water behind a stringer

It is the way all the old Correct Crafts are, accept for the straight 6's, isn't it?

I finished the boat yesterday !!!!

I had just a couple little wiring things I wanted to get done before I said it was so.

Done. Finito. Whew !! Did I mention I am done. Nearly four months to the day since i started.

I need to put out a huge thank you to everyone who helped me, educated me, encouraged me, and most of all, counseled me that this was not completely insane to do!!

Many many sincere thanks go to:

Firstly, my wife and kids,they all helped. Barbara painted the dash, my son helped me with a variety of tasks. Especially at the end. Everyone helped with the windshield. And most of all for not squawking too much that I was in my shop for hundreds of hours this winter. I am back now.

My brother, Joe, who got me to start this. He was instrumental in me overcoming my fear of just digging in my heels. He helped me immensely with the removal and re-installation of the motor. He did little side projects that I was not able to get to to save me time. He also helped a ton with diagramming the wiring and repairing a lot of what was there. I could not have done this without you. Thanks dude.

Boat Dr. Dude, You talked me off the ledge a number of times. Helped me realize that this is not rocket science, it is just a cool old boat that needs some love. I could not have accomplished this without your help. The countless hours you spent helping walk me through this process are greatly appreciated. I could not have done this without your guidance and grounding.
The Doc also helped us out with a couple crucial pieces of the boat. Name for the horse, steering wheel, shifter, sight glass. Thank you Billy!!! You are the man.

Karen (Boat Nurse) for putting up with my ceaseless calls morning and night to the Doc. And for ridiculing my carb spring so I got a nice pretty shiny one. Thank you Karen.

Billy and Karen have become good friends and convinced me to come to Orlando for the River Run. That was a fantastic experience to finally meet them, and all the other members that showed up. What a great group of people we have here.

All the other members here who offered advice, help, and moral support: Pete, Tim, Greg, Eric, Joe F., Jbear, Bruce,   all of you!!

Also, Doug at West Marine in Minnetonka, Bruce Foutz at MWCC, Vince at SkiDim.

My neighbor Dave, who helped with a few of the bigger projects like putting in the floor, carpet, and such. And helping me achieve the 450 beer target / goal (?) He is a good teammate there.




a few shots of the finale.

First: really lastly. I put up the new pennant. I had to buy another boat (2010 project!) to get flagpole last fall. I have been patiently waiting a year to get the flag from AA marine.



The cockpit with the seats put in, stereo, new gauges, new steering wheel, etc. The wheel does sit straight, it is just turned at the moment.





Stereo and battery box fit between the seats:



Lastly,my wife, Barbara (Mrs. Wakeslayer), in her newly finished Ponyboat.
I did this almost entirely, and completely for her





Of course, I still have a couple little things to fiddle with this Spring. A little more wiring, switch the bow light, etc.
And the windshield has got to go once I find a correct one. I will get to the exterior at some point. Maybe next fall. But for the time being, I am done. And ready to cruise her down the lake if it ever thaws.


Thank you,

Mike

AWESOME piece of work Mike!!

She looks magnificent! (Goes for the boat as well as the wife )

Fantastic Mike! You have lots of enjoyable moments to come.

Riley wrote: Looks great! Boat Dr's got the windshield you need.

Does Boat Dr. have the curved windshields for sale?

WakeSlayer wrote: vondy wrote: Riley wrote: Looks great! Boat Dr's got the windshield you need. Does Boat Dr. have the curved windshields for sale? I do not believe that is the case. However, if he does: DIBS !

Brand new WITH wing windows!!! This may have to go to a sealed bidding process!!

Mike - Job well done! I am looking forward to seeing it this summer at GL.

jbear wrote: Kristof wrote: She looks magnificent! (Goes for the boat as well as the wife ) I am not sure of the reason why but...all of guys on here are very lucky...these boats seem to attract smokin' hot women. And Mrs. Wakeslayer fits right in with all the rest of the great lookin' wives and girl friends on this site. john

Is a CC taste: "a great apreciation for the finest things in life"

Riley wrote: I saw a post on Fiberglassics the other day where a guy said he came into 150 brand new windshields in the boxes that were for Custom Crafts. He's only looking to get $150. This might be worth checking out as some of them maybe the same one's Correct Craft use.

Bruce,
I have a feeling that these are the same ones that Michelle (sanity) ran into. If so, they have the Custom Craft side brackets and they don't look like Taylor Made.

Hey guys.

Thanks for all the compliments. You all helped me. Eric, you are right, don't know til you try it. I will turn over the keys after a water test in a few weeks. We are both coming to GL this summer. That will be her first road trip!
JBear, we are lucky men, indeed.

Mike

Randy.

thank you. Defintely doable, just have to give it horns (I love that expression, Donovan)

A couple things in retrospect. Had I known what I was in store for, I would have replaced the primaries also. Pete said this repeatedly. While I think they are fine and will go another 40 years, I had everything out, opened up, and exposed. This is the biggest thing I learned. I resisted because they were in good shape, and I did not know what the rest of the project was going to take, nor how long.
Also, get the icky work done in the fall when you can be outside. Foam and grinding glass would have been way easier outside. And way less contaminating to the shop and everything in it. My next one will go into the shop in the fall with no more grinding required. All cleaned out and ready to replace the stringers.
Make an extremely detailed list of EVERYTHING that needs to be done, check them off as you do them, and update the list frequently. This was really helpful. I also kept track of my hours and what I did during them. This way I will have a good idea of what to expect next time.
I am guessing that, and I really want opinions on this, I can fudge down 20% on time spent after having this experience behind me. I am right around 300 hours, meaning I think I could do the same job in 240 hours. I had read somewhere that 200-250 was average. That and 450 beers...

Mike

I agree with Kristof! This forum has been like a shop manual to me. Anything more you are able to share is tremendously appreciated!
Hopefully, this forum stays on line for an extended period.
I know that the others watching, reading and providing feedback (like Pete) are tremendous help. This is cool stuff.
Best regards to all

Mike,

Great job Man! And about a month before ice out, I would be going crazy to run that girl across the Lake Now!!

I'll bet you'll keep the boat high and dry from now on, it really comes down to awareness, I ran that story a while back with some idiot that talked this woman right into a wet CC, he kept telling her no problem we'll just put a board right where the rot is, I kept telling the woman the boat is worth no more than 2k, if i recall correctly they ran that boat up to 5300.00...you really got to watch these pre 93 boats, there probably are more wet ones out there than dry ones

Always high and dry on the lifts. I am getting a curtain made for the Mustang lift canopy this year, also. I have always had one on the Super Air.

The marina. Man, I cannot wait to see this again.


This is my Python's Garage.




6 weeks and counting....

Mike