Bass Relief- A Seafari 25 rehab

[strick]

Looks nice.....your gonna put more weight up front right?

strick

[cdavisdb]

Gotta love seeing another 25 running again, looks great!

Trim at rest looks just right. The boat will like a bit of weight forward when you are moving.

Speed and rpm looks to be in the right range. Suggest getting a vacuum gauge. At least in mine, the engine sounds and feels great, but its easy to get to the place where the vacuum is too low. With that load, mine would be at 7 inches vac at about 3500-3600 rpm and 26-27 knots.

Sweet boat!

[FishStretcher]

Strick-

I had the I/O trimmed up, punching the throttle. I got a clue on trim later. Well, sort of- I only have like 1 hour of run time. I was bewildered by the trim at first.

Cdavisdb- Bushwacker has already convinced me to get a vacuum gauge. A marinized one with a white face eludes me so far, but I will keep looking.

[cdavisdb]

Don't feel bad about the learning process. This one takes more getting used to than most boats. But, once you do, there is no looking back. I think it was Blue Heron said, Its a drivers boat. He was right.

Good idea on putting the batteries forward. The boat will definitely like that. There is a ton of room under the sole, you just have to make access and a strong platform. While you are at it, some reinforcement between the main stringers up to the inner liner would be a great idea.

[Blue_Heron]

Originally Posted by strick

Looks nice.....your gonna put more weight up front right?

strick

Originally Posted by cdavisdb

...Trim at rest looks just right. The boat will like a bit of weight forward when you are moving.

Good to see it on the water. I'm with strick and Connor on the forward weight. Mine sits a little deeper in the bow at rest with all tanks full than yours does in the pic. Take a look at how the Kama II is trimmed at displacement speed in the video Bigshrimpin posted. The boat really cuts through the waves with forward weight, and it won't stuff the bow. Not enough weight forward, and you'll be launching off the wave tops.

[FishStretcher]

Thanks everyone for the tips. I need to winterize it this weekend, we already had frost up here. This winter I will change tanks, maybe recore the tank hatch and make a battery tray for under the sole. Thanks for tip in propping up the sole. I may use some of that pultruded fiberglass rectangular tube for that.

I *might* put a bunch of batteries in the bow under the bunk for a torqeedo kicker, but we will see.

[strick]

Here is mine idling around. Notice the difference. I have a water bladder under the sole in the bow. I think it's only 14 gallons or so. I also have my second fuel tank mounted under the threshold. I have yet to put a drop of fuel in it but when I do it will help.

strick

[FishStretcher]

Wow. I have two squarish tanks. A maybe 38" x 34" opening. The forward tank is aft of the sole, and can't be accessed except via a round deck plate. I think both aluminum tanks are 11 years old. And DEFINITELY had water in them. And on them. So they get yanked. (Yes, you can see a mushroom growing out of a 2x4 in there!)

There is a modest inspection hatch big enough for a group 24 battery to fit thru in the middle of the cockpit sole in mine. The existing bilge pump will probably go aft.

[Blue_Heron]

Mine at the dock-all tanks full. Stock fuel tanks, a 30 gallon water tank under the cabin sole, and batteries under the helm deck.



And the KAMA II

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=ln3Y1A_RNCM

I think Bigfluke added the amas on the sides to improve stern lift and lateral stability with less drag than trim tabs.
Dave

[FishStretcher]

That sits nicely! And a very clean boat! I like the swim platform and the teak windshield frame. It is funny how yours and Stricks can look pretty different with changes in the bow rail, anchor windlass and color. Both look great. Now I need to decide which way to go. Tinted cabin windows are a must, though.

Someday I will get mine cleaner, but I have more rooting around in the bilge to do first.

I think I found plastic tanks. I have to measure carefully to see if the FT5606 fits. I think that one is actually available. A local place- boatstore.com has them (Bigshrimpin might be interested to know that). Still $500+ each. But I don't want to leak 50 gallons of fuel into the bilge on the mooring!

edit: I know it isn't a windlass, but I wouldn't call it a bowsprit either, and prow seems wrong. The word escapes me now.