Cafe Restore
 

Well I decided to start a new thread on this project showing just the restore pics and work being done.

Café is getting new cockpit interior, which will include new carpet and updated hand grabs. I am eliminating the green on the boat all together, what is nice is there is not green in the cabin so that all gets to stay the same.
Engine hatch is still at fiberglass guy, redoing the whole thing with the newer vents and painting it all white to match.
I am having all green pin stripping covered up with vinyl darker grey, this will match interior, talked about paining with my fiberglass guy it was way to much to paint.
Serviced drives so far, replacing trim and tab indicator cables.
re powder coating swim platform black.
Two JLAudio MHD600 amps and all new JLAudio speakers, I love JLAudio's quality
This next part was not planned on..... I had to tear down 1 engine as it has been ingesting water for some reason, which because boat sat for two years caused valve to get stuck open from rust, which caused it to hit piston on start up.
I almost, bought some new blue motors, but decided to make sure I am completely happy with this boat, if so that will come next year....

I should have boat all complete and together within the next 5 weeks depending on the heal time of my broken collar bone, that is delaying everything.

before pics
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Engine pics this was a real bummer I am glad I found out before summer..[ATTACH=CONFIG]519443[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]519444[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]519445[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]519446[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]519447[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]519448[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]519449[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]519450[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]519451[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]519453[/ATTACH]

Now some pics of the small amount of completed work, I put those small upholstery pieces just to see how color would look,I have that color and a little lighter color going on seat and lower panel ect.
My detailer got it pretty cleaned up and shiny, he will be back one more time after decals are on, to make her really shine
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its amazing how far you get with just some elbow grease. that deck cleaned up nice!! keep the pics coming looking good!

Thank you, I cannot wait to get interior, I hope it looks good, I hate trying to pic colors and designs for boat interiors.

[QUOTE=Yamaha24;4082338]Engine pics this was a real bummer I am glad I found out before summer..

That sucks!
I would check out the other one also.

Looks like is coming along. Looking forward to seeing it on the Chain sometime in August when all the ice melts!

Looking good! Keep up the good work. Hopefully see you on Lake Mich. this summer.

[QUOTE=coopsmirage;4082425]I agree as much as I do not want to, I may have to. Going to pull the plugs first if they look good we will decide then.

Boy, I sure hope we are boating before August the way it is looking now who knows.... LOL... I miss the island,,,,,

Thank you, we will be definitely be taking some lake Michigan trips this year that is for sure.

Engine hatch is done,I am bring boat up to fiberglass guy this Wednesday to install the hatch,and repair a few damaged spots on the boat and also install the new striping.

I cannot wait to see the hatch, I will post pics as soon as I get them.

Yamaha - I'm trying to figure out the indicator cable lengths for my Cafe - is this something you could help me with?

What kind of indicators do you have for the Drives? The kind that mount on the side of the RAM?

Sorry for late response I have been out of town until today, do you still need this answered?

Yes - but it is no rush. If you have the information that would be great. I haven't even pulled the cover off yet, and as we all know here mysterious things can happen over the winter and for all I know this could be VERY low priority when I pull the cover off.

Any updates?

quick question, the 2 holes on the deck right where it goes flat in the walk way... where do those drain holes go to? or what are they for? mine has them too. and looking great! you dont want to get rid of the trailer do you?

they go to the deck hatch recess area. If you open the hatch, you can see them on the backside. In theory, the water drains from the deck to the hatch recess, & runs off to the side of the hull. mine always pools up in the hatch area though where its even more difficult to clean out.

thanks!

some pics finally
 

Sorry for the delay, life has been busy. Fiberglass work is done, boat sides look excellent had a lot of chips repaired, I had to have some of the chimes repaired as they were chipped, the black was repaired in back both sides[ATTACH=CONFIG]522034[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]522035[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]522036[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]522037[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]522038[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]522039[/ATTACH], had the strips removed off of top deck below engine hatch. I had the new vents installed, I do like them and it gives the boat much better lines and they look great, but they just are not quit the quality I was looking for but they will do for this summer. Maybe I am being to picky.

Goes to upholstery guy 4-21 to get cover made and interior finished up. Then to engine guy 4-28, to get rebuilt engine reinstalled, thennnnn it goes to detailer to get top deck final finishing done and new strips applied. Then back to me to finish Stereo install!!

In the meantime I am dropping off swim platform to get it powder coated black this week.

Should be all set to go for Blarney New year May 16th!!! I hope

Well finally this is done.... Starboard was 23' Port was 26'. Again sorry took so long.
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lookin good!

Thank you, my wallet is getting lighter by the day with this thing!! Almost done,,

An update finally!!!
 

Well I was finally able to get this thing in the water last weekend. Still not completely done but getting closer....

The biggest delay was my interior which I am not super excited about, although it is not completed 100%, I still think I will be redoing standups again over winter, I also need to have cigarette logo added to back sun deck embroidering is also missing on headrests, still do not have my grab bars for seats back or the dash one.. A little upset with my upholstery guy at the present time. He did an amazing job on my 79, this one he just kind of fell apart.

Anyways engines, I had to rebuild the one as posted before we rebuilt this one with roller lifters/rockers, what a difference in the two motors. The Port engine will get same upgrade over winter.
I had to replace every cable as they were all really stiff from sitting the last 2 years, needed two hands to get into reverse! Made it a ***** to dock especially since I am not used to the separate controls for throttle and shifting, I have always had old school controls.
I have boated my whole life,grew up on the water, and consider myself to be pretty experienced in all types of boats, docking ect, there is a big difference in docking this boat especially with the wind we have had around here lately, I am sure after a couple days out I will get it down well.
Kind of hurt my ego last weekend docking this thing....

I love the change in my graphics I kept the hockey stick design I just dumped all the green strips, I think it looks killer.

I am posting a few pics now sorry I do not have more I will take some this weekend.
Let me know what you think.
I am not to proud of interior so I am kind of hiding those....

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Looks Awesome, nice job

i like the black and grey graphics... no more green!

Looks great!

Thank you for the compliments I am happy to have her almost done!

Like the grey and white interior. Sharp.

+3 onthe color combo !!

don't see why you would hide the interior! what I see looks beautiful!

Yea. That came out great. Sean should be happy ;)

I think that most cig fans have a soft spot for cafés. At least anyone that's spent time behind the wheel of one. Just a cool design. Craig Barrie knocked it out if the park with that. He said he came up with the name because he was in Europe a lot and loved the cafe racer motorcycles. Great size, great cabin, great boat. I think they're timeless and can still stand next to a new boat all day (ie stand the test if time). One thing I would recommend if you get chance is go to the flat style life lines. Just a preference but wow! Congrats on a job well done. Not that I need to say it but, Enjoy!!!!

Thank you to EVERYONE for the compliments, it is just the standups I think looked a little odd especially since I do not have the grab bars installed, I only have been waiting for them since February! I am sure once I get the little details completed I will feel different I will post more pics Monday of everything.

I am also redoing the dash ordering all new gauges pretty much none of the ones installed now are functioning correctly anymore.

I was thinking the Grey Carbon fiber with Grey bezels.

Sweet re-do, tasteful and clean.

Who did interior that you are not satisfied with? OR would you rather not say?.....

First let me say it is not a quality issue with my guy I need to clear that up.
The guy who did it is fully capable of doing amazing work and does, in fact he has had some of his car interiors end up in magazines. If you look at pics of my 1979 28SS he did an amazing job 100% complete on time. It is more the time frame in which he did the work his lack of keeping any kind of schedule on this project, and boat interior is still not done I don't have my cup holders for back seats made yet, I don't have my grab bars back yet which should have been done back in February when I first dropped off.
I still do not have my cover, which should have been done first! There is a reason I started interior in February so it would be done by boating season.
We are on 6 months and still not done 100%

I just am still undecided with the design, which I approved for the standups, just not sure how I feel about them yet. I love the back seat and I think the pad will look great with a Cigarette Logo ,which will be done over winter.
For example, he says drop boat off in beginning of May while I am in Miami on vacation and he will finish boat up, well that turned into 6 weeks of my boat sitting outside uncovered with nothing getting done and nothing but excuses, which that then turned into paying to have deck cleaned up as it sat under a tree for the whole time, which he decided to power wash which forced a bunch of dirt and mud into my clean cabin.... these are the issues.

I will get some pics up next week right now boat is getting cables replaced so I can shift in reverse with one hand LOL.

Looking good.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]526512[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]526513[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]526510[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]526511[/ATTACH]A few more pics I am still waiting for a few more items to install, grab bar for dash, and cup holders for back they are at powder coating,.just seems to never get done....Still need seat grab bars.
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Looks great! Dig the interior.

nice quality carpet! and interior color match!

We saw you out a few weeks ago.

Very nice and glad to see you enjoying it.

What speeds are you seeing with the 496s?

Thank you, I am really enjoying the boat, a little bit of getting used to but I love it. Looks like 67 is the top speed, I am considering 525's for next year.

great looking boat, I love simple, why not toss prochargers on it? will be WAY cheaper then new engines and the power will easily put you at 75++

I was under the understanding that the 496 could not handle prochargers?