The Sande Ace Registry
This graph shows what we know about the minimum number of Sande Aces built through the years. How do we know this? We get the data from three sources.
First, Earl Sande has receipt information which provides dates of sale for the earliest Sande Aces. The boats in 1956 were probably the original 12-foot models but it is interesting that one year later, the Sandes increased the length to 13 feet.
- April 10, 1956 to Marine Trading Mart in Seattle (which later became Advance Outboard)
- May 9, 1956 to Cecil Baldwin, Jr. (Earl's Uncle)
- May 12, 1956 to Jerry Toombs
- July 3, 1957 to Richard O. Barr (13', Hull # 65711). This was the 11th Sande Ace made in June, 1957. See below.
- August 19, 1957 to Rex McGrath (used 13')
- February 12, 1958 to George Oakland (13')
Second, the Sandes stamped hull numbers on their Aces. One place was under the port side quarterknee shown with the "X" in the picture below. The number encoded the month and year of manufacture along with the boat number built in that month. For instance, the 2594 for Bob Parks' first boat means it was the 4th Sande Ace built in February, 1959.
Then Bob discovered a second possible location for the hull number while working on his 2nd Sande Ace. A little light sanding in the middle of the curve of the transom knee revealed a 5598 showing it was the 8th Ace built in May, 1959. By the way, Bob also found the 5598 under the quarterknee.
Most recently, Ed noticed his 3596 on the stem in the front cockpit. It went unnoticed for all these years since it was also stamped under the quarterknee and he quit looking for it elsewhere.
Under the quarterknee.
On the transom knee.
On the stem in the forward cockpit
The hull numbers known so far are:
- 6577 Barney M. (7th built in June, 1957) via Bob P.
- 3588 Rod O. (8th in March, 1958)
- 2594 Roy D. (4th in February, 1959) via Bob P.
- 3592 Ned H. (2nd in March, 1959)
- 3596 Ed W. (6th in March, 1959)
- 4591 Dallas (1st in April, 1959)
- 5598 Mark O. (8th in May, 1959) via Bob P.
- 6601 Bob R. (1st in June, 1960)
- 3622 Bob P. (2nd in March, 1962)
- 2642 Dan P. (2nd in February, 1964)
These numbers are not known for one reason or another.
? Brian P.
? Tom T.
? Bob B.
? Chris E.
? The "X" Ace, sitting wet, soggy and rotten in western Washington
Third, other special knowledge can be used. For instance, Ned's family's Ace was completed in July, 1961 so that one can be unambiguously included since we know of no other Aces completed in that month.
From all this, the minimum number of Sande Aces built in various months was graphed. It is reasonable that the numbers dropped off with the increasing popularity of fiberglass boats but the data are sketchy so far.