1990 Chris Craft 254 Seahawk ( Refurb and upgrades)

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lil buggy

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Re: 1990 Chris Craft 254 Seahawk ( Refurb and upgrades)

yep, it counts as led's in the cabin,,,bahaha,, unless your gonna get,,, gulp,,, drapes:D,,,bahahaha.

all cleaned up and on to the next project,sweet:D,
 

25thmustang

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Re: 1990 Chris Craft 254 Seahawk ( Refurb and upgrades)

Looking great. I'll keep an eye on the cabin work as well! I'll be interested to see what tricks you have up your sleeve for down below!
 

southkogs

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Re: 1990 Chris Craft 254 Seahawk ( Refurb and upgrades)

woodywax2012567.jpg

Y'know ... I was perusing the thread, not intending to post. Then looked at these photos again ... these overhead images BEG for the light s to chase clockwise around the hull.
 

chriscraft254

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Re: 1990 Chris Craft 254 Seahawk ( Refurb and upgrades)

Y'know ... I was perusing the thread, not intending to post. Then looked at these photos again ... these overhead images BEG for the light s to chase clockwise around the hull.

Thats exactly what is going into the cabin. A light upgrade, if I like them, the exterior lights will be replaced. But I am making sure I order the good ones first time around this time, so investigations still ongoing,lol
 

chriscraft254

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Re: 1990 Chris Craft 254 Seahawk ( Refurb and upgrades)

Unlike some of my slacker friends here,lmao:D I did not drop in the water for the weekend. I decided it was time to catch up on other things, like laundry, dishes, cleaning/detailing truck, straightening out tools and material, a few small boat projects thrown in there somewhere and some much needed rest.

The truck was a huge job since it has basically been neglected through all the boat projects and work to. Couldn't be pulling a shiny boat around with a dirty truck!! :p

Anyway, did get the woody wax down on the decks of the boat. Still have some cleaning to do in the cabin and then load her up. The water is up now so hopefully next weekend the river will be looking good again. storms tonight though.

Not alot of pics but heres the truck cleened up a little. Got a good coat of wax and the interior cleaned and detailed including shapoo the carpets. Smells really really good,lol

woodywax2012732.jpg
 

GT1000000

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Re: 1990 Chris Craft 254 Seahawk ( Refurb and upgrades)

Yep, I'd say that rig is looking equal to the task of haulin that bright shiny boat anywhere there's water...Nice!
 

boatguy94

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Re: 1990 Chris Craft 254 Seahawk ( Refurb and upgrades)

One of these days your tow rig, and boat might go missing ;) :D. I love your setup! I've wanted a diesel f250 forever, and your boat is amazing. I'm super jealous :facepalm:. Keep up the amazing work!
 

chriscraft254

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Re: 1990 Chris Craft 254 Seahawk ( Refurb and upgrades)

One of these days your tow rig, and boat might go missing. I love your setup! I've wanted a diesel f250 forever, and your boat is amazing. I'm super jealous . Keep up the amazing work!

:eek:Now now!! I think I still have a high power rifle that can still reach Michigan,lol:eek: Armed gaurds, killer dogs, surveillance video, and a self destructing boat if it moves without my permission, plus I'm a former Marine. Grrrrrrrrrr ,lol :D
Seriously though, thanks for the complements. The nicest thing is that I bought both the truck and boat cheap, just wish either one was cheap to run.:facepalm: The truck is a F350 03, V10, so it has a drinking problem and of coarse the boat has the same problem.:redface:

By the way, that starcraft is going to be stellar when your done with it. Great looking boat!:)
 

lil buggy

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Re: 1990 Chris Craft 254 Seahawk ( Refurb and upgrades)

wwwwhhaaaaaaatttt:facepalm:,, slacker friends weren't sleepin,,,,, bahahaha,,,,lmao,,,, bahahaha.
seriously you have done an awesome job and deserve some much needed rest. that was one heck of a list you banged out in a few days, besides you were burnin the candle at both ends for months prior to that list,,, great work Budd. besides da boat, your truck is pimpen as well
and now that your well rested how about coming up here and helpin with that "boaters yard"syndrome i got going on,,,,,, bahahaha,,,, wait,,, you do roofs dont ya,,,lmao:p,,,,bahahahahaha

seriously, u gotta let me know if you make a trip up the ohio. i'd love to see gallopolis from a pleasure boat,, thats one heck of a lockwall, and it's on the bucket list!
 

ShellBack89

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Re: 1990 Chris Craft 254 Seahawk ( Refurb and upgrades)

Unlike some of my slacker friends here,lmao:D

I represent that statement. Splashed!!!! Thanks for the help! Gotta dig the guys on this forum always taking the time to answer the newbs ????? :confused: Your boat & truck looks great! This weekend I hope you can go back to being like one of us slackers :p & get that boat wet!
 

boatguy94

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Re: 1990 Chris Craft 254 Seahawk ( Refurb and upgrades)

Now now!! I think I still have a high power rifle that can still reach Michigan,lol Armed gaurds, killer dogs, surveillance video, and a self destructing boat if it moves without my permission, plus I'm a former Marine. Grrrrrrrrrr ,lol
Seriously though, thanks for the complements. The nicest thing is that I bought both the truck and boat cheap, just wish either one was cheap to run.:facepalm: The truck is a F350 03, V10, so it has a drinking problem and of coarse the boat has the same problem.:redface:

By the way, that starcraft is going to be stellar when your done with it. Great looking boat!

That got me a good laugh in the morning :D haha! I guess I was wrong thinking it was an f250... It still looks great, and maybe someday you can find a cheap diesel ;) hmmmm. I've got a '94 f150 with the 5.8l, and I think it'll have a drinking problem too :facepalm:...

Thanks for the compliment on my boat, I've got a long ways to go, but I'm getting the hang of it and going to try to make it look half as nice as what I've seen on here.
 
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25thmustang

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Re: 1990 Chris Craft 254 Seahawk ( Refurb and upgrades)

Truck looks great, and being a V10 owner myself (99 F250) I feel for you. Just at 10mpg average, she will clip mid 11s all highway, or in the 8s winter time! But yours looks awesome! :D

Get her in the water and enjoy it, you deserve it!!
 

Pmccraney

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Re: 1990 Chris Craft 254 Seahawk ( Refurb and upgrades)

Sort of making the rounds this morning trying to catch up on some threads... Way to knock out that "to do" list - you are a machine..

Truck looks awesome... Boat, as always, is the shizzle..
 

chriscraft254

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Re: 1990 Chris Craft 254 Seahawk ( Refurb and upgrades)

wwwwhhaaaaaaatttt,, slacker friends weren't sleepin,,,,, bahahaha,,,,lmao,,,, bahahaha.
seriously you have done an awesome job and deserve some much needed rest. that was one heck of a list you banged out in a few days, besides you were burnin the candle at both ends for months prior to that list,,, great work Budd. besides da boat, your truck is pimpen as well
and now that your well rested how about coming up here and helpin with that "boaters yard"syndrome i got going on,,,,,, bahahaha,,,, wait,,, you do roofs dont ya,,,lmao,,,,bahahahahaha

seriously, u gotta let me know if you make a trip up the ohio. i'd love to see gallopolis from a pleasure boat,, thats one heck of a lockwall, and it's on the bucket list!

hahahaha, if you only knew how little sleep I do get.:facepalm: Me don't like roofs no more,lol Seriously, getting to old to do roofs and I can get some cheap labor for that. :) Gallopolis?

I represent that statement. Splashed!!!! Thanks for the help! Gotta dig the guys on this forum always taking the time to answer the newbs ????? Your boat & truck looks great! This weekend I hope you can go back to being like one of us slackers :p & get that boat wet!

I'm gonna be slacking this weekend high water or no high water!. Did I ignore a question you asked? :eek:????

That got me a good laugh in the morning haha! I guess I was wrong thinking it was an f250... It still looks great, and maybe someday you can find a cheap diesel hmmmm. I've got a '94 f150 with the 5.8l, and I think it'll have a drinking problem too

Thanks for the compliment on my boat, I've got a long ways to go, but I'm getting the hang of it and going to try to make it look half as nice as what I've seen on here.

Cheap diesel? argg. Yeah, i had a 7.4 liter that I sold my cousin. It has 300000 plus thousand on it and it still runs good. I will have another deisel someday, just not in the cards right now for sure. Its like taking out a morgage to buy a new one or even used.
You'll have that boat wipped into shape in no time.

Truck looks great, and being a V10 owner myself (99 F250) I feel for you. Just at 10mpg average, she will clip mid 11s all highway, or in the 8s winter time! But yours looks awesome!

Get her in the water and enjoy it, you deserve it!!

Thanks man, the truck gets 8 if I'm lucky, larger tires suck it up fast. It is alot of fun to drive though, its funny when that little car comes up the right hand side and thinks there going to overtake the v10 truck. lmao I plan on some much needed boating this weekend. :)

Sort of making the rounds this morning trying to catch up on some threads... Way to knock out that "to do" list - you are a machine..

Truck looks awesome... Boat, as always, is the shizzle..

man, I will have to catch up on your here soon also, been pretty busy with work. Hope all is well and the project gets splashed this year! OHHHH:)
 

chriscraft254

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Re: 1990 Chris Craft 254 Seahawk ( Refurb and upgrades)

Well, I finally got to a little project i have been wanting to do for some time. If you have followed my thread or read though the whole thing you might remember I had put some step lights in the walkaround steps a long time ago. they have been great. they were cheap to buy and have really done a great job.

I had replaced the original lights that came in them with some led replacements. One of the lights wasn't working so i investigated. I kinda knew when i installed these that I was taking a chance by not sealing them. Turs out the connector/socket the bulb goes into was rusted and had rusted the contacts also on the bulb.

Can't have that, so I replaced the socket and ordered new bulbs. I should not have this issue again because I have sealed them now, here is what I did. Just thought I would document for others sake.

Removed the fixture

waterintrusionmaitenance044.jpg


Installed the new socket into the back of the fixture and taped the rubber socket to the housing for extra vibration resistance. The reason is the twist action of the rubber grommet type socket into the light housing really can back out or twist out if not taped. No issues with that since I taped them a couple years ago.

waterintrusionmaitenance046.jpg


You can see in the above pic, this light housing had a channel in the back for what I think was for drainage. It also has a weep hole at the bottom. With the led lights installed I don't have to worry about heat, so sealing them shouldn't be an issue. i layed down some 1 hour silicone caulk into the channel but just on the top and sides and part of the bottom not blocking the weep hole. thought it was a good Ides to have the weep hole for condensation if there ever is any.

waterintrusionmaitenance048.jpg


waterintrusionmaitenance049.jpg


After installing the housing, screwing it in and wiping excess caulk off, I installed the lens cover also bedded in silicone..

waterintrusionmaitenance052.jpg


Finshed product.

waterintrusionmaitenance053.jpg


The nice thing about these fixtures is they are plastic, the housings stay looking new. They were bought at pepboys for like 4 bucks a peice and the new bulbs (leds) were like 10 for 4 bucks. So very cheap to buy and they really light the steps well. Now that there sealed for boat use, they should be good to go for a long time. If a bulb ever burns out, all you have to do is replace the bulb by removing the lens cover. I like them because there square also. comperable "marine lights are 30 to 40 bucks a peice.
 

chriscraft254

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Re: 1990 Chris Craft 254 Seahawk ( Refurb and upgrades)

I have two matching flag poles and had lost one of the end caps off one of them. I bought a kit from autozone that is called a bypass cap assortment. Isn't what I was looking for but they really worked out well and I think will stay on much better than the thin caps that were on different items that i have bought like antennaes ect.

This is the kit.
waterintrusionmaitenance069.jpg


The kit came with 4 different sizes and two of each size.

I replaced the end caps on the flag poles with one size. These caps are longer and are thicker, I think they look better. Hard to tell in the pics, but again, just documenting.

waterintrusionmaitenance062.jpg


Then replaced or should I say overlayed the end caps on both radio antennaes with another size from the kit..

waterintrusionmaitenance063.jpg


Then started to look around to see what else could these be used on. Ever have spiders make a little nest in the end of your fire extinguishers, yeah, me neither, but now they can't,lol

before

waterintrusionmaitenance064.jpg


After, they fit perfect,lol

waterintrusionmaitenance066.jpg


Now I just have to find something to use the largest size on.:)

Also checked my batteries fluid levels, they were low, so now there filled and ready to go with full charge. Replaced a burned out bulb in one of my stern overhead spot lights also. looking for some replacement leds for those as well. Not the housing, just the bulb. The housings are awesome after 3 seasons, so I will be keeping them.
 

chriscraft254

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Re: 1990 Chris Craft 254 Seahawk ( Refurb and upgrades)

Here is a pic of the step lights after done, I have a total of six of them, the other side will get attention tomarrow. :)

waterintrusionmaitenance072.jpg
 

GT1000000

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Re: 1990 Chris Craft 254 Seahawk ( Refurb and upgrades)

Good tips on the TIPS and sealing of the lights.
Being that they are LEDS, if all goes well they should last something like 50-100,000 hours...
Have a great weekend...
 

ShellBack89

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Re: 1990 Chris Craft 254 Seahawk ( Refurb and upgrades)

The lights, as always look great! The LED thread has been a huge help also and no you didn't forget to answer my ???? You answered it for me. Thanks!
 

lil buggy

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Re: 1990 Chris Craft 254 Seahawk ( Refurb and upgrades)

to further clarify,,,,
gallopolis used to have the neatest downbound towboat approach.
it was certainly blind. you couldnt see the lock chamber until you were right up on it.

we used to ease up and tie the stern barge to the wall,,, and the current would swing the tow around the corner at which point you could turn her loose and head into the chamber. if you didnt tie her off for the swing,,, you would definately go right into the dam side,,

coming upbound, once exiting the locks, you would have to do the same, ease out,,, get a stern line on her and power the tow around the corner, then you could proceed
the wind and current wouldn't allow any other option,,,, i loved that lock that way.

upon further inspection the changed it all up and ran a straight lock thru to avoid all the accidents,,,but it looks like they took all the fun outa it.
if i can find any more info before they changed it to the robert c byrd lock i'll be sure to post it.
i am certainly sad that the old one go( not sure when). that was the hands down coolest event on our trips from clairton pa to cairo il and the mighty mississippi:(
 
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