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Jim

Post some pictures. Sounds like a cool find...congratulations.

[twostroke]

Cellphone pics. I can take some better ones if necessary later today.

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68660

[zul8tr]

That is a nice restored Swift Big D and looks in great shape for the year. I do not know how to interpret the Swift serial #'s. My guess is a later Swift like 57 or 58 with the long front cowling and all wood deck. More pics would be nice and shots of the sponsons bottoms, rear bottom and chines and transom rear. Is there any dark stained wood areas on the bottom plywood? Joe Swift did great work considering the number of Swift hydros produced in the Mt Dora Fla shop. Back then most small race boats were built with popular Weldwood (or similar) water based glue and it required very close joinery (that's good) for the glue to hold since the glue is not a filler type. Have you looked deep inside to see if it is still holding well especially in the rear stringers, gussets, transom etc. where there is a lot of stress/strain running a D Merc.

[twostroke]

More pics....68662
Ignore ugly old tow car. One easy payment....
68663
Airtraps end about 26"from stern....
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Fickett tank....
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68669

[zul8tr]

Look on page 35 for the new for 1958 Swift Big D

http://www.boatsport.org/magpdf/bsv64.pdf


Your # UHD11206358114

Note in the add the serial number UHD112 was a designation for the Swift Big D introduced in 1958, meaning of UHD112? I think the 58 in your serial # would be a good bet yours is a 1958. Maybe 063 is June 3rd and 114 was the count of all boats made at the shop to that date?

Not known when Swift discontinued this model.

The condition for a 58 is really good. Do you know what restoration was done?

Have you run it?

What is the diameter of the steering wheel cable spool drum, 3.5", 5", other? Not known what was available back in 1958?

With the tie back cable set up the 5" is the preferred diameter.

[twostroke]

The only thing that's been done to it is stripped and refinished, to my knowledge. I see no wood replacement or repairs....I've even looked way inside with a Snap-On camera. I'm convinced that it's and nice as it looks. Motor is all 'correct', numbers matching and fresh; both powerhead and lower unit.

I haven't run it yet.....but the gentleman I bought it from had it in the water a few weeks ago. 70 mph by gps.

Steering drum is 3.5".

Thanks!

Jim

[zul8tr]

Jim
Sent you a PM in response to your PM.
Note on the steering with tie back cable set up and 3.5" drum the effort to turn will be reduced but will take more wheel arc to go through a defined turn compared to if that was a 5" drum. This shouldn't be an issue for a lake runner and would be in competition. But as you know these are left turn only boats going fast and can turn right if going real slow.
Pete

[DeanFHobart]

Wow.... Looks brand new. Really cool.

[Trident]

Jim, beautiful D Hydro... drop me a note to tridentracing@new.rr.com for some info on the care and feeding of a 55H.

Nice to see this one in running condition.

I have built and raced a lot of Mercury D's... I still have my last Mk55, Merc Challenge series motor, here in my shop. Still one of my all time favorite motors.

Jerry

[Master Oil Racing Team]

What's the length of your boat?

[twostroke]

What's the length of your boat?

Swift's literature back in the day says 133".....my tape is telling me 11' give or take less than an inch.

Jim

[Master Oil Racing Team]

Seems like zul8tr is on the right track regarding the serial number and my thinking is the 112 after the UHD regarding the model refers to it's length.....an approximate 11-2 foot boat. You know sometimes you gotta hedge a little.

[twostroke]

I thought the same when I obsessed over the s/n....

Thanks!

Jim

[Ron Hill]

I never saw but maybe one of these and I think Burt Ross had it and it was all mahogany. My brother had a C-D-F-X Swift of 1953 era. We owned a Big Bee Swift, but, hell I don't recall any serial numbers. DeSilva is the only ones I remember.

[jrome]

I think it was made on the 63 day of 1958

[twostroke]

I think it was made on the 63 day of 1958

That actually makes good sense.... Tuesday, March 4, 1958. That makes it about two months older than I am. Sure wish someone would have taken as good of care of me as they have this boat....

Thanks!

Jim

[oldalkydriver]

Now, don't quote me on this. The few swifts that I was around (which was over 60 years ago), this is how I read it; Utility Hydro 'D' Class (stock), eleven foot 2 inches hence 112, 06 June, 03rd day of completion, 58 is the year (1958), and 114 is how many boats thus far that year!

[Fastjeff57]

If I can ask a really stupid question... How do you folks out there, with a similar looking boat as this one, keep if from shifting forward on your trailer? I note that, in this case, there's nothing to keep it in place during a sudden stop.

Jeff

[zul8tr]

Some put bumpers at the front on these lake runner set ups. With race type trailers that are different than what is in this tread the stacking of boats is different to allow tie backs to the trailer. In my case the trailer motor box is at the rear and both boats are forward of that and are tied back to the box via the lift handles so restricted move forward from braking is not an issue and backward move from acceleration is not an issue since boats push against the box.

Jeff it is not a stupid question.
Pete

[Fastjeff57]

Gotcha. Thanks.

Jeff

[twostroke]

I had that tied at the rear hauling it home....but I was paranoid about exactly what you mention, Jeff. That trailer's gonna' get a re-design this winter. I think I'll add a radiused padded bumper in the front.

Jim

[Fastjeff57]

I don't blame you!

I've seen two photos of boats that launched OVER the roof of their towing vehicles!

Jeff

[zul8tr]

Yep sad. In addition to for aft restraint need orbital launch restraint.

[zul8tr]

How is this Swift coming along?

[twostroke]

How is this Swift coming along?

Unfortunately....it's sitting right where it was a year ago....on a roller cradle in the middle of my heated shop. Medical issues and life in general kept me from getting it out this last summer. I've put a few touches to it, and scrounged a period-correct Keller speedo and pitot tube and installed that. Come hell or high water, it will run next summer with the 55H1, and hopefully, a 30H Mod motor to boot. Here's hoping...

Jim