First Gun, will RUN, soon.
 

Board Member First Gun, who now owns the first Top Gun ever built has new power now. Brownie from Stainless Marine confirmed that this boat as the first. It weighed 11,200 lbs. with low fuel. Brice brought the boat over this morning and we installed the new 502/ 500s.

We installed the power and then took the measurements for the new Stainless Marine Gen.II exhaust.

The boat has a 2002 interior and hatch from a Hurricane Wilma Doner 35 Top Gun.

We should have it running before Key West.

Lads,

any info or more pics on this boat please post!.

Nice project Jim! Keep the pics coming!

Looks good and keep us update!!!

ZP thanks for not saying what year Key West you thought I would have it running:D ,not to mention ALL the help & wisdom. Marylandmark it was built in 1986, thanks for the compliments and we will keep you all updated as we go!

Cool engine hoist. Where did you buy it? Or who built it and can you send me the specs or blueprints?

well, it sure doesn't look 20yrs old!
all white... classic!

What did it look like originally?

Which Engine Hoist are you refering to? The one I have to install engines is a home made unit I fabricated. I added the roof to keep the electric hoist dry and it actually provides shade when installing the engines. It would be nice to have a big shop with an overhead crane, but then I couldnt afford the boat. I didnt really have any drawings, just built it.

Come on First Gun give us the story on the boat. A little History. Wasnt it a Boat Show feature Boat? In 1986? 87? Where?What was the original Power?

Sean, come by the Gallion this year.

Yeah, the one for putting in the engines.

I am looking at having one built myself. I want to use it at my storage place/ workshop. I want to be able to take it apart, in case I ever switch facilities.

The boat was barely finished in time for the Ft.Lauderdale Boat Show Oct. 1986 where it was featured,then it was trucked up to the New York Boat Show and sold in Nov. 86' . She originally had 420hp mercs/trs set ups. white with blue/gold striping and was sold to the first owner for $117k

Hey Jim, Looks like he will be looking for a My-Clone trailer next...LOL I am still in the designing stages with mine..

Sound slike a good investment. Probably worth more now, even if it still had TRS on it.

Anymore history? That is a neat project and a very special boat so glad to see it being brought back. Please keep us posted on its progress . Sure seems that there should be posters or some promo stuff out there on it some where.

its going to look like a new one when you all are finished :D

sometimes progress seems sooooo slow!.....getting closer though!!!

I was looking for this thread the other day. Best of luck finishing the project, and keep us up to date! :D

Sweet looking gun!!

anything new on this???????

Looks great!

The gantry is excellent also!

I see its been converted to Bravos but the motors appear to be mounted forward as in a TRS configuration. Are you using drive shafts?

Cool boat! It's featured in the old coffee table book "Muscle Boats" Instigator on the hull sides. Nice pics in there of when it was brand new.

Love the resto projects! More pics!!!!

Kurt

Hey, its close to running. Waiting on the drives to return from a rebuild. First Gun had the driveshafts fabricated locally. The Bravos are in the TRS location so they are a little high. Going to try some P5X's first. A couple more things to paint. But he is definately close to seeing if it floats, before more money is sunk into it. I bought the first Gas.

Kurt post a pictire of it from the Instigator days

Ran the GUN today!!!!!Man what a ride, now I know why I own one! Owe Zero Patience a big thank you for all the help getting it to the water today...and thanks to mrpickett357 for the loaner props.

Some Pictures from the First time out.

The new power ran great and sounds really sweet. There are a few issues to deal with but I think First Gun now sees it was worth all of the work.:D

Pretty cool for a 22 year old boat.

Sweet! :D

Looks Great ! Classic !

Congratulations!
A very worthy project!
Ed

It's great to see this baby live again thanks for sharing it.

Great job!

Vandals struck last week @ my boatyard :(

what happened?

boat ok?

follow up
 

Lucklily only thing that got hurt was a little of my pride:grinser010:....Game On :D

Boat looks absolutely awesome! Where did you get the newer engine hatch? I'll be going to all white boat when the vinyl gets beat up looking. Now I know what it will look like...I like!

West marine:eek:

I am the culprit. In an effort to speed up the process I applied the West Marine Sailboat sticker. It seemed to have helped as the Boat was tested again on Saturday. It ran Great. The 5 Blade P5-Xs worked very well at the elevated drive height. The 502/500s sound ausome with the Stainless Marine Dry thru transom tail pipes. I think I would bump the timing 3 degrees up, and flip the 50 cc Accelerator pumps from the rear of the carbs to the front, and put the front 30ccs in the rear. Now how about a few cosmetic upgrades to the cabin? And the name is needed on a Documented Vessel. Time to make a trip.

Congrats on splashing your new gun.

SKRAMER :Thanks, got the fever now summers coming and I can't wait to finish the punch list and take the first trip !!!!