TOPIC: Bell Boy Ballerina Inboard (1957/58) information

Trying to gather as much information as I can in regards to a boat that I will be receiving from my father.

What my dad knows about the boat:

1957 or 1958 (approximately 15' long)
Bell Boy Ballerina (Hull and deck style is identical to Banshee)
Inboard (4 cylinder Model 70 Grey Marine with Paragon gearbox)
Only 3, possibly 4 ever made
- 1 Blue and White (My fathers)
- 2 Red and White
- 1 Yellow and White (maybe)
Purchased in late 70s in Lake Whatcom area of Bellingham, WA
My father is the third owner

Mentioned seeing another inboard sitting in a strawberry field around Smith Road in Bellingham area.
While talking to him, he also mentioned something about a stock 5" square fuel filter.

Story I recall while growing up was that these boats were prototypes and there was an accident on Lake Whatcom which stopped the production. (truth or fiction, I don't know).

Any reference material would be great. Please email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with "Bell Boy" in the subject for quick responses. Hope to have some photos to post soon.

Thanks,

Lance

Welcome to fiberglassic Lance

I look forward to seeing pictures.
I live in the Great PNW too. 20 miles NW of Olympia.
My personal expertise is classic Mercury outboards, but you'll find a HUGE variety & wealth of information amongst the folks that post on the various fiberglassic forums.
doc

Doc, much appreciated. I wish my dad was up to the task of getting on a computer because he has so much information to offer. Until that happens, I look forward to any information that I can gleen from this site in restoring my dad's boat. It will never be my boat, but will always be my dad's boat. Born and raised in Bellingham, and under orders to Oak Harbor, WA to finish a 26 year career with the U.S. Navy.

A sincere thank you for your service Lance, and welcome aboard.

Lance, welcome aboard, 26 years, wow. Salute the ensign and come aboard Always good to have a fellow sailor around. Beautiful area where you are. The wife and I were there last year, took a month long vacation up 101 and finished at Cape Flatery before heading back to WI.
Anxious to see some pictures of the boat.
Cal

Lance, as Cal said salute the ensign and come aboard. Thanks for your service, did over 23 years in the Navy myself. Let's see some pics.

Bob

Lance, over in the Glassic Library there's a one-line reference to a Bell Boy Ballerina, listed under Bell Boy's "1960-1962 outboard boat models". It has some basic specs, not much else, listed as a 1960, 14 ft.
DaveM.

After a 900 mile tow, the boat is back in the Pacific Northwest. Once I recover and unpack from an overseas move, I will post detailed photos. I have also started a blog to document the process of turning this boat into something a little more presentable. dadsbellboy.blogspot.com

Glad you got her home safe and sound Lance, looking forward to seeing your project come along.

Photo from Lake Sammish.

1_flake,

WELCOME ABOARD.

yours, satx

Ok, that's a nice tease more pics please. lol

Bob

A small inboard fiberglass boat from the 1950's!

Given almost everything fiberglass was an outboard boat back then, and stern drives did not come out until 1959. That boat is so cool and has to be pretty rare, from any fiberglass manufacturer of that era, let alone Bell Boy.

Does anyone know of any other inboard fiberglass boats from the 1950's? I sure don't! All the inboards I know of from then were wood boats.

That Bell Boy definitely needs to be preserved.

If the weather holds out till this weekend here in PNW, I will uncover and take a bunch of photos to upload.

Welcome aboard!

Lee Wangstad wrote an article about Bell Boy for the "Boating World" magazine many years ago. I think he may have also written something about Bell Boy for "The Boathouse" magazine ( www.acbs-bslol.com )

Also see the link: www.fiberglassics.com/library/Bellboy

Bell Boy was a division of Bellingham Shipyards which also had a division called American Fabricators(AmFab). AmFab manufactured structural glued laminated timber, the same thing I manufacture in Peshtigo, WI! I have done some research into AmFab history - all my files are at home in Minnesota. I am working in Wisconsin full time and only get home 4-5 days per month.

Andreas

Welcome aboard Lance, I'm in Anacortes by deception pass, looking forward to seeing the boat and maybe some vintage cruising.