Posted: July 29 2005 at 00:00 | IP Logged

andrep wrote: I know that some of you installed tower. Where is the best place to attach it? Do we need to reinforce the location where it is attached? I can see that Dick_F233 you have made some changes on the coaming, but you did not attach yours there. On the another hand, it looks like 74Formula233 has attached his on the coming. Did you had to reinforce that section?   How sensitive are the 350 cc for RPM? If in good condition, how long can they take the full speed? Are we talking minutes or hours? Is 3000 rpm a good safe cruising revolution?

Andrep,

My top is anchored to the boat in four spots, on each side.  Each pad is through-bolted with three #10 screws with fender washers, lock washers, and nuts.

About the RPM's, my 5.7L EFI MercCruiser likes to cruise between 3100 and 3500.  Every once in a while, I'll push it up to 4800-5000, but only for a very short burst.  I don't make a habit of WOT for more than just a few seconds, on anything I own.  Around 3400-3500 is it's "sweet spot", where she runs about 24 knots at 8 GPH.

Posted: August 05 2005 at 00:00 | IP Logged

Thanks Dick,

It sound like the sweet spot is in that range from what I can see so far.

Do you have a swimming platform on yours? I am thinking of installing one and I do not want to mess-up the integrity of the transom. Any ideal way of fixing one? Meaning what is it that needs to avoided to prevent water seeping into the transom wood?

Andre

Posted: August 05 2005 at 00:00 | IP Logged

I don't have a swimming platform, but I do have a ladder.  We scuba dive and snorkle out of her.

One of my friends weighs 280 lbs.  Add about 100 pounds of scuba gear and pitching seas, and you will see why I can't trust anything but through-bolting with fender washers where ever possible.  That's the three red arrows.  It's lagged at the green arrow.  All are well sealed with 5200, and show no sign of seepage after 9 years.

Posted: August 08 2005 at 00:00 | IP Logged

andre,

You can see my mounting locations in these pics:

http://www.arctekmarine.com/Fintage.htm

Several pics from different angles will show you wher ethe mounts are.  All (4) mounts on the horizontal parts of the deck are thru-bolted with fender washers, and there is wood core in all those locations.

The (2) mounts on the coaming sides near the windshield (where the tubing makes a 90 degeree bend to attach) have no wood core but needed no additional reinforcement other than the large fender washers used.

The other (4) small "standoff" supports (2 on the rear legs at 90 degrees to the "coaming", 2 on front legs at 90 degrees to below the windshield also have no wood core and are supported simply by fender washers as well.

The top is rock solid and has caused no stress cracks in any mount locations.  It has been tested by almost 100 hours of use, almost all of which has been offshore, ~50% of that in some real nasty crap, LOL.

Posted: August 08 2005 at 00:00 | IP Logged

Oh, as far as a swim platform.....

I bought mine from my friend that has a '73 F233 CC.  He had taken it off, had new aluminum brackets made, and totally refinished the teak, then decided he didn't want to use it anymore, so he filled his holes, and I bought it off him for $100.

I had no "problem" drilling transom holes.  Just use 5200 to seal them up when installing the screws/bolts, and you'll be fine.

I have 6 screws/bolts per bracket.  The top 2 on each bracket are stainless (5/16"?) thru-bolts (bolted thru transom plug).  The middle 2 and bottom 2 on each bracket are large/long stainless screws, due to not being able to access the holes from inside the boat.  Those holes were hence drilled only deep enough to sink the large screws, and were filled with sealant prior to screwing them.

Posted: August 08 2005 at 00:00 | IP Logged

Thanks Formula,

Great info. Will be valuable when I get the time to do this. Before next spring, I hope.

Got a great ride this weekend. Had time to check RPM.

It rides very good @ 3000 rpm and faster at 3500.

It sound like I am getting the same sort of performance as Dick wrote for his.

Same feeling as before, very stable ride you don’t even feel the small to medium size chops (lake).

We rode with 7 persons on board for 2 hour at about 3200 rpm and used about 1/4 of the tank. It did not ride good enough at lower RPM with that kind of a load. Very stable oil pressure and temperature was just above 160f on a 75 f water.

Still very please with the boat. Just looking to find time to fix the small cosmetics.

Andre