Skater 368, from the beginning.

[jnmn]

Steve, Wonderful to see the boat out on the water running like it should. Congrats!

 

[FROGMAN524]

Such a beautiful boat. Any chance you want to roll to Mohave in two weeks? Got the FIL coming in town and heading up to the river. If all else fails, we can do Pleasant for a day.

 

[RaceTec]

Such an amazing build!!! Not to pry or anything but was the lift on the trailer successful for his son? I thought that was a great part about this build too!

 

[Skinny Tire AH]

Such an amazing build!!! Not to pry or anything but was the lift on the trailer successful for his son? I thought that was a great part about this build too!

Yes, the lift works. No, Brian won't do it. We did a dry run in my garage. Brian liked the harness, wore it no sweat. Once the winch lifted his feet off the ground, he lost his shit and refused.

We are boarding him with a carpeted "bridge" that I cut to fit around the windshield and the intake scoop. Works great. @rivrrts429 helped us board him. We essentially drag him on, like a sack of potatoes.

He loves the boat and he helps me prep the boat at the dock by turning things on and off when I ask him to. Mom gives up the front seat EVERY time. The back seat of the boat is VERY windy, the windshield creates a low pressure area. rivrrts429 experimented with seated height. The higher you sit, the less wind, to a point. The wind behind the windshield up front is zero.

As to rivrrats429 comment about snotty confused water, pointing this boat into that green slop and getting it packing air is not to be believed unless you've experienced it.

 

[rivrrts429]

Such an amazing build!!! Not to pry or anything but was the lift on the trailer successful for his son? I thought that was a great part about this build too!

Steve summed it up pretty well but he built a carpeted bridge of sorts to span the gap between the boat and the dock. Actually works extremely well as his son can help a bit. It really was fairly seamless.

 

[rivrrts429]

 

[HST4ME]

Steve's boat is fucking beautiful. I was lucky enough to see it fresh out of the wrapper. Now that the fuel system is done the right way there should be many happy miles ahead.

 

[monkeyswrench]

View attachment 1163658

Anyone else think that looks like a Skater sales brochure? This is proof that you don't need lift-kits and G-strings to hold someone's attention

 

[rivrrts429]

Steve's boat is fucking beautiful. I was lucky enough to see it fresh out of the wrapper. Now that the fuel system is done the right way there should be many happy miles ahead.

That was the shop trailer too. It looks full boss on its current trailer.

 

[HCP3]

Anyone else think that looks like a Skater sales brochure? This is proof that you don't need lift-kits and G-strings to hold someone's attention

Absolutely. Great pic. Great looking boat. One of my favorites. Loved watching this thread from the beginning. Pun intended.

 

[02HoWaRd26]

The pics Tommy Gun got are just so perfect to display the beauty of this boat. Still cannot wait to see her in person on the water.

 

[Duramax]

His new fuel system is a thing of beauty.

Honest to god he should market them. 10 out of 10 my good man!

 

[rivrrts429]

His new fuel system is a thing of beauty.

Honest to god he should market them. 10 out of 10 my good man!

You’re not wrong. I told him he needs to transition into being a rigger after he’s done playing with his hose(s)

 

[monkeyswrench]

You’re not wrong. I told him he needs to transition into being a rigger after he’s done playing with his hose(s)

Sounds like he can mix the two...put together some boxes, like retrofit kits. Beats doing bilge yoga in someone else's hull...

 

[CLdrinker]

Still running issue free?

 

[HgH Vltg]

I've said it before in this thread, the colors on this boat are absolute and complete perfection. They are so vivid, and the splashes of color are just enough in the right spots. Unreal.

 

[Skinny Tire AH]

Still running issue free?

Yup. "my" fix was the right choice of components for this engine package. It holds proper fuel pressure and flow at all RPM's

I've said it before in this thread, the colors on this boat are absolute and complete perfection. They are so vivid, and the splashes of color are just enough in the right spots. Unreal.

Thanks very much for that. I owe it all to listening to artist and letting them be artists. @Gelcoater help me quite a bit with understanding how some of these colors work together. I still just stare at it in the water.

 

[Skinny Tire AH]

If I knew how to resize images, I'd put some of the images up that @Tommy Gun Images took. They won't load here because they're too big.

 

[JFMFG]

Yup. "my" fix was the right choice of components for this engine package. It holds proper fuel pressure and flow at all RPM's



Thanks very much for that. I owe it all to listening to artist and letting them be artists. @Gelcoater help me quite a bit with understanding how some of these colors work together. I still just stare at it in the water.

View attachment 1181169

Steve will you be attending supercat fest west? I know you’ve had it with DS

 

[v6toy4x]

If I knew how to resize images, I'd put some of the images up that @Tommy Gun Images took. They won't load here because they're too big.

Hey quit slacking!!

 

[Skinny Tire AH]

Steve will you be attending supercat fest west? I know you’ve had it with DS

Planning on being there throughout SCFW and DS. Not sure about what level of attendance or participation we will do with either until a schedule comes out. I'm willing to give the new DS owner a chance, we all should.

 

[HubbaHubbaLife]

Yup. "my" fix was the right choice of components for this engine package. It holds proper fuel pressure and flow at all RPM's



Thanks very much for that. I owe it all to listening to artist and letting them be artists. @Gelcoater help me quite a bit with understanding how some of these colors work together. I still just stare at it in the water.

View attachment 1181169

Yeah she's a beauty.... and it was so cool to follow your build. Myself, I'm curious as a pure salt water coastal boater; do you have any thoughts on ocean boating? I understand folks in SW tend to stay fresh water usage and this vessel is pretty much artwork .... however Skater does build for big water I have come to know. Thoughts?

 

[Skinny Tire AH]

@bldrinker
I'll add this about these Weldon pumps. They are NOISY!! Believe it or not, I can hear them over the engines at all speeds. @Duramax told me that would be the case.

 

[Skinny Tire AH]

Yeah she's a beauty.... and it was so cool to follow your build. Myself, I'm curious as a pure salt water coastal boater; do you have any thoughts on ocean boating? I understand folks in SW tend to stay fresh water usage and this vessel is pretty much artwork .... however Skater does build for big water I have come to know. Thoughts?

I can say this as an absolute. I will NEVER put it in salt. I spend so many hours cleaning and keeping everything ready, I just can't get myself to go down that road. The amount of work this boat is, for a "one man show" is beyond unbelievable. That will be the limiting factor on my length of owning this boat.

 

[HubbaHubbaLife]

I can say this as an absolute. I will NEVER put it in salt. I spend so many hours cleaning and keeping everything ready, I just can't get myself to go down that road. The amount of work this boat is, for a "one man show" is beyond unbelievable. That will be the limiting factor on my length of owning this boat.

I understand your response.... I'm a youthful 63.... as a guy who boats on both coast I get the diference in boaters here in west. And like I said she's pure art.... and I know what salt and pounding does on boats.... For me its about the experience in big blue.... but I have given up on keeping em spotless just for my mental health ha.... I had to learn that compromise over time and I finally came to place where my boats aren't art..... we've seen your garage flooring so I totally appreciate your vibe my brutha

 

[Gelcoater]

listening to artist and letting them be artists. @Gelcoater help me quite a bit with understanding how some of these colors work together. I still just stare at it

And it has a hint of green

You stare because it’s part art and part magic.
The magic happens when an artist is allowed to be an artist.
It’s when one of a kind happens.

Emulated perhaps, but never another just like it.

 

[Skinny Tire AH]

Keep an eye out for a Youtube channel I'm starting "Best Retirement Ever" Its going to have lots of Skater content, Cycling, South America fishing, Big Game hunting, Chevelles and other cool stuff. There's already a couple videos up. I am getting some Go-Pro's to start doing it right. Going to do the first one on tilting. How to prepare the boat, tying it down, tilting, locking. Thats the number one question I get, tilting stuff.

 

[Skinny Tire AH]

And it has a hint of green

You stare because it’s part art and part magic.
The magic happens when an artist is allowed to be an artist.
It’s when one of a kind happens.

Emulated perhaps, but never another just like it.

It was frightening to just turn Steve loose at times. He has these wild ideas. He'd call me at all hours of the night and discuss how he wants to fade an 1/8" pinstripe from front to rear and fade the same pinstripe on the other side of the boat, the other way. Those are the small details that just aren't seen by folks.

I still find new and hidden things deep in the paint when I'm wiping it down.

I got my first scratch last time out. I hopped up on the deck from the dock on my butt. My board shorts had a zipper in the rear pocket.

 

[CLdrinker]

@bldrinker
I'll add this about these Weldon pumps. They are NOISY!! Believe it or not, I can hear them over the engines at all speeds. @Duramax told me that would be the case.

Small price to pay to keep the boat running reliably.

 

[hallett21]

@bldrinker
I'll add this about these Weldon pumps. They are NOISY!! Believe it or not, I can hear them over the engines at all speeds. @Duramax told me that would be the case.

Lol just let’s you know they’re working

Glad to hear you’re enjoying the boat again

 

[HST4ME]

The hues of red on that boat, let alone the other details. I walked around it for an hour before peeking my head up top.

 

[DWC]

I can say this as an absolute. I will NEVER put it in salt. I spend so many hours cleaning and keeping everything ready, I just can't get myself to go down that road. The amount of work this boat is, for a "one man show" is beyond unbelievable. That will be the limiting factor on my length of owning this boat.

Our deck boat is a SOB to clean. It’s a solid hour for a quick wipe down. Twice as long for the last trip of the weekend. I thought it was a lot until my buddies 35’ Nordic. Can’t imagine what it takes to get it dialed in.

 

[JFMFG]

Our deck boat is a SOB to clean. It’s a solid hour for a quick wipe down. Twice as long for the last trip of the weekend. I thought it was a lot until my buddies 35’ Nordic. Can’t imagine what it takes to get it dialed in.

Seriously it takes me and my wife 45 mins to do out boat with both us helping.

 

[HST4ME]

I can say this as an absolute. I will NEVER put it in salt. I spend so many hours cleaning and keeping everything ready, I just can't get myself to go down that road. The amount of work this boat is, for a "one man show" is beyond unbelievable. That will be the limiting factor on my length of owning this boat.

Sending you a PM. Come join us in the freshwater seas, and bring your bikes.

 

[HubbaHubbaLife]

Our deck boat is a SOB to clean. It’s a solid hour for a quick wipe down. Twice as long for the last trip of the weekend. I thought it was a lot until my buddies 35’ Nordic. Can’t imagine what it takes to get it dialed in.

River Rats have the cleanest bilges known to mankind.... bless your hearts.... swear to God you dudes can eat off your engine blocks and your trailers are spotless too.

 

[clarence]

Glad to hear you’re enjoying the boat again

+1