3/4 of the way through a 73' steplift rebuild!

[Illogikal99]

Originally Posted by Destroyer

It will look something like this:



(That's a 225 Johnson WOT and reading 56mph on the GPS)

yep, that looks about right! Wish it wasn't cold and rainy up here, I'd drop in and get my own action shots lol.

[reelapeelin]

Originally Posted by Illogikal99

yep, that looks about right! Wish it wasn't cold and rainy up here, I'd drop in and get my own action shots lol.

Try to make the NJ Raft-Up in July!!...there's another yeller boat down there you might find interesting...They call it MISTER Sponge Bob!!...I made it w/help from Lee in NC comin' from SC last year...from your place, it'd be a walk in the park...LOL!!

[Illogikal99]

Originally Posted by reelapeelin

You might be new around here...but you walked in w/the FULL package!!...right down to the Super Model...

I too woulda thought @$$ heavy, but apparently the flotation bracket really does a job...

Back in '99 I floated the '74 shown below...I talked to wellcraft about adding belly tank and they strongly advised against it...glad you didn't talk to them 1st!!...glad to see it can be done!!...

And hey...no way you could post too many pics of that baby!!...some up on plane shots would be great...

I will be moving both batteries up forward under the 2 helm seats. I figure this will level her out much better than leaving them against the transom. the flotation bracket definitely makes a difference, I'm sure without it she would sit another 3 or more inches lower. the belly tank actually came with the boat in 2001 when I bought it. I still have the saddle tanks and a 3 way tank switch valve setup. the guy who owned it in the 80s really customized the hell out of it. custom transom/bracket, donzi yellow hull, outriggers, full canvas, tabs, belly tank etc... I actually found the guy by accident and he showed me pics of 300lb sharks being pulled over the side while 20 or so miles offshore! He still loves the boat, and was psyched that I am keeping her up to date and seaworthy. she has a good history as a fish magnet and the previous owner backed that statement up with pics, stories and smiles. I guess I'm not too surprised that I found the old owner, bright yellow v-20s arent too common around here.

[Illogikal99]

Originally Posted by reelapeelin

Try to make the NJ Raft-Up in July!!...there's another yeller boat down there you might find interesting...They call it MISTER Sponge Bob!!...I made it w/help from Lee in NC comin' from SC last year...from your place, it'd be a walk in the park...LOL!!

Thanks for the invite, if my trailer is fixed up by then I wouldn't mind the trip. right now the trailer is an undersize POS but it gets the job done and my nearest ramp is within walking distance so I've slacked on fixing it... I should get to it anyway.

[Kracker Jack]

God I wish we had more jettys!!!!!!! I might have to make it up there one day! Me and some buddies have always talked about heading north to surf, we always seem to head south we are only 1hr. and 45 min. from hatteras. yea the high pressures kill us in the summer with the oocasional northeast wind swell that lasts like you said about 4 hours after the blow is gone. Our late summer and fall is insane here from hurricane swells. Seems like a cool place to live.

[Illogikal99]

Originally Posted by Kracker Jack

God I wish we had more jettys!!!!!!! I might have to make it up there one day! Me and some buddies have always talked about heading north to surf, we always seem to head south we are only 1hr. and 45 min. from hatteras. yea the high pressures kill us in the summer with the oocasional northeast wind swell that lasts like you said about 4 hours after the blow is gone. Our late summer and fall is insane here from hurricane swells. Seems like a cool place to live.

I Love my island but we have faaaar too many people here and the percentage of surfers seems to go up every year. the good thing about this is that some of the biggest and best beach breaks are accessible only by boat or foot. some beaches allow 4x4 with permits but if they catch you with surfboards they revoke the permit! this is something I kinda hate but love at the same time. keeps the crowds to a minimum at the more remote breaks. the surfcasters are usually pretty cool about sharing fishing grounds with surfers but occassionally you get a drunky that opens his mouth and creates a problem.
I recently went north to New Hampshire and Maine for some cold winter surf. what a great trip! shoulder to head high perfection for 3 days straight! check out "The Wall" in NH, great low tide break. I'm hoping that we get a good clean morning tomorrow. I may drop the boat in and head to Fire Island, we will see... if you ever decide to follow a swell up North, drop in and I'll show you a few standout spots.

[Illogikal99]

Just gutted the ancient wiring in the steplift and added a few little things. its been years since Ive had a working VHF and stereo onboard! you should see the rats nest of wiring I yanked out of this thing.

[jasoncooperpcola]

Looking good! I really like how high she sits even with a 225 on the flotation bracket. I never thought a flotation bracket would make that much difference. I wonder how my 83 would handle one with a 200?

[Illogikal99]

Originally Posted by jasoncooperpcola

Looking good! I really like how high she sits even with a 225 on the flotation bracket. I never thought a flotation bracket would make that much difference. I wonder how my 83 would handle one with a 200?

Thanks, they sell flotation brackets that have even more depth and width. I'd go for one of those to cover all bases. Go for it! I love the way she handles and I've been through all types of boats and setups. used to sell fishing boats for a living back in the day. got the chance to test out lots of hulls. on a side note, I always thought it was hilarious that I sold more boats than most of the other salesmen. I was no BS artist, I'd usually list what I didn't like about the boat first! they would still bite lol...

[bgreene]

Originally Posted by Illogikal99

yep, that looks about right! Wish it wasn't cold and rainy up here, I'd drop in and get my own action shots lol.

I really like 56 mph !! Fantastic. Wonder if it would run that fast if transom mounted - no bracket.