Yet another change for chumbucket
 

Welp, after a couple years with the Scout, I've decided it's just not the boat for me. There are a lot of great qualities to the boat. Fit and finish are very nice. The problem I have is up here in the northeast, that boat is too light. Maybe fine for southern waters, but we have more days than not where there is a constant chop. The Scout wants to wave hop too much for my liking. I wanted a heavier hull with more deadrise to cut through the chop.
I've been looking for a while and was tempted to pull the trigger on a lot of boats, but I had to step back and keep my priorities in line. Didn't want anything too big. I wanted a decent beam and deadrise though along with some extra free board. So on Sunday I picked up the windtalker to get him out of the house for a bit and took a ride to have a look. Ended up striking a deal with the owner on this 1988 Biddison 1800. Some of you Florida guys may recognize the name. They were built in St Pete but only for about five years or so by the Biddison brothers (Mark Biddison does design work for Mako now). It was an over built center console with a few unique features. 8' beam and a 21 degree deadrise. Very roomy, lots of free board, and a unique tilting console with storage underneath.
The boat needs a good cleaning and some cosmetic work, but she's very solid. I'm looking forward to putting it to good use in the spring when my knee is fully healed. :sun:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...a/DSCN0610.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...DSCN0608-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...a/DSCN0609.jpg

Now THAT's a sweet looking rig. I like the idea of the console tilting to allow for access to storage underneath.. simply a good idea... and I'm sure that it also allows for convenient access to the backside of all gages and controls... a plus in any language. Congrats on the new toy. Hope it's what you are looking for. What kind of engine is with it? :head:

Yeah, you can really access everything very easily.
She's got a 2001 Johnson 115 hanging on the back. I'm not expecting it to be a speed demon with that power, but it's mostly for fishing anyways. Owner said she goes pretty well with it though.

This is a shot of another Biddison 1800 under the console when it's tilted. Easy access to everything.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...derConsole.jpg

God... I wish all boats were laid out as nice as that. Cuddys usually seem to be a tad "lacking" in the wire access and management dept.

Congrats on the purchase. Did you sell the Scout yet?

I have someone coming tomorrow to have a look at the Scout.

Speaking of the windtalker, he sat in my truck while I was negotiating the deal as he's not exactly too graceful on his feet these days. He almost put his head through the side of my truck. Anyways, I don't know what he did inside the truck, but here it is two days later and multiple doses of Fabreeze, air fresheners and anything else I could think of, I still cannot get the stink out. He dropped something on the ride back that was not of this world. WOW!!!! All windows open!!!!!!!! :cen:
Next time we take his truck. :bat:

I like it Chum, thats one big 18 footer and whoever wired it definetly knew what they were doing.

Sweet boat! Congrats.

Very nice Bob, and you will be surprised what that 115 will do.
Save me a seat this summer!

the Scout is a good boat, but those in that size are definitely an inshore boat. Who ever rigged that 18 did a nice job, looks like a nice boat.

Always room for you willy. :beer:

You're right spare about the inshore boat thing. But that's what I was using it for. Still a little squirrelly for my liking.

Nice! Looks like a lot of boat for an 18. Well laid out yes!

and its SO easy to blame a smell on someone else....

Hope both of you are getting better.

rkc

I like it. Probably not too many 18's with that much beam and deadrise out there. Very interesting! Congrats.

Oh I can usually face the competition, except when it comes to MJ. That guy is the reigning king. :cen: He can knock a buzzard off a sh!t wagon in a 40 mph wind.

I had trouble finding something with those specs. Believe me.

Well, I just sold the Scout. First guy that came to look at it bought it. I love it when a plan comes together. :clap:

Like yer new ride CB!!...looks like lots more room and should take the seas well...Have ya hadda chance to get 'er wet?

Probably this weekend reel as long as the weather holds. I haven't picked it up yet. Gonna fire the motor and check out the rest of the goods.

Make sure you wear your long johns, not supposed to get above 38.

rkc

Brrrrrrr.

Well, I sure picked a crazy day to go pick up the new boat. I had to stick around Saturday to finalize the deal on the Scout. The guy came and took it home, wasn't too bad a day here.
So yesterday I made the drive back to Cape Cod to finish the deal on my new ride in white out snow conditions. The roads were okay to drive as the only accumulation of snow was on the grassy surfaces. By the time I reached the guys house the sun was back out. But, the guy has ocean front property and let me tell you, the wind coming off that water made for 0 degree wind chill temps. We went ahead with the motor check anyways as me and my Bud came dressed for the worst. The guy hadn't tried to start it in a while, but we put the water to it and she fired right up no problem. Did a compression check and my numbers matched the paperwork that he had from work that was done earlier this year. He had a complete tune-up, carbs all cleaned out and synched, new water pump kit and T-Stats. So I guess that's the best you can do for an older motor then hope for the best.
Hitched it up and trailered her home. She towed very nice. He had a new axle, hubs and bearings along with all new poly rollers put on this year as well. BY the time I got home, the sun was out at my house and quite a bit warmer, but the whole bow and center console were a sheet of ice from what my truck was throwing up. So I guess you could say I'm a happy camper right now. Were supposed to warm up a little by mid week and I'll fog the motor and cover her up for the rest of the winter. Already making plans for improvements. :beer:

Oh, and hey......How about those Patriots eh? A lot of missed tackles, but they got the job done. Mr Tebow is gonna get real hurt if they keep letting him run with the ball like that.
Crazy day of football yesterday. Jets loose to Eagles? :nut: Green Bay looses their first while Indy wins their first. I guess that monkey is off Green Bay's back now going into the playoffs. :sun:

Miami can breath a sigh of relief now...their record is safe for another season. Just 2 more games and GB would have had it.. <sigh> Oh well, it was not to be...


But there's still the the playoffs