Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

[mcgyver210]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

My boat mechanic guaranteed the boat would do 65-75 mph. 150 is just what's written on the cowling. I had the engine rebuilt and the boat is a Cobra... the hull is not as deep as a Capri. We will see how fast she really goes soon enough, I just want a speedo that can read it.

If you don't have the gauge issue taken care of for testing just use a GPS device. I know some say it isn't accurate on water but it will do in a pinch & you can compare when you get your gauges you want.

 

[tybouff]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

Hey everybody,

First of all, I just want to thank all of you for being so helpful, expressing your honest opinions, and sharing ideas. I am not offended AT ALL by anything written on here. I am including a pic of my boat which my brothers and I have decided to name "Sleuth," being avid Hardy Boys fans. The pic is of the identical boat to ours because ours is currently in storage. I will clarify my position a little bit for anyone who is interested. I am not bragging, just clarifying. The reason I am talking about 70-75 MPH is because I just had the engine rebuilt and my mechanic guaranteed speeds of at least 68 MPH. The other reason these speeds may be attainable is that I had a jack plate installed on the transom. The transom and hull of the boat are as solid as rocks. This boat was garaged its whole life and I am the third owner. Yes, I do have a job... four part time jobs to be exact, and I am one term away from getting a BSBA in general management. However, I do live in my wonderful parents' house. They actually would rather I live with them than pay rent to someone else... my brothers and I started out with an ancient Invader trihaul that we still have (and still run). When we saw the "Sleuth" go up for sale nearby, we bit the bullet (without creating a deficit in our bank accounts) and bought her. I want to restore this boat to mint condition... it is missing all of its covers bimini, bow, etc., needs to be polished (should be done within a week or two), and needs a new sound system (sitting in the garage waiting to be installed). These gauges fascinate me mostly because my brothers and I are extremely nostalgic. Weather they are star wars or night rider, they look cool to me. I might even put gauges like these in my Porsche 928! That is for another forum though ahaha. Thanks again for all your help and advice. I promise I will operate this boat safely... I even have a fish and boat commission license to prove it! (Like that means anything) God bless all of you and I hope the coming boating season will be as exhilarating as it was when you were a teenager living in the fantasy world! Regards gentleman,

 

[tybouff]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

Here's the pic...

Hey everybody,

First of all, I just want to thank all of you for being so helpful, expressing your honest opinions, and sharing ideas. I am not offended AT ALL by anything written on here. I am including a pic of my boat which my brothers and I have decided to name "Sleuth," being avid Hardy Boys fans. The pic is of the identical boat to ours because ours is currently in storage. I will clarify my position a little bit for anyone who is interested. I am not bragging, just clarifying. The reason I am talking about 70-75 MPH is because I just had the engine rebuilt and my mechanic guaranteed speeds of at least 68 MPH. The other reason these speeds may be attainable is that I had a jack plate installed on the transom. The transom and hull of the boat are as solid as rocks. This boat was garaged its whole life and I am the third owner. Yes, I do have a job... four part time jobs to be exact, and I am one term away from getting a BSBA in general management. However, I do live in my wonderful parents' house. They actually would rather I live with them than pay rent to someone else... my brothers and I started out with an ancient Invader trihaul that we still have (and still run). When we saw the "Sleuth" go up for sale nearby, we bit the bullet (without creating a deficit in our bank accounts) and bought her. I want to restore this boat to mint condition... it is missing all of its covers bimini, bow, etc., needs to be polished (should be done within a week or two), and needs a new sound system (sitting in the garage waiting to be installed). These gauges fascinate me mostly because my brothers and I are extremely nostalgic. Weather they are star wars or night rider, they look cool to me. I might even put gauges like these in my Porsche 928! That is for another forum though ahaha. Thanks again for all your help and advice. I promise I will operate this boat safely... I even have a fish and boat commission license to prove it! (Like that means anything) God bless all of you and I hope the coming boating season will be as exhilarating as it was when you were a teenager living in the fantasy world! Regards gentleman,

 

[oops!]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

cool boat bud.

but dont get your hopes up on 70 mph.....

boats and speed is a mathematical calculation. it also includes prop pitch.....it takes a really big strong motor to turn a really big pitch prop....

it would take a really light boat with a huge motor to hit 70.....i have seen plenty of bliners do 50 with a large motor.

50 is really fast.

take more pics of the boat......and what you want to do to it....polish....ect....and make a post in the dry dock (the restoration section) we can guide you to a safe nice shiney boat !

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

that is a mid 50's boat if it has a strong running engine. At least with a GPS, a pitot might indicate 60 mph on a good day, and a mechanic trying to sell a boat is going to inflate that to at least 70 mph.

funny thing happens with boats. Hitting 50 is somewhat easy. Hitting 60 takes double the horsepower and a good hull. Hitting 70 takes another doubling of horsepower and a hull designed for it. That boat has neither the power nor the hull for 70 mph.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

My point was, even the bass boats with a 150 hangin' off the back don't do 70mph. Heck, a newer bass boat with a 250 only hits mid-to-upper 70's, and that's with a light, tiny, hull and 100HP more.

 

[oops!]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

to support smoking craters statement...

the bass rockets hulls are designed for the speed....as that is the design of the hull.....speed, and a stable fishing platform.

the bass rockets actually sit on a pad....about 15 sq inches when at speed....that is all that is in the water...

the b-liner we are looking at there is not that type of design, and is much heavier

 

[Bondo]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

I will clarify my position a little bit for anyone who is interested. I am not bragging, just clarifying. The reason I am talking about 70-75 MPH is because I just had the engine rebuilt and my mechanic guaranteed speeds of at least 68 MPH. The other reason these speeds may be attainable is that I had a jack plate installed on the transom.

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,...

Just another reality check,... You might see the lower 60s, Maybe.... Beyond that, No Way....

You've got a bayliner/ Force,... It ain't no water Porsche... closer to a Wet Beetle....

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

Well I pulled the tach out of my friend's I/O boat today.... he would have been HAPPY to swap ya but his tach has no adjustability for any other engine... I even took it apart and there was a potentiometer inside to tune it but no settings for different engines..... I still need to see what the outboard boat has in it tho that one may take a bit of time.... I'm wanting to buy the whole boat for cheap, sell the trailer, keep the engine and dump the hull.... If I can get it and it has the right gauges, they're yours.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

I'm pretty sure you already have a Star Wars fuel gauge and speedometer.:facepalm:

 

[coolbri70]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

if it does do 70 i dont recommend it, very scary, reminded me of going 160 in a car, feels that fast anyway, anyhow it looks like this it might the corners of your mouth curve upwards tho

 

[UncleSpidey]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

take more pics of the boat......and what you want to do to it....polish....ect....and make a post in the dry dock (the restoration section) we can guide you to a safe nice shiney boat !

I'm wanting to buy the whole boat for cheap, sell the trailer, keep the engine and dump the hull.... If I can get it and it has the right gauges, they're yours.

If you ask me, those two posts pretty much sum up why this forum rocks.

 

[snowforfun4]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

If you ask me, those two posts pretty much sum up why this forum rocks.

i agree completely!! So many helpful people sharing a common interest. I also find it refreshing to see younger people who are not affraid to tear into something like repairing/maintaining/restoring boats. What a great way to learn get proficient with a wrench.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

I can see into the future... I see a 19 year old and his brother trying to modify a Bayliner to hit 70mph to prove the wise ones wrong, and spending their entire savings trying to do it.... :facepalm:

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

OR I could mod the speedo a bit before sending it so it reads 90 at 45 and you guys could bite a lip and let him believe in the easter bunny for just a little longer....LOL

 

[tybouff]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

Hey all,

I hear what you are saying about the mechanic over doing it with his guarantee of 70mph. I will be very happy if it goes 60mph... like I said, I don't plan on running it full throttle all the time. "NYBO" did give me the "blue grid" speedo and fuel gauges. (Thanks again Bob!) So all I need to complete that set is a tach (for outboards), and the three other little ones (battery, temp, etc). Like I said though, I am kinda leaning toward the "Green curvy" gauge set. Thanks for all of the pointers and links. My mechanic will be testing the boat with me in a month or two (as part of his contract) and will get a chance to live up to his guarantee... wont that be interesting! As to "Beefer's" comments, I must admit, actually getting the boat to do 70-75 and proving it to all of you would feel good. I am going to be satisfied with what ever speed it tops out at though (assuming it only goes 60mph). Especially considering my brothers and I will primarily use the boat for wakeboarding. What is the world record for top speed pulling a wake boarder? Regards,

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

I don't know about wakeboards, but top speed for water skiing is well over 100 MPH, probably close to 200 now. They used to use California SK type drag hulls and the ski was about ten feet long and 1 1/2 inches thick. I have gotten up around 60 on a slalom but I can't imagine going that fast without a nice big fiberglass hull around me. Takes more and bigger brass bells than I have.