A stunning Boesch 510 ski boat (Gambler 510)
A masterpiece of wooden motorboat building. Built by the long-established and world-famous Swiss boatbuilding company, still going today. This Boesch 510 (just under 17 feet) presents in very good order having recently been re-varnished and painted, and deck fittings re-chromed. But it is now time for a new owner to take her on and finish the restoration. She basically just needs the internal upholstery done - but she is usable. It would be great to fix her up with a new windscreen but the existing one is good. This Boesch 510 is a classic ski boat from the 1970’s.
Full Details
Description
A stunning Boesch 510 ski boat (Gambler 510) - a masterpiece of wooden motorboat building. Built by the long-established and world-famous Swiss boatbuilding company, still going today. This Boesch 510 (just under 17 feet) presents in very good order having recently been re-varnished and painted, and deck fittings re-chromed. But it is now time for a new owner to take her on and finish the restoration. She basically just needs the internal upholstery done - but she is usable. It would be great to fix her up with a new windscreen but the existing one is good. This Boesch 510 is a classic ski boat from the 1970’s.
Dimensions
- Length Overall: 5.1m / 16'9"
- Beam: 2.06m / 6'9"
- Max Draft: 0.53m / 1'9"
Engine
- 5 litre V8 Chevrolet petrol engine (1976)
- Original Bronze rudder/ rod steering assembly
- Bronze propellor in great condition
Tankage
- Fuel: Petrol - new moulded plastic tank
Accommodation
- Forward bench seating - ideally needing appropriate upholstery.
- Plenty of space in the back for skis etc. or for finishing off with a padded sun pad... maybe.
- Ski post
Electrical
- 12v with new marine battery (2023)
- New GPS speedometer
- Tachometer
- Bilge Blower
- Maserati Air Horns
- Bilge Pump
- Sony Marine Bluetooth audio player with Sony Marine Speakers
Boesch 510 Background And Information On This Boat:
Boesch Motorboote originated in Kilchberg/ Zurich Switzerland in 1920 and is still going strong.
This Boesch 510 is a rare 1971/72 example of the boat originally “Gambler 510” used between 1960 and 1974 as the World and European championship official ski boat.
The boat’s serial number appears to be 16331.
The current owner has been patiently restoring the boat over the last 5-6 years but, due to family circumstances, he is reluctantly having to find her a new home.
This Boesch 510 was originally bought by a local Yacht Club and used for some time for waterskiing inland waters locally, Northern Ireland. The boat has only ever been used in fresh water. Unfortunately, during one winter, the Club forgot to drain the coolant water and the engine block cracked rendering the engine unusable.
It was at this stage that ownership changed and the current owners’ family took her one. From an engineering background - they managed to source a similar Chevrolet engine block from the USA (from a 1976 Oldsmobile) and managed to restore the Crusader marinized engine to good health.
The current owner has had the boat for over 30 years – with the last 5-6 years engaged in a major restoration project.
The first priority was to put the boat onto a brand new trailer. The engine was then lifted out for a full overhaul.
It was then clear that both the stringers (which held and supported the engine bearer mounts) as well as the stern hull section needed a significant repair project, and it was at this stage they got the help of a renowned professional wooden boat builder – one of the last remaining in Ireland.
The first task in restoration was to reinforce the wooden stringer beams and this was achieved by sandwiching the original stringers between Iroko wood beams running longitudinally from bow to stern. These were joined to the original wood with epoxy resin and multiple stainless steel bolts along the length of the stringer - resulting in an enormously stronger construction than was originally designed.
The complete boat was then inverted and the 2/3 of the hull from the stern forward was fully replaced with new French sourced marine ply mahogany. He used a detailed scarfing technique to seamlessly join the new section in with the bow section (still in excellent condition) and the hull was glued and screwed in place. Any wood in the stern that was not of perfect quality was replaced with new mahogany hard wood. A new keel was fashioned and protected with a new stainless steel rub strake. The new hull was painted with Danboline internally and a combination of Precote/TopCote externally.
The engine then had a full overhaul. The original is based on a small block Chevrolet 5.0L V8 and was marinized by Crusader engines (Model number RH260) and is linked to a Borg Warner “Velvet Drive” gearbox. The engine block was sent for machining and now has brand new pistons and rings, a new camshaft, new Edelbrock carburettor, new alternator and a brand new 120AH marine battery is about to be fitted. The engine has had its timing done (Delco Remy), aligned and the original stainless steel propellor shaft was replaced with new. The old copper petrol tank has been replaced with a new marine grade plastic tank with electric fuel level gauge. The water impellor has been fully refurbished.
Much of the original brass deckware as possible has been retained, and this again has been re-chromed back to its original glory.
New cast iron exhaust manifolds were sourced from the USA and coupled to 6 new silicone hoses.
In 2022 the deck was then fully replaced by said professional - with French sourced Marine Ply Mahogany and finally sent for a professional varnish spray by a professional boat painter. Ten coats of varnish have been applied and the upper hull painted, in the traditional aquamarine, so typical of Boesch/ Riva of that generation.
Lastly in August 2022 a new custom-made breathable boat cover was purchased and fitted.
Summary
- Hull and Deck fully restored
- Engine fully reconditioned and running beautifully
- Brass fittings re-chromed
- New custom-made boat trailer (Indispension)
- New all-over boat cover
Others particulars
- New GPS speedometer
- Tachometer
- Bilge Blower
- Maserati Air Horns
- Bilge Pump
- Sony Marine Bluetooth audio player with Sony Marine Speakers
- Original Bronze rudder/ rod steering assembly
- Bronze propellor in great condition