I spoke to Phil on the phone when I owned the boat. He actually remembered the boat from when he sold it in 2000. I bet he knows....

Start a build thread Jim!

make sure you name the build thread "cafe racer TEASER 2" :coolcowboy:

Been busy at work trying to save the company so have not logged in much recently.

Transom is pretty much all cut out now. The entire sides & the middle was was practically dust. The bottom center was soaking wet. the two outside stringers look to be rotted about 2-3' back, so we are going to replace them with the Coosa board too. The center & inner stringers look to be solid still, along with the bottom. Next weekend i will try to get the bad stringers cut out & get the get the transom prepped for the replacement.

Multiple pics of the mess:
http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/e...pset2riyqx.jpg

http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/e...psygjatmfe.jpg

http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/e...pswsthedn7.jpg

http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/e...psqqd1nlr0.jpg

http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/e...pscslhdvgn.jpg

http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/e...psyjnvcsa0.jpg

Dont give up! The tough part is almost over! Lots more fun when rebuilding !

Ouch. That's crazy.

Not the end of the world. It'll be good as new when you're done. Buddy had his cafe transom rebuilt. 10k it cost him. At least you're saving a "boat load" of money ;)

I needed to save a boat load because i still need to dump multiple boat loads into it!

I'm just glad it held together. Blowing out the transom & sinking would have really ruined my Shootout weekend.

My Cafe years ago.. Great boat[ATTACH=CONFIG]554298[/ATTACH]

I've got an 87 cafe at LOTO now, all original, and I'm redoing everything drive related hanging off the back of the boat. I thought I had a big job....but it's nothing compared to this. I admire the do-it-yourselfers. I'm doing mine because a few places at LOTO wanted between 4 and 6k for repairs when the parts have only cost me $1100 (all Mercury parts too). Hmm. I think I'm in the wrong business! Too bad you're in KC, I'd love to see this work in person and actually help out. Could all come in handy if I ever have to get into mine like that....

Let me know when you get her back together and floating again......we'll have to have a Cafe rendezvous!

Took advantage of the weather this weekend to work on the hull.

Graphics had to go!
http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/e...ps79dc7aa8.jpg

http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/e...psm04zsdf7.jpg

http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/e...psom9nyhw6.jpg

After the holiday I'll start prepping it so the glass guy can fix the hundred spots on this thing that need addressed.

Figured i would post more updates of things that have been going on.

Glass guy started to address the hull. The bow needed some tlc. Many gelcoat cracks that ran a pretty good distance so ground down for repair.
http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/e...ps0atqlhr7.jpg

Strakes being prepped
http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/e...psj3mnk2ke.jpg

I also now have all the external fittings removed. The front side bow waste & water, sink, shore power, fresh water, & pump out fittings are being filled for more clean look. The rear & side cleats being replaced with pop ups, fronts were done a year or so ago.

Bought a new toy for the dash
http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/e...pspogjqunr.jpg

Received my new heads up trim indicators. They are similar to the ones below except mine have two LED's; red (for running at night) & a purple (when sitting at dock & pimpin). I removed the compass & will have a carbon fiber cover plate made. Pics below are example from another Cig, not mine obviously. :)
http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/e...psfj2zqtjr.jpg

http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/e...psboolqm0p.jpg

Vince texted me a pic of the progress he has made on the hatch. Still needs to fill in the side vents, blend the new top to the original & cut the front air inlet's. But i am thrilled to see it coming along.
http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/e...ps3lxgefwo.jpg

Meanwhile we started on the new trailer. As you can see, it has a little rust. You can pretty much push through with fingers along any point on the frame.
http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/e...psomyat4pi.jpg

Cut the top bunks off & getting ready to weld on some guides.
http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/e...psq6frnlge.jpg

Guides going on
http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/e...psktk2xcsx.jpg

New C-channel rails clamped to be temporarily tacked.
http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/e...ps4lzcvvgk.jpg


Tomorrow we plan to start the front bend of the trailer. I now have all my measurements for new torsion axles order. Everything else for the trailer is pretty much all purchased (except wood bunks & carpet).

Unfortunately i will miss the Shootout next weekend, but i am hoping we will me making more progress on the trailer to take my mind off it.

Wow - awesome man. Is that my old trailer you're using as a template?

Yup!

It lasted about 6 yrs longer than i planned on using it. She served me well so no complaints.

Glad to hear that. Quite a project there!!!

Vince must have known i was needing a boat fix after watching the Shootout this weekend, so he sent my some hatch progress pics

http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/e...psatxtzs4i.jpg

http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/e...psmwo4jhag.jpg

http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/e...pswfymbcsq.jpg

He is going to call this afternoon to go over the front air intake cutouts one last time before starting them. He thinks will be gelling it all later in week.

Oval air inlets getting sized out & ready to cut. Will have wire mesh installed to help prevent everything except air from going thru.

http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/e...ps5v3wnayc.jpg

Who wants more hatch pics? Alright then...
Vince called me Mon night & said he wanted to do something different for the inlets that he thought would look trick. He wanted to go rectangular openings & have the mesh screens fasten from behind where the front is all flush. So i said lets do it.

http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/e...psjxsaye5c.jpg

http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/e...psn6trtwzx.jpg

http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/e...ps7ocjlwxz.jpg

I think it looks fantastic & so much nicer than what i had before. Should be able to pick it & my deck hatches (he was doing some rehab work on them too) in next 2-3 weeks.

Until then, it is more trailer work. Showing the pics of ZP's trailer build to my buddy so he can see what i expect the finish product to look like. ;) Axles should be delivered next week, everything is onsite, so just a matter of more cutting & welding.

Hatch is nearing completion!

http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/e...ps0y7bowld.jpg

http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/e...ps5pbfwocx.jpg

http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/e...psii8zs35l.jpg

Looking good.

Any updates? Is it all back together now?

Not entirely. Was slow going for awhile due to other life events. My buddy whose shop we use got divorced & moved, so had to put things on hold for a bit until he got a new place. Meanwhile my company was trying to merge for last couple years, so spent time wrapping up bachelors & finishing masters. i'm pretty sure my age/salary will be a target for reduction. lol.

Then been having some scope creep based on other projects. i reached out to Vincent to have him build me a new rear bench/integrated sub box to replace the old school bench & i thought i saw somewhere a Cafe where someone added some steps to the cabin door, so wanting him do the same with mine. Scheduled to take boat back to him once he finishes current project.

But still plan on getting it back on the water. Too many people want rides for me to quit.