1985 Blue Fin Super Hawk Project

[dougyc]

I have a 1985 16' Blue Fin Superhawk with a 90 HP Evinrude v4. ​

Back story:​

The previous owner pulled the deck and installed 5/4 composite decking. It certainly adds some weights, but I sort of like it. I recently repositioned the live well which double as a riser for the captains seat. Like all other Blue Fin pictures I observed the hull (sub-decking) is divided into 3 sections the far left and far right are foamed and the center section is open. The fill and drain lines for the live well are running through the center un-foamed section of the space and now that I repositioned the live well I will have to pull the decking boards and hollow out some of the foam to run the live well lines through the far right portion that is foamed.​

I do need to run the bilge more than I would like and need to perform a leak test to see if I need to address rivets, live well tubing or transom bolt holes or transducer screws.​

With 14 gallons of fuel, the 90 HP Evinrude, and a 8 HP Yamaha kicker I think I'm a bit aft heavy. I porpoise quite a bit, and have issues planning out if I'm towing the kids in a tube (no issues without a tube behind). I checked for a bow mounted gas tank and I don't find any evidence of one historically. ​

I'm considering reworking the boat to add more seating options a casting desk and better storage options. My questions below will influence how large of a project I get myself into.​

1) As I read through the rebuild of these boats I observe everyone pulls the old foam, the question is why? Is it to improve water drainage flow and inspect the rivets, or a is there something else I'm missing?​

2) Will adding a bow mounted tank even out weight distribution, and help with the proposing?​

3) I know getting data on Blue Fin's is problematic, but does anyone know if ​

all

Superhawks had a bow mounted fuel tank?​

 

[Renderwurx]

Welcome to iBoats! I answered most of your questions from my thread, but if you ask here going forward other people might be able to find information useful to them on your thread.

Check your PM for links to the SS Cup holders and a source for various fuel tanks.

I have a couple questions on your bow tank, as I am pretty strongly considering an aftermarket one.

I understand there's a place for the filler neck and breather hole. I can see the filelr cover on your bow. I assume there is a sending unit. Am I correct that all that does is send a fuel level signal to a gauge?
And then you have a fuel line running to your outboard, where will you run it to be sure its never kinked?. Is the fuel pump in the outboard strong enough to pull fuel 16 or 18 feet to the motor? Where will you put the primer bulb?

Yes, I am returning the original tank setup in my boat. It has a 19-ish gallon tank in the bow, a filler hose up to the nose, another vent hose to the starboard side fo the nose that has a special thru hull vent.

Perko makes a combo unit that has both in one... just Google Perko fuel fill.

The fuel bulb was located just inside the splashwell here it could be reached from outside boat. There are lot of boats designed with front fuel tanks so the engines pump shouldn't have any issues drawing fuel.

I will tell you that the fuel hose isn't cheap. (I suppose that is relative) I think it was around $50-$80 for the 20 foot or so I'd need shipped. I have my fuel tank in place, but am going to wait on finishing it. I want to get the boat out this year so will be using a smaller 10 horse motor and 6 gallon tank in the stern to take it out on the many 10 horse limit lakes nearby.

I am replacing the fuel fill hose and fuel line/bulb once I get around to working on the Merc 100.

 

[kcon]

I think the main purpose of pulling the foam is because over time, one way or another, the foam gets saturated and not only loses much of its flotation characteristics but it add unnecessary weight. My fresh foam added a ton of weight as is, I can only imagine how much wet foam will weigh down an old boat

 

[AlabamaNewbie]

Foam gets saturated. Saturated foam doesn't float, and weighs a lot. So it becomes totally useless and adds a lot more weight than you'd think. For example - when removing the foam from my boat - a 6" square cube weighed as much as a gallon of water. Probably because it held about a gallon of water. lol