Splashed This Weekend!
 

After almost 3 years, 1 child, and too many delays to count, my SeaCraft 18 went into the water for the first time.

This has taken me 2 years longer than I wanted, but small items - like work, children, food kept intruding. But -- now its in the water and looks/runs great.

It has a 'new' 2001 HPDI Yamaha, and I was worried about the extra 100 lbs in weight, and moved batteries, console, balance, etc. It actually sits better now, and isn't as heavy as before in the stern -- I got lucky. Also -- completely rebuilt the transom, and raised it about 3 inches.

As for performance, at 3000 RPM (during break-in) the boat cruises at 24 MPH, at 4000, 35, and when doing a full throttle for 1 minute, hits 45 at 5000 RPM. I need to raise the engine about an inch (manual jackplate) to see if I can get the RPM up to a better 5300-5500 -- the setback actually sticks the lower unit in the hull's wake as it's coming up. Didn't account for that when aligning cavitation plate with the hull.

Overall -- very pleased. Probably won't see full throttle runs of any length after break-in. A 3500 RPM cruise should sip gas -- and the engine is realll quiet. Anyway -- thanks to all who have helped out over the last year. Still have a ton of small details -- but when you own a boat - are you every really done working on it [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] ?

http://home.mindspring.com/~dobson56...aft18_pic1.jpg

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http://home.mindspring.com/~dobson56...aft18_pic5.jpg

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http://home.mindspring.com/~dobson56...aft18_pic7.jpg

Re: Splashed This Weekend!
 

SRO,
Congratulations to you. I can imagine how happy you must be to have her in the water now, 3 years is a looooong time to wait. We put a manual jack plate (Rite-Hite) on our 23 Sceptre and it works extremely well. It only took one run to tweak it so that the engine would run up to 5700. I would think that HPDI of yours would run up to at least 5500, no?

Re: Splashed This Weekend!
 

Ayup -- 5500 is the ideal goal. Was surprised when it only spun up to 4900 without trimming -- then up to 5100 before ventilating a bit too much. Want to be careful -- I like the prop's cruise range right now, just don't want to load the engine too much -- so will adjust jackplate about 1-inch up and see if I can get RPM range where it is supposed to be. I had a suzuki 140 on it before -- good engine, but too noisy. Really suprised how much more 'oomph' the 10 more horses seem to give the boat with a v6.

Re: Splashed This Weekend!
 

I have an 18 also and would like to trade ideas. Could you Email me at lastbid@tampabay.rr.com? Great Job!!!

Re: Splashed This Weekend!
 

Nice work...... [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Splashed This Weekend!
 

SRO-That Budwieser on the console says it all. Way to go on the new motor and boat rework job. The 18SF club is gaining momentum. I have an 18SF too, but with a 1991 130 Yammie. That 150 looks sweet. The t-top and leaning post are nice. What year is she?

Re: Splashed This Weekend!
 

Nice job.

Pat

Re: Splashed This Weekend!
 

The boat is a 1976 Potter hull. The T-top came with the boat and was custom made by the previous owner. My friends named the boat because I never had any seats -- it was /is for fishing and free-diving/spearing. I'm a bit older now, so having a leaning post was a requirement. Picked up the post from a local Miami shop that also does the posts for Angler. May change the post cap (to get storage) and fabric at some point, but it was a good deal and had oversized alumunium tubes. I'm getting an isenglass zip out windshield put on this week as well as a boat cover.

If you are doing any work on the 18 -- 1 thing I can recommend -- pay attention to any crazing / cracks in the floor. I had it just forward of the post and ground down the floor and put in a pad of glass on the left after grinding to the stringer. On the right, I gouged out the cracks and used epoxy. The floor is solid, but some of the cracks came back - fast. At least it is an easy repair -- after I use the boat some. I'm told some of these 18's would have the outer stringer detach from the floor right at the point I saw the cracks, and as the hull flexed, the deck would too. Just one more thing to do with an old hull [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] .

[ July 16, 2003, 12:19 PM: Message edited by: Standing Room Only ]

Re: Splashed This Weekend!
 

NICCCCCE !
3 Years ?!! My 8 week job started Labor day of last Year ! 10 Months !!
I'm Ready to Finish !!
Scream'n Reels' [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]