1996 Century Boats 1800 Center Console Refit and Modernization

[zool]

I’m 5 and counting ..

Thats right Sam, the new tinner put you at five........just a matter of time before you're driving by old boatyards......that arent on the way home.

 

[sphelps]

2 are still in dry dock ..
the big decision The Manatee fishing rig or the way cool Borum Bobcat go fast boat .. For next restoration .. The fishing boat is way closer to being done than the other …,

 

[zool]

Yeah, the Manatee is already painted with Essentials, IIRC...I chose the fishing rig 1st too, theres something about the go fast boats you want to take ur time with, and make sexy......

 

[zool]

Its starting to feel a little wintery out around here, so I went over the rest of the boat to make a list of what I need to finish and whats doable weather permitting.

Ive just been wet sanding cap with 400 to clean it up and blend it to the new gel areas. It looks fine now. ill follow with 1500 then compound/polish and wax.

The only remaining gel repairs I need are the old mount holes in the console, but that will have to wait til spring, unless I get some days over 60 degrees in november.

Whats left to do over the winter:

1) Remove the dash panel and fill in the glove box opening with sheet aluminum, fair it smooth, paint it, and cut out the fishfinder and plotter display openings for flush mounting. I have to run the transducers to the transom for bracket mounting.

2) I have to figure out speaker locations and run the wires and cut the holes. The stereo and vhf will be flush mounted in the E-box so I have to fabricate that panel and wiring/busses. I have to route the antenna wires from the t-top into the e-box for both.

3) I bought Century logo decals in white for the port and starboard rear sections so I have to put them on over the black paint. I also have to order new reg numbers in white, pre-spaced and install them on the bow with the new reg sticker. I also have a thin white boot stripe to install just above the bottom paint transition line.

4) I bought the Yamaha cowling decal set and correct grey paint for the 1996 engine, so i can take that inside and paint it and apply the new ones.

5) I have to reseal and install the rod holder resessed panels after the wires are all run.

6) I have to barrier coat and paint the bottom (spring)

7) Upholstery work, just a few cusions.

Thats pretty much it so theres light at the end of the tunnel

 

[kcassells]

I DON'T EVEN WANT TO READ THIS LIST. GNIGHT

 

[zool]

I DON'T EVEN WANT TO READ THIS LIST. GNIGHT

lol, yeah we both know that list will never hold up. I already saw a few more things i want to do.

Today I wet sanded, polished and applied a quick coat of Coralite wax to the cap. Then pulled the tape on the starboard side. Have some gel bleed thru on the rubrail so ill have to repaint that, no biggie.

I cleaned the stern area with alcohol and put on one of the logos dry.

Thats the cap area that had all the cracks I filed and gelled. Looks good now.

 

[sphelps]

That list you could knock out by Christmas Zool … No sweat ..

 

[zool]

That list you could knock out by Christmas Zool … No sweat ..

Yup, im gonna try to wrap it up this month, at least what can be finished in the cold. There is a few more things i want to do aside from that list, but nothing major.

The Admiral wants me to do the cabin renovations on the 330, so I can work on that under the shrink wrap with heat on in there. So I gotta abide.

I can finish glassing the Checkmate inside too this winter.

 

[zool]

Today I got the port side decal on after removing the remaining plastic wrap.
I applied them the standard dry way with tape on the ends and center, then peel one half at a time, then press out any bubbles.





Its a little nerv racking cause you only get one shot at getting it right, but after measuring, the tape at least holds it in place.

 

[zool]

I re-installed the hardware I removed for the gel repairs, except the backing nuts for the 2 cleats, which fell in the bilge because I was doing it alone. Gotta find the long magnetic tool to fish them out, theres only a few access panels to get in there.

 

[zool]

Next up was those crappy carpet step pads, they were glued down so I spent a while with goof off getting the sticky residue off. Its stained yellow but I plan to put EVA faux teak pads like seadek or a china clone, on there and another set of small step pads mid ship


It looks like I may not be able to fit both display screens on the dash, even if i relocated a few guages, so the fishfinder may have to be on a bracket on the console.

Gonna take all the guages out after labeling the wires, may replace the rocker switches if theyre brittle.



Then just a bunch of detailing the inside gel.

I also plan to winterize the engine real soon.

 

[zool]

I removed all the guages and switches from the dash and brought it into the shop. I was gonna reuse the existing aluminum panel, but ended up ordering an abs burl sheet to make a new panel. Its came in today, but havent opened it yet. Im gonna figure out this weekend if im gonna just use the old panel as a templete, or use it as a backer. The new abs is only 3/16 thick so I have too see how rigid it is.



Im planning to remove the storage comp and put the Furuno 1971f flush in there. I also have a few switches to add for spreader lights, and the speaker leds.

The radios will have to be in the ebox, which wasnt built very well but will have to do. Gonne use some of the left over abs to flush them in there. The spring hinges for the door are cheesey and barely functional, so ill have to add a locking folding hinge.




Gonna use half the opening for the radios, and leave the rest for storage access,

 

[kcassells]

I removed all the guages and switches from the dash and brought it into the shop. I was gonna reuse the existing aluminum panel, but ended up ordering an abs burl sheet to make a new panel. Its came in today, but havent opened it yet. Im gonna figure out this weekend if im gonna just use the old panel as a templete, or use it as a backer. The new abs is only 3/16 thick so I have too see how rigid it is.

View attachment 352340

Im planning to remove the storage comp and put the Furuno 1971f flush in there. I also have a few switches to add for spreader lights, and the speaker leds.

The radios will have to be in the ebox, which wasnt built very well but will have to do. Gonne use some of the left over abs to flush them in there. The spring hinges for the door are cheesey and barely functional, so ill have to add a locking folding hinge.

View attachment 352341


Gonna use half the opening for the radios, and leave the rest for storage access,

View attachment 352342

Kickin some butt Larry. That burl will look good against the radios.

 

[kcassells]

Are you doing anything with satellite? With your electronics?

 

[zool]

Are you doing anything with satellite? With your electronics?

Not on this rig, Just the Furuno touch screen multi function chart plotter/fish finder with wireless dome, and Lowrance hook2 7x with sidescan.

Furuno


Lowrance



I have them both already.

 

[kcassells]

Not on this rig, Just the Furuno touch screen multi function chart plotter/fish finder with wireless dome, and Lowrance hook2 7x with sidescan.

Furuno
View attachment 352354

Lowrance

View attachment 352355

I have them both already.

Yea thanks. Aren't the two units redundant? I do like the hook unit, actually both. The domey thing like radar? I,ve got a dated garmin gps/plotter, ff Trying to figure updates and spatial issues.

 

[zool]

Yea thanks. Aren't the two units redundant? I do like the hook unit, actually both. The domey thing like radar? I,ve got a dated garmin gps/plotter, ff Trying to figure updates and spatial issues.

not exactly, the furuno accepts c-map maps and has radar, the lowrance only has genesis charting, basically lets u make ur own map as you cruise along but doesnt take pre-drawn area maps, like inland lakes or coastal.

At night i can run c-map with radar overlay on the furuno, and keep the 3d fishfinder at full screen on the lowrance.

Fishing is only good on the lake after midnight, when it settles down from all the yahoos during the day

I got the lowrance from the factory store as reconditioned for like 275 with the tripleshot sidescan transducer included.....

 

[kcassells]

You made out great on the pricing. Radar is a must but anutter $$. I'll have to look into radar overlay and its features. I thought you had to be back in the nursing home by 7pm?
What dome unit are you using.

 

[zool]

You made out great on the pricing. Radar is a must but anutter $$. I'll have to look into radar overlay and its features. I thought you had to be back in the nursing home by 7pm?
What dome unit are you using.

Furuno wireless 1st watch dome, I only have to run a power cable to it, because the ttop is folding, i cant run wires thru the tubes from the console to the top, so ill use a bulkhead to run a power line to a fuse block and power everything up there from the ebox.

 

[zool]

Today I mocked up the dash panel. I cut a piece of 1/2 mdf to the size of the original panel, then screws them together.



I used hole saws in the drill press to cut the gauge holes, a drill bit for the fuse reset holes, and a jig saw for the other cutouts in the mdf. that was a PIA, but its done. I test fitted the display.


Im gonna use the mdf jig and original panel to sandwich the abs when i cut the new panel.



I just got the recruit a second set of hands to run the dash thru the table saw and hold the panel while I cut it out. It was a struggle by myself to wrestle with the jig while drilling and cutting. Then I can reinstall it and start running some wires and transducers.

Next up is the ebox cutouts then I can start on the upholstery.