Project Awesome - Author responses only please
 

The original pic when I first purchased "her" back in 2003. Seems like ages ago. Original build package was very basic. Merc 7.4 Magnum 330HP carb motors. Bravo Drives. Basic instruments and Morse controls. Did have thru hull water pick-ups and IMCO offshore steering system. Mitcher T paint was a plus and did help sell the boat. Manning trailer was the original owner's and was not included in the boat deal. Dennis was kind enough to let me use it till I purchased an aluminum trailer.

The 1998 Hull/motors had low hours on the clock when I purchased "her". According to what Jim told me, this was the Awesome 1998 Miami Boat Show model that was displayed. Dennis rack stored the boat during the summer month's and back on the trailer and into storage for the winter. Super clean and not misused.

Original dash layout. Faria instruments and Morse controls. Plastic machined panels. Non-tilt wheel. Basic stuff. Awesome did choose a great cockpit interior package. McLeod Design.

Dash attachment was greatly reinforced by GlassDave (he is in Toledo) from OSO. Lot's of grinding/fitting for the new gauges. When I say the dash was gutted, IT WAS GUTTED. Nothing remainded from the past. The original wiring---Gone!!!!!!! ALL NEW.

New aluminum panels were designed for the upper and lower sections of the dash. Center console too. CNC milled for precise fitment of the new gauge group. Lot's of time fitting each component. Livorsi gauges and controls.

Dash looks like a cobbled mess, but it really is very strong and was reinforced to hold the new aluminum panels and about double the amount of gauges. Fitting new panels to the dash for drilling purposes. No sheet metal screws for attachment. All S.S. machine screws.

Dash was modified/reinforced in many area's. Original dash housing was not designed to carry the weight that I am now going to have there. Dave did a get job in this area.

Fresh paint and pre-drilled with the blank dash panels, time now to install all of the gauges in the panels and start wiring.

Fitting and drilling the holes in the new (unpainted) dash panels. Usinng SS machine screws. No sheet metal screws used here. Final fitment before painting of panels.
Start-Run-Kill switch panel done. Military spec toggles should do the job nicely. Merc Kill Tethers.

Design sketch by Mitch Tolan of the new dash panels, and a proof rendering.

Original panels were plastic. New panels are .187 aluminum. Design on AutoCad Light, cut on a CNC mill, painted by Mitch. Big weight difference between the new and old.

New dash pad being fitted before installing the new dash panels.

McLeod Design does some great work. They did the original interior (in fact all of them) for the Awesome Cats. Fit and Finish is first class. I had Michael complete an entire new cockpit interior using their updated material as compared to the 1998 interior.
Fitting the new side cockpit McLeod panels. Added some new colors to the cockpit interior.

New Garmin GPS being fitted into the dashboard before Dave did his mod job.
I had some clearance issues with the dash pad overhang. I had to lower the GPS quite abit into the lower dash panel area. Created some interesting changes to the original design. I had used previously just a Garmin GPSIII+ on the boat. Looking forward to the much larger screen area.

This is how the GPS will look in the new dash.

New control panel being fitted with controls. I was very happy with how this panel turned out. Very concerned with the positioning of all the items that had to be placed on the new panel. I will also be adding a depth gauge to this panel. Just above the trim indicator. Lot of stuff mounted in a small area.

Starter - Ignition - Safety Tether panel ready for install.

I will try and stick with the hull and boat items and not jump around.

Next, Transom mounted 3 switch panel installed. I hated when I forgot to either lower the drives or lower the hatch after wiping the boat down at the ramp. Had to climb back into the boat, turn on the battery switch, damn it. Not anymore. Military spec switches used for longevity.

Yes, most electrical and electronic items are going to be disconnected from power via the battery switch. This panel however will remain "live" regardless of battery switch position.

Some final work in the cockpit area before going to the paint shop. The original lower rear seat storage access was only from plexiglas sliding door on the front side. Later models (believe after 2000) had the access thru the top side of the rear seat area. Mine had a fixed bottom seat unit. Michael McLeod during the interior work, installed a double hinge unit to allow the rear seat bottom to fold up, like the later Awesome's.

Michael was kind enough to provide me with a dimensional print of the cut-out area's. After some precise cutting, Dave prepped the area and finished off with gel. He also filled in all of the snap-in carpet screw holes in the cockpit floor. The last pic here was after Mitch had shot the entire cockpit with a fresh coat of bright white paint.

Well here it is-----2009 and finally getting the boat project fired off. Made arrangements with the original painter of Awesome Powerboats, Mitcher T. Custom Painting in Grand Rapids Michigan. Mitch originally painted the boat when it was new back in 98. I believe his first attempt at a Tribal design. I took it back to him for some upgrades in 2004, and now back to him for some further refinements.

I didn't like the old school painting of the race fairing. Originally had a full purple color, then in 04 I had it half white and half purple. Changed it now to all white. With the entire cockpit interior out, I had Mitch shoot the entire cockpit liner and dash. Now it will match the rest of the boat. The gel was looking "tired" and I wanted it ALL to match

With the full trailer cover in place, time to leave Yankee Springs and head home. Thanks Mitch.

BTW. Some of Mitch's handy work. He paints the top equipment boxes on the MSP bikes for us.

Well, this project is finally moving forward. The engine compartment was a mess. Little organization and that bad purple paint meant only one thing------start from a blank sheet. First pics are the "before" painting. The before included some filler to cover many holes that will not be used. Huge amount of sanding was in order too. And I mean hours upon hours. Everything was removed. Eventually the hydro steering hoses too.

The original motors were mounted on wood platforms grafted to the side of the tunnel as pictured. The wood platform served as a mounting base for standard merc style engine mounts.

Out comes the grinder and large portion of the platform was trimmed away to clearance the new offshore motor mounts. Mounted to the stringers, thank you.

The trim pumps previously were mounted on the tunnel floor. They are now going to be mounted to an aluminum transom plate. I am designing this to have a clear tunnel floor. Custom floor panel is in the works. ;-)

Polished aluminum panel being fitted on the transom. The trim pumps and other components will be mounted on this panel. Trying to keep the center floor area-----"clean".

Original hull was fitted with thru-hull water pickups as shown in the first set of pics. Dave put talents to work "again" and filled in these rather large holes in the hull. Old school design gone.

In with the new. Transom adjustable water pickups that is. Teague supplied these fine pieces (OK, my CC paid for them).
I bored the feed holes and cut-in the notch for the water to feed the pick-up tube. I had to relocate the original bilge drain fittings. The new pick-up located right over them. Dave performed the fill, seal and paint work. New drain fitting relocated to the outside of the pick-up tube.

WOW. How time flies by. Bout time to get this project back on course. Getting up to speed now with "work in progress".

Back from getting some cockpit interior upgrades from the Awesome "standard". Added some much needed cockpit storage (can always use more) beyond just what is under the rear seat. OK, and the tiny glovebox too.

Just wanted some easy to get at storage for ropes and items that you need in a short amount of time. Did not want just some open storage with a net keeper. Saw this idea on a new Nor-Tec. I will add a partial net to keep the items off of the zipper cover opening.

The "standard" cabin from Awesome is just that-----standard. I would not even call it a cover girl. Plain Jane with no real nice work either. For now my time is limited so a partial makeover is in order. Later the entire carpet and headliner are to be removed and replaced.
Tear out the housing behind the dash area. Never liked it anyways. Remove and toss the carpeted wood board the acted as a cover for the forward area access.

Dave and his crew built a housing unit that now went from the top of the tunnel bed to the ceiling. A middle divider was installed to section the top from the bottom (for storage purposes). Access doors for both upper and lower sections. Easy access for rigging and storage once completed. Vinyl covered (no carpet thank you) and now looks nice and very functional.

Final item (for now) is to toss the carpet panel that covered the access to the forward sponson area.

A panel covering the larger (opened up slightly the access rectangular hole) was built and covered in vinyl. Zippered access to the forward area (idea from Cigarette). A logo for this cover is in the works. Tunnel bed was recovered in new vinyl too. Nice work Dave.

When not on the water, got to enjoy the pavement too. Business end of my new ride.

nice rich!

when were you on the water? :lolhit::lolhit: what did I miss? Just razzin ya, :angry-smiley-038: project looks good, stay focussed

LOL :D good one

Boat is coming along nice though, XT did a great job on the stuff.

Flush deck hatch fabricated and installed. Nice job by Glasdave. Have to select a proper gasket and install the bomar latch handles. Soooo like NOT looking at that dated Bomar bubble hatch.

March is here (and almost gone). My long blocks are back from the engine tech builder. And I do mean tech as in technical. His full time employer: GM Racing
Feast your eyes on these beauties. Now time for plumbing and rigging then off to the dyno. IMCO valve covers on for the dyno session only. Eickert-Lighting Performance valve covers go on after that. Keith is very proud of his new designed VC's. And I do mean proud!! Ouch.

Guys------For those who wish to respond, great. Please do it only on the "Project Awesome Responses" thread only please. Helps in keeping this thread (shorter) and less time consuming to read. Thanks.

How much power? HP and TQ at what RPM ??

New flush deck hatch almost finished. Need to source a very good neoprene automotive gasket for sealing the hatch lid to the deck flange. Then custom fit the handle latches from the Bomar hatch to the hatch lid. Dave made the opening slightly larger too.

Project update: Motors are finished. IMCO shorties back from Wilson and getting the MaxWorx components installed. Swim Platform getting a new coat (and color) of bright silver.