ok, after some time a little update.
after losing a steering ram bolt at WOT (forgot to tighten it....
) i can tell you that doing an instant 90 deg turn is not a problem for the boat. luckily nobody was hurt.
about the performance: i´d say lesson learned-and you can´t beat experience for doing something like this.
basically, everything works fine, but the whole setup doesn´t really match up: the IMCO extension with 3" lift is a fine piece of equipment with its integrated steering, the whole package is awesome.
but, the extension plus the lift plus the panic of not getting the boat to plane and therefore adding weight to the front of the boat (batteries, pumps for the trim tabs) adds up for not getting the bow up enough, so the wetted surface is kinda large and keeps the boat from really making speed. also, the engine, as nice a piece as it is, is not powerful enough for the package. if you trim up, you create some rooster tail but the bow wont come up any more. the extension adds leverage, but the power on the end of the lever is too small.
reason for this simply was that we took good components that seemed to make sense, every piece of the package for itself, but the combination just doesnt match up. so much for lack of experience, someone with it might have foreseen things and chosen otherwise.
however, thats the way it is. the boat is still the fastest single engine in the area and it runs perfectly smooth and handles fine (only little chine walk, easy to steer that out), thanks to the long waterline, but it really sucks that a stock 22 with a bbc mercruiser is capable to perform just like it, without putting $$$ into it.
as i said: lesson learned, experience cannot be beat. if you do something, ask around or do something that has already successfully been done. or live with the result, which we do. i do not really bother or grieve because the building process was fun and also very educating.
no way yanking the engine and putting a bb into it, but CMI headers are kinda tempting (engine is running rich, anyway, and a 10% power gain for the money doesnt seem bad). and they look cool, too.
and try a different (bow lifting) prop we will, which will probably be the easiest way to find some mph (still got 500rpm left to hitting the limiter)
about the hull: re-gelcoating was terrible to do but worth the effort, it looks better and is more durable than paint.
weak spots in the hull stay weak, even with the most careful repair. most spider cracks reappeared.
this hull wasnt built with great care. we had to repair another wellcraft boat recently which is of similar age, and it was just as bad. especially the transom area in these boats is terrible. the wooden piece is very lazily joined to the laminte which leaves huge hollow areas, which really keep the water and make the wood rot badly (we had to replace the entire wooden transom on that particular boat).
grey upholstery looks great. but only black upholstery is even stupider than that if the sun happens to shine sometimes. ouch.
for the money spent, if i would get another boat i wouldnt put it into it piece by piece but rather save the whole amount and get a 28 skater with outboards. it had cost about the same but would perform lightyears better and there wouldnt be a problem with noise restrictions.
also, with these gas prices (one liter premium 98 octane fuel costs 1.30 EUROS. this boat drinks 150 liters per hour. you do the math) and considering we are not offshore but river, an Allison or STV also seems tempting (cheaper to buy and operate, faaast, handling well on a river). dont spank me.
ill post again if something important happens or if she starts to fly, finally.
peter
vienna/austria
Re: ´95 Scarab 22 Re-Rig
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