looking forward to some pictures,quite a job ..

Ok, the eagle has landed and it is time to get started. The corpse that will provide the base for this project is a 77 Potter hull in pretty fare shape. It was a restoration project that didn't get far off the ground, not once but twice. My current sled just chuckled as I wheeled the lifeless shell into the yard on her old trailer. She better behave.

My estimated timeframe for the stretch is 24 months. I want to do this right from the ground up and not loose too many weekends of boating in the process. We first considered just tearing down our current ride but then we would be left without a boat. I figured it was going to take a ground up process so it didn't make much sense stripping out a perfectly good and running Tsunami.

Here is a pic of the new Banana in the yard....

Good luck with the project. This is going to be fun to watch!

The "EAGLE"
 

Capt. Kmoose, It is one of those "yeller" SeaCrafts that just look cool sitting on the trailer. I believe that one day like the phoenix, you will re-create an "Eagle". However, during this metamorphosis a couple of other avian adjectives come to mind!
I think I can get my hands on one of those water spray, air powered saws that a friend has. It made short work in cutting up parts of the Bert - no fuss, no dust. Let me know when you get it layed out and I'll steal it and zoom up to Casa Del Moose and we'll "dissect".
T-bucket #3

Thanks Terry, I'm a little ways from the major cutting as I have some bottom paint to remove first. Still need to get you and Marsh up here for a day of shooting soon.

Well, bad news for the stretch project..... The guy I was counting on to do the work is having second thoughts due to concerns with liability. Considering I trust him a great deal I am likely to abandon the stretch for a different project. :(

Sound like you need a SeaMaster for your island adventures.
That was Carl`s favorite hull for good reason.
Save a bunch of time as well.
True pocket live aboard.

Called Don today and ordered my bracket. Going with the dual bracket to accommodate my 30" motor. Woo Hoo!

You go Ken!!! I guess this is good bye for the 10" jack plate! :)

Someone sounds excited.

27' hull + single motor = 350 Yammie?

Yeah, if my transom didn't need work I would keep it just the way it is but now that I'm cracking this nut open she's going to get a full refurb. Going to make a few more trips and then tear her down for the winter. It's a long, scarey and expensive list but she'll be a new boat when we're done and be ready to splash in the spring.

Not their best effort there...

Looking forward to seeing the pictures of this refurb project.

So are you definitely tossed out the stretch idea?

Friends helped gut the old sled in preparation for the refit next month. She will be 100% wood free with al composite floors, full transom, and helm. I'm keeping the original gel coat hull as is but the cap and deck are getting a full refurb. .

One challenge is going to be getting the windshield refurbished. Is there any solid leads on where to get the right molding? I'm going to have the frames primed and powder coated but want to get the parts needed to put them back together.

Now I know why that floor felt like concrete! Moose Sled 2.0 is coming along! I need the side windshield seal on my sled. If you find a vendor, let me know Ken.

Yes, Jason did a really good job on the floors when he rebuilt it. Nearly 10 years old and still as dry as the day he put it in. The only reason I am replacing it is the fuel tank is done and while I have the deck open I might as well replace it with lighter composites (nidacore). It will be just as solid and forever.

Yes, I was hoping someone here would already know where to get the stuff. I would love to have someone do the entire window set restore but it's not like there is a shop around here that does such a thing.

I got this info from a thread here a long time ago:
American Marine TP-139 http://www.americanmarine.com/parts-gaskets.html

Give them a call let them what you have and they will fix you up with the window seals and all mounting hardware. Did mine about 8 years ago and they had all needed to do the job

Thanks guys! I'm stripping down mine this weekend and sending it off Monday to be media blasted and powdercoated. I call and get the rest of the stuff ordered.

Trying to figure out what makes coosa blue water 26 so expensive.... they must laminate it together with $20 dollar bills!

Moose, Coosa also works on the same principle as everything else on a BOAT, Break Out Another Thousand!! :(

Yeah, the pursuit of going full composite is costly no doubt. Plans are evolving as we go. We are now planning to completely replace the cap and gunnels as well with nidacore. The only part of the original cap we will use is the windshield riser so the original frame can be used to keep the Tsunami look. We will however move the riser and helm header back 1 foot to give us a better COG and longer bow. With so much room in the back we won't miss it and the ride at the helm should improve.

The amount of weight we will lose in this process is calculating much better than originally expected. I was shocked at how much all the decking, webbing and transom boxed weighed. I was shooting for offsetting the weight of the Hermco bracket but it looks like we now may lose enough to offset most of the motor weight as well. She was certainly a tank before but with these ultra light and strong composite replacements her performance should greatly improve. Time will tell as she hits the shop next week.

A different version of an old saying...."my entire life I've spent 90% of my disposable income on boating and the other 10% I wasted" .......

Boat Jewelry Arriving
 

The fun stuff for the build is starting to roll in and the UPS man is my new friend. Mel picked out this sweet new wheel for the tilt helm.

Miss Mel did good!!! This is the fun part, getting "stuff" delivered, especially.....free shipping! :)

Free shipping, indeed - Amazon Prime is your friend. Doesn't have everything, but if they have it it is usually at a good price, and the free shipping is great. Fast delivery, too.

My wife insists that BOAT stands for Bought On Amazon, (by the)Thousands!

More jewelry arrived. Gem makes some real quality hardware and the prices aren't much more than the eBay cheap stuff with the discount.

Is there a subliminal message with the blackjack table? :)

Yes, a SeaCraft restoration will take your money faster than a cruise ship blackjack dealer will.

Here are some pics of the progress. She will be a one of a kind 23'. No wood, no coring, only nidacore and coosa in the whole build.

More

...

yea ,nice pictures moose

Thanks for the pictures Ken. It looks like it will be one tough boat. I was fixin' to bug you publicly about a progress report.

Rub rail. I am looking at Taco plain jane in black and am wondering which style I need to go with. Here is the one I am looking at. It has a generous lower lip to seal the areas near the bow and should cover the seam well.
http://tacomarine.com/product/V11-34...e-Rub-Rail-Kit

Looking good Moose. Are you going to install the transducer like you had been talking about earlier?

Keep the updates coming!

Yep, the center stringer in the bilge area has been deleted so my options have greatly improved. Lots still to do even after the glass work is done but she is coming along.

I am meeting with the person I doing the work this week to spec out the dash/helm area and the seat box that helm chair will mount on. The box will also double as a cooler or baitwell and should be around 160 qt. size. More pics soon.

Great pictures and info Ken. I am thinking of resealing my rub rail. What is the spacing for the cap and hull connecting screws? 1 every _inches?