35 Mistress Maiden Voyage
 

Hi All,

I've only put a few details over the last couple years about this project on here, but I finally got it done and in the water yesterday. '79 35' Mistress with #5's on boxes. Worked the hull bottom over, new rigging, new Ateco EFI blower motors. Drives have 3" spacers, props are 16.75 x 32 4-blades. Comes out of the hole fine, only need to turn 4000 until they hook up.

Anyway, we didn't wring it out on the first run, but it pulls like a freight train, and the setup feels just awesome. The boat feels insanely heavy, as it is, but we have the power to push it. The motors are on drivelines with 11" shafts, and I put in a bigger (100 gal) bow tank. It will porpoise a little bit in the 60's, but if you drag some tab, it goes away. The boat arcs through turns like a waterski. Honestly it handles better than anything else I've run, and I think driving it is the most fun I've ever had. Whoever said you can't have fun in a straight-bottom boat is wrong.

Pretty much everything worked fine. I need to do some tuning as the motors were set up a bit rich, and I've got one oil temp sender to sort out. Need to play with the load anticipate routine, as we don't have enough oomph to swing those props into gear right now. I had to do a little crash-box style docking, but lucklily there was no wind, and no one else in the way at the docks.

Another older boat back on the water, love it!! Looks good, post some more pictures if you got them!

I bet it felt good to put it in the water for the first time! Congratulations!

Awesome man - congrats!

very nice

Congrats!!! Glad to see some one bought at it I looked at it many times before I got my bullet!
Brett

Here are a couple shots.

Tailpipes are my own handiwork. Dry all the way to the tip. I did the drive guard and pylons on the trailer as well. I went to the trouble to make the rear beam swing open, but in hindsight, it was unnecessary, because I can launch right over the top of it with no trouble. Engines had to go on 36" centers b/c the Eickert two-piece valve covers need 1/4" spacers in the exaust flange to get the E-tops to clear + tall deck motors make them a little more bulky. I beefed up the centerline girder, with a bunch of carbon, with a blue/black kevlar/carbon twill top layer, and gave it a knee that goes way up the transom.

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Very nice. Love the old school projects. -Is that Ratman's old boat?

Nice job! I would still open the trailer gate to make sure you don't modify your props on accident:drink:

Very cool! I've always been a huge fan of the way the #4 and #5 drives look sittin on boxes. In my opinion, looks bad a$$ old school.