Guest Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 Has anyone ever heard of a Pro Am? It was advertised locally in Vancouver BC as a Mastercraft but when I went to see it…it just had subtle differences. Like the front deck vent is different. The boat has no Mastercraft badging, it looks like the same hull…same dash & gauges…351 engine but the engine doghouse is upholstered plywood. It’s definitely original & there are a couple of stickers indicating it’s a Pro Am. So I bought it & am just restoring the interior. The fellow was convinced it was a rare Mastercraft Pro Am used for some event. I combed the Internet & did find something somewhere indicating Pro Am ski boats were built in California but couldn’t find any pics? So when I removed the upholstery from the wood frames one had written on it with a crayon “Pro Am” Anyone have any info? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Rednucleus Posted February 20, 2022 Baller_ Share Posted February 20, 2022 @Marty1 Welcome to BOS! I have no info but I would sure like to see a few more pics of your new toy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller MDB1056 Posted February 20, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 20, 2022 @Marty1 - yes- definitely give us more pics please ! ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Marty1 Posted February 21, 2022 Author Baller Share Posted February 21, 2022 Thanks guys. I’ll take a few pics in the next day or two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller SkiRV Posted February 21, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 21, 2022 Splashed off a Mastercraft hull. Built in Contra Costa, CA by Rod Redford for several years. I was the factory promo boat in 1977. I might still have original brochures, but will take some digging to find Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Marty1 Posted February 21, 2022 Author Baller Share Posted February 21, 2022 Oh my god I’d absolutely love to see pics of it! I’d pay you to scan it for me. When I was looking at the upholstery…I mean it sure doesn’t look like it’s ever been redone. Like the blue carpet had been painted black with spray paint :) That said…it’s kinda ugly & it sure would suck having it reproduced only to find it’s not original! If you can find it…greatly appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller MDB1056 Posted February 21, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 21, 2022 @Marty1 - Were you able to check the wood in this 70’s treasure before buying? I’m always curious what people find Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Marty1 Posted February 21, 2022 Author Baller Share Posted February 21, 2022 So here’s one of the odd things I’m dealing with on this boat… The doghouse…I’ve never seen one that didn’t hinge to the back. This one hinges to the RH side of the boat which as you can imagine…basically makes the RH side of the engine inaccessible. Not only that but the box hits the exhaust manifolds as you open it. I’m planning to change it to the rear but if they honestly hinged that way I’ll leave it. There’s no holes on the rear for hinges but once again…the plywood box appears to be original. Lots of questions & SkiRV is the only man with the answers :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller MDB1056 Posted February 21, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 21, 2022 @Marty1 - Can find a bunch of links to 90's Pro-Am Skier boats but no idea if the same company as your 78. All seem to be West & NW and your neighborhood. Bluewater / Fineline Industries? https://airupholstery.com/Pro_Am_Skier.html https://anaheim.allboatlistings.com/powerboats/99501997-20-pro-am-skier-used-wakeboard-water-ski-tournament-boat_17230208.html https://www.redheadpowersports.ca/PrintInventory-Blue-Water-Boat-Pro-Am-Skier--id-10801215 https://offerup.com/item/detail/150556222 https://offerup.com/item/detail/752788500 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Marty1 Posted February 21, 2022 Author Baller Share Posted February 21, 2022 Yes I’m not sure if that’s the same company. Maybe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller MDB1056 Posted March 6, 2022 Baller Share Posted March 6, 2022 @Marty1 - are you ever going to give more pics? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Marty1 Posted March 13, 2022 Author Baller Share Posted March 13, 2022 Hi, sorry for the delay! I’m in British Columbia & just drove to Grand Rapids MI to pick up a 78 Stars & Stripes…it’s a beauty. They’re hard to find up here in nice original condition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Marty1 Posted March 13, 2022 Author Baller Share Posted March 13, 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Marty1 Posted March 13, 2022 Author Baller Share Posted March 13, 2022 I have the Pro Am stripped inside. Floors & stringers are mint. The upholstery is done I just need to do the carpet & put it back together. I’ll post pics. The upholstery was challenging. The seats were plywood including the drivers seat but it was falling apart. I made new wood frames but the drivers seat I had to laminate from 1/8” mahogany & bend it. Lots of glue…tricky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Marty1 Posted March 13, 2022 Author Baller Share Posted March 13, 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Andre Posted March 13, 2022 Baller Share Posted March 13, 2022 Nice Mastercraft,congrats! How many hrs on the road for the pick up? My ski finish in 16.95 but my ass is out of tolerance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Marty1 Posted March 13, 2022 Author Baller Share Posted March 13, 2022 Lol….30hrs each way Nothing good is easy :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Marty1 Posted April 23, 2022 Author Baller Share Posted April 23, 2022 Hi Guys, I finally got motivated & finished the carpet inside the 1978 Pro Am. It’s a little bright for my likings but that was the original colours so I left it the original scheme. Pretty happy with it. Just about time to put it in the lake & give it a whirl :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Marty1 Posted April 23, 2022 Author Baller Share Posted April 23, 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Marty1 Posted April 23, 2022 Author Baller Share Posted April 23, 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Mastercrafter Posted April 23, 2022 Baller Share Posted April 23, 2022 Looks awesome, nice work. Carpet is never easy or fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Andre Posted April 23, 2022 Baller Share Posted April 23, 2022 Good workmanship! Congrats! My ski finish in 16.95 but my ass is out of tolerance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller MDB1056 Posted April 23, 2022 Baller Share Posted April 23, 2022 Nice! Who did your interior/ upholstery? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller MDB1056 Posted April 23, 2022 Baller Share Posted April 23, 2022 No rear access panels? How do you get to steering / rudder and shaft packing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Marty1 Posted April 24, 2022 Author Baller Share Posted April 24, 2022 Yes there’s an access panel in the floor from the doghouse all the way to the back. Just hard to see in that pic. I had the upholstery done by a friend in the Vancouver BC area named Dave Gallagher. He does high end cars for a fancy shop in North Vancouver called RX Auto. They do fancy $400k restorations of cars that go to pebble beach which is huge overkill for this little contraption but I’m fussy & when I go to most marine upholsterer…I find that the definition of a marine upholsterer is an upholsterer that’s not very good so he only does boats :) You know I find that the most talented people don’t charge any more than the not so talented just that it takes time to do good work. It was about $4k Canadian but labours not cheap these days as you guys know. I’m into the boat for $11k Canadian now & so I’m ok with that. Be a fun bomber :) I guess that’s about $5k US ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller MDB1056 Posted April 24, 2022 Baller Share Posted April 24, 2022 A great deal for a cool old piece like that now with a new interior. Will be curios how it drives and skis . Enjoy that gorgeous Stars & Stripes too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Andre Posted April 24, 2022 Baller Share Posted April 24, 2022 Got pix of the engine? My ski finish in 16.95 but my ass is out of tolerance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Marty1 Posted April 25, 2022 Author Baller Share Posted April 25, 2022 This is the only one I have on hand. I toyed with the idea of pulling it & going through it but it seems to run really well so I’ll use it for the season & asses it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Marty1 Posted April 25, 2022 Author Baller Share Posted April 25, 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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