Re: 73 Slickcraft Jet Boat Restoration
It has been a while but I'm certainly overdue for an update. I've been plugging away at rebuilding the stringers and floor and when I can't be in the garage.... surfing the web. Well it just so happens that I did a quick search on Craigslist for Slickcraft and find another 18' for sale.
I found a photo of this one (below) a few months earlier and thought to myself that is the cap that I want to build for my current boat. Why not see if I can grab it for cheap?
What is better than one non-running Slickcraft I ask my wife..
A complete and running (last season) boat with a trailer for $900 and the key is that is has the enclosed rear section that I wanted to build and is only an hour away.
$600 later and it is sitting in my driveway.
Could I be so lucky that is is a dry boat and all I need to do is drop in my small block and cut a hole in the bottom for the jet intake? We did some investigation prior to purchase and I had a good idea of what was under the carpet but it was time to find out.
Not looking good so it's time to cut up a section of deck......just what I thought.
I had planned for this so it was time to take the parts I wanted for my existing boat like the cap, gas tank, etc and sell the engine and outdrive... oh, and there is that nice trailer it came with.
With some help from a few friends I swapped the caps, pulled and sold the engine/outdrive, and sent the old one on its way.
Back to the build with a much improved topside. All the gauges and dash are much better thanks to the mooring cover.