My 196 Spectra 18 (re)Build [Archive]

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Riverbound

09-29-2007, 04:35 AM

Well I bought this boat 6 years ago. and started restoring it. Ended up selling it 2 years ago. Just got it back a week ago.

When I owned it the first time I had the boat re-gel coated. and after 3 different motors got all that figured out. also had the pump completely rebuilt.

the list of remaining projects are as follows.

Get Name re-painted on Back= the last owner tried to remove the name off the back of the boat and didnt get very far, so I need to get in touch with who originaly painted the name and have it fixed/redone.

New interior= The interior was about a year old when I bought the boat the first time, I was never a fan of the Green, and always wanted to get rid of it. and have always disliked the front seats, they offer no side support and jsut dont feel very supportive in general. One of the new problems with the interior is the fact that the passenger seat base is rotted and broken now, so that needs to be reapired ASAP.

Tanks= The boat still has the original Fiberglass tanks, they dont leak (yet). bur it is only a matter of time before they start. Plus being they are glass tanks thwy have no provisions for s fuel level sending unit. so Gas level is always a guessing game.

Stereo= It had a pretty decent stereo in it when I sold it, that has since been hastily removed. so going back to the drawingboard and redoing the system.

Engine compartment= The Engine compartment needs some love so it can be something to be proud of. the battery boxes are circa 1970's Ghetto. the Engine needs to be removed, repainted (probably Orange this time) and all aluminum parts polished or Bright cermic coated (so I dont always have to polish). Still up in the air in what I want to do as far as exhaust goes. I wanted to a nice set of lightning thru hull headers, but also might want to keep with the classic look of logs.

Rigging= The boat has 30 years of adding wires and hoses etc.. to the original harness. I want to redo all the wiring and re rig the entire boat with updated wiring and standards to increase the safety and looks of the boat.

since I have just got the boat back, I have not even begun any of these projects yet. So I will start off with pics I have of the starting point and then as I do/complete projects, I will update this post with pics and what I did.
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/Riverbound/Picture014_edited-1.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/Riverbound/681Picture_313-med.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/Riverbound/IMG016.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/Riverbound/IMG014.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/Riverbound/IMG005.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/Riverbound/River008.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/Riverbound/IMG003.jpg
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Flyinbowtie

09-29-2007, 07:30 PM

Looks like you are back with an old friend, good deal.
Ya know, on the wiring deal, watching all you guys work your magic on these boats, I have often wondered if it would be practical to call Painless or Ron Francis or somebody like that in the Street Rod business & see if they couldn't come up with a nice clean circuit-breaker style harness for a marine application. Seems to me it wouln't be that tough, and having all the wires labled, etc. might make for a clean installation.

Cole Trickle

10-01-2007, 03:43 PM

Cool deal!!! Glad to hear she ended up back in your hands.:beer

Did you ever give any though to removing the Bow rail?:hmm

Riverbound

10-01-2007, 04:16 PM

Cool deal!!! Glad to hear she ended up back in your hands.:beer

Did you ever give any though to removing the Bow rail?:hmm

Yes, and the 18'ers have a vey short bow without the bow rail they look funny. I have seen quite a few without them and dont like the look at all. Plus it would take away from the "OG"ishness of the boat ;)
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RiverDave

10-03-2007, 10:45 AM

Cool deal!!! Glad to hear she ended up back in your hands.:beer

Did you ever give any though to removing the Bow rail?:hmm

Bow rails on the old cruisers are typically bolted through the non skid. Removing the bow rail tends to be a more difficult if not "impossible" task, becuase when you take it off you have to patch the holes. The non skid is gel and when you "patch" the holes it's impossible to buff the gel to get it to match etc.. What most people do in this case is to remove the bow rail, patch the holes, and then have the entire non skid painted in a durable paint to match it all up. Ducky mentioned to me once that he has had some success matching it up with no buffing after the fact? but you'd have to ask him more about that.

RD

mbrown2

10-03-2007, 09:02 PM

Cool deal that you got the boat back...really nice to know it is going to stay in your family....what happened to the stereo...heck, it was only two years ago...?

Riverbound

10-03-2007, 09:39 PM

Cool deal that you got the boat back...really nice to know it is going to stay in your family....what happened to the stereo...heck, it was only two years ago...?

Im not sure....it almost looks like it was stolen, but I guess it was removed to put better stuff in or something like that. Not sure if he got around to the something better part.
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lilrick

12-22-2007, 02:30 PM

sweet ride brutha!

Mblaster

01-11-2008, 07:30 PM

Riverbound

01-12-2008, 01:38 AM

I almost bought the Spectra from you back then. Well I ended up with the 20.6 Carrera. I still love the classic lines of the Spectra and I'm glad you are bring her back to glory. Maybe you can have her river ready for summer.:beer

Im glad its back in my hands too :)

I think im just gonna do a couple little things to it this winter and enjoy it next season as is. Then next year do the complete resto.
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River

01-13-2008, 07:12 AM

I had my Spectra sold and took it for one last run to Parker. Filled her up with Av and backed her in. Opened up the hatch and there was gas in the bilge from the tanks finally letting go... The new owner got brand new fuel tanks... :rolleyes:

TAF

04-01-2008, 01:45 PM

Riverbound

04-01-2008, 09:29 PM

Yours looks awesome. Mine doesn't have the bow rail. With as nice as yours looks and I read all you still plan to do:eek: , the longer my "to do list" gets:eek::smackhead (fiberglass tanks & gelcoat / paint) Mine is / was lime green gel underneath the blue paint.

I like your air cleaner hole in the engine cover, :thumbsup nice look:hmm

Thanks the project has switched hands and is now in my brothers control. I dont think he is going to take it as far as I was planning on going with it. but maybe later on down the road I will. there were some differences in opinions and I didnt want to deal with it anymore so it is his 100% now.:(
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Boobybouncer

05-01-2008, 03:17 PM

bitchen boat.. i just aquired a 21.. same colors and everything, well almost.. my interior is in serious need of redoing and my gell is as shiny..

RiverDave

05-06-2008, 12:35 PM

bitchen boat.. i just aquired a 21.. same colors and everything, well almost.. my interior is in serious need of redoing and my gell is as shiny..

Post some pictures up in another threead!

RD

Halvecto

05-06-2008, 02:02 PM

Bow rails on the old cruisers are typically bolted through the non skid. Removing the bow rail tends to be a more difficult if not "impossible" task, becuase when you take it off you have to patch the holes. The non skid is gel and when you "patch" the holes it's impossible to buff the gel to get it to match etc.. What most people do in this case is to remove the bow rail, patch the holes, and then have the entire non skid painted in a durable paint to match it all up. Ducky mentioned to me once that he has had some success matching it up with no buffing after the fact? but you'd have to ask him more about that.

RD

When I bought my Vector, it had a bow rail. It looked odd on this boat . And because we wanted to use it for some ski racing possibly. I removed it. After looking at all my options, and speaking with some guys about repair and gel work. The cost and effort did not seem to make sense. I preferred to put the money into external steering, interior and engine work. I called Dana Marine and ordered some recessed stringer washers and the results actually came out decent. It kinda has a "billet" look and accomplished my goal of a clean and simple solution. The rail was in for 15+ years when I bought it, so there is some indentation and scarring. With some elbow grease, it came out pretty good. It is a clean old boat that is used for family fun, so the practical and cost effective approach works fine.

Flying_Lavey

05-12-2008, 12:33 AM

When I bought my Vector, it had a bow rail. It looked odd on this boat . And because we wanted to use it for some ski racing possibly. I removed it. After looking at all my options, and speaking with some guys about repair and gel work. The cost and effort did not seem to make sense. I preferred to put the money into external steering, interior and engine work. I called Dana Marine and ordered some recessed stringer washers and the results actually came out decent. It kinda has a "billet" look and accomplished my goal of a clean and simple solution. The rail was in for 15+ years when I bought it, so there is some indentation and scarring. With some elbow grease, it came out pretty good. It is a clean old boat that is used for family fun, so the practical and cost effective approach works fine.

I wanted to take the bow rail off of mine too but havent because of the hole filling. Im thinking you have a damn good idea there. Im gonna have to look into that.