Hibbitz
Cadet
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2012
- Messages
- 23
I've been wanting to do take on some type of boat project for a while and though a jet drive would be cool because it is different. The goal for this boat is a fun weekend day boat that I can use to go to the beach and pull the kids on a tube.
The boat is a 1973 Slickcraft 18' apparently built in Michigan as a bit of a lake boat. I like that is has something of a V to handle a little chop. The engine and jet drive combo was originally a JX245 by OMC that was mated to a Jacuzzi YJ12 jet drive. The JX245 (from what I can tell) was a 307 chevy motor with some corvette internals. The previous owner didn't know a lot about the boat as he took in in trade for some work and never used it. The guy who gave it to him said it now has a "rebuilt" 350 that is a 4 bolt main engine in it. I've decoded the block and it is indeed a 4 bolt 350 but I don't know much else about the condition
I knew going to look at the boat that it needed a floor. From all of my research on iBoats I was prepaired that it might need stringers too. The comments from the seller saying "they should be solid" didn't go far and when I looked at the side of what I would call the "ski box" or storage compartment in the floor I knew they were rotten. I could push my finger into the side where the wood was rotting.
I wanted a project and there is TONS of great info and people on here so I'm rolling up my sleves to see how this goes. I have a garage where it will be stored and I'll just keep plugging away over the winter.
Here are a few quick pictures of the boat and the work I've started removing the old rotten plywood floor and water soaked foam.
I basically bought the boat for the value of the trailer alone and I know I'm up for some decent materials costs (resin, fiberglass, and wood) for just the floor/stringer project. I'll plan on a simple interior and the rewiring shouldn't be too difficult.
I'll welcome any suggestions regarding preping for the stringer replacement and I was able to save two of them that I'll use for templates for the replacements.
The boat is a 1973 Slickcraft 18' apparently built in Michigan as a bit of a lake boat. I like that is has something of a V to handle a little chop. The engine and jet drive combo was originally a JX245 by OMC that was mated to a Jacuzzi YJ12 jet drive. The JX245 (from what I can tell) was a 307 chevy motor with some corvette internals. The previous owner didn't know a lot about the boat as he took in in trade for some work and never used it. The guy who gave it to him said it now has a "rebuilt" 350 that is a 4 bolt main engine in it. I've decoded the block and it is indeed a 4 bolt 350 but I don't know much else about the condition
I knew going to look at the boat that it needed a floor. From all of my research on iBoats I was prepaired that it might need stringers too. The comments from the seller saying "they should be solid" didn't go far and when I looked at the side of what I would call the "ski box" or storage compartment in the floor I knew they were rotten. I could push my finger into the side where the wood was rotting.
I wanted a project and there is TONS of great info and people on here so I'm rolling up my sleves to see how this goes. I have a garage where it will be stored and I'll just keep plugging away over the winter.
Here are a few quick pictures of the boat and the work I've started removing the old rotten plywood floor and water soaked foam.
I basically bought the boat for the value of the trailer alone and I know I'm up for some decent materials costs (resin, fiberglass, and wood) for just the floor/stringer project. I'll plan on a simple interior and the rewiring shouldn't be too difficult.
I'll welcome any suggestions regarding preping for the stringer replacement and I was able to save two of them that I'll use for templates for the replacements.
Attachments
Last edited:
