The Argentinian project. "Claude 660"

Well, this is my project boat, it's an argentinian 22' boat manufactured by "Astillero Claude" in the 70's.
It was used as a taxi boat on the Delta, where Kapla rides. I was having it restored by Claude's son in Buenos Aires as a work boat for my island restaurant but after I closed the place I took it to the workshop where I work now and it's sort of my personal project.

These boats came either with inboards, sterndrives and some even had outboards. This one had a Volvo diesel with a sterndrive.
I got a 351W Commander and a Borgwarner 1.5:1 for it.

So far stringer and floors have been redone, the hull is being prepared for paint and it will probably end up with a center console configuration such as a fish nautique.
The engine is onboard and I'm finishing the parts for the shaft installation. I have modeled a rudder after the new MC design and got it casted. The rudder port is made on stainless steel and has bronze bushings and 2 seals. I also have casted an aluminium model out of a Malibu strut which I beefed up to accomodate a larger diameter bushing. The shaft is 1 1/8''.
Later this week I'll have the casted tracking fins and the aluminium model too. (took them out of a friend's Tigé)

Some pictures and more to come...









Stern view


Commander 351w/1.5:1 Borgwarner. Powerslot what??


shaft log hole


Casted rudder after MC design


My rudder and a standard argentinian inboard rudder (cracked GM 350 block on the background)


Please feel free to ask or suggest whatever you feel like to.

eric lavine wrote: it appears that the trans was replaced because of the new paint on it, that first, is something i would check, if it has deep reduction you'll do alot of wheel spinning. btw, what the hell is that on the back of the boat?

Eric, the trans was rebuilt by our local "you", that's the reason for the fresh paint. I think He's the only one in Argentina professionaly rebuilding them, at least until I do my first one.

The "thing" on the back of the boat.... well, as I wrote before the boat had a Volvo sterndrive hanging there and not cavitation plate, so it was Claude's idea to close it as a box with the cavitation plate so I could place the rudder port there and install the engine more on the back clearing up cavin space. It's made with 1/2'' fiberglass and the center has a reinforcement about 1 1/2'' thick.

The later version of this boat has this better done a molded into the boat. I just hope it doesnt look so fugly once the boat is painted, has the swim platform over it and is sitting on the water....deep on the water.

Jody, thanks for looking, I too love the look of the hard top but it's really low and kind of unconfortable.

I have modeled and casted a strut after a Malibu strut it's 16º, I have beefed up on the bushing's body.
I also added some wedge to the base so that I can shape it to the hull rounded bottom and trim if necessary.
Shaft angle will be 16º or less, we are considering moving the engine a few inches further to the bow to diminish angle.

Calculated prop cleareance to fit a 13.5'' wheel. I estimated around 10-12'' between strut end and rudder.

One questions I have, is there a way to know where should tracking fins be located?

lucho

how are you going to accomodate the exhaust hose? from the pictures seems no to much space between manifolds exit and floor...

Looks like you got the market cornered on 350 Gm parts!

You are outa the resturant biz..right? What are you doing now?

john

vortec heads are in good condition? do you have the V/C's and the intake manifold as well? I might be interested to put them in my vette. Or pass them to a friend who looking to upgrade his boat engine..give me a call.

sounds as if it goin good in the boat repair biz.

john

that only comes from spending many waisted hours trying to fix something that the customer said worked when he dropped it off and one particular one i could remember was a bildge pump, 3 hours waisted because he insisted it worked. I never even ran the boat and come to find out the impeller was melted off form the thing running...the 3 hours was 1.5 to get to it and 1.5 to get it all back together (the floor) eneded up the guy said his buddy said it was an electrical problem that i created...thats one of many...
any fcn more you gotta take pictures and document everything and get a signed invoice

Luch, I got a raw steak at TGIF's (chain restuarant). My wife said send it back...I said are you fcn crazy? they will spit all over that thing and flop it on the floor a few times.
as time progresses with your new venture, im sure we will have alot to talk about,
keep in mind, when that man pulls in with a Mercedes and a Rolex, charge him accordingly lol