aquasport 246cc diesel tunnel drive

[kaptainkoz]

Welcome back! Looking forward to seeing more on your project as it happens.  

[Georgie]

Gon2-

If you can swing it, please post some pics of your spoils on "Chum" page!  Wanna see some lower Pacific spoils!!    Love your work so far.  Fun to watch such a unique build...sometimes i wonder what Coburn and Sargent would think re: what's happening to the vintage versions of the boat "brand" they started...

[gon2sea]

progress is slower as im splitting my time between my new 32 x 42 shop construction, re doing the interior on my uniflite mega 28 and my aquasport.... this week end project was fiberglassing the forward part of hull liner where the original aluminum fuel tank sat, the new tank will hold 65 gallons and should give me plenty of range.
ive added a few pictures.
 https://picasaweb.google.com/1049052607 ... sport246Cc

[gon2sea]

fuel tank is finished, posted new pictures on that in my picasa web album. hoked up the hydraulic ram for the steering, got all the controls done as well. presently working on a top for the center console. got my 1-1/2" thru hull installed and all i have left to do motor wise is run a " water " line from thru hull to pump intake.
https://picasaweb.google.com/1049052607 ... 5341920946

[RickK]

I've never seen anyone make a fuel tank out of fiberglass
https://picasaweb.google.com/1049052607 ... 4056899666

- didn't really come together in my mind until I saw the pic of it closed in.
https://picasaweb.google.com/1049052607 ... 9080770306

[kaptainkoz]

Your fabrication skills are exceptional. Everything seems like it belongs just where it is. Awesome build! Im a huge fan!!!!

[seabob4]

Glass fuel tanks for diesel and non-E gas are great.  But no Ethanol...which Eric doesn't have to worry about...

[gran398]

Glass tanks are proven for both fuels. Hatteras ran fiberglass tanks initially and for many years.

Glad you're back, your work is amazing.

 Great seeing her come together  

[GoneFission]

Using a pickup cover as hardtop is a great idea!    You see those things go cheap in junkyards, etc.   Keep up the good work - this is a cool rebuild...

[gman 82 aquasport]

Hope you don't mind if I was to use your pick-up cover as a t-top cover idea I had not even thought that far out of the box I 'm planning on making a glass cover for my t-top this winter and was preppared to lay the glass and epoxy (3-4 layers) and form my own until I saw this... man what a time and resource saver...Have to admit you have some wicked skills and  :bball: to tackle a job of this magnitude but she is going to be awesome when finished and definatly a one of a kind...keep us up on the progress and great job..

[gon2sea]

Im back...lol, the project is back on track, got my new shop completed and now have a real floor to work on instead of desert dirt...! now i can actually do pretty tig welds on a bench instead of chicken scratch on the dirt and breeze blowing my argon away.
just finished mounting trim tabs, got all fluids in the motor, and am doing some wiring, did hit the starter yesterday and found out the starter is not engaging.... the industrial flywheel spacing is different than the dodge cummins donor engine, i'll have to change starters, ive got a shelf full of them, industrial, dodge 1st and 2cd gen diesels so i know i have one that will engage.. ill measure the back spacing when i pull this one out so the next one i put in will be the right one...!
ive posted new pictures on my picasa web album,
https://picasaweb.google.com/1049052607 ... 2937756882

[RickK]

A lot of progress on a lot of things  
I like the trim tabs - great idea.

[seabob4]

Serious tabs there!  Tabs a basically a must on I/B boats due to the inability to trim...

[icemanbryan]

I keep getting a google error trying to see the photos.
Do I need to add something to my Mac?

[gon2sea]

she's in the water and floating fine, preliminary sea trials gave me 20 at 2000 rpm and 3.8 gph , WAY under propped with low boost and low exhaust temp at cruise, need more pitch....
pics of boat in water.
https://picasaweb.google.com/104905260722286217761/Aquasport246Cc#6282413469835157330