New project progress! Seats too small?

[BigB9000]

just got started on the 67 Holmes boat.
Boat is a 15' bearing a 78' 115 Johnson outboard. outboard was rebuild in 89 and has maybe 20 hours on it since. problem is its been sitting for 5 years.

ordered the new cables, control box, steering helm, and water pump rebuild kit. all should be here Wednesday. Should I get a fuel pump rebuild kit too?

anyway, got the boat home yesterday, and removed the interior today.

2 red wires? wtf....

The boat has a bench seat in it, 4 seater, back to back. I removed that because the wood is rotted and the material is long gone. What's the average rebuild price of something like that?

also, in the second pic, you can see a 2x4 bolted to the floor of the boat.

any idea what thats for? I was thinking maybe to hold in the fin/skag on the bottom of the boat. no idea though

thoughts and opinions?

 

[Mark42]

Re: Sold old boat, new project progress & what is this stuff for?

Re: Sold old boat, new project progress & what is this stuff for?

A 15' with 115hp = a fast boat. My guess it was designed for ski use. Is there a fin on the bottom ? Thats usually for stabilization.

The seats can be replaced with a wide range of choices. The lowest price seats are usually by Wise. About $100 for a lounge. Prices go up from there.

Keep us posted on your progress.

Oh, and don't accidentally reverse those two red wires, a lot of damage can be done to the electical system. Would be a smart move to replace the battery cables with a proper red/black set ASAP.

 

[redfury]

Re: Sold old boat, new project progress & what is this stuff for?

Re: Sold old boat, new project progress & what is this stuff for?

At the very least, get some black electrical tape and use it to change the ground from red to black to prevent any problems.

 

[BigB9000]

Re: Sold old boat, new project progress & what is this stuff for?

Re: Sold old boat, new project progress & what is this stuff for?

At the very least, get some black electrical tape and use it to change the ground from red to black to prevent any problems.

Yeah, It was stupid for that to ever be there to begin with.

but if you notice they did wrap a peice of electrical tape around on of the wires. sooooooo its better than nothing.

the first thing I'll be doing, engine wise, is putting a black negative wire on it.

Its like rewiring a car with all red wiring... just dumb.

anyway, yeah, it has a fin on the bottom. so this may be good for ski'ing? because thats exactly what I want it for

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Sold old boat, new project progress & what is this stuff for?

Re: Sold old boat, new project progress & what is this stuff for?

Cool looking boat.

I tossed all the wire in my 16 footer out and replaced it with quality marine tinned wire.

I know it adds to the budget but I just don't want to be out on the water stuck cause some stupid wiring issue.

Look forward to seeing pics as you progress.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Sold old boat, new project progress & what is this stuff for?

Re: Sold old boat, new project progress & what is this stuff for?

Low freeboard, big motor, fin on bottom, 15' length. Should make an outstanding ski boat. I don't know much about ski boats other than what I learned from a guy I work with that has one. That boat has all the classic elements for a good ski boat.

For seating, you should remove the old seat bases because new seats come with them. Then you peel back the vinyl and cut the base to match the hull, or make a spacer to match the floor. But I think you want to get the seats as low as possable to make the boat handle as good as possable. Easier done with seat bases made from plywood. Some are now corrugated plastic, which is great because they don't rot.

Think about adding a ski pylon in the back. I hear that is a better setup than the ski/tow cable that attaches between the transom eye bolts. Either setup is better than towing from one eye bolt alone. My friend at work made his own out of PVC and stainless steel wire and quick disconnects so he can put it up and take it down in a matter of seconds.

Don't forget to get a big rear view mirror.

And you may have to experiment with a few different prop pitches until you find the one that lets you pull the skiers out of the water easy, but does not run out of RPM's too soon.

And post pictures as you go. We love pictures.

 

[BigB9000]

Re: Sold old boat, new project progress & what is this stuff for?

Re: Sold old boat, new project progress & what is this stuff for?

ski pylon? what the fizell is that?

anywho, friend had some seats flating around he donated to the project, my concern is they might be too small. I want to have the buckets instead of the bench just so its easier to get in and out of. and I dont feel like cutting the frame off, So ill just leave it.

Too small?

 

[redfury]

Re: New project progress! Seats too small?

Oh yeah, I see that little snippet of black tape about a foot away from the battery

As far as the seats go, are they comfortable enough for you?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: New project progress! Seats too small?

warning buckets are too big (wide) for that little boat.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Sold old boat, new project progress & what is this stuff for?

Re: Sold old boat, new project progress & what is this stuff for?

ski pylon? what the fizell is that?

A ski/tow pylon is this a pylon that the towables attach to. Its what people who are serious about sking, boarding, etc use. Gets the attachment point above the motor and inboard for better control of the boat and better feel for the skier.

They are not cheap.

 

[BigB9000]

Re: New project progress! Seats too small?

OHhhhhhhhhhhh thoes.

$300 at the local shop.

It'll be here wendsay with the rest of my parts


.......KIDDING! I was going to order one too, but I figured I should wait untill it was certain the boat was going to run, and I got the boat registered and in my name

 

[ezmobee]

Re: New project progress! Seats too small?

Looks fine to me. Looks like you have about the same amount of room as I had.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w200/ezmobee/Boat Project/F0004.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w200/ezmobee/Boat Project/F0010.jpg

 

[BigB9000]

Re: New project progress! Seats too small?

hey, we both have the same steering wheel, controls, similar seats, engines, and gas tanks.

 

[BigB9000]

Re: New project progress! Seats too small?

seat base bolt planks:

 

[jennis9]

Re: New project progress! Seats too small?

that project looks great....