1977 Searay

[Celtichawk]

Recently purchased this boat! Excellent boat despite its original interior in need of some resto's soon. Not horrible just old looking and needs a freshen up!. Worse parts about the boat are the teak as well as back cover near engine that needs wood replaced. Deck solid as a rock no rot, transom solid no rot! Tested it all by drilling small sample holes. All good and used maybe a couple times on salt water, primary use was Lakes in southern california. Running a Mercrusier V8. One thing for sure it lacked was a bimini top so that is soon to be installed, very soon! Anyone does that before are they fairly straight forward? When I redo the interior that carpet is going by by to a non-skid paint.

Anyways here it is for everyone to view more photos to follow.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: 1977 Searay

installing a bimini is super easy BUT take your time... get helpers and or tape the brackets in place... play with how it will fold/stow and try various mount positions till you get it just right... I recommend getting the biggest top you have room for and making it 6'6" above the floor.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: 1977 Searay

Take that fin off the outdrive.. you don't need it esp with the tabs and the boat will handle better without it.

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: 1977 Searay

Thanks for the fin idea I was considering that but wasn't sure what those fins really do and why people put them on. Those tabs are not adjustable by push button but I noticed I can adjust them manually when out of water. How would I know what is best? It does have a trim gauge on dash guess I need to watch that when its plane?

I will defiantly look into going with that high head clearance Bimini. I'm a guy who is 6' 1 so I need it.

They seemed straightforward I noticed it had one at one point maybe the factory setup as it has the side tracks any chance I could still use original setup or best to just go custom now?

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: 1977 Searay

Where is a good source to buy a Bimini and not hurt the wallet too much?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: 1977 Searay

The tabs are automatic... the trim gauge is for the outdrive... ignore it if it even works and trim by feel speed and rpm.

yes you could likely use the tracks... the idea would be to slide it forward while in use and be able to slide it back and lay on the transom to store it.... there should be plastic slides in the runners and thumbscrews to attach the bimini... tighten to lock and loosen to slide

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: 1977 Searay

my first glass boat was very similar to your new toy...a yellow 78 arrowglass siesta.. 20'cuddy... it had a mercury 898 which was a 2 bbl 305 chevy rated at 198 hp vs your 888 which is a ford at 188 hp my boat would do IIRC just over 40 mph with a 19" pitch prop... I don't remember the rpm's as at the time I had no clue what they should be any way... didn't know squat about boats compared to now.

My first lesson was how to change my own bellows.... That came after nearly sinking it in the missippi due to the driveshaft bellows tearing..... unless you have a receipt for them being changed in the last couple years go ahead and order a set... If the trim sender and trim limit switch wiring is cracking and you care about them working order that set too and change em at the same time.

find an engine alignment bar to buy rent or borrow and check/adjust that while you have the drive off and if you don't have a receipt for a water pump bellows in the past year go ahead and do that too...

Next make sure your blower(s) work and the hose is soft and pliable and that the bilge pump(s) and hose is in good shape... last thing that comes to mind is replace ANY and ALL plastic through hull fittings... they last at most about 10 years so on a boat that is over 35 years old there is a REAL good chance that they are ready to fail.

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: 1977 Searay

Okay on tabs, again I noticed it had manual adjustments when I looked at it before night fall I was trying to see if they work by switch (electrical) or what and noticed you can pull a screw out and adjust them to a series of settings and its marked on the tabs to set them to a desired level.

Okay on Bimini I will check the tracks for what you mentioned and see if I can fix the original setup to work or just go with a new setup. Something about putting new holes into the side of boat I don't particular like but what needs to be done will happen! Besides its the cap it's getting drilled into if needed

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: 1977 Searay

By the way I got to lake test this boat before buying it. So it was a huge selling point when all other items checked out I got to sea trial it.

 

[southkogs]

Re: 1977 Searay

Nice boat, congratulations. I've always like those Sea Rays. Didja' ditch the OMC?

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: 1977 Searay

Southkog yes I didn't really want to ditch the OMC only because it was a awesome fishing Searay at that 24.5' length but someone came along and offered me a price I couldn't refuse. Wife and I needed the $ so I sold it. Turned around and bought this boat for half the price of what I sold my OMC for. Did not make a million off it but was enough to buy another boat for the family and take care of those $ issues we had.

Smokeonthewater:

I will check all that stuff out, that you mentioned. No receipts but PO stated three years ago they had entire drive serviced which cost around $600. He was not specific about all the work that was completed at that time, so I will look into some of that work you mentioned.

That will also save me a headache down the road especially when young kids will be on board. Bilge pump and blower do work very well!

 

[southkogs]

Re: 1977 Searay

Southkog yes I didn't really want to ditch the OMC only because it was a awesome fishing Searay at that 24.5' length but someone came along and offered me a price I couldn't refuse. Wife and I needed the $ so I sold it. Turned around and bought this boat for half the price of what I sold my OMC for. Did not make a million off it but was enough to buy another boat for the family and take care of those $ issues we had.

Sounds like a good swap for ya'. Good job.

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: 1977 Searay

Thanks I'm sure you all will see me around the Mercrusier threads when I start getting into things on the boat.

 

[lakegeorge]

Re: 1977 Searay

Recently purchased this boat! Excellent boat despite its original interior in need of some resto's soon. Not horrible just old looking and needs a freshen up!. Worse parts about the boat are the teak as well as back cover near engine that needs wood replaced. Deck solid as a rock no rot, transom solid no rot! Tested it all by drilling small sample holes. All good and used maybe a couple times on salt water, primary use was Lakes in southern california. Running a Mercrusier V8. One thing for sure it lacked was a bimini top so that is soon to be installed, very soon! Anyone does that before are they fairly straight forward? When I redo the interior that carpet is going by by to a non-skid paint.

Anyways here it is for everyone to view more photos to follow.View attachment 210845View attachment 210846View attachment 210847

Don't forget that there is also a SeaRay only forum in case you can't find the right answer on here.

 

[Hermanclick]

Re: 1977 Searay

Okay on Bimini I will check the tracks for what you mentioned and see if I can fix the original setup to work or just go with a new setup. Something about putting new holes into the side of boat I don't particular like but what needs to be done will happen! Besides its the cap it's getting drilled into if needed

Sounds like you are in the same situation I was at a few weeks ago as my old boat had the side mounted tracks but no hardware to attach a new top to it. I was able to find some side mounts that fit right in to the old track (made by Taylor Made I believe they have nylon and stainless ones to chose from) and I did not have to drill any more holes. Simply removed the end cap on the track inserted the new side mounts reinstalled end cap mounted new top.The sliding feature is nice as when not in use its out of the way.

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: 1977 Searay

Thanks everyone and also yea I forgot about that Searay section. As for my Bimini top I also noticed holes pre drilled out in my teak on stern of boat with plastic inserts. Guessing the rails of the Bimini go in there and other end attaches to the slides on the tracks then there is hook loops mounted on side of gun walls to hook clips to. (Note first photo if you zoom into stern of boat and look at the teak rails you will notice te black inserts. ). I believe that's where Bimini goes into. They didn't look like after market flag pole inserts.

This way like you said when not in use it can be rolled up and layed down on stern of boat.

Herman: can you send me photo of yours maybe just to get a idea?

Feel free to PM if you don't want to post here and I will also jump over to Searay section have a look around.

 

[Hermanclick]

Re: 1977 Searay

This pic should give you an idea. You cant see the side rail but its there just hidden while in the down position. This is also slid all the way back where it rests

i have the same hook loops up front and on my splashwell cover. a little different than your setup but over all sounds like you've identified the correct mounting points so there's no need for you to have to drill

 

[Hermanclick]

Re: 1977 Searay

thats what purchased to insert in to my slide rails different brand but same thing. Looks like i should of bought it here its much cheaper than what i paid lol

Bimini Top Stainless Steel Side-Mount Deck Hinge - Attwood 661093 - iboats

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: 1977 Searay

Well I take it back on the holes in my teak on stern. Think those are for something else. The hard poles on a Bimini meet in the middle and then straps on either end to hook to those stainless loops on sides of boat. Those stainless hookups you showed photo of I think if memory serves me they are on y boat still in my tracks I will take photos tomorrow and post them up of my findings. Goodnight for now. Thanks for this info!

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: 1977 Searay

I was just thinking I could see em in the back of the track in your pic

the ones pictured above aren't quite right tho... those are designed to screw to the inside of the gunwale... the ones you need won't have the two screw holes