Radar Arch
 

Radar arch is installed and I'm happy with how it turned out. I think I managed to get all the stuff mounted onto it that I would ever need - 9 rod holders!!, forward facing spot light, aft facing flood lights, outriggers, anchor light and locations for the VHF and GPS antennas.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps5c5043f5.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps529f67c0.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps2840c297.jpg

Next project is the rub rail and modifictions to the dash so I can install the electronics package that I want.

Well done! Stainless or Alum?

Looks like Aluminum, Dose look good. Like the rolled sweep on the legs. I see more and more designs like this. Gives it that moving while steel effect.

The radar arch is aluminum.

I am planning on painting the bilge where the fuel tank sits and where all of the pumps and transducers are located. I don't see too many on here painting bilges or if they are, they are painting them the same color as the fiberglass. Is there any downside to painting it? I am doing so because I want a clean look and I want any debris to be easily visible.

I am also about to have a moisture gauge put on the stringers to determine whether the stringers are dry or not. Any speculation? Is it a case where all stringers in 40 year old boats will have moisture or is there a good chance they will be dry? I see no signs of water.

The foam inside the stringers maybe wet but the stringers themselves are made of solid fiberglass and will not be wet. Some people have cut the top off the stringers and removed the wet foam and replaced with 2-4 pound per cubic foot polyurethane foam. The generally do that operation when they are replacing or raising the entire floor in the board. That is quite a project.

My progress has slowed recently as I work on the bilge plumbing and wiring. Just having all the fittings and hardware required is a challenge given that I am really only able to work on the boat during the weekends. Here is the state of my bilge as of today. I still need to better secure the wires somehow. I called a time out on myself from drilling the hole for the strainer. I was going to drill the hole and then just apply liberal amounts of 5200 but I think a more technical solution is appropriate.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps9d50b361.jpg

I really like your project, I think a scepter might be my next boat.

If I do one, I will paint the window frames as you did and source some new glass.

lots of nasty things end up in the bilge, things that are mean to most paints :) most topside paints will not hold up in there. I prefer to use pigmented epoxy, its fuel resistant (you can make gas tanks with it) and it cleans up very easy. It also bonds VERY well.

Nice work. I've got an 87 Sceptre that needs to be reworked, so I am interested in how yours is proceeding.

By the way......
Steel wool soap pads remove water spots and such from windshield - and don't scratch !

Previous old Mako, nothing would remove the stains until I tried the simple wet steel wool soap pads. End result crystal clear, no scratches or spots.

Thanks! good idea.

Jim

Brass wool doesn't leave little rusty spots.

The key to nice wiring is using a lot of wire ties, not stretching the wires, and bundling them together...also using these little guys in spots to guide your wire run helps....

Attachment 9397

beautiful restore job you are doing!

Would love to see some updates.

Updates
 

I really don't have any meaningful updates. Last year I reached my technical limit on rebuild items that I am comfortable doing myself so most of the remainder of the work will be done by the pros.

I relocated overseas last month but I actually feel like I will be able to get back on making some progress to the boat. I have switched gears somewhat and decided that instead of the radar arch, I am going to have a hard top built with an upper helm station. I'm not sure why I never seriously considered it in the first place, but the possibilities have rejuvenated me and I expect to have the top installed in the next couple of months.

If any of you are interested in a brand new radar arch for a 23 footer give me a shout. I have one I'll sell cheap.

Thought I'd post a progress pic of my hard top and the fabrication of the upper helm station. We got a slow start but it is coming along nicely now. They have built the frame and are about to mount the upper helm pod. The upper helm will hinge back for storage and trailering. The upper buggy top is attached to the frame via hardware. It will be removed and sent to be powder coated satin black.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r...pseji7pzzn.jpg

Very nice! Can't wait to see the final product

71 20' restoration
 

I am about to start a restoration of a71 20'cc I have a 200 hp 2 stroke and a 24" ob bracket planning to go full transom w/trim tabs and hydro foil on motor any other ideas on how to keep the bow down or any other restoration tips will have pics up soon does any one else have a similar set up looking for any advice I can get thanks

You really should start your own thread instead of hijacking this one, since you're talking about a totally different subject.

Besides the trim tabs and hydrofoil, plan on running a stern lifting 4B prop and maybe consider moving the console and gas tank forward a bit. If you haven't already seen it, have a look at my post on brackets that's a sticky in this section.

sorry I thought I was posting a new thread

I hope to have some pics of the hard top soon, but in the interim, I added a boot stripe to the boat. I really like the looks of it and think it goes well against the blue hull

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r...psv0hibd8f.jpg


http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps86au8lkr.jpg


http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r...psojieq2xu.jpg

Looks good. I think that will be awesome with an upper station.

It has been a while since I posted any updates, but here are a few. I am about to take delivery of the boat after completion of the hardtop and upper helm. It has been in the shop much longer than I anticipated but I am living overseas so I haven’t put any pressure on the guy to finish since I can’t use it anyway. Here are some updated pics.

http://i.imgur.com/AFQfMFV.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/A456gXq.jpg

I should get a picture of the boat with the hard top installed and somebody at the helm. It is killing me to not really get a picture of the final product. While the boat was in the shop, I went ahead and had them do most all of the wiring and also install the steering system. I wouldn’t say it is completely ready for the motor, but it is pretty close. More pics to come soon…..

Badazz! ����

Very nice!

great progress,thanks for sharing....

The top is finished. I'm happy how it's turned out. It will hinge back into the cockpit for trailering. The buggy top will most likely have to be completely removed but this is still being worked as we design a bespoke cradle. Here's some pics.

https://i.imgur.com/cvkF7bF.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/egJKiYb.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/YtHDOG7.jpg

I'll add a few more while I'm online. I went ahead and did all the wiring and installed the steering system although I don't currently have a picture of it.

Switch panels....

http://i.imgur.com/BVo8Uh9.jpg

Back side of switches with trim tab pump. The VSR is also mounted here.....

http://i.imgur.com/eZO0AuU.jpg

Electronics box spans the full width of the boat. It is designed for electronics on the port side and the space on the starboard is for general day use storage and is wired with a USB for cell phone charging (I know, weird, right??).

http://i.imgur.com/fJ5zbaV.jpg

Oh no..... disappointing the old pics that were hosted on Photobucket are no longer available. I just logged into Photobucket for the first time in a long time but they still are not working. I moved to Imgur last year and those are the pics that are working in the more recent posts.

Entourage
What’s the big deal about paint? I’m just curious why everyone makes suck a big deal about finding boats that have not been painted. I seriously don’t get it so am looking for some clarity. My sceptre has bottom paint and I love the fact that I can leave it in the water for a week without scale. Thanks

Mostly a Florida thing.

I resemble that remark. Preferences, I guess.

Motor Hung
 

I’m getting around to completing my refurbishment. Motor was hung this week!

https://i.imgur.com/f71d3y4.jpg

Dude when you get back on this side of the world im driving to texas to see and ride this sled !!!

Rufneck I enjoyed going over you rebuild! I hope you enjoy your new boat all over again!

I have a question about your deck scuppers. Why did you decide to change from your original large scupper channels to the small ones currently fitted to your transom?

I'm back Rusty! I relocated back to work in our Texas office in July. I expect to pick up the boat this coming week and splash her soon thereafter. I still have a list of around 20 items that need to be done but I keep moving items from the "gotta be done before I launch the boat" to the "I'll get to it when I get to it" list. You should come to Texas sometime and see it.

Nate,
The large channels were something that I did when the transom work was done. The original scuppers on this boat went through the floor. I glassed those in. The large channels go to the back of the boat but I could not find the large scuppers that matched the size of the channel so I just stuck those small ones on it for now. My plan is to get the large, square ones like you see on a sport fishing boat and replace the smaller ones. I just need to figure out where to get them.

Ok thanks for clearing that up for me. Are you looking for these to fit to your boat?

https://www.carolinaboatoutfitters.c...l-p-82168.html

All Done
 

I have finished the rebuild and have started using my Seacraft (finally!!). I never intended on this project to take over 5 years and but I moved overseas and so that slowed the progress. I am back now and finished up the rebuild earlier this year. The boat has been great. I keep it in a boathouse that is tall enough to enable me to keep the top portion in place without having to hinge it down into the transit position. I have made several bay fishing trips and a few trips offshore. It has been great and I have never been on a comparable-sized boat that handles the Gulf of Mexico chop as well as this one does. Here is what she looks like now.....

https://i.imgur.com/EZEkRfM.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/hiRGvJI.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/lr7u9Fw.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/X1Jxawe.jpg?1


Thank you to you all who have helped me with your input on my rebuild.

Very, very nice!!! Well done :)

Like the way you did the bracket swim platform top. Stays true to the original deck design.