Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

First time I've seen the bumped out transom. I hate to say it, but slicing off the bump may have been the best option. I'm not sure what you can do now....it might be possible to space the transom out aroubd the bump.

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

Another option would be to build a bracket ala Strick and Bigshrimpin......you could make the tub the same shape as the bump.....

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

Contact Don Herman about modifying the Hermco bracket. Might be a lot cheaper than your Stainless Marine quote. Last time we spoke, he was making the Hermco brackets himself instead of outsourcing. He's such a genius with f/g that he may be able to modify one of those brackets to fit your transom bump. . . or he might say it's easier to just remove the bump! Either way, I'm sure he'll give you good advice.

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

Jaizzen,
Those sculppers look like they are at least 4"s higher than mine, and the lifting eyes don't look stock. Was that transom redone and the floor level raised?

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

Search the repairs section....Jaizzen documented his rebuild with shots of the new floor....I think he raised it an inch...

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

My cruise is right around 30. I bought this boat w/bracket and it's aluminum w/platform, not sure of manuf....If I fish live bait it's usually menhaden in the ocean and try to keep 50 baits alive so the bait well is about 40 gal....works great!! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...BaitWellSC.jpg

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

I thought about trying to put a permanent one on my Tsunami, but I decided against it since I would only use it sometimes....I figure when I need one I'll bring it. Otherwise I like having the max amount of deck space......it's all about how you like your own boat.....

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

Is a Tsunami a Seacraft model? I bought the boat as a center cosole and the title says it's a Tsunami. Very similar to the Seacrafts, but built by another company. The guy that I bought the boat from said that Tsunami and Seacraft had some kind of lawsuit going for copying hull design. Tsunami went out of business.

The buckets I pulled fom the transom are 12". I would say that the cap is about 18" wide. I think that there's room to put a livewell in there, but I'm not sure if it'd be worth it at this point. I'm about two days of sanding away from dropping it off to get painted and rigged. Post some pictures when you have a minute.
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/d...g?t=1196034280

My boat is also heavy. It's got a 165 gallon tank and with the twin I/O's fully gassed - boat, motors, and trailer weighed 6800 pounds. The motors were about 2000 pounds, the trailer probably around 800 or 900 pounds. I'm guessing that with the new motor and bracket (wet) I'll weigh about 5000 pounds. Hopefully the 300 will do it. I should know by the end of the year for sure.

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

Tsunami 23
It appears you don't own a SeaCraft. There is another CSC member on board who also owns a Tsunami. He is in the process of a transom rebuild. I can't recall his forum name.
My friend in West Palm Beach owns a 1985 Tsunami with a single OB. I saw one in Ft Lauderdale awhile back with a bracket and twin 150hp. I know any refurb you do is going to be difficult as the boat has NO Bilge and is foam filled like a Whaler. The boat was solidly built like a tank and even with full fuel it is a speed demon.

Go here to see my previous post------>Tsunami

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

That's about what I figured for mine. I just hate using so much of the space that I gained from getting rid of the engine box for a livewell. I dive and fish. Space in the rear is nice in both situations.
Below is a picture of the livewell I'm planning on putting in. It is 20.5 in. tall x 23.00 across at the top. How wide is the livewell that you have installed?
Livewell - <a href="http://www.boaterscatalog.com" target="_blank">www.boaterscatalog.com</a>

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

I hadn't heard of Hermco until I discovered this website two days ago. He's 30 miles away. I'll get in touch with him today and see what he can do.
Thanks,

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

Here's the link to Capt Mac's Tsunami transon rebuild ;)

Capt Mac

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

I think I may have met the guy that was doing a rebuild on his transom. I ran into him in Marathon this past August. He had told me about this website, then but I didn't write it down and couldn't remember the address when I got back to Vero a week later. His boat was identical to mine - except I think he started with the outboard set up.
I think that she will cruise pretty good. With the twin I/O Mercruiser 165's (they were modified on rebuild and put out 205 hp at the flywheel) I would cruise at 30 at around 3100 rpms. I never pushed it past 45, but the guy that I bought it from said it would do 50. I'll be short on horsepower from where I was, but I'll also be about a thousand pounds lighter.

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

Well how about that. I think Capt_Mac is the guy I met. That job looks familiar. He had just finished when I met him and he had a Yamaha 250 on the back. He said it flew.

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

I dropped my boat off with Don Herman yesterday. You were right, he said he could modify his bracket easy enough to match my transom. It's a little more than the standard single engine Stainless Marine bracket, but still a couple grand less than what Stainless Marine quoted me for a custom bracket with the platform.
The bonus of the deal is that he's got a mold for a livewell that will work in my transom. He is going to build that and glass it in for a few hundred more. This is huge for me. I really didn't want to have to put the livewell on the deck as I had been planning. Thanks again for the recommendation.

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

Captain Chuck,
Don Herman told me yesterday that you had painted your boat yourself. I think it's you anyways. He said that whatever it was that you used you rolled on and it turned out really nice.
I am doing all the prep work to have mine sprayed with Awlgrip. The only reason I'm having someone spray it is because I don't have a gun. If there is a rock solid paint that I can apply without a gun that finishes nicely I'd love to give it a try. I'm doing all of the hard work. Rolling the paint should be piece of cake.
Thanks,

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

You have a PM ;)

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

What do you mean?

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

Tsunami23....means check your messages

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

I got the boat back from Don's shop this past week. The bracket and livewell look good. Not much I can say for the rest of the boat other than I am getting back to work.
I purchased the Signature Finish paint from Tom Fabula, per Capt. Chuck's recommendation. I'm applying duratec thoughout the interior to resand so I can get my rough sanding true and flat.
[image]http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/wompus25/IMG_0715.jpg?t=1198413734[/image]
[image]http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/wompus25/IMG_0718.jpg?t=1198413791[/image]
[image]http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/wompus25/IMG_0716.jpg?t=1198413844[/image]

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

Here are the pictures
Livewell
Bracket#1
Bracket#2

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

Looking good.

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

Thanks!
Tomorrow I will get started spraying Duratech thorughout the interior. By Saturday I hope to be sanding the high build primer true and smooth. If all goes well, Sunday I'll begin painting.
Turftime, you have twin 200's. What pitch are you running? I'm having a Suzuki 300 put on and I'm curious from you or anyone else as to what pitch prop I might be able to expect. The guy that is hangning the motor seems to think that I'll be running close to a 23 or 24 pitch 16" prop. That sounds like a little much, but I don't know.

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

Hey Tsunami 23, I am not trying to change your thread. I - as well as others I am sure - am very interested to know what type of performance you get from the 300 Zuke once it is hung and broken in. At some point, please post some basic performance numbers. I am considering purchasing a 300 Zuke for my 23 sc. Thanx in advance!! bracket looks good by the way.

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

...I almost forgot. If you go onto the official website for Suzuki marine, they have "boat tests" for each suzuki motor, including the 300hp. They have a test for one single motor application on a 24 ft. Pro Line which is similar in size and weight to our beloved 23 ft hulls. The pro line weighs approx 3400 lbs. They tested it with a 16" X 18.5" (diam./pitch) 3-blade prop. Check it out. It is educational... I would think that it is too big of a prop judging from this test, but I am no expert.

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

What is this (duratec)? and why are you doing it?

Maybe you can post this back to this link.
21 Restore
I also would be interested in hearing about the paint experience...I had looked at the web sight and thought this might be good.

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

I have also ordered the Signature Paint for my Sceptre product. I will post pictures when I start the paint portion of my project. This product comes recommended from several CSC users.

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

I used the Duratec to help level out the areas where things weren't entirely true and also to fill in any cracks in the old gelcoat that I didn't sand completely off. I ended up rolling it on and then sanding. I spent the most time on the console and transom. I got the first coat of signature finish on the interior this past weekend. I also basically finished up the hatch pieces but for a few touch ups. Hopefully by the end of next weekend I'll have the rest of the boat painted and I can start putting some things back together.
Hatch Covers #1 - Duratech
Hatch Covers #2 - Signature Finish w/Tape
Hatch Covers #3 - Signature Finish w/Tape
Hatch Covers #4 - Signature Finish no Tape
Transom - Before
Transom - After 1st Coat Signature Finish

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

So far so good.
How do you like the Signature Finish?

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

Tell us about applying the Signature Finish and your results. I have purchased the application for my 23 Sceptre but am not quite ready to apply. Really curious about your thoughts. Any pointers?

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

I just painted my 18 and it looks awesome.
The roller method works great.
Toms nonskid measurments are off in my opinion.
I added alot more nonskid but Im real happy.

Also the blue tape Tom sells tends to lift.

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

What nonskid did you use, the light, medium or heavy. Interlux makes a real good product, Tom may sell it. What type blue tape would you use, I am going to try to keep the original nonskid pattern on the inner deck which means alot of 1/2" tape, the tape I got from Tom is 3/4" so I have to get a replacement. Anything thing else to be wary of, I am looking forward to trying his product and seeing my boat shiny again.

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

If you want a good clean, sharp line, try 3M #218 or #256. Expensive, but worth it IMHO.

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

Expensive - tape, paint and boat - but worth it. I will look into your suggestions, the tape Tom sent is kind of plastic like and not what I have typically used with varnish and other marine paint jobs. Thanks for the input.

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

So far I'm very pleased with the Signature Finish. Capt. Chuck went over with me how to go about applying it and gave me a few pointers that have worked out great. My only issue so far is not having enough paint for the whole job on my first order. I'm going to end up needing about 75% more than what Tom estimated. Hard for Tom to estimate how much I would need without seeing the boat though and I am probably not as efficient with the stuff as someone who's done it before.
For the non-skid on the hatch covers I used a 50/50 mix of the fine and course grit. I used the ratio that Tom recommended 8-2-4-2(grit) and it seems to be right on for what I am looking for. I like the tape that Tom included (blue 3/4"), but it did lift up in some spots and left a bit of glue that I had to rub out after the fact. Not a big deal and I'm not as concerned about a final pretty finish as I'm sure a lot of folks would be.

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

Thanks Steve. I had looked at the website and noticed that the prop pitches were a lot lower than what my mechanic had suggested initially. I will pass that on to him before he orders the prop. I have a buddy with a 25' Dusky that just put on a 300 and he's running a 17.5 pitch prop.

I will be sure to post performance numbers when she's up and running.

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

Final Paint is on. A few touch ups and it's off to the engine shop.
Final Coat - Edges
Final Coat - Floor
Final Coat - Floor #2

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

Dropped the boat off to get rigged on Monday. He is what she looked like before I took her off.

[image]http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/wompus25/IMG_0794.jpg?t=1200485713[/image]
[image]http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/wompus25/IMG_0795.jpg?t=1200485744[/image]

[image]http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/wompus25/IMG_0797.jpg?t=1200485767[/image]

[image]http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/wompus25/IMG_0796.jpg?t=1200485790[/image]

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

Sorry about that...
#1
#2 #3 #4

Re: bracket on a 1978 23'
 

Nice boat, how satisfied are you with the paint. Any recommendations, I am about a week away from applying SF to my boat.