1986 Tournament 27 projects

[Ed]

I don't have many photos. Just a couple of more which are attached.

Thanks on the feedback...much appreciated.

[DonV]

That's a bad SOB!!! The top is perfect, bringing in the rear uprights off the gunnel is the way to go!! Looks very well built, strong and very stable. As a long time trolling fisherman in my old clunker 23, I would go crazy with anything on the gunnels blocking the ability to walk around the rear of the boat with fish on. Sweet!

[erebus]

The metalwork on that top is amazing.

I'm sure you mentioned it in another topic somewhere but who did the design and fab?
Did you have it done locally in southern Maine?
Whoever did that is an artisan...

Names and phone numbers would be great.
They should get all my business.

[Ed]

Thanks Don V and Erebus.

The top was designed and fabricated by Noel Redman of Redman Marine Fabricators. His shop is in the next town over so I was there 3 times a week (during lunch, after work and on Saturday's) giving input & feedback. I knew what I needed and what I liked, so between the two of us we came up with design that looks good, is super strong but without making me feel like I was in a cage.

And to top it off, I did not loose any speed. In fact, I hit 58mph on the Garmin GPS with a swift current. Regular top speed is around 53-54mph

[Blackfin26]

As everybody said, Well Done! Looks custom factory and those speeds are impressive. Does she need much tab?

[Ed]

Blackfin26 - the boat does not have trim tabs. I have debated about whether I should add them or not. I need to run the boat some more before I make any changes that affect the ride.I only had half of the 2015 season and it just went in last week for the 2016 season. Maybe 35 hours since I bought it?

[Ed]

I have to report some very sad news.

A week ago Friday, the fellow who made my hardtop....Noell Redman of Redman Marine Fabricators passed away from an apparent heart attack. He was only 50 and appeared to be in good shape. I went to his memorial service on Thursday and it was tough to see his family grieving, especially his 11 year old son.

Hug your wife and kids and tell them you love them every chance you can get. Life is too short.

[Ed]

Here are some better pictures of my new seats and clamp on seat bracket that I designed. The clamp on bracket allows me to remove the seats and bracket and get to the fuel tanks, if ever needed.

I bought three seats from the owner of a Grady White 36 Canyon. I used the two outer ones and will be selling the center version with dual arm rests.

Lastly, after being out in pea-soup fog last Sunday and getting scolded by my dad (at age 47!) who recently saw the accident off Chatham in the news, I adecided that it was finally time to finish wiring up my new Garmin 18XHD radar. I had started the project earlier this summer, but walked away from it in disgust after spending 4 hours or so snaking the wires through the fiberglass top and aluminum piping.

[strick]

Hey Ed thats one hell of a beast...I mean boat! Nice work on the engines and top re fab.

strick

[Ed]

I am going down the rabbit hole again and will be installing a new larger displacement bracket and new 250 four strokes on my 1986 27 Seacraft.

The bracket came off and she is now naked, but I am a bit unsure in my transom angle measurements.

Using the standard carpenter's square method where 1/4" equals 1 degree in transom angle, I came up with:

Port: 3.5 inches= 14 degrees
Starboard: 3.125 inches= 12.5 degrees

Using my digital angle finder against the old stainless marine bracket, I came up with 76.5", which I think equates to 13.5 degrees (am I thinking this through right)?

I then took the carpenter square and put the long end on the bracket's swim platform and the short end on the side that mounts to the transom and came up with just under 3.5 inches which would equal somewhere between 13.5 and 14 degrees ??

I need to walk away from this and clear my head. Any advice would be appreciated.