1962 Custom Craft Sun Ray with 80 HP I/O

[chrisroberts916]

I just picked this up and was wondering if anyone have seen one like it before or could tell me more about the 80 hp West Bend inboard. It's in great shape just needed a little paint and should be on the water soon.

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: 1962 Custom Craft Sun Ray with 80 HP I/O

Howdy Chris welcome to iboats . I cant tell you anything about your boat other than there is only one like it here.


http://www.theclassicboathouse.com/galleryfiberglass.html


Theres a small pile of Custom Crafts but only one Sun Ray.



Rick

 

[onedaatmc]

Re: 1962 Custom Craft Sun Ray with 80 HP I/O

Wow what a cool boat ! Good Luck with the restoration ! are those holes in the bow for lights or torpedoes ?

 

[chrisroberts916]

Re: 1962 Custom Craft Sun Ray with 80 HP I/O

What I'm finding rare is the I/O combo. I've found a great site http://nicklecityclassics.webs.com/customcraftboats.htm with a bunch of info but not one other I/O there. Here's a pic of the stern drive ID

 

[chrisroberts916]

Re: 1962 Custom Craft Sun Ray with 80 HP I/O

Does anyone know of a good source for dash replacement? Or ever attempt to do one that can give me some pointers?

 

[chrisroberts916]

Re: 1962 Custom Craft Sun Ray with 80 HP I/O

Got most of the white sprayed today, I still got the fins and rear deck to do.

 

[JaSla74]

Re: 1962 Custom Craft Sun Ray with 80 HP I/O

You should name it Hammerhead.

 

[chrisroberts916]

Re: 1962 Custom Craft Sun Ray with 80 HP I/O

You should name it Hammerhead.

I heard it was bad luck to change the name of a boat, this one was "Runnin Bare" and I don't like that name.

 

[JaSla74]

Re: 1962 Custom Craft Sun Ray with 80 HP I/O

Is it still bad luck when the old name is faded? The bear on the side reminds me of a ballerina.

 

[IVAZ]

Re: 1962 Custom Craft Sun Ray with 80 HP I/O

Very cool looking boat.

Is that a two blade prop.?
Are those hydraulic cylinders tucked in the gimbal thing?

If money wasn't too big an issue I would try to bring the current I/O combo back to service. Its probably easier to re power with a merc combo. They are common and can be had for not too many $$.

 

[chrisroberts916]

Re: 1962 Custom Craft Sun Ray with 80 HP I/O

Yes it's a two blade brass prop.
No hydraulics.
The motor was completely rebuilt 15 years ago and never ran. I dumped couple oz of 2-cycle in each cyl. and turned over by hand and it's nice and free, seems to have good compression. It has new fuel tanks and fuel pump from the rebuild thats never had fuel in them so I don't believe I will have a problem with the carbs. I will know more this weekend when I finish the wiring.
Thanks for the comments. It's is a neat project.

 

[mikastorm]

Re: 1962 Custom Craft Sun Ray with 80 HP I/O

Haven,t seen one of those in years. Cool boat.
Keep the pixs coming.

 

[chrisroberts916]

Re: 1962 Custom Craft Sun Ray with 80 HP I/O

Well, I going to attempt the dash myself. Anyone have any pointers? Here is couple pictures, the wood was shot so I stripped it all out and installing new. Can you sew marine vinyl with a regular household sewing machine?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1962 Custom Craft Sun Ray with 80 HP I/O

When I replaced my "dash" wood I used a PVC trim board from Lowes. It was very easy to work with, looked great and will never rot.

 

[mrfixit57]

Re: 1962 Custom Craft Sun Ray with 80 HP I/O

When I replaced my "dash" wood I used a PVC trim board from Lowes. It was very easy to work with, looked great and will never rot.

Cool boat! I have been running the Sharko for 19 years, off and on. Big mistake is not draining the lower unit. I just took it apart and hope the bearings are generic enough to get. Mine was installed in my '61 Thompson Cuddy. With that boat it ought to really move! As soon as I downsize some pics I can show you my Datsun 1600 truck engine cloned to it, as the engine as is was worn out and ate me out of house and home in gas and oil! But that system should work great in yours, I am more of a cruiser. Jim

 

[chrisroberts916]

Re: 1962 Custom Craft Sun Ray with 80 HP I/O

Cool boat! I have been running the Sharko for 19 years, off and on. Big mistake is not draining the lower unit. I just took it apart and hope the bearings are generic enough to get. Mine was installed in my '61 Thompson Cuddy. With that boat it ought to really move! As soon as I downsize some pics I can show you my Datsun 1600 truck engine cloned to it, as the engine as is was worn out and ate me out of house and home in gas and oil! But that system should work great in yours, I am more of a cruiser. Jim

I would love more info on your Datsun engine and some pictures too.

 

[mrfixit57]

Re: 1962 Custom Craft Sun Ray with 80 HP I/O

Been awhile as I did not use my boat for awhile. She is now up and running after a good refit, been 20 years since last one. Datsun got rebuilt along with cleaning up odds and ends, paint, etc. I installed a marine alternator, used copper tubing to surround the exhaust manifold along with surrounding it in soft aluminum sheeting. The cooling system still uses the water pump from the Sharkomatic but it feeds a cooler and reservoir I made out of 4" brass pipe, brass plate for baffles, and copper tubing. The connection to the Shark uses the support ring from the transmission (used a chainsaw to cut it off the bell housing and a router with end mill on a glass dinette table to true it up) Better late than never!