25' 1976 Sleek Craft Ambassador Project

[Last Mohican]

Re: 25' 1976 Sleek Craft Ambassador Project

I made a little indirect progress this week. Still too hot to spend much time out in the shop but I got my 4 post lift installed in my shop. This freed up some floor space so I have room to work on the seat mounts.

(Clickable Thumbs)

 

[archbuilder]

Re: 25' 1976 Sleek Craft Ambassador Project

Looks like it works nice for you. One of my friends has one on casters. He uses it to raise up one of his boats and puts it on a pallet rack! sounds a little crazy, but it works great.

 

[Last Mohican]

Re: 25' 1976 Sleek Craft Ambassador Project

This one has casters but it has to be in the down position for the casters to roll.

 

[archbuilder]

Re: 25' 1976 Sleek Craft Ambassador Project

Ok you guys are going to laugh! I'm still looking for a sleek that is fairly close by for a long term restore project....but look what followed me home today!

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu191/archbuilder/pontoon/IMG_2071.jpg

It even came with Max's little brother on back.

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu191/archbuilder/pontoon/IMG_2072.jpg

My guess is that a new floor will be required, lol!

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu191/archbuilder/pontoon/IMG_2073.jpg

I'll be starting a new thread on it, I may pull it in the shop this afternoon and start the demo. I wish I still had my engine stand now, but I took it apart when I was done with Max. Guess I will build another one. I was wondering if the engine was going to make it back to the house.....the plywood transom is in about the same shape as the floor.

 

[archbuilder]

Re: 25' 1976 Sleek Craft Ambassador Project

opps I just realize I posted on your thread Matt! Sorry! opps how embarrassing is that, lol! I wouldn't feel to bad if I was drinking, guess I had too much coffee, lol!

 

[Last Mohican]

Re: 25' 1976 Sleek Craft Ambassador Project

opps I just realize I posted on your thread Matt! Sorry! opps how embarrassing is that, lol! I wouldn't feel to bad if I was drinking, guess I had too much coffee, lol!

LOL. No problem Bobby. Looks like a great project. We had a 30' party hut for a while. Sometimes I miss that thing. I sure don't miss paying for the slip though.

 

[Last Mohican]

Re: 25' 1976 Sleek Craft Ambassador Project

Tiny progress today. Got he rear seats all boxed in where I cut the holes to clear the front accessories. All that is left now is to mount them.

 

[proshadetree]

Re: 25' 1976 Sleek Craft Ambassador Project

Rock out man Are you back on it? Love this boat

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: 25' 1976 Sleek Craft Ambassador Project

Hello again,
Wow I have a lot of catching up to do you folks have been busy over the last year. LOL It's going to take me the next several months just to read all everyone has been up to.
Looks like you have been doing some really good work too. Looking forward to catching up on your thread too.
Take care
Bob

 

[Last Mohican]

Re: 25' 1976 Sleek Craft Ambassador Project

Rock out man Are you back on it? Love this boat

Thanks. Hopefully I can make a little headway here pretty quickly. The heat finally broke but now our favorite local lake is 12' low. We are having a big hot boat GTG in mid October at LakeTawakonir I hope to take the Ambassador out there for that with the seats installed. :fingers crossed:

 

[Last Mohican]

Re: 25' 1976 Sleek Craft Ambassador Project

Hello again,
Wow I have a lot of catching up to do you folks have been busy over the last year. LOL It's going to take me the next several months just to read all everyone has been up to.
Looks like you have been doing some really good work too. Looking forward to catching up on your thread too.
Take care
Bob

Good to see you back on the board Bob. Even though it is for different reasons it seems like our projects may be on the same schedule. LOL.

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: 25' 1976 Sleek Craft Ambassador Project

Thanks, it good to be back.
Perhaps it is the schedule but I haven't touched my boat in almost a year now. Soon I hope to be back at it even harded then before, but then it is coming up on winter and I still don't have it inside. LOL

 

[archbuilder]

Re: 25' 1976 Sleek Craft Ambassador Project

You two need to hurry up, I'm on my second project ....I'd hate to beat both of you!

 

[Last Mohican]

Re: 25' 1976 Sleek Craft Ambassador Project

You two need to hurry up, I'm on my second project ....I'd hate to beat both of you!

LOL. Hang on now. This is my second as well.

(Clickable Thumb)

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: 25' 1976 Sleek Craft Ambassador Project

Hey Arch,
You may beat me again but I will get her done, Well Someday.

 

[archbuilder]

Re: 25' 1976 Sleek Craft Ambassador Project

Not at the rate I'm going.....but maybe that will change this winter! To many other chores getting in the way!

 

[Last Mohican]

Re: 25' 1976 Sleek Craft Ambassador Project

Worked on the seats mounts a little bit today. The pedestal base has a 9" circumference. I started with 3/4" marine plywood. I measured a 10" square and cut it out using my circular saw set at a 45* angle. I then centered the pedestal and marked for the holes. Initially I drilled an 1/8 hole using my bench top drill press so I had a reference on the bottom.

(All pics are clickable thumbs)


From the bottom of the base I used a 15/16 spade bit to create a recess for the 5/16 stainless T-nuts. I used my drill press again. It was pretty easy to get the depth right. It was basically 1 ply of the wood. The glue was a dark brown between each ply. As soon as I saw the color change from the glue I knew it was about right.


Back to the top I used a 3/8 bullet point bit to enlarge the holes to be big enough for the T-nut shaft and bolts. The bullet point bit centered very well in the 1/8 pilot hole.


I used a stringer washer and bolt to pull the T-nuts in nice and straight.




Ready to install in the boat.

 

[archbuilder]

Re: 25' 1976 Sleek Craft Ambassador Project

Nice looking work Matt. I'm getting closet to starting on the pontoon....only half a dozen more fall projects and I will be ready! Looking forward to seeing the new seats mounted.

 

[Last Mohican]

Re: 25' 1976 Sleek Craft Ambassador Project

Thanks Bobby. Looks like your fall projects are mighty big actually. You missed a heck of a gathering last weekend at Tawakoni. Close to 100 boats and right about 1000 people counting spectators and participants. Over 500 pics here is you want to check it out.

http://www.youngbloodjetboats.com/Tawakoni_2011/

 

[Last Mohican]

Re: 25' 1976 Sleek Craft Ambassador Project

Picked this up at Home Depot the other day. I think it will be a groovy mood setter for the Ambassador. Lights and rotating base all in one.