Re: 81 Sea Ray 26 Sedan Bridge I/O to OB Conversion/Restore (Pics)
Great to have you on board and its super you have the same boat. We will be able to compare notes and bounce ideas around. Are you even going as far as converting to OBs? Will this be a boat you will use for a long time or are you fixing it up for resale. I see you have more than one Sea Ray project boat. What model is the other? One other thing, where will you do your boating?
Yeah, I know I have to setup my profile - I live in Frederick, MD and boat on the middle Chesapeake Bay (annapolis area and Kent Island) and the Potomac River (Washington DC and points south) - Both beautiful areas to boat, but not much in the way of the type of fishing I like to do - pure blue saltwater.. But the area is beautiful and great for family stuff and my son (5) loves it.
So to the boats... There are actually 3 -
1985 Bayliner 2855 Contessa Flybridge - My family/fishing boat- this is actually a great boat (it a tank) for the bay and for cruising... It needs some TLC/Repairs but is not a project boat - in fact it will hopefully (key word) be splashed in the next 30 days...
1978 SeaRay SRV200 - Beautiful shape, was garage kept and never bottom painted - I have to do an engine swap and interior, but otherwise she is rock solid - should be a fun ski /runabout for us to play on.
1975 SeaRay SRV240 Sedan Bridge - The project, I am going to do the same project as you are, but a slightly different starting point and the usage I am designing for is different, but funny, our reasoning is the same. I started with a single 350 with a TRS drive and am switching to twin outboards as well. Came to the same conclusion about engine size, Twin 200s should be plenty, as I DO want the speed should I need it sometime, I would like to know it is there. I too am increasing the fuel tank size as well as the oversize water tank(s). I am going to keep the lower helm, but I probably will not be adding a bulkhead as I want an open cockpit going all the way forward to the v-berth. I will have a camper back or roll down eisenglass (from the flybridge) to seal the cabin from the elements. I am going to have to play around with layout to try to find a way to fit in a vacu-flush type head instead of a portable head.
I want to have a open cockpit to create as much deck space as possible for fishing, yet still be able to go inside in inclement weather. I want to be able to crash on the boat if need be. I want the range to be able to do some serious trips, yet still be small enough I can trailer it all over if I want. Oh, and most important, I know what I want and where I want it to go, so I decided this is a project i will do, build it the way I want with what I want where I want it - as it is pretty much a blank slate. I have had this hull for 4 years trying to decide what to do - but it is in great shape (NO ROT) and I love her lines and want to see her riding the waves again. THis winter I decided to DO IT... But I am in no rush and it is stored on my own property, so it costs me nothing to take my time and do it right. I have started calling it my pocket battlewagon - we used to call my buddy's 58 viking his battlewagon...
It would be cool someday down the road when we are both done (relative
to get them together side by side...
