Suddenly there's Thunder in the HRPA
 

At approx 6am Friday May 12, there was Sudden Thunder. However this thrillseeker's bed did not let go at the appointed time.
So I got to the marina a little late and Macklin's new girl was about to come off the trailer. Odd, Macklin & Diane are not anywhere to be seen. I decided to photo the next set of events that would surely pucker Macklin's azz.

The lift operator was so gentle - the boat hardly swayed as he manuvered it to the rack

Gettin closer - Macklin would be s hi ttin by now!

Sudden Thunder on the rack and the old PowerQuest getting strapped in ready to roll to where ever. . . . . .

Macklin is found - or more like he came out of the boatel where he had been unloading the PQ. He needed help getting the CRAP off the boat, so we went in to get another load of CRAP.

Here he is giddy w/ excitement.

No wonder that PQ wouldn't hit 80. Dayum Mac! How much CRAP do you need? Those carts are REALLY full.
Diane came to the rescue, she started sorting thru the stuff. She grabs a pair of pants that look like Mac wore when we grew up. "What are you going to do with these?" Diane asks. Mac responds: "I may need those some time." so they go on the boat, and that sets the tone for sorting thru the crap. However, they did get rid of some stuff. I think an empty tissue box got tossed. :drink: :drink: :evilb:

And she was gone.

There goes the old PowerQuest. She was a nice comfortable boat. Someone is going to get an extremely well maintained boat. There were some great times had with those PowerQuests! Alot of people knock them - they are quite well built and comfortable.

OMG I am LMFAO!! :D

BTW, I did toss the pants. :rolleyes:

This was a difficult pic to take as I was taking into the sun.

Cool to see the different profiles.

You did??! But what about those couple of yellow blow up. . . . .whatever's ?!?!?!?

Now I will give credit where credit is due. Diane took the scrub brush from the old PQ and tossed it. She then took off in search of proper care items. She went and got microfiber towels, was mitts and some Comet. Whoops, I mean soap. Way to go Diane! That should help keep that Sudden Thunder scratch free and looking good. :drink: :D :D

Hey, it was a soft bristle brush that did not scratch the clear. However, I do like the new wash mit on a stick she got. Makes it easy for her to reach up to the rub rail. :D

I need to figure out some kind of quick disconnect for the engine flusher. Kind of a PITA with just a straight hose. What have you guys rigged up for that?

BillR good job!!! LOL Macklin i would have been a nervous wreck with my boat hanging in those slings :eek: It looks great :cool: I would like to have had a comparison pic. like yours of the AT and my old fountain. I made up a rig with quick disconnects for the engine flusher. Your right it is a PIA like it is. I'll get a pic for you and post it later. Clark and i were talking about this same thing last week.

This rig works great. You can turn the water on and off in the boat so you can flush them without needing somebody on the ground or having to climb in and out of the boat 4 times yourself. The left green fitting doesn't swivel so it screws into the hookup in the boat real easy. Put the other green fitting on the dock hose and turn the water on before you get in the boat. I made my flush hose 6' but i'm going to cut it back to 4'.

Thanks Mark! That's pretty much what I had in mind. I will get to work on that this week.

Today's weather totally blows, low 60's with big winds out of the NE, so I plan to take the opportunity to get her waxed and detailed for the big weekend coming up.

We plan to spend two nights on the boat to break her in right! :D

See ya there!

This is why I didn't watch. Although the fork lift driver who works weekends at my new marina has been doing this for 30 years. He is a real professional and it really shows.

However, the slings did damage the paint just at the bottom of the hull sides. Never see it when it is in the water. Not sure what I can do about it. That's life. :(

Yesterday all the nerves, stress, exhileration and excitement came to a head. I felt like a wet rag in the morning and totally crashed yesterday afternoon. And I never take afternoon naps! I'm thrilled it's finally done and in the barn!! :cool:

Yea....that would get the old butt puckerin' for sure!!! You definately won't miss that boat out on the water:cool:

BTW, for the record, I did hit 80 with your Merc labbed 30's. I prefer stock props for their durability and better cruise efficiency. And I don't like having 8 razor blades hanging off the transom with as much time as we spend in the water behind the boat at raft ups.

Can't wait to find out how these stock 32's will perform. By all accounts I need to start saving for another set. :rolleyes:

Congrats, boat looks awesome:cool: ....Cool pic's:cool: Have great summer, See you guys on jammin on the James.:drink:

On my boat the stock 32's burn more fuel than the lab 32's that I got from Joe by about 15% because the boat is under more of a load with the stock 32’s. The lab set I got increased my mid range by 2-3 MPH. The difference in the 32 labs that I bought from Joe and traditional lab 32's is they have more trailing edge and more cup in tip than traditional lab finishes props. Getting on plane is also much better with the labs that I have. I agree about durability. The stock 30 is also a nice option. I tried them too.

lab 32's
3500-58
3700-62
4000-67
WOT 87

Send me one of those!!

Clark, the stock 30's I was referring to was on the last boat.

But thanks for the rpm by rpm breakdown. Are you into props or something? :D And who is Joe? If he can lab a prop that does better at cruise than a stock prop I am all ears!

Waxed the boat today. Took me ALL DAY! Of course that included literally hours of time to stop what I was doing to answer all the questions about the boat. :D

:D I ran stock 30's on my 37 AT and they performed better than the stock 32's. I didn’t look at fuel but should of been better because of load. Joe is a friend who is on the board. The props I bought from him were made for his 03 Cig Top Gun. They are Phil Lipship special 32 lab's made by Mercury Racing. They have a special serial number if you want to make a copy. Wait until Mark reports on the Maximums he just had made. They are going to give you tremendous cruise with a respectable top end.

You can say I like props...:D

Oops, I meant labbed 30's.

Oh, I know who Joe is now. Yeah, I intend to get a full report from Mark Friday night at the poker run.

Right Mark? :drink:

Can you get any more info about these props?? Since I have a TG, I am very interested in what was done to them.
I have had mine "flat pitched" as recommended by Tres Martin and I gained a little bit. But I too "like props". :drink:

I just got off the phone with Brett at Bblades and i'm ready to go. Test them out wednesday afternoon :D

Bill,

I will get your the serial number when I get them back from Brett. They have some extra cup in the tip and good trailing edge for cruising. I need to work them a bit for my boat. Joe had his 03 TG doing 89mph with them. I saw 87 but I don’t think it is enough prop, might make them a 33 lab finish.