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-   -   '74 Tsunami Pilothouse and Rehab (http://www.classicseacraft.com/community/showthread.php?t=23185)

Handful in NC 10-31-2011 04:09 PM

The boat was launched 10 days ago. A close friend was along to keep me from doing anything particularly stupid on the inaugural launch. All went well and, thankfully, concerns about the cabin weight in the front were not justified. It sits in the water nicely. The cockpit does drain aft. I briefly opened up the new motor and saw 48 mph. Cruise numbers are approximately 30 mph at 3000 rpm and 3 mpg. (Amazingly, my old 21' Parker with a 175 Johnson 2 stroke at the same speed/rpm got half that mpg!) More detailed performance numbers will follow, but that 250 Etec is pretty sweet thus far.

My schedule and the weather have not cooperated for getting good photos to post, so I've been working on the aft cabin bulkhead/doors, using 1/2" starboard with acrylic windows to keep the weight down. (Don't want to push my luck on the forward weight issue.) We had our first cold snap this past weekend, so that enclosed cabin with a little duck blind heater is going to be really nice for winter boating.


http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMG_1625.jpg

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMG_1631.jpg

DonV 10-31-2011 04:20 PM

Damn Bill!!!! Beyond sweet!! Congrats.

Blue_Heron 10-31-2011 08:49 PM

Very nice. Thanks for posting the links on the headliner. I'm in the same boat as strick so to speak. What is the exterior finish on the boat/pilothouse? What color? Looks very good with the teak.
Dave

Blackfin26 10-31-2011 09:33 PM

Super nice....should be mass produced. Thanks for sharing.

YeA 20sF 10-31-2011 10:57 PM

Came out very nice, conrgats

floorboy 10-31-2011 11:31 PM

sweet! love it

pelican 11-01-2011 12:52 AM

very nice !
that's a really shap boat - nice lines !

Seacraft84 11-01-2011 09:46 AM

Awesome!!
If I ever do a cabin Seacraft I will have to follow your foot steps.

Handful in NC 11-07-2011 02:17 PM

The boat is slightly bow heavy due to the top/cabin and glass windows, but not objectionably so. Adding accessories or equipment (Bait well, water tank, extra battery, etc - or a monster 4 stroke) in the stern would help the balance, but increase overall weight. Acrylic windows would have been lighter, but get hazy over time.

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMG_1656.jpg

There was a post questioning the view from the inside.

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMG_1649.jpg

The main purpose behind the top/cabin was protection from the elements during cold weather boating. An aft bulkhead with doors was the final step, and installed last weekend. The 1/2" King XL Starboard and 1/8" lexan are pretty light, but the Starboard is too flexible and will need stiffening on the door edges - another minor project to ponder.

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMG_1658.jpg

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMG_1651.jpg


Double doors allow a large opening, and the ability to remove the hatch over the fuel tank.

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMG_1650.jpg


That's home base in the background.

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMG_1652.jpg


I found some 15' flexible LED strips for sale on Amazon, but they weren't waterproof, so I inserted them into cheap clear plastic tubing and sealed the ends with silicone. They run the full length of the gunnel and are on a dimmer. A leftover piece lights the wiring behind the helm station. You can see the "Mr. Buddy" propane heater in the forward cabin, which will provide way more heat than needed.

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMG_1661.jpg

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMG_1664.jpg

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMG_1667.jpg


Ample storage and easy access was one of my fantasies, so the conversion from I/O to outboard bracket provided some readily accessible bonus space. The I/O engine compartment floor is easily removed. (I didn't have the skill to do water channels in the hatch - a future project.)

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMG_1665.jpg


There is a removable 3-section PVC shelf that runs across the transom for the oil tank, battery, etc. The door is held up/closed with neodymium magnets, which are scary strong.

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMG_1666.jpg


On the reported performance, I mistakenly stated 30 mph at 3,000 rpm and 3 mpg. That should have been 4,000 rpm.

This was a huge project for me and I am thrilled with the results. Thanks everybody for all the positive comments, and for the contributions of some very talented and dedicated people to the forum. I couldn't have done it without you!!!

DonV 11-07-2011 02:48 PM

"This was a huge project for me and I am thrilled with the results".....as well you should be!!! Sounds like it's exactly the way you wanted the finished product, very nice job!!!

Capt Chuck 11-07-2011 03:52 PM

Very Clean Job Handful :)
Quote:

The I/O engine compartment floor is easily removed. (I didn't have the skill to do water channels in the hatch - a future project.)


BTW: You can fabricate some water channels very quickly to your existing floor hatch. I made these to mine before my transom enclose.

1.) Cut some 3/4" or 1" PVC Pipe in half on the table saw
2.) Cut to length & glue in some 90* nylon drains to the back corners
3.) Adhere the channels together & then to the inside of your hatch with 2 part epoxy paste.
4.) Connect the 2 drains to a "T" then funnel out to an existing thru hull or to one of the self bails

Use these or the like by cutting off the excess threads after you epoxy them in flush to the back corners of the PVC Channels

http://cdn3.iofferphoto.com/img/item...6/511/t4w7.jpg

Connect them to a "T" then tie them into one of the self bails or too an existing thru hull

http://a1672.g.akamai.net/7/1672/116...P104688297.jpg


Finished & Painted Water Channels

http://www.classicseacraft.com/captc...edium/0007.jpg

Handful in NC 11-07-2011 04:36 PM

Wow. Great idea. Thanks!

hermco 11-07-2011 04:37 PM

Hey! Whaddya doin in this forum dude!:eek: Whaddya think ya are? Some kind of drainmeister?:D

uncleboo 11-07-2011 05:22 PM

VERY nice job!

Capt Chuck 11-07-2011 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hermco (Post 195828)
Hey! Whaddya doin in this forum dude!:eek: Whaddya think ya are? Some kind of drainmeister?:D

NOBODY can top the deck drains you did on my flats skiff!!!! Thanks again,

SeaCraft members in need , need to utilize the expertise by Hermco ;)

NoBones 11-07-2011 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt Chuck (Post 195830)
NOBODY can top the deck drains you did on my flats skiff!!!! Thanks again,

SeaCraft members in South Fla need to utilize the expertise by Hermco ;)


Way to go Don!!! You Da man!!:)

DonV 11-07-2011 07:53 PM

"Way to go Don!!! You Da man!!".......gee, thanks Ken! :D

Oh.....wait, maybe you mean the Mr. Mac Daddy Don, Mr. Hermco. :)

cdavisdb 11-07-2011 09:33 PM

My thanks for the overhead trim ideas and website. That has been something I've been chewing on with no good ideas. My mouse fur is very close to falling down. Guess I should not complain, its only 40 years old.

strick 11-08-2011 07:45 AM

Truly one of the best restores I have ever seen on this site. Nice work Handful!

strick

Bryan A. 11-08-2011 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Handful in NC (Post 195827)
The main purpose behind the top/cabin was protection from the elements during cold weather boating. An aft bulkhead with doors was the final step, and installed last weekend. The 1/2" King XL Starboard and 1/8" lexan are pretty light, but the Starboard is too flexible and will need stiffening on the door edges - another minor project to ponder.

My Parker has a starboard door, they put an aluminum edge on it to stiffen it up.

You might want to check one out for ideas, thought I had a pic but nothing on this computer.

I'll see if I can snap one but I'm sure there is no shortage of Parker Sport cabins in your area.

Handful in NC 11-08-2011 10:58 AM

Good suggestion, Brian A. I'll check out a Parker door. You are right, there are plenty around here as they are made right down the road.

I had a 25' Parker Extended Cabin with a bracket quite a few years ago, which was a great boat except it had the shallow V hull and would beat you to pieces in a chop. Much of what I liked/disliked on the cabin Parker influenced my decisions on the Tsunami rehab and the design of the pilothouse.

Handful in NC 11-08-2011 11:03 AM

Strick, that's a mighty nice compliment. Many thanks.

Bryan A. 11-08-2011 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Handful in NC (Post 195850)
Good suggestion, Brian A. I'll check out a Parker door. You are right, there are plenty around here as they are made right down the road.

I had a 25' Parker Extended Cabin with a bracket quite a few years ago, which was a great boat except it had the shallow V hull and would beat you to pieces in a chop. Much of what I liked/disliked on the cabin Parker influenced my decisions on the Tsunami rehab and the design of the pilothouse.

Hah, I have a Parker 2530 too, but a deep vee. Still nothing compared to my SeaCraft.

SBD 11-09-2011 10:44 AM

There is no doubt that this is a beautiful boat, and very well executed but I am a form follows function kind of guy.

When this boat loses power in snotty conditions and is getting blown towards the rocks, how are you going to get that anchor from the box in the stern up to the bow? and what will it be tied to?

IMHO you need a door/hatch to the bow or a real bow rail and a good bow roller to make this BEAUTIFUL boat safe.

Rigging is gorgeous!

Handful in NC 11-09-2011 12:24 PM

It's all relative, SBD. There is no such thing as the perfect boat, and there are many compromises we all choose to accept. My boat is highly customized, rigged for what I do and where I operate. I've had my share of hair raising moments with stuck bow hatches/windows, tripping on deck cleats, jammed anchor hold downs, and near overboard experiences despite grab rails.

That anchor in the stern compartment can be overboard and set in seconds, and done in complete safety. It's also convenient for beaning the USCG or Marine Patrol guys when they do the 3rd equipment check of the day on my boat, while a boat overloaded with drunk teenagers zooms by us in the no wake zone!

77SceptreOB 11-09-2011 02:37 PM

I have a similar situation and an easy fix.

Due to my hardtop/mini tower supports I can't open my front hatch fully. So I can't get my big anchor to the front that way. I throw the anchor from the rear and let the rode line spool out until it hits bottom, then walk the rope around the side up to the front and secure to the front cleat.

Simple and effective....

SBD 11-09-2011 05:44 PM

The ocean here is mean and ugly, and I am used to preparing for that. If you have a routine that works for you, and where you go its all good.

ct9amr 11-09-2011 09:29 PM

Boat looks great and covers a lot of the issues that can be had with a hardtop.
Glad to see you went full glass.
My old Shamrock had an added hardtop (not full express style), it had 1/2 isinglass and it was a pain once it got wet and the visibility went to crap.

Glad to see you ended up with what you wanted after diving in!

evknot0127 12-06-2011 11:49 AM

beautiful boat very very nice job

Handful in NC 05-08-2012 10:29 AM

After a few months of use, here are some observations for those that may be contemplating a pilothouse/cabin addition to a 23' Sceptre/Tsunami.

The glass windows are great. They can be cleaned in about 3 minutes with a squeegee and Rain-X cleaner. On a cold nasty day, we are warm and dry. On a hot sunny day, the cabin cools immediately when the windows are opened for ventilation.

Being able to move around inside the pilothouse with plenty of headroom is nice, but the majority of the time my passengers and I are seated, and I might have gotten by with a lower cabin top. This would have decreased fabrication costs, windage, weight, and resulted in better esthetics. (Check out the original 23' Sceptre hardtop plans in the CSC website specifications pages. Occasionally, one of these pops up for sale if you want to see pictures of the real boat.)

One way to maintain headroom in the pilothouse while lowering the overall top height would be to utilize the well along the centerline of the forward cockpit that joins with the forward cuddy cabin area. This finished space is typically used for storage or an auxilliary fuel tank and would require no significant alterations. By leaving this well open and placing a centerline hatch in the very rear of the cabin top, one could "step down" into this well inside the pilothouse. A large low-profile hatch properly positioned at the helm station would allow the pilot to stand, upper body above the cabin top, when doing so is advantageous.

Handful in NC 03-13-2014 02:26 PM

I am about to replace the windshield and soft top on my '77 model with a hard top/enclosure. I am 6'3" and wanted to stand without hitting my head in the '74 model in this thread, but the height of the top messes up the esthetics of a beautiful hull. Since I mostly drive sitting down on the river, which is where the '77 model lives, I really don't need the headroom.

Below is the '77 model with its soft top on the Neuse River in New Bern, NC:

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...ps48cb89c3.jpg

Below is a recent picture of the '74 model on Bogue Sound in Morehead City, NC. Man, do I love that boat! The great feeling I get every time I step aboard make all the time, money, and effort that went into it worthwhile.

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0262eec9.jpg


I plan to lower the hard top on the '77 hull about 8-10" and remove the side and front overhang. Removing the overhang will allow fabrication from a one piece mould, greatly reducing time and materials. The eventual goal is to make a prefab hard top available as a bolt-on retrofit for others, at reasonable cost. To get an idea of what it would look like, here is an edited image of the proposed design on the '74 hull.

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...ps63e87b31.jpg

This little voice keeps saying "A bridge would look so cool!", but it would be much too top heavy to be practical.

Any thoughts or comments are appreciated.

(What's with having two of these boats? Well, I needed a good trailer, which basically came with a free Sceptre, and it's a shame to have learned so much on one refurb project and not use that knowledge again, and one thing led to another. Now I've got two great boats for less than most (non-Seacraft) people have in one. Judging from this forum, my story is far from unique!)

jongolds 03-14-2014 02:03 PM

It's more shelter than I personally would prefer. It's very nice as is but I would not carry it so far aft, maybe cut it off at the top of the fiberglass incline that met the original windscreen rather than the bottom, if that makes sense and assuming the windows could still be operable.

I would also leave it tall enough for stand-up room at the helm. I agree that it is not as pretty but I like standing.

Entourage 03-14-2014 06:07 PM

All it needs it looks like to me is a hydraulic hauler with a boom and start doing some lobstering.

jongolds 03-14-2014 10:18 PM

I just reread my comments and thought they seemed bit harsh. To be clear, it looks amazing as is. My comments were in regards to making a mold and selling it to others. It's a pretty tiny market to begin with so you need pretty wide based appeal.

Handful in NC 10-07-2014 01:45 PM

Coming up on 3 years of sun and salt, the topside paint was starting to lose a little gloss. The guys that clean and wax for hire are either not thorough or very expensive, sometimes both. Bushwacker has been an advocate of Poly Glow for years, so after reading his comments I ordered a starter kit. On a cool cloudy day, I cleaned the top sides with the provided cleaner (spray, light scrub, rinse), let it dry for an hour, and then wiped it down 7 times with Poly Glow. Wow! After a few hours, the "wet look" was restored and my arms and back still worked. This was much, much easier than a wax job.

Handful in NC 02-17-2015 11:28 AM

The new top is made from the same mold as the first top, but reduced in height. Interior headroom is about 5' 8". It is much better proportioned than the top on the other boat, in which I could stand up straight (I'm 6'3"). Windows are on order from Wynne Enterprises.

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5wm7ojbg.jpg

And here are the roughed-in rear windows. I used 1/2" pvc board, which was MUCH cheaper ($100 for a 4X8 sheet) than Starboard, and also easier to work with. It can be glued, screwed, patched, and painted. In this situation, strength isn't really an issue.

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...psuartqkws.jpg

flyingfrizzle 02-17-2015 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Handful in NC (Post 234325)
The new top is made from the same mold as the first top, but reduced in height. Interior headroom is about 5' 8". It is much better proportioned than the top on the other boat, in which I could stand up straight (I'm 6'3"). Windows are on order from Wynne Enterprises.

Is this sitting out in town somewhere where I can stop by and look at it one day? Like to do something similar on my 25' seafari.

Handful in NC 02-18-2015 05:06 PM

It's out of the water for some engine/outdrive work, which has been delayed by the cold weather we've been having. Hopefully it will be back on its lift in a few weeks.

Handful in NC 03-30-2015 11:00 AM

Winter project finished on the '77 Sceptre!!! Canvas enclosure replaced with a cabin. Interior head room is 5' 8". (The '74 was 6' 4" - great for standing but too tall esthetically. I think this one looks LOTS better.)

I can stand up in the open hatch - great when you need direct vision. The hatch is also a very convenient vent.

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2dt2lnw4.jpg

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...psjcmfjppc.jpg

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...pslufl2twf.jpg

The cabin doors are 1/2" PVC board - so much better than starboard. (You can glue, screw, paint, and repair it, and it's a lot cheaper.)

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...psebncvy26.jpg

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2drfwkua.jpg

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...psndcyjxtt.jpg

Ed 03-30-2015 12:27 PM

Wow. I think it looks fantastic. Well done.

The purists will probably kill me, but now you have me wondering what a similar top would look like on my 1986 27 Tournament!


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