What would you have done differently?

[CLM65]

1) No foam in the empty cavities of my rebuild, been running the boat for twelve years and not once have I said, "Boy I wish I had put foam in there."  She does have foam in the stringers and the boat is cored with nidacore which does provide floatation.  If she took on water, would she float?  I don't know and I hope I never find out, but she is insured.

2) IMO putting a livewell in the transom of these boats is a mistake.  The boats are very sensitive to weight.  If you are closing in the transom and placing the motor on a bracket you are changing the C.O.B. of the boat and the livewell on the transom will only magnifies this problem.

3) Can't provide any imput on the spray rails.

Thank you for this info!  What thickness nidacore and where is it located?

Your response is exactly why I was asking about the location of the livewell.  I do plan on putting the motor on a bracket and I'm worried abojt the weight distribution.

Thanks!

[CLM65]

Livewells seem to be regional. Seems like you guys in FLorida need them. I dont really have a need for one in NY as most of what I fish with live will live for hours in a bucket or die even in a live well. I have no need for one, but a prior poster brought up a valid concern about center of gravity and weight distribution. water is heavy!

Down here, it isn't a fishing boat if it doesn't have a livewell!

[seabob4]

Livewells seem to be regional. Seems like you guys in FLorida need them. I dont really have a need for one in NY as most of what I fish with live will live for hours in a bucket or die even in a live well. I have no need for one, but a prior poster brought up a valid concern about center of gravity and weight distribution. water is heavy!

Down here, it isn't a fishing boat if it doesn't have a livewell!

Agreed Craig.  That's what makes building a boat to suit all regions of the US a bitch.

[Blue Agave]

It's been so long I can't be positive on the thickness of the nidacore used but I'll take a guess;

1" in the floor and for the stringers.
1/2" for the deck cap
1/4" in the bottom of the boat

[seabob4]

Craig, Nando, I think you guys should meet up.  Halfway is my house.  Besides, need to look at Nando's truck stereo, and he needs to bring me some beer!  

[OldSkool67]

Totally agree with Nando regarding hull colors.  Colors are just a beetch to take care, and, like he said, they show EVERY little imperfection in the hull surface.  There IS a reason that 95% of the boats out there are white...

FL Yellow?  Can't stand that color...

Bob I had no idea of your discontempt for FL yellow...

Well you learn something everyday now dont you.    

[seabob4]

Ryan,
Way back in the day, think it was around '97, Aquasport decided to come out with colored hulls for model year '98.  The first one down the line?  Fighting Lady Yellow...IIRC, it was a 225 Osprey.  Looked at that hull, said...you gotta be kidding!  Never forget that!!

Maggie and I, we're not "yellow" people!!  

[CLM65]

Craig, Nando, I think you guys should meet up.  Halfway is my house.  Besides, need to look at Nando's truck stereo, and he needs to bring me some beer!  

I'd like to do that.  My kids' soccer seasons are almost over - should free up some of my time.  We'll talk about it later if Nando is agreeable.

[Blue Agave]

Craig, Nando, I think you guys should meet up.  Halfway is my house.  Besides, need to look at Nando's truck stereo, and he needs to bring me some beer!  

I'd like to do that.  My kids' soccer seasons are almost over - should free up some of my time.  We'll talk about it later if Nando is agreeable.

No problem, as Bob stated I do need to bring him a case of beer. Although it seems Bob has had one too many if he believes Brooksville is the halfway point between Crystal River & Tampa.  

[Necessary Evil]

My 22-2 is still a work in progress, but here are some random thoughts. You can never have too many rigging tubes! Run 2 forward and 2 big ones aft. I also think I chose to install a fuel tank that was too large (72 gal.). The Suzy 175 is very fuel efficient, and I might have saved some weight and space by going with a smaller tank (50 Gal?). Hatches and Access points need to be well thought out and big enough to be useful. I wish I had installed access to the fuel fill and vent lines, and I wish I had a big hatch forward to access below the casting deck. I'm also going to move my console forward from the stock position about 6 - 8 inches. That should help compensate for the Porta Bracket's weight aft. I'm also going to raise the console up about 6 inches, just to fit me better. I have foam under the deck and no below deck storage. I'd like more storage, but I also really like a very strong deck with no complicated hatches. It's a push. I'm having to re engineer a ski pylon installation, which I should have included from the start.

When I get frustrated, I just think of how many compliments I get on this boat everywhere I go. We tied up at Marina Jack's to visit their little boat show last month and we seemed to get as much attention as the million $ yachts all around us! Especially from the folks in the boating industry. That is always fun. :)

[RickK]

Great ideas.
Marina Jacks in Sarasota?

PS. Take a peek at your avatar in your profile, seems you moved it or something.
How about scaling a pic of your boat down (maybe 100 x 300) and adding it to your signature.

[Capt Matt]

-No foam in my rebuild, no regrets
-Livewell 43 gal as my seat no regrets we use lots of bait in FL
-No spray rails no regrets, if boat is balanced right and you have trim tabs they are crazy dry without the rails
-Should have built a custom sea chest in for livewell pumps, wash down etc. I have not found any livewell pump I get more than a few months out of.
-175 pro XS is a waste of too much power, I love the motor but could have done a 150 and saved the $. I will switch to a new 4 stroke mercury in June. I was on the fence about buying a first year motor till any issues got worked out (merc 150 4/stroke) These flatback hulls wanna ride at 28mph sure they go faster but they are not speed boats no matter how much power you bolt on
-Awlgrip in the inside, should have used gelcoat or something else for inside
-Kiwi grip deck  like how non skid it is but its hard to clean, could have bought non skid sheets for a more factory look.
Capt Matt

[CLM65]

Awesome input, Evil & Capt Matt!  You both hit upon some questions and thoughts I had!  This info really helps!

[Necessary Evil]

I'm having a hard time figuring out how to add pics to my signature, so I posted a few below.

I did not put a livewell on my boat at all, but if I ever do I think I'll do it at the helm seat rather than the transom.

I have not felt the need for spray rails. She is pretty dry as is, but I might put the long rails on her someday to see if they add some lift?

I did put trim tabs on her, Lenco 12' x 12", and I am very glad I did. The tabs really give you a lot of running angle and handling options.

My next immediate project is to try some different props. I think I'm under propped now with a 3 x 16 x17. I think a Rev 4 16 x 20 might be the ticket. Then I've got to bring her home (she's at the beach until April) and install some rod holders, a stereo (Fusion 600), and probably an anchor pulpit. We anchor a lot, and I want the process to be painless. I rather like the bow as it is though, so I'm going to have to do some research here in the photo archives to find a look I like equally as well :)

My first mate checking all systems before getting under way :


Loaded with bikes at Mar Vista on Longboat Key:


Egmont Key:


At Marina Jack's

[Capt. Bob]

Lookin' good.