Saved From a Trip to the Scrapyard

[Shlbyntro]

So I am a Southern California transplant mechanic living and working in good old Austin, TX. I had a ticket for a boat come across my board a few months ago for repair. When I had the boat pulled up I was amazed to see that it was an Ultra 247xs all the way out here in Texas! I see a lot of boats and to my knowledge it is the only Ultra residing in central Texas. When I lived in California, I worked in Corona and had/still have a very good relationship with the fellows at GS Marine when they were sharing a facility with Ultra so this boat immediately had my affection.

Sadly, this boat has had a rough life. When I pulled service records and requested more information on why it was at the shop this time around, I was heart broken to find out that it had sunk on 3 separate occasions. Twice on the lake and once on the trailer; and it was at my shop to see me for the trailer incident. Sadly despite all my efforts, the engine seized during the pickling. The locked engine, combined with all the other water damage to the electrical systems on top of a mess of unrelated fiberglass and gelcoat work needed, I was quickly realizing that it was going to be declared a total loss and be scrapped. The owner did not have it insured and was not willing to put the money into it to fix it. It was one step away from getting donated where I knew it would be stripped of all its good parts and trailer followed by being crushed. I'll be honest, knowing the almost guaranteed fate of this boat that is from less than a quarter mile of where I am from hurt me pretty deep.

However I am writing today, 3 months later, after a lot of negotiating with the owner and losing hope for this 247XS, to share my excitement in finalizing a deal with its owner and I am now the proud owner of my very own Ultra Custom Boat 1,800 miles away from where we both came from.

I have big plans to save this girl and hope that y'all are able to share in my happiness that comes from the promise that my Ultra 247XS will see the water again and continue to live a long happy life.

Thanks for reading,
Breck

 

[Dalton]

that's got quite a bit of potential, post the rebuild on here

 

[Shlbyntro]

I absolutely intend to! unfortunately I won't have the time until the fall.

The plan is for a high compression 7.4 mpi motor with a nice cam, nothing too crazy. Maybe a nose cone for the drive, I haven't decided yet.

I also have to restore the 3000w stereo to its former glory and rebuild the rotten engine hatch.

I have no idea what I'm gonna do about the cosmetics yet. Nobody out here can match the classic Ultra fade and there's a deep gauge running verically down the port side that's about the width of a baseball at its widest point , I might be looking at a partial respray

 

[02HoWaRd26]

Looks like a buff and go from the picture. More pics inside outside etc. I’m sure there’s someone out there that can match the blue and fade. Check with a Harley dealer lots of fiberglass on them as well maybe look at a few of the custom car shops.

 

[Shlbyntro]

The stbd side yes, the port side not so much. The bottom also has some sort of gray epoxy just haphazardly painted on with a paint brush that I'm gonna have to put the boat on stands to fix. As you can see, the rub rail is a total loss too and will have to be replaced

 

[Shlbyntro]

I'll have more pictures of it when I bring it home from the shop next week.

 

[Shlbyntro]

Finally got the boat home where it is safe until this fall when I can begin working on it. I had an interesting 18mile trip home though, if I didn't know any better I'd say the boat didn't want to leave the shop. I made it about a mile down the road when I had a major tire blowout on the trailer. I'll be honest I knew the tires weren't in great shape but had thought they would at least make it home and back where they could be replaced in the fall. As luck had it, the blowout happened just across the highway from my regular tire guys who take care of all my vehicles, so I strapped up the befuddled axle and creaped the boat over to them for a full new set of 4 tires.

Now that I've already started with the tires, I'm itching to do the next thing.

LET THE MONEY SPENDING BEGIN!

 

[Slats]

Nice job. I would hate to see such a nice boat get junked. Good luck with the rebuild. I had a 04 21stealth with a big block and a jet. I loved that boat. Miss it every time I cruise by the river in laughlin.

 

[shunter2005]

Where is your shop in Austin?

 

[Shlbyntro]

Where is your shop in Austin?

Five Star Marine on Lake Travis. We are about 50% shop based and 50% mobile servicing all the marinas on the lake. I do a little of both but prefer working at the shop when I can

 

[shunter2005]

Sweet.... We head up to LBJ some, as we have a lot in The Legends. Been looking for a place to get the boat serviced when I need it. No place in Houston/Conroe that I have found where I would leave my boat for service. In fact, I think I am going to have Magnum Trailers on 620 paint my trailer next winter.

 

[Shlbyntro]

Very cool. Only time I head up that way is for a motorcycle ride. Magnums a good group of guys. Even we use them pretty regularly. We're actually shipping off a Sea Ray SunDancer 400 down to Conroe on Monday. You'll probably see it cruising down the highway on a big rig with an escort in a few days

 

[Shlbyntro]

So I'm starting to put together my build sheet for the Ultra. And had a question for yall, specifically to those of you who have/had/know somebody who has one of these hulls (Ultra or any other manufacturer who used this hull.

The boat currently has a Bravo 1x drive on it which is in good shape. But I do have a Bravo 3 lower I can put on it. Have any of you made this swap?

I'll be running a moderately built 454mpi: 9.75:1 compression, moderate cam, tuned ecm. Close to 500hp

Bravo 1 would be paired with a 26p 4b ss prop that's balanced and cupped.

Bravo 3 I would need to buy a set of props for still and have some repairs made to the case.

Is the performance difference noticeable enough to make it worth the probable $2k extra I would be spending?

Also, here are some more of those pics that I promised.

 

[Deja_Vu]

That's quite a project. Best of luck on getting her back on the water.

I don't think it would be worth the extra dough for a Bravo 3 swap really. Unless you do a lot of skiing and tubing.
I've heard that the Bravo 1 are better suited for a higher HP (450+) engine.

 

[Shlbyntro]

That's quite a project. Best of luck on getting her back on the water.

I don't think it would be worth the extra dough for a Bravo 3 swap really. Unless you do a lot of skiing and tubing.
I've heard that the Bravo 1 are better suited for a higher HP (450+) engine.

Bravo 3 by design is a stronger lower. (Just a little bit) and I know heavier planing hulls really benefit from the swap by experience. But I feel like this one is in that grey area of weight and size.

 

[Deja_Vu]

The B3 definitely gets you on plane faster which translates to better fuel economy.

 

[Shlbyntro]

The B3 definitely gets you on plane faster which translates to better fuel economy.

Can I get better top speed out of it as well or is it more of a non factor on this hull?

 

[Dalton]

people take B3's off more than they put them on....trying out different props is gonna be more hassle also

 

[Shlbyntro]

Sounds like I have my answer. The guys

 

[Shlbyntro]

Thanks*

 

[Deja_Vu]

Can I get better top speed out of it as well or is it more of a non factor on this hull?

According to Mercury marine the B3 is good to about 65mph. That's why most folks are running B1s or better for faster top end.
B3s are great for heavy boats to pop you on plane though.

 

[Shlbyntro]

Just an update for everyone. I have officially started work on the Ultra.

My new longblock 454 is currently being built and should arrive at my shop right after laborday.

Official build specs are:
L29 454mpi
Punched out .040 over
9.1:1 hyperuetectic pistions
270 duration cam.
Custom ECM tune by Merc Racing

Another $5500 worth of parts for the rest of the boat. Including items needed to rebuild the gimbal housing. And replace all the rubbers while I'm there

I included a new Bennett perfomance tab system for the boat after seeing that the consensus amongst those of you with this hull seems to be that they get pretty dicey up above 70mph.

I'm going in with a modern stereo to replace what's existing. Better quality than what was there of course. 6000w in total, 4x 8" dual voice coil subs, 2x 6.5" speakers, 6x 6x9" speakers with all the matching subs and capacitors and blue led back lighting for all.

Most exciting part is that I have a friend who does fiberglass and gel coat work who I'm trading a power package out of my old Larson to in return for all the gel coat repairs I need. He needs the power package out of it to repower his Glastron Carlson he just picked up.

Only thing left to be figured out is the upholstery but will happen soon enough.

 

[Singleton]

Five Star Marine on Lake Travis. We are about 50% shop based and 50% mobile servicing all the marinas on the lake. I do a little of both but prefer working at the shop when I can

This is great to know. Relocating to the Austin area fall 19 and my Ultra 26 ShadowDeck will be with me.

 

[Shlbyntro]

This is great to know. Relocating to the Austin area fall 19 and my Ultra 26 ShadowDeck will be with me.

Awesome! I always enjoy seeing new west coast boats out here. Ive counted about a dozen in total on Lake Travis and Lake Austin so far. Mostly Eliminators with some Warlocks, Nordics, and Howards. I would love to see another Ultra here being that mine is the only one.

 

[shunter2005]

This is great to know. Relocating to the Austin area fall 19 and my Ultra 26 ShadowDeck will be with me.

You being transferred or retiring there?

 

[Singleton]

You being transferred or retiring there?

Had enough of CA and wife approved Austin. I work sales, so can live anywhere.
Sr in HS is also considering UT.

 

[Shlbyntro]

Had enough of CA and wife approved Austin. I work sales, so can live anywhere.
Sr in HS is also considering UT.

Same reason I moved here. Cheap 93 octane at every pump, 65% cost of living compared to socal, comparable incomes with no state income tax, and gun friendly

 

[Shlbyntro]

Getting closer! only 2weeks until my high compression L29 longblock arrives

 

[Shlbyntro]

So my longblock showed up by surprise today a full week before it was supposed to even be done being assembled.

It's go time!

 

[Dalton]

i just looked up that company.......their most expensive GM big block is 3k.....damn

 

[Shlbyntro]

Yep, they get you with the upgrades tho. I'm still into the long block for under $4k including freight.

They built the 5.0 shortblock for my Foxbox and a couple of my flip boats as well

As far as bang for the buck, you can't beat em.

 

[Shlbyntro]

Got the new engine on a stand tonight. Had to go repo my engine stand from my old work so that was fun.

Planning on getting that seized up, froze cracked bastard engine pulled and stripped in the next couple days. Will keep updating with pics

 

[Shlbyntro]

Got the engine out today. went fairly smooth with no major doohickies happening. also pulled some of the old flooded speakers out, apparently the 4x 8" Subs were the only thing holding the base together for the rear bench seat. The wood the is rotten beyond saving so new custom sub box is being added to the build.... yay!

 

[Shlbyntro]

Engine is officially stripped and ecm sent out for tuning. It may be a lie but I'm feeling some merc racing blue for the new engine. Hours of pain staking cleaning ahead.

 

[t&y]

Damn... That bildge is beat. Simple green to the rescue.

 

[Shlbyntro]

Ya, the engine did a whole lot of coughing, spitting, and pretty much fighting me the entire way through the pickling process before giving out on me and seizing. Blessing in disguise though. If I would have been able to save that beast, she would probably still be in the hands of her previous owners.

 

[CSG]

Would you mind sharing more information on the MPI as I also have one that I would like to upgrade. How did you you contact Mercury about upgrading the ECU? Are you doing any induction changes?

 

[Shlbyntro]

Would you mind sharing more information on the MPI as I also have one that I would like to upgrade. How did you you contact Mercury about upgrading the ECU? Are you doing any induction changes?

No induction changes except for maybe just a k&n upfront. I wanted to keep the build somewhat mild and not hurt my wallet too much being everything else I have to do to the boat at the same time.

Unfortunately merchandise racing did not come through for me like my engine rep said they could. They don't want to play with my tweaked on engine at all.

I did find this guy who does tuning that I want done and he's pretty reasonable. He does everything from remove your ecm and send to him for a static tune to being there on the boat with you and adjusting the tune on the fly

Mefituning.com
$450 for a custom program of your ecm. I didn't ask about the onsight tuning

 

[Shlbyntro]

With all the rain in Austin lately I had to take a break from the engine build yesterday and build a cover support for the boat. Was getting tired of bailing water out of the mid cabin area twice a day

 

[Shlbyntro]

 

[Shlbyntro]

Everything is all cleaned and painted up. Fortunately I had a pair of 525efi's sitting on the ground that I was able to use as a template for what needed to be painted blue

 

[Shlbyntro]

I made a small executive decision and elected to throw a K&N filter on the engine which arrived today via FedEx. Also made some progress on engine assembly

 

[Shlbyntro]

Risers finally showed up today and made some more progress on the engine. Got the new high flow oil pump mounted, oil pan on and sealed, exhaust manifolds and risers installed. And then couldn't resist throwing the upper intake with the k&n on top for a mock up

 

[Shlbyntro]

Sort of made some progress on the engine tonight, but mostly just playing with the new shop toy....

 

[HydroSkreamin]

Did you flow them before and after cleaning them?

 

[Shlbyntro]

Did you flow them before and after cleaning them?

Not before. I could've but it ruins the hydraulic fluid much faster and that stuff is $70/gallon

 

[King295]

Liking the updates and color choice thus far. Keep it up!

 

[73hondo]

View attachment 680001 View attachment 680002

So my longblock showed up by surprise today a full week before it was supposed to even be done being assembled.

It's go time!

My chevelle has a long block from Mabco... their bad reviews are mostly from dumbass and they turn out decent priced stuff Im also in Austin

 

[Shlbyntro]

Got the freshly cleaned injectors and fuel rail installed today and actually mounted the upper manifold which included clearancing the K&N. Finished the night off with mounting the motor mounts, fuel filter bracket, and the pretty blue alternator

 

[Shlbyntro]

Don't know why, but the latest update of the finished engine keeps disappearing so, I'm throwing it up again for a third time

I'm going to perform a ground run and try my luck at posting a video of it this week.

Then it's time to rebuild the transom assembly for a worn out steering lever and swivel pin seal and clean up the bilge