Before shots
 

It's supposed to snow here this weekend, so I didn't uncover the whole boat. But here are some pics of the Great Sea Drive's send off.

Here's the rig:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90...i1/3-05018.jpg

Here's the Sea Drive:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90...i1/3-05020.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90...i1/3-05019.jpg

After the guys at the yard told me they were going to donate my old motor to a museum, they began looking for a sawsall, and that's when I decided to leave :o!

Thanks MJ for giving me the photobucket web page address.

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No problem!!

Good luck with the repower!!

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CT...when they gonna have you done?... :)...can ya stand it?... 8)

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I went by the shop today. The motor is off already and the transom looks good. So now they just have to measure and order the bracket from Armstrong. I need to help them figure out what color it should be. I've seen posts here earlier that show colors by year, but there are three different greys on the post I saw and I'm not sure which one is for the hull. So I think I need to call Wellcraft next week. I didn't have my camera today, but I will bring it down to the shop later next week to take a couple pictures of the naked transom.

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You gotta love Ray and Arty at the Bait Shop,,, they love to cut stuff up !!!

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He He He, It might not been a good time to say that!!

I am never scared!! I just cut away and figure out the rest later!!

But one slip and its :o

;D

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stripminer, that's exactly who it is. i spoke to both of them today and i think ray likes having some fun with me. they have worked on another boat for me in the past and i trust them completely. ray told me today that they didn't use the sawsall, he said they used a chainsaw instead! ;)

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CT

That is a pretty clean looking seadrive! From what I can tell your boat is identical to mine. Even down to the boot stripe! After the snow ya gotta shed that shrinkwrap so we can see!

Hows that jeep pull the boat?

Are you going with the swim platforms on the bracket? I'm not sure if I would like them on mine or not. Even with just the bracket there is little room to fish off the transom.

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The swim platform is great!!

Kids sit out there fishing and easy to get in to the boat!! And if you need to work on the boat while in the water its a snap!

Bad point, You can not put a kicker on!! :'(

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CT...I remember seein' Wellcraft White listed on a paint color chart once, so I know it exists...is that your color...?

If you ever need to get to prop while at sea(wrapped lines, etc.) you'll be gladder than all giddyup you got that swim platform... ;) ;D

Can't wait for the "naked" transom shots...can you sit a cold Bud in the shot to set the mood?... :P

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The Jeep is rated to tow 5,000 lbs and has the towing package. I'm not sure how much my trailer weighs, but it's probably somewhere in the 1,000-1,200 lb range so I think the Jeep is not too bad with the boat, motor, trailer and a full tank of gas coming in somewhere near 4,000 lbs. But I wouldn't want to do many hills with it and I don't have the brakes hooked up so stopping requires planning. Some of my friends tow their boats up the coast to launch and take across the sound to Montauk. If I ever do that I'll get the brakes squared away and I'd be comfortable since that trip is pretty flat. It definately feels like it's working when I'm towing and I think I have a little too much tongue weight (though that should change some with the increased set back from the Armstrong bracket), but it's definately safe. I keep the boat in the water so I really only use the trailer twice a year.

I'm leaving my teak platform on and not getting any additional platforms added. I do sometimes land a fish from the stern and the additional platforms add almost $1k. But I like the "full" bracket like MJ's looks. I do like the thought of someday adding a trolling motor to the stern.

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I use to tow my boat with a S10 Blazer :o
Your right the Jeep is to small!!
But it is great for short trips, But drive slow and brake long!!
It will do till you can get something else!~!~

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...e/0e21f81b.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...e/6b8fb4b3.jpg

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I have a 1970 442 convertible in my garage with a 365 hp 455ci V8, 500 lb/ft of torque, a 3.42 Positrac rear and a Munice M21 4-spd. That could tow but I ain't putting no hitch on my monster! Plus it needs a resto anyway and I don't think the springs would work well for towing.

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I had a big Chevy with a 400 4 barl, and it towed like $hit!! Lots of power but the gears are much different in a car thats made for the road and a truck that is made to tow!!
So far I am very imprerssed with my F150!! I have been away from ford along time!! And had my doubts coming back??
I have had to fix a few things and i have one more repair to go, But it was used when I got it.
But the thing is the best I ever had in the snow and the towing I did at the end of the season was great!!
This summer will tell if i stay with Ford or move on to something else?

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I've towed a 24' Sportcraft w/ 147 gallons of fuel, 350 miles with my 95 Jeep and it towed great. No problems in Florida which is flat. They're a tough truck. The 4.0 liter 6 cylinder is a gutsy engine. Mine was 2 wheel drive. I did have trailer brakes. If I didn't, at a red light it would've been the tail wagging the dog. Never had any problems at the ramp. I also pulled my first Steplift with it and it was a perfect setup.

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I had a Jeep Cherokee 4.0L a while back and it towed great (better than my Isuzu Rodeo . . . actually I think that it towed better than my dad's Dodge Ram too). Sold it after 220,000 miles . . .

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Now that's what I like to hear because I've only got 124,000 on my Jeep.

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My V8 cherokee tows great as well. I used to have a Suburban - that thing towed great too! Until a cop ran a red light in downtown and totalled it for me.

He was even nice enough to ticket me for failure to heed. I took it to trial, and the judge didn't really give a rat's butt about the fact that I had a green light. That little blue light on the top is their ticket to reckless driving. Sorry if any coppers are readin this, but I'm sure any cop that has a V20 is really really coool 8)

Re: Before shots w/naked transom
 

Here's some more pictures:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90...oatpics023.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90...oatpics027.jpg

Little dirty after uncovering
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90...oatpics024.jpg

My favorite cockpit
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90...oatpics026.jpg

Gooey goopy mess from old contact paper - even acetone wouldn't get the glue off!
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90...oatpics025.jpg

Should only be two or three more weeks before the bracket gets in.

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Your Boat Is identical to mine, down to the boot stripe!

Nice Pics - Did you try laquer thinner on the adhesive glue? It took everything off of my boat that I used it on.

If not, wet sand it with 600 paper then compound it.

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Thanks. I will try the laquer thinner. I'm going to move my fishfinder to that spot. I used to have a Loran there. Now I get to add the rod holders we talked about in an earlier post. I think your helm came out great fillet, but I'm not going to do that this year. Maybe once some of the gauges start going bad I'll switch it to starboard. I'm interested to hear how you do in sunlight with the flush electronics, becuase they look great.

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Believe it or not WD-40 will cut some adhesives.

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Didja try some Goo-Gone?... :)

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I saw the Goo Gone mentioned in a previous post, but could not find it in my local hardware store this weekend.

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CT- I plan on keeping the Bimini and full curtains up all year so, the sunlight wont be much of a problem. I thought of building starboard "wedges" to angle the electronics, but I figured I can always do that later if needed. If you want the dimensions for the helm piece let me know. I had to cut the opening in the helm a bit to make room.

Your transom looks like its in great shape. What size cooler is that in the cockpit?

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What size cooler is that in the cockpit?


Ha Ha Ha !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thats a porta pottie!!

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MJ, that's just for the beer.

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IT's for recycled beer :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o

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I like the potti and I may even plumb it with a pump out it gets used so much by the family. No way am I putting the cooler down there. And hey, what can I say? I'm a shy guy in a busy harbor, but not so shy that I won't steer the boat with one hand while I'm standing in the cabin steering something else with the other ;D!

I think the cooler is either the Igloo Marine 36 or 48, but I'm not sure. I keep it for the ruler on the lid.

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hey CT, except for your full transom our boats are nearly identical. Good luck on the repower!

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mine's an '86 hull too

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You Guys and your NEW boats...mine was already a teenager when those 86ers were being laid up... ;) 8)

No foolin', CT...your '86 is gonna be one BAD Mama Jama w/ dat bracket and 150 pushin' her around... 8)...are you gettin' just plain GIDDY yet?... ;D

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Yeah RAP, they just don't make the ol girls like they used to ;)

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Hey, BR...glad to see you on...kickin' around in WNC today or hangin' outta that snazzy V20 you got?... 8)...

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hey RAP, phester here...what does "BF" on your honda stand for?

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Phester...think I know where you're goin'...bigshrimpin' probably wouldn't appreciate if I said it...I'd get BUSTED... ::)...`

At the gas pump, it stands for Best Friend... ;) ;D...

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GOTCHYA

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I am very "giddy." I can't wait flat out! But I'll have to cool my heels for a couple more weeks and try to be productive.

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Well in a couple of weeks the weather'll be great for spinnin' up a new outboard... ;D...the more I think about it the better a full transom sounds out on the big pond...

Unless you got another trick up your sleeve, MJ ran wires and cables thru a new shop-vac hose from transom to motor...I used one, too across the splashwell...looks great, keeps things tidy... ;) ;D...

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Fillet, great call on the laquer thinner. I wouldn't go so far as to say it was "easy" to get the goop from the contact paper on the port helm off as I think I'll need a toothbrush to get it all off, but it did work better than acetone. For anybody else looking to get the black contact paper off and then the glue too, laquer thinner, a scraper and time are key.

I also ordered the letters for the new name for my boat today, "QUAHOG".