197? 240 Sea Hunter Build

[Tx49]

Well it begins. Sort of. I finally got a trailer so that I can go pick up the Aquasport I bought. The problem I had was that I live in a HOA subdivision and I can't park a trailer in front of the house and no room beside the house for it. If I leave the boat on the trailer its too high. But I found a galvanized trailer from a 21' boat that was just the ticket. It has drop spindles, center roller popup bunk, low profile tires, and best of all the axle suspension assembly is a removable/adjustable truck. The trailer sits low, is a flatbed type rather than a vee frame and if the boat is too high I can remove the truck and sit the trailer on frame on blocks and put the truck in the garage.
I plan on picking up the boat Saturday, unless the present owner's wife goes into labor. she is due any day.

I probably payed too much for the trailer at 395.00, but with a light kit, 3 hours of rotten wood and rust removal and a couple of cans of cold galvanize voila, a galvanized boat trailer for under 450.00. it is not the long-term trailer I need, ut it will get the boat here and not break the bank. I will add fenders and permanent chine bunks later and then use it for a smaller boat for me and my boys' next lake boat. Here are a few pics of the trailer with my older son working on it.

[Tx49]

sorry about the size on that last pic. fpr some reason it won't load the smaller version.

[gran398]

Good deal!

The 240 to me is the queen of the 70's fleet...and under-appreciated at present. Good on you for finding one, and here's a prediction.

In the not-so-distant future there will be strong demand for this hull. You guys that own them...cherish what you have.


PS....trailers are great...but show us the Seahunter

[Tx49]

I originally picked it out because it was cheap and long. I had some plans and it seemed to fit them. But as I started researching, it really started to grow on me. In addition, from what I am figuring out from this site primarily, is that these 60-70's  Aquasports were really great on the design, but by the time the 70's were rolling around, the construction quality was getting hit ot miss. I like the idea of taking a great classic hull and, using what the boating community has learned in the 40 years since, building the boat that could have been built. I have some pretty ambitious plans. We'll see how it turns out.

On Edit
I know its just a trailer, but its the official start if you will.   I'm hoping to get the boat picked up Saturday. Crossing fingers. Be great to finally get started. I've been working on this for close on a month.

[gran398]

These boats off the line were never the rebuild quality we see today. Many factors enter into that.

 First, they didn't have today's synthetic, high-tech materials. Secondly, it was a numbers game...a production game. Hullside print-through was a given. Weird measurements side-to-side were a given. Part of the charm of owning these boats...although they are beautiful...was that they were built so the average working man could buy one. And they built thousands of them.

Our boats were made to compete with other production boats of the era....Mako, Grady-White, Hydrasports, Proline....and also smaller production houses out of Florida and Carolina. To compete....they had to offer bang for the buck topsides.

A major difference is...the Aquasport featured a foam filled fiberglass stringer system from the start. The Flatback, the original ride?....foamed stringers. And a solid (not plywood-cored) fiberglass deck.

This is why they're still here today, and able to be rebuilt.

Good on the trailer....  ....and we're looking forward to seeing your new gal in the driveway

[Tx49]

On issues of power:

My previous boat was a 22 ft deep vee runabout with a 270 hp OMC King Cobra, I/O. Always liked that drive, but I'm not sure if there are parts available anymore. I have never owned or even been around outoards much. That being said, I am still trying to decide what is the best way to go. I/O, Inboard Vee-drive, Inboard stern drive, or outboards. obviously this all effects how I handle the transom and stringer work.  
The original sea hunters came with twin 125 outboards or a 140 horse inboard. I think the only inboard options were inboard/outboard and vee drive, but I don't know for sure. I think with my rebuild having a stringer floor and more weight, I will go with something like 150-250 horse outboard or 240-260 horse inboard.
If I go outboard should I go twins. I like the idea of having an "extra" engine should one breakdown.
What are the reasons for twin power beyond the typical "2 engines are better than one" theory. Are their handling issues, fuel mileage, weight?  I see some boats with a single 300 horse o/b and others with twin 90's. Are there inherent complications or maintenance issues with twins? Do you have to buy them as a pair or can you get them seperate. I am not made of money so my motor purchase  will be remanufactured or used. I may just end up buying a donor boat for the power.

What are some of your thoughts on Outboard vs. Inboards (all type inboards). If outboard, would twin 125-135 power be a good setup, or just a single and if so how much power.

Are my thoughts about power just out of whack? If so, how much power should I be looking at. I know this post is long and all over the place, but there is just so much about the engine choice side that I am an idiot about.

I look forward to hearing all thoughts and even seeing a little good natured arguing or debating as that helps me learn.

Thanks.

[gran398]

If it were my boat...I'd set her up open transom with twin Merc 115 two strokes. Check out Fitz's ride...that's where I'd be on your 240.

My 22-2  with twin Merc 75's is a ball o' fire out of the hole. And runs strong to WOT, 38 mph. These hulls weren't designed to haul ass. They run a beautiful cruise at 4100 rpm, 29 mph.

Keep adding value to other threads. Added value and interesting commentary is not a de-rail.

 

[Tx49]

Ok, who is fitz. As far as the 2-strokes? What are the advantages of 2 vs 4 stroke. I generally have never had good luck with 2-strokes, wheher they were lawnmowers or weedeaters or anything else. HaHa. I guess I just don't understand them. Before i get flamed I do understand the 2 cycle process. Just seems like a lot more work and maintenance to take care of them. Am I right about that or are they actually less maintenance and operation? Are they a lot lighter. What about weight?

[gran398]

Glad you're with us

[Tx49]

I should finally pick up the boat sometime between today and Saturday. So, after studying costs of used, re-mfg, and used power/drives I think I will be best off going with an I/O setup. I would prefer to have twin 3.0 165 horse 4 cylinders, but that may get too bulky both in controls and just physical space for the blocks. This would give me the 2 is better than one safety factor. More likely I will go with a 5.7 and a small aux o/b for emergency power. I am attaching a sketch of my concept boat. The great thing about this project i have planned is that once the hull, transom, and floor are complete, I can stop my planned build at numerous points. I could make it a CC, a Side console cuddy, a pilothouse, etc. But when looking at the concept and recognizing that i am not independently wealthy nor retired, you can see why I have given this a 3-7 year time frame to complete.
The drawing is give or take to scale with approximate dimensions.

[seabob4]

Tx,
You seem to be leaning towards the I/O end of the deal, which is fine.  You're comfortable with them, you know the maintenance routine (bellows, u-joints, risers/elbows), so all that is nothing new to you.  That being said, the perfect motor/drive combo for your project would be a Merc 350MAG coupled to a Bravo 3 drive.  Gives you 300 honest HP, and you're gonna need it due to the weight of the motor and drive, and all the weight you'll be adding building the cabin and flybridge (assuming you do).  The weight of the motor and drive will come in at right around 1000 lbs, the equivalent of a couple 2S 150s.  Twin 3.0s will probably get you close to that weight at only 260 HP combined, plus 2 Alpha drives causing drag issues.

Scott and Farley's 22-2s are kinda light-weights compared to what you have planned, you need some power behind your rig!

[fitz73222]

Who you callin light weights skinny man! Me and Scotty are quite comfortable with our 30 BMI's !

[gran398]

   

[Tx49]

Tx,
You seem to be leaning towards the I/O end of the deal, which is fine.  You're comfortable with them, you know the maintenance routine (bellows, u-joints, risers/elbows), so all that is nothing new to you.  That being said, the perfect motor/drive combo for your project would be a Merc 350MAG coupled to a Bravo 3 drive.  Gives you 300 honest HP, and you're gonna need it due to the weight of the motor and drive, and all the weight you'll be adding building the cabin and flybridge (assuming you do).  The weight of the motor and drive will come in at right around 1000 lbs, the equivalent of a couple 2S 150s.  Twin 3.0s will probably get you close to that weight at only 260 HP combined, plus 2 Alpha drives causing drag issues.

Scott and Farley's 22-2s are kinda light-weights compared to what you have planned, you need some power behind your rig!

I prefer the single 5.7, but I don't like the idea of going offshore of any distance without having 2 motors. The 5.7 with the aux is probably a better plan than the twin 4's. I'll be honest the only reasons i am leaning towards the i/o is that I am familiar with them , and more importantly the cost of outboards is insane. I also assume i need to buy them as a set don't I? I'm seeing prices in the 20-40K range. If I had twin 150's sitting on a bracket I would have more cockpit room. I guess what I'm saying is that right now I think i am only going with the devil I know. The only reason it matters at this point is how I build the stringers and floor. Hell thats even a ways out. But since I haven't got the boat here yet, I need something to occupy me, so i plan.

I'm surprised no one has screamed at me for chopping up a 240 like I plan to. LOL

[pzart]

X2 on what SeaBob said, I have close to that setup, 280 HP with the Bravo3, on my 25' WC    http://www.classicaquasport.com/gallery ... hp?cat=661

She flys with about 5000 lbs of displacement.....great fuel rate too, around 6gal per hour at 3000 rpm cruise.