Completed!
Updated
5-23-2006
Beginning with the purchase in 1997, 2 years of hard work
and being a major money pit, it was mostly finished in the summer of 1999. Of
course with any of these projects, it continues even until today. I love the way
that it turned out and am very pleased with its performance and look. I can’t
think of a single time that I have taken it out to the lake and not received
numerous questions and comments about it.
Below are some of the finished pictures of the boat which
I have taken recently (May of 2006) and some descriptions of their content.
This is of course seven years after the initial finish date. Since then (1997),
I have only put about 15 hours of time on it. Not because I don’t love to take
it out, but don’t seem to have the time. Most of the time, I take it out by
myself, just to ride around. I try to ski at least once a summer just to prove
to myself that at 44, I can still do it.
----- Click on any of the thumbnails to get a larger
picture. ----
As you can see, it’s not the original color scheme!
(Thank goodness.)
The heart of the boat is a Chrysler 318, reverse rotation
motor. I bought a reconditioned long block and reused the intake and front
timing chain cover. The exhaust manifolds I replaced with new ones even though
I think that the old ones were good. I put an electronic ignition and new
distributor on it along with a new Edelbrock 600cfm carburetor with electric
choke. New hoses and cables, shift and throttle, were also installed. About the
only thing not replaced was the alternator. I took it to a local rebuilder and
had it checked out and was told it was fine, so I left it as is. I reused the
starter from the old motor but that proved to be a mistake because the second
trip out, stuck out in the middle of the lake with no way to start it. (This
has been the only time it has let me down!) This may be the reason my wife
doesn’t like going out with me anymore.
The windshield is new. I had a local plastics
manufacturer make me two, one smoked and one clear like the original. It was
just slightly more for the second one because the major cost was in the mold or
frame needed to make the bends. I liked the way the smoked one turned out and
used it. I have the other if ever I have a need to replace it. The front air
intakes are original, I just cleaned and polished them up a little and they
looked great. The front light was broken when I bought the boat, but I found an
exact copy in a IBoats catalog. The exhaust is straight out the back and a
little loud but that adds to the uniqueness of this vessel to me! I have taken
care not to allow the bottom to contact the hull of the boat and it is in
almost perfect condition still.
The dash was in bad shape, so I made a new one out of oak
and used Raka Marines epoxy to cover it. I originally made it for a temporary
dash until I could fine someone that could duplicate the original but it turned
out great so I have kept it as is. The steering wheel was of the plastic nature
and was ugly even when new so I used a later model (1972 I think) from Correct
Craft. I had a local interior shop redo the seats in a simple white vinyl like
it was originally except for the stitching is French stitch instead of the old
style. There were step plates on the sides, both front and rear but I was
unable to find replacements for them as of yet. They were white vinyl with a
chrome trim and the vinyl was in very bad shape. I have just left them off.
The eyelet I backed up with a stainless plate. I also
reinforced the back side so that it would have no chance of pulling out. The
swim platform is not original. I found these cool brackets from a manufacturer
in