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1974 21’ Eliminator

BIG MIKE

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Here is my newly acquired day cruiser has sat for 7 years in inside. My uncle bought it brand new and has had it ever since. All my aunts, uncles and my father have skied behind this boat. It is all original down to the blue shag carpet. My father even made the teak swim step for it in his HS wood shop. Only thing is the engine had been rebuild. It is a stroked LS-7 with 990 heads and billet Velasco crack. The pump is a drake and was rebuilt 10 years ago. These Drake flow a lot of water and am not in the least worried about it.


Over the winter I plan to do new upholstery but same exact lay out and design. Color sand and buff the hull as well as address the complete trailer. I’ll post progression pics as well.

I have owned multiple jets before as well as larger V’s and a deck boat. Looking forward to spending time with my wife and young kids on the river.
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HotRod82

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My buddy has the same boat, even the same year. Talk about a solid boat, for only being a 21, it easily handles the roughest days on Havasu without a squeak or rattle. Really impressive ride.
 

BIG MIKE

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My buddy has the same boat, even the same year. Talk about a solid boat, for only being a 21, it easily handles the roughest days on Havasu without a squeak or rattle. Really impressive ride.

I was impressed as well. The first time we took it out was for Monster Storm. And hit a little bit of rough water and it did great. This model Drake actually has a factory diverter which helped.
 

mash on it

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Mine's a 76. Full four stringer boat. Not fast, but a solid boat in Havasu/Mohave/Mead slop. And floats in ankle deep water. I'm usually on casino row and south on the river. Great boat for Parker, too. Mine was rigged with a 454, Berkeley pump, shoe & ride plate, and old school electric diverter.

Dan'l
 

BIG MIKE

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Started in on the Eliminator today. Removed the engine and sent it to my engine guy in orange. Removed the interior and rear floor boards. Next will be new carpet and floor since the original shag is shot and the wood has seen better days. Should be able to knock that out in a weekend. Before I put the floor and carpet in I’ll buff and polish the the entire boat.
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Has anyone seen a Harman Marine Electra-Trim? It’s basically a window motor hooked up to cable that operates the diverter. Wonder if it can be rebuilt my uncle said it stopped working years ago. View attachment 722311 View attachment 722312

Also found some old soda cans in the seat storage View attachment 722313
 

Gelcoater

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Your killing me, man.
Your pics aren’t showing up to me?
Anyone?
Bueller?
 

BIG MIKE

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Engine update

Since the engine has a billet velasco crank in it. I took it in and they magged and polished it for free.

Dropped the block off at Clay Smith to have it honed and tanked.

I found a small crack on one of the heads in between the valves. Which I have heard is fairly common on these 990 heads. So I think I am going to pull the trigger on a set of complete World Products heads.

Everything looked great besides the head. And should run pretty strong.

I took the bimini to All American Canvas in Ontario. It needed all new straps. They charge $15 per strap and that is with all new stainless hardware. And the cover also needed a new zipper.
 

BIG MIKE

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While the engine will be buttoned up in a week.

I am focusing on re doing the original interior. The wood is in really good shape for its age. The rear jump seats may have to be redone but that’s about it.

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The driver, passengers seats, engine hatch and panels are good.
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I am going to go with the original color vinyl which is pearl white and medium blue piping.
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I need to find a wholesaler for the material then the pieces are going to TJ. I have a driver of mine that lives down there and his uncle is a really good upholstery guy. I have seen pics of his work and it’s clean. And the price is crazy low.

I will also redo the floor and ski locker. The floor is bolt in and will be a breeze.
 

HydroSkreamin

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My interior in my 23 Daytona was the same colors with yellow/orange/red stripes. The cushions from the cabin were in excellent shape so I couldn’t stand to throw them. When I put bulkheads in the cabin size changed, so the cushions were too short, and I changed interior theme.

I don’t know how available that pearl white material is; I still have the cushions if you wanted to harvest material from them. They’re yours if you can use them. I could certainly remove the covers and fold them up and put them in a box. Let me know if you want measurements. They’re roughly 6’x3’ each, with pearl white top and bottom.

Cool project!
 

BIG MIKE

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My interior in my 23 Daytona was the same colors with yellow/orange/red stripes. The cushions from the cabin were in excellent shape so I couldn’t stand to throw them. When I put bulkheads in the cabin size changed, so the cushions were too short, and I changed interior theme.

I don’t know how available that pearl white material is; I still have the cushions if you wanted to harvest material from them. They’re yours if you can use them. I could certainly remove the covers and fold them up and put them in a box. Let me know if you want measurements. They’re roughly 6’x3’ each, with pearl white top and bottom.

Cool project!

Thank you I appreciate that.

I found a local company that I can get it from. I thought the same thing but they have plenty of it.


I was kicking around the idea of just going bright white vinyl but I think this will really look good.
 

HydroSkreamin

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The pearl white was definitely a consideration, then decided to go more modern on the interior.

Glad you found a source for the material, looking forward to seeing you put it back to new.
 

wettrthebettr

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Hey Mike, Ya got a nice project going There.
Be glad You got to tear it a part, It's A bitch to get it already torn apart.
Do you plan on rounding the square edges and sealing the stringers cut outs?
My cruiser had the same Dam Cut outs.
I lucked out with my upholstery, The vinyl was good, not prefect, good enough to just
Replace the plywood.
Enjoy the project, I know you will enjoy it better after it done.
 

BIG MIKE

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Hey Mike, Ya got a nice project going There.
Be glad You got to tear it a part, It's A bitch to get it already torn apart.
Do you plan on rounding the square edges and sealing the stringers cut outs?
My cruiser had the same Dam Cut outs.
I lucked out with my upholstery, The vinyl was good, not prefect, good enough to just
Replace the plywood.
Enjoy the project, I know you will enjoy it better after it done.

When I removed the rear floor I saw the stringer cut out and couldn’t figure why they would have down that. The cut outs are actually glasses over already. I may do like you did or leave it not sure yet.
 

wettrthebettr

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When I removed the rear floor I saw the stringer cut out and couldn’t figure why they would have down that. The cut outs are actually glasses over already. I may do like you did or leave it not sure yet.
yeah, Whats with those cut outs, No one has given me answer, I did get on suggestion, they suddested they were for the engine.
I don't know, My cruiser came with no engine. Guess when My engine gets installed i shall know for sure.
I rounded the sharp corners so look better and so the matt and cloth would roll easier
I sealed mine with one layer Matt, and one layer Cloth.
I used West systems epoxy, Nice stuff, and ya don't need a respirator, easy to use, one pump epoxy one pump harder
That epoxy might seal that cut out nice, just grind with 24grit disc and use acetone before you apply the epoxy.
 
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BIG MIKE

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Just got the interior back from Tijuana. Long story short one on my sub haulers has an uncle that does upholstery in TJ.

I used the same wood frames as they were solid. New foam and vinyl and carpet. All purchased at J&J auto fabric in Rialto.

For a total of zero dollars! He owed me a favor[emoji6]

Really happy with the way it came out.
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Sleek-Jet

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Love this thread... my old step-deck cruiser went to the dump, it had been sunk and not repaired properly and essentially rotted from the inside out. Ended up with lots of cracks in the hull where the rotten stringers couldn't keep things together any longer.

Great boat though, just eats up afternoon chop like a larger hull.
 

Eliminator21vdrive

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Love the project, any way I could get you to measure the top of swim step to top of transom ?
 

BIG MIKE

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Love the project, any way I could get you to measure the top of swim step to top of transom ?

Sure I get that measurement on Monday. I know my uncle had to use spacers on it to bring it up a little after the original installation years ago.
 

BIG MIKE

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Started pulling all the original blue shag carpet out from under the bow and ski locker. Found a Vogue they called big boy and couple other things.
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BIG MIKE

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Wanna sell me the koozies? Lol

Sent from my FRD-L14 using Tapatalk

I’m gonna keep them in the boat they are to cool to get rid of. Even though I drink Coors Light haha
 

BIG MIKE

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Yesterday I cut out all the new floor panels and sealed the bottom side with resin. I also counter sunk the ski locker bolt holes and 45’d the sides of the floor so they match the angle of the hull. Today I removed the old floor and I can tell you I don’t miss grinding fiberglass. Anyways it’s out and the floor is prepped for the install tomorrow. I’ll resign the top when I glass the edges. Just the front section gets glassed in the rest two will get bolted to the stringers.
Today is my birthday so now time to clean the glass off and have some beers. Cheers!
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wettrthebettr

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hey big mike, wat up?
Did you get your engine installed?
I have been down since march 26 with my resto.
 

BIG MIKE

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hey big mike, wat up?
Did you get your engine installed?
I have been down since march 26 with my resto.

Not yet I was in Hawaii for a week. I will be installing the engine next weekend.

This weekend is the final buff, carpet and new cables.
 

wettrthebettr

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Seeing that we are both doing the same thing, What carpet are you going to use?
There are hundreds to pick from.
I'm even thing of putting a Teak flooring that is rolled on with adhesive.
 

BIG MIKE

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Seeing that we are both doing the same thing, What carpet are you going to use?
There are hundreds to pick from.
I'm even thing of putting a Teak flooring that is rolled on with adhesive.

I am using a 20oz navy blue marine carpet. This carpet has a rubber backing and is mildew resistant.

I was thinking of going with the more plush 40oz carpet but I have heard it holds more moisture.
 

wettrthebettr

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Did you Epoxy the plywood?
I let my Plywood dry out, then Sealed them after all the cuts with West systems Epoxy, if they rot, it will be from the inside, but the three coats of epoxy will remain Solid.
 

BIG MIKE

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Did you Epoxy the plywood?
I let my Plywood dry out, then Sealed them after all the cuts with West systems Epoxy, if they rot, it will be from the inside, but the three coats of epoxy will remain Solid.

Yes I did seal all the wood up after I cut it to size.
 

wettrthebettr

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hey way to go Mike, You are a head of me
I am just waiting for my rear motor plate.
 

BIG MIKE

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If the ski is for sale, i'm interested

It could be I was just gonna clean it up and throw it back in for nostalgia sake.

It has a couple chips on it. I can take some pics and let me know what you think.
 

cofooter

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Just got the interior back from Tijuana. Long story short one on my sub haulers has an uncle that does upholstery in TJ.

I used the same wood frames as they were solid. New foam and vinyl and carpet. All purchased at J&J auto fabric in Rialto.

For a total of zero dollars! He owed me a favor[emoji6]

Really happy with the way it came out.
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NIce!
 

BIG MIKE

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Well I thrashed for the last week and a half to finish the boat for the classic boat get together this weekend.

And we got it done with a lot of help.

We were up to 1am every night this week.

I still needs a little fine tuning and the trailer restored. But I am happy with the end result. Nothing was over looked even in the short time frame. It was all done right.


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