1976 SeaSprite Cougar 15' (Future Fishing Vessel)

[mattkenton]

Hi there. I recently aquired a 76 SeaSprite Cougar with a 1975 70hp Evinrude from my family. It has been in the family for a good 15yrs and has only been used 12-15 times. Recently it has been sitting up for about 2-3 yrs. I have had the boat for about a month now. So far i have stripped the entire boat down, changed water pump/fuel lines, and upgraded from a 13-10" Aluminum prop to a 13-17" SS prop. I wanted to start this thread from where i am now and keep everyone up to date and get help/help others along the way. So far i have found nothing but a wealth of knowledge and a group of amazingly helpful people here. So here we go!

 

[oops!]

Re: 1975 SeaSprite Cougar 15' (Future Fishing Vessel)

Re: 1975 SeaSprite Cougar 15' (Future Fishing Vessel)

hi....welcome to i boats.

we allways look forward to a good project !


dont gorget pics.....we love em around here....they really help.

cheers
oops

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: 1975 SeaSprite Cougar 15' (Future Fishing Vessel)

Re: 1975 SeaSprite Cougar 15' (Future Fishing Vessel)

Welcome aboard !!! you in the right place !! can you get some pics up ? how are your transom and stringer ?? your best bet is to read the completed projects forum!! so again welcome !! John

 

[mattkenton]

Re: 1975 SeaSprite Cougar 15' (Future Fishing Vessel)

Re: 1975 SeaSprite Cougar 15' (Future Fishing Vessel)

My transom and stringers are solid! I do however want to add a little plywood to the floor. Its a bit spongy. I opted not to rip out the floor because i do not want to do a project like that. And it is not in my budget. I will have some pics up tom afternoon, and will keep everyone very up to date on progress. Thanks!

 

[Cougar_15]

Re: 1975 SeaSprite Cougar 15' (Future Fishing Vessel)

Re: 1975 SeaSprite Cougar 15' (Future Fishing Vessel)

Welcome to Iboats! It's good to see another Sea Sprite Cougar owner. I am in the middle of restoring a 1976 Cougar 15. If your curious it's under Project Sea Sprite. Is yours an outboard or stern drive? I would love to see some pics.

 

[mattkenton]

Re: 1975 SeaSprite Cougar 15' (Future Fishing Vessel)

Re: 1975 SeaSprite Cougar 15' (Future Fishing Vessel)

Hi Cougar_15. Here are some pics i just snapped. I am about to take it for a speed test. I have not tested since i acquired my 17" SS prop. I will let you know how it went.

 

[mattkenton]

Re: 1975 SeaSprite Cougar 15' (Future Fishing Vessel)

Re: 1975 SeaSprite Cougar 15' (Future Fishing Vessel)

Ok so i just got back from the prop test. Wasn't as big of a gain as i had hoped, but i guess i can't ask for 100% from a boat with no trim ability. She topped out at 34MPH.

Here are the rest of my photos.

 

[Cougar_15]

Re: 1975 SeaSprite Cougar 15' (Future Fishing Vessel)

Re: 1975 SeaSprite Cougar 15' (Future Fishing Vessel)

Very nice, mattkenton. Looks a lot like the '76 with a few minor differences. What's the horsepower of that Evinrude? I'm running a 70hp on mine and topped out at around 32 (I don't remember the prop stats, agh brain fade...). You might want to consider installing a tachometer to make sure you are in the right RPM range (and not going over the limit). If your under propped you will lose performance and if your over you can damage the motor... I am planning on installing one on my boat when I get it put back to together.​

What are you planning for the new interior? I have the standard back to back lounge seats but I'm toying with the idea of a rear bench and front captains chairs...​

 

[mattkenton]

Re: 1975 SeaSprite Cougar 15' (Future Fishing Vessel)

Re: 1975 SeaSprite Cougar 15' (Future Fishing Vessel)

Very nice, mattkenton. Looks a lot like the '76 with a few minor differences. What's the horsepower of that Evinrude? I'm running a 70hp on mine and topped out at around 32 (I don't remember the prop stats, agh brain fade...). You might want to consider installing a tachometer to make sure you are in the right RPM range (and not going over the limit). If your under propped you will lose performance and if your over you can damage the motor... I am planning on installing one on my boat when I get it put back to together.​

What are you planning for the new interior? I have the standard back to back lounge seats but I'm toying with the idea of a rear bench and front captains chairs...​

Cougar_15, this is actually a 1976 model. I posted the wrong year, but have changed it now. The engine is a 75 70hp Evinrude. Your boat and mine are identical. Your project is actually why i decided to post mine on here as well so we could hopefullt help each other as much as possibly.

I am going to be turning my boat into a fishing boat(since i am an avid fisher here in Florida). So my idea is to close in the bow for a casting/standing platform, putting in low pro captain seats behind the window, and a long bench seat/padded cooler along the back. On the interior walls i plan on putting rod holders so they are not just laying in the storage wells getting banged up. Also upgrading to a 12gal tank and 2 batteries banked together. Hoping to be done in 2 months. Keeping fingers Crossed.

 

[wes1019]

Re: 1976 SeaSprite Cougar 15' (Future Fishing Vessel)

Hi there. I recently aquired a 76 SeaSprite Cougar with a 1975 70hp Evinrude from my family. It has been in the family for a good 15yrs and has only been used 12-15 times. Recently it has been sitting up for about 2-3 yrs. I have had the boat for about a month now. So far i have stripped the entire boat down, changed water pump/fuel lines, and upgraded from a 13-10" Aluminum prop to a 13-17" SS prop. I wanted to start this thread from where i am now and keep everyone up to date and get help/help others along the way. So far i have found nothing but a wealth of knowledge and a group of amazingly helpful people here. So here we go!

It's good to see that I am not the only one to try to convert a Cougar into a bass boat. My project was to make it easy to return the boat to origina condition in a matter of about 20 minutes. First I built a deck to cover the bow area and mounted at fishing seat up there. I made it out of 5/4" decking like what you would use on a home deck. This allows it to dry thouroghly and does not weigh very much. In the back I built a deck that is about 16 inches high. The front of the deck steps down to a bench tah will sit three across. The deck has 5 hatches to access the area beneath for storage. This helps keep the deck clear for fishing. It has worked very well for fishing and my kids love to take the boat out and drop anchor and use the boat a diving platform. If you want I can try to post some pictures.

 

[mattkenton]

Re: 1976 SeaSprite Cougar 15' (Future Fishing Vessel)

It's good to see that I am not the only one to try to convert a Cougar into a bass boat. My project was to make it easy to return the boat to origina condition in a matter of about 20 minutes. First I built a deck to cover the bow area and mounted at fishing seat up there. I made it out of 5/4" decking like what you would use on a home deck. This allows it to dry thouroghly and does not weigh very much. In the back I built a deck that is about 16 inches high. The front of the deck steps down to a bench tah will sit three across. The deck has 5 hatches to access the area beneath for storage. This helps keep the deck clear for fishing. It has worked very well for fishing and my kids love to take the boat out and drop anchor and use the boat a diving platform. If you want I can try to post some pictures.

Yes Please!

 

[Cougar_15]

Re: 1976 SeaSprite Cougar 15' (Future Fishing Vessel)

I would also like to see some pics!​

Did adding the front platform and rear bench seat change the way the boat sits in the water or planes? I've read on some of the other threads that adding raised decks can alter the center of gravity and make the boat more tippy and moving weight to the stern (rear bench instead of middle lounge seats) can make it harder to get on plane...​

 

[wes1019]

Re: 1976 SeaSprite Cougar 15' (Future Fishing Vessel)

Oh wow, Computer crash and then a lot of other stuff. Just now getting back online after a long absence. If you are still interested in my project I can try to send pics.