WELCOME TO RIVER DAVES PLACE

First post and new project

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I thought I'd finally start posting and show my new flattie project. I bought this from some pretty cool people. It's a 64 Aquacraft. I think is from the Wickens line. This boat is bitchen. It's like the 62 Aquacraft my folks owned and we used to cruise in Parker. I began posting my project on PB, mainly for some advice, but decided the debauchery over here was more to my liking.:thumbsup

Here are some photos of my new project, along with some old ones of our 62, along with my pops last boat, an old 1978 24' Spectra. This photo was his last ride in the Spectra before he sold it to a guy from Vista, Ca who bought it. That's a boat I'd like to locate again for the old man.

At this point, I currently spend all my summers boating Mead. With my folks living in Vegas, I store my current boat in Boulder. With this flattie, I'm looking at getting back to Parker.

Either way, I'm beginning work on the trailer this weekend, which needs a lot of attention. No point in working on the boat if I can't get it anywhere.

Enjoy the photos.

Greg

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Boschma

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good luck with the project. Gotta love those old pictures...something about the coloring that tells you at the first glance its from back in the day.
 

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Thanks. Those old family photos will definately take you back. I've been looking at them quite a bit lately.

Greg
 

racerden

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I thought I'd finally start posting and show my new flattie project. I bought this from some pretty cool people. It's a 64 Aquacraft. I think is from the Wickens line. This boat is bitchen. It's like the 62 Aquacraft my folks owned and we used to cruise in Parker. I began posting my project on PB, mainly for some advice, but decided the debauchery over here was more to my liking.:thumbsup

Here are some photos of my new project, along with some old ones of our 62, along with my pops last boat, an old 1978 24' Spectra. This photo was his last ride in the Spectra before he sold it to a guy from Vista, Ca who bought it. That's a boat I'd like to locate again for the old man.

At this point, I currently spend all my summers boating Mead. With my folks living in Vegas, I store my current boat in Boulder. With this flattie, I'm looking at getting back to Parker.

Either way, I'm beginning work on the trailer this weekend, which needs a lot of attention. No point in working on the boat if I can't get it anywhere.

Enjoy the photos.

Greg
Back in the early seventies, the Aquacraft flatty was quite the weapon of choice in ski racing. G'luk on resto project!
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butt Webcams
 
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FrznJim

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I think that this is your Dad's old boat. This is what it looked like when we purchased it from Pat Martin back in 1998.

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If so, this is what it now looks like today. We had it regelled at Fiberglass Reformations in Havasu a few years ago. It now has a new Mercruiser 496HO in it with a new velvet drive transmission, still a v-drive. Motor and trans were installed by Bergeron Engineering in Mesa. New motor has 9 hours on it. We could be persuaded to sell it.

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RiverDave

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Welcome to the board! I'm looking forward to seeing the restoration! If you want to put a wood deck on it like your families old one, it is a lot cheaper then you would think to do it! Harlan Orrin checks in from time to time and he's your man if you dEcide to go that route.

Again welcome to the board!

RD
 

bigboy308

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Moxt definitely from the Wickens mold. Minor differences in deck and "kick-up" @ the cockpit from the AquaCraft. Mine was a '66.

Terrific ski race boats. Most everybody skied behind one @ one time or another. Fellow by the name of Gus Davis built a number of 427 Ford engines for AquaCraft/Wickens, as I recall.

GREAT find!
 

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Thanks everyone. First off, BigBoy308 - It was the kick up on the upper part that tipped me off to the wikens. I love these old flatties. I work about a mile from Casale, took mine over there, got a quote for a rebuild, and I'm just waiting to pull the trigger.

I also purchased an FE390 Ford since I have the bell housing and motor mounts, pretty much all the hardware for this motor. I've torn the motor down and inspected all the internals. Heads need rebuilding and even though the rod end, bearings, and crank look good, I'm going to do a full rebuild on the motor.

I started cutting, grinding, and welding on the trailer today. I'll post pics soon of my work and progress. Once the trailer is done and road worthy, I'll send the boat off for new gel and color.

Now comes the really bitchen part....

FrznJim - I talked to my pops today, and he told me that he had exchanged emails with the gentlemen that ultimately puchased the Spectra. He told me that he lived in Alaska and also told me of the changes to the boat that was made.

Is this you? When you purchased the boat, did the name on the transom say 'Sybarite' ? This is pretty f'in cool in my opinion. He said the guy that came out from Vista was a man named Pat. Is this the same Pat that sold you the boat? Pretty small world. I'd love to see more pics.

Greg
 

FrznJim

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That would be us, freezing in Alaska. Yes, your Dad and I exchanged e-mails back in 99, I think he was in Georgia then?? Timeline for the Spectra, your mom and dad 1984 to 1997, Pat and Alice Martin 4/97 to 10/98, we have owned it since then. We got sidelined buying twin turbo Schiada 21RCs the last couple of years, we have a 85 in Alaska, a 91 and 09 in Parker. I've been working on the 09, finishing the rigging but got sidelined buying income property in Parker and Havasu this fall. We're heading back to AK tomorrow, so the 09 will have to wait in Parker until we get back.

The 24Spectra is now a great cruising boat, turn key start with the 496HO, it has a four blade prop that really gets the stern up out of the water and carries the nose really well. I'll post some pics when we return to Parker. I've kicked around the idea of putting a wood deck or a XS deck, but really can't justify the cost, so we will see......
 

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Welcome to the board! I'm looking forward to seeing the restoration! If you want to put a wood deck on it like your families old one, it is a lot cheaper then you would think to do it! Harlan Orrin checks in from time to time and he's your man if you dEcide to go that route.

Again welcome to the board!

RD

Thanks Dave. Those wood decks kick ass. I'm still kicking that idea around.
 

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That would be us, freezing in Alaska. Yes, your Dad and I exchanged e-mails back in 99, I think he was in Georgia then?? Timeline for the Spectra, your mom and dad 1984 to 1997, Pat and Alice Martin 4/97 to 10/98, we have owned it since then. We got sidelined buying twin turbo Schiada 21RCs the last couple of years, we have a 85 in Alaska, a 91 and 09 in Parker. I've been working on the 09, finishing the rigging but got sidelined buying income property in Parker and Havasu this fall. We're heading back to AK tomorrow, so the 09 will have to wait in Parker until we get back.

The 24Spectra is now a great cruising boat, turn key start with the 496HO, it has a four blade prop that really gets the stern up out of the water and carries the nose really well. I'll post some pics when we return to Parker. I've kicked around the idea of putting a wood deck or a XS deck, but really can't justify the cost, so we will see......


Have a safe trip back to Alaska. I hope to be talking with you soon. I have a lot of great memories on that Spectra. We used to pull multiple skiers at one time, and that boat did it without a hickup. We also used to fill my parents old waterbed up with air and pull tons of people at once. I could go on and on. Stories in that boat from Nacamiento, Parker, Havasu, Powell, Pleasant, Bartlet, and even Lake Ontario in upstate New York. That boat has seen lakes from the West Coast to the East Coast, and back again;)

Again, have a safe trip, and I'm looking forward to hearing about the mods you made.

Greg
 

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Thanks Dave. Those wood decks kick ass. I'm still kicking that idea around.

Shoot him a PM for a quote.. I was blown away when I found out. I always was under the impression it'd be 10 - 15K for something like that. When I found out it was 3 - 4, I was thinking.. Man that's almost cheaper then gelcoat?

RD
 

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Shoot him a PM for a quote.. I was blown away when I found out. I always was under the impression it'd be 10 - 15K for something like that. When I found out it was 3 - 4, I was thinking.. Man that's almost cheaper then gelcoat?

RD

RD, sittin here with my pops....talkin about the old wood decks.....I'm gonna check out the wood deck route. Now THAT, wood be bitchen.;)

If you could pm me Mr. Orrins contact info. that would be greatly appreciated.

GReg
 

67 baron sprint LD 390 FE

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that would be cool to do a wood deck. Those are some cool pics of the spectra and the aqua craft. You should go to the big block legends show in needles this year. If you need any help on rebuilding the 390 there's a guy in havasu that can get some good horsepower out of them with factory parts. he knows how to make them run.
 
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that would be cool to do a wood deck. Those are some cool pics of the spectra and the aqua craft. You should go to the big block legends show in needles this year. If you need any help on rebuilding the 390 there's a guy in havasu that can get some good horsepower out of them with factory parts. he knows how to make them run.

I'm gonna go there for sure. End of Feb. is marked on the calendar. I just need to make sure any of the wifey's honey do BS is done.

Do you know if there will be any vendors there selling parts???? Or is it just a show and shine type deal??

Greg
 

harlanorrin

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Last months I got a wood deck Wickens. Lots of hardward, on a tandem trailer. The deck is far enough gone to need a replacement.
HARLAN ORRIN
 

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When your talking those kind of figures on the wood deck your not talking any finish on it. You can add another 3-4000 for that alone...
 

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Holy shit it's been a looooong time.

Between busting my ass at work and with the family, this project took a back seat. Additionally my funds have been better spent on the family. That being said, I was/am determined to complete this project and do it on a super slim budget. I am reusing as many parts as I can, only replacing what cannot be re-furbished and subbing out the critical items I don't want do (basically the fiberglass repairs and gelcoat).

So here it goes:

Began re-working the trailer. None of the center tabs under the bunks were secured to the trailer. So I had to do some welding. Also, bought some new fenders and had to fabricate steps/mounts to hold the fenders in place. I didn't like the trailer tongue, so I cut it off and reworked it.

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In 2013, I took the boat to Rick at Islander. He worked with me on my budget and I am absolutely pleased with how it turned out. He only concentrated on the inside, cleaning and repairing the glass, then he gelcoated the floor and interior.

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Here is the outcome of the interior.

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This weekend, my son and I painted the trailer ourselves. I purchased a single stage and it was super easy to use.

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Since this is supposed to be a father/son project, my boy jumped in and layed down some paint. :thumbup:

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Here's the completed pics of the trailer painted. It's supposed to be silver, unfortunately in the pictures it looks gray.


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Meanwhile, the boat is on a dolly in my garage. I had the cav plates cleaned and powder coated and have since installed all the cav hardware (mounting plates, turn buckes, pillow blocks, etc).

SteveO rebuilt my casale split case and is sitting on my work bench waiting to be installed. Should begin rigging real soon. I'm gonna need to get some parts and will be purchasing as needed.

MY GOAL........in water river rocket show at Pirates Cove in September.....

Will update this thread as I progress.:thumbup::thumbup::):cool
 

65Mandella

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That is the biggest paint booth I have ever seen!!!!! :)
Looking great!! Glad to see father / son projects like yours... He will always remember doing that with you!!!!
 

RiverDave

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What are the raised areas on the hull just outside of the stringers?

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RD
 

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That is the biggest paint booth I have ever seen!!!!! :)
Looking great!! Glad to see father / son projects like yours... He will always remember doing that with you!!!!


Safety first....it needed to be well ventilated. :D
 

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What are the raised areas on the hull just outside of the stringers?

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RD

The raised sections are a mixed bag. They consist of both balsa and plywood layers glassed into the boat. Sturdy as hell but aesthetically bad. Per Rick's recommendation, we gelcoated them.
 

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very nice! look forward to your progress.
 

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Looking real good G! Did you finish the bunks this weekend? Cant wait to rip the river this summer. Looks like you are on track for pirates cove in september. keep up the good work!
 

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I took it easy this weekend only doing minor tasks on my list. I'm still finishing the trailer before I put the boat back on it to finish rigging.

First up were new bunks. I picked up new lumber and carpet then got to work. No in-progress photos but here are the bunks completed.

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Finally to end off my weekend of work, I wanted to finish the lights. I needed to add marker lights to the steps.

I drilled out the mounting holes, ditched the white mounting plate, soldered a ground wire to the grounding tab.

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Trailer is done. Finished the diamond plate on the steps as well as the inner fender boards and carpet. Time to put the boat back on the trailer.

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Bitchen thread, you do nice work.:thumbsup
 

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Swapping seals in the stuffing box today.

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I broke off the zerk fitting so had to drill and tap.

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Done

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Installed the prop shaft and new shaft log seals.
 

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This has been a SSSSLLLLOOOWWWW build, but it's coming along.
 

1homeblown

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:thumbsup
I love builds like this!! Nice work! I've been working on mine since December 2007. Hopefully it will be ready by next year some time.
Again...Nice work :thumbsup
 

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Figured it was time for an update. LOL. And some damn boating content.

Actually, I stumbled across this old post by accident and thought "holy shit, I totally forgot about this thread".

Long story short, got the boat running. Ran the hell out of her. Blew her up. Rebuilt another FE390 Ford motor and added a blower.

She's no show boat. But damn she's a blast to run.

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My son and I flying across Elsinore. Sooo fast, we were a blur. 🤣
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My daughter really digs it too.
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