We bought her and her original Tee Nee trailer on November 25, 2013, from the eastern end of Long Island, NY, where she had been lying in a dry building for some time. Here is the video I shot that Sunday and Monday. We had previously restored several bright-sided Palominos, but hull number P 5652, was the first “black” one to come into the shop. She was represented as a 1957, but, with super support from the Century Boat Club members, I learned that she is in fact a 1956, the only year Century offered this particular model. She was and remains remarkably original. Save for her bow and stern flags, both of which we have saved for her next owner(s), and her seat cushions, nothing but cosmetics and Fran Secor’s (Otega, NY), rebuilding her original 30 HP Johnson Sea Horse engine, nothing has been changed. Even her original hull number remains deeply punched into her bottom transom plank. We saved the original seat cushions, but, unlike the rest of the upholstery, which is virtually like new, these cushions were just too sunburnt and cracked to save. However, with the help of Dave at A&A Marine, we were led to the manufacturer that originally supplied the cowhide fabric to Century. One partial bolt of NOS, 1956 fabric remained in their inventory. We bought all of it. Finally, today, we pulled everything together and test ran the engine, which passed with flying colors.
Everything about this boat is completely original, save for the burgee and the seat cushions, but even they are original in a sense. I sourced the fabric – all that this firm still had in its old inventory – from the same company that supplied this fabric to Century in 1956. Indeed, I purchased all of what was left over from that year. So, while the foam inside them is today, the fabric used is 1956. (We have kept the original cushions, and will include them with the boat and Tee Nee trailer when her next owner takes her home).
1956 Century Black-Cowhide Palomino – As Found
1956 Century Cowhide Palomino Preservation Complete
1956 Century Palomino How to Fill Deck Seams
1956 Century Cowhide Palomino – Bleaching Avodire Decks
1956 Century Cowhide Palomino – Staining Avodire Decks
1956 Century Cowhide Palomino Hull Preserved!
1956 Century Cowhide Palomino Final Lap!
1956 Century Cowhide Palomino Debut
