I bought this boat in the summer of 2009 and we have really had a blast on it. Next year I intend to buy a larger boat, but I'll keep this boat around too so we can have 2 boats at the lake. Plus, I need a project to work on. It's kind of an odd boat, I've never seen another one and it has really low gunwhales - seems almost like a bass boat.
The carpet and upholstery are showing their age, and there are a few things we need changed on the boat. The gelcoat has gotten very badly faded, and one winter outside has softened the floor.
The transom is made from end-cut blocks of balsa, and I'm hoping that it will not need to be redone because of the complex curves. Time will tell. I do have a leak somewhere, I think it's through a motor mount bolt, back flow through the bilge pump outlet, and possibly through the old speedo pitot mounting screws. If that's the case, then I'm probably looking at some transom work.
The plan is:
Interior:
Tear out interior seats, side panels, carpet and floor.
Lay in new floor. I haven't yet decided whether to use styrofoam as my floor core and layup an epoxy and glass sandwich, or go with plywood and polyester resin. If I use foam, I'll need various hardpoints for seating, so it may pay to just go with ply. Stringers if needed.
Build up a new rear seat. The existing rear seat didn't get much use, because there was usually a tube and some towels back there, the seat was too low and too shallow, and was used as a step for hopping into and out of the water. The plan is to build an L-shaped bench seat behind the driver's seat. I considered back-to-back stock seats, but any I've looked at are too big for this boat and sit way too high. (This boat almost looks like a bass boat that they marketed as a ski boat) I might try to integrate some sort of folding bracket to hold our Scuba tanks.
The passenger seat swivels and can face backward, and by not having a rear seat there the passenger has leg room plus there's a path for someone to get to that back deck.
Building the rear seat, I should relocate the battery which also sits on the starboard side. I'll either put it under the rear seat or move it to the port side of the boat in the back under the deck. Maybe I'll put the VRO oil tank under the seat or something. We'd like to have some additional storage so hatches where I can fit them.
Re-upholster the bowrider seat cushions and the two front seats. Probably in white/charcoal/yellow.
Install new carpet
Outside:
Repaint the boat white, charcoal, and yellow.
Engine
Replace the water pump
Replace the propeller shaft seal
Repaint the engine white
Fabricate some sort of connection or fairing for the hoses and cables to the engine, like newer engines use, which run all the wires, hoses etc inside a plastic plastic conduit to the boat.
Other Items
Last year I replaced the gauges and rewired the dash, but the fuel gauge has never worked. I'm sure it's the sender so that's going to be replaced.
The tachometer doesn't work, and when I got the boat the panel wiring was kind of butchered. I need to sort that out.
Install new interior and exterior lighting.
Install a stereo.
Install various wood trim pieces.
Replace the 23 year old bilge pump.
Replace the glovebox, refinish the ski locker hatch, etc.
Finally, if I have the time I'm going to build a ladder and small platform on one side to replace the cruddy ladder that's on there now.
Once I get the boat into the water, I'll leave it at the marina for a week and redo the trailer. I'm hoping to be finished in time to have the boat out Memorial Day Weekend (famous last words, I know)
The carpet and upholstery are showing their age, and there are a few things we need changed on the boat. The gelcoat has gotten very badly faded, and one winter outside has softened the floor.
The transom is made from end-cut blocks of balsa, and I'm hoping that it will not need to be redone because of the complex curves. Time will tell. I do have a leak somewhere, I think it's through a motor mount bolt, back flow through the bilge pump outlet, and possibly through the old speedo pitot mounting screws. If that's the case, then I'm probably looking at some transom work.
The plan is:
Interior:
Tear out interior seats, side panels, carpet and floor.
Lay in new floor. I haven't yet decided whether to use styrofoam as my floor core and layup an epoxy and glass sandwich, or go with plywood and polyester resin. If I use foam, I'll need various hardpoints for seating, so it may pay to just go with ply. Stringers if needed.
Build up a new rear seat. The existing rear seat didn't get much use, because there was usually a tube and some towels back there, the seat was too low and too shallow, and was used as a step for hopping into and out of the water. The plan is to build an L-shaped bench seat behind the driver's seat. I considered back-to-back stock seats, but any I've looked at are too big for this boat and sit way too high. (This boat almost looks like a bass boat that they marketed as a ski boat) I might try to integrate some sort of folding bracket to hold our Scuba tanks.
The passenger seat swivels and can face backward, and by not having a rear seat there the passenger has leg room plus there's a path for someone to get to that back deck.
Building the rear seat, I should relocate the battery which also sits on the starboard side. I'll either put it under the rear seat or move it to the port side of the boat in the back under the deck. Maybe I'll put the VRO oil tank under the seat or something. We'd like to have some additional storage so hatches where I can fit them.
Re-upholster the bowrider seat cushions and the two front seats. Probably in white/charcoal/yellow.
Install new carpet
Outside:
Repaint the boat white, charcoal, and yellow.
Engine
Replace the water pump
Replace the propeller shaft seal
Repaint the engine white
Fabricate some sort of connection or fairing for the hoses and cables to the engine, like newer engines use, which run all the wires, hoses etc inside a plastic plastic conduit to the boat.
Other Items
Last year I replaced the gauges and rewired the dash, but the fuel gauge has never worked. I'm sure it's the sender so that's going to be replaced.
The tachometer doesn't work, and when I got the boat the panel wiring was kind of butchered. I need to sort that out.
Install new interior and exterior lighting.
Install a stereo.
Install various wood trim pieces.
Replace the 23 year old bilge pump.
Replace the glovebox, refinish the ski locker hatch, etc.
Finally, if I have the time I'm going to build a ladder and small platform on one side to replace the cruddy ladder that's on there now.
Once I get the boat into the water, I'll leave it at the marina for a week and redo the trailer. I'm hoping to be finished in time to have the boat out Memorial Day Weekend (famous last words, I know)
