1968 Sea Ray Runabout Project

[VinceJ]

Ok fellas here we go...I bought this 68 Sea Ray for a song, like 500.00...this is what I knew about it...floor was soft in spots ("new floor just put in"). Started right up, and is water tight. This is what I found...new carpet over pressure treated plywood layed over the original fiberglass deck. Gas tank in bow, and wiring is an absolute rats nest. This is what I have done.
1. removed crap seats...all of em
2. dc'd all the wiring from blower, bilge, horn...and pitched it.
3. took out all the gauges
4. started to dc all wiring from dash to engine and found the original harness (amazing trust me)
5. bought a new switch panel (yet to install)
6. dc'd gas tank drained and put in basement...the "deck" it sits on has a huge hole covered by luan.

I think this boat either has an inner liner judging by the row of bolts that run along the rub rail, or this row of bolts is where Sea Ray attached the cap, or this row of bolts is for the rub rail which I kind of doubt, but have not have had time to dc the rub rail to find out. As soon as my garage is finished I wanna put this thing on jacks and tear out the carpet and ply and go from there...Sea Ray was no help with stringer placement because that is proprietory info on a forty year old boat so, I guess get out the hole saw and go exploring first? If this boat does indeed have an inner liner, is it a must to keep it or can I just cut it out? I saw where they cut one out on ship shape boat and never did put it back in after the stringers and deck were layed...suggestions?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1968 Sea Ray Runabout Project

the cap and inner liner are usually one piece.

 

[VinceJ]

Re: 1968 Sea Ray Runabout Project

here is a link to my pics and project...hope it works...68SeaRayproject@groups.msn.com...hope you all take a look, suggestions and help that I have found on this board are awesome!!! Thanks to everyone here!!! Would like to place an iboats link on my page so if the moderator would give me the go ahead, I will...

 

[oops!]

Re: 1968 Sea Ray Runabout Project

vince.
nice boat! i think. couldnt see the picks. can u post them here?

I have a 68 or 69 19 foot sea ray and im about to start a total refit as well. the engine is coming out nov 15. then waay we gooo! stoned on resin fumes for three months!
What size is the boat?
what exactally are you going to do to it?
mine is waterlogged and needs foam and stringers as well in going to re-do the transom, a totally different interior from sterring wheel to figerglassing bench seats along the gunnels for extra storage. lest we forget the ice well in the floor between the driver and passenger! (Its gotta hold lotta beer)!
Im even looking to legnthen the hull if i can. (depends on what will happen to the cg. and other structural issues).

Ive owned the boat for 7 years and absolutly love it!
i live in the okanagan in canada and take the boat out on the biggest storms and buck into the waves and turn around and surf them back! in any lake the sea ray is a super hull !

i yarded out the origonal dead in line 6 cyl and went to a 4 cyl. (it was cheap)! . finally last year i put in a 4.3 v6 merc 2bbl and now get 45 mph while barely using fuel!

what size motor is in your boat. did you pull it to do the work?
as it looks like we may need a lot of the same stuff at the same time i hope we can help each other research parts and the like.

good luck on the re-fit. and ill see if i can get any info out of sea ray!

P.S
I bought the book called runabout renovation. by jim anderson. good book. lots of practical info . I also purchased the fiberglass boat repair manual.
it reads as unexciting as a city by-law maunal but lots of tech info. including types of resins and glass. very informative!

 

[VinceJ]

Re: 1968 Sea Ray Runabout Project

OOPs!,
Way to go!!!! You can find the pics of my boat at http://Shareaproject.com/pages/projectThumbs,p,418,00.html
I have yet to even float my SR, I bought it for a song last month and its my first boat (I must be crazy) but with all the info these fine folks here provide and their willingness to help folks like me with questions, I am sure that you and I both will be able to make our boats in time what we really want them to be...(to time dont forget ya gotta add money)

V

 

[oops!]

Re: 1968 Sea Ray Runabout Project

hey vince thats a 66! the 68 and 69 srvs had a walk thru windsheild! the dash is totally different too! ill post some picks of mine as soon as i can. can u see the hull vin plate? mines all worn. good lookin boat though!
and thoes inline sixes are a dream you cant kill them. the twin carbs must be a ***** to tune. i minght have a apare exaught manifoldfor you if u need. (i think it was for the six cyl) man oh man are we gonna have fun!!! if that is, we both dont take our heads outta our azzes!!!
were crazy for even thinkin bout this!! tee hee!!

 

[oops!]

Re: 1968 Sea Ray Runabout Project

i just double checked your pictures with sea rays brochures.
yours is a 1965 sea ray 900.
go to sea ray and download the whole 1965 brochure it has all the detailes. legnth, weight, and so on! awesome boat!

 

[VinceJ]

Re: 1968 Sea Ray Runabout Project

Actually its a 1964...look at the dog house on the brochure from 64...I took a piece of paper and a pencil and did a rubbing on my hull tag and it looks like 1964 on the rubbing....but regardless it is 19'6 with and 86" beam even the brochure shows my twin carb option...my damn garage better be ready soon!!!!!...I am not gonna clog this area up with these trivialities....I sent you a message on how to contact me...looking forward to it...sorry friends...will post appropriately from here on