I've always wondered why some drives have them and some dont. My boat does not have them and I have zero issues getting on plane. Jumps on plane almost like a bravo boat. Ease the sticks forward up to 3k and it rolls the boat over.

Roots blowers are the torque king, which helps a lot. Add 4” of pitch and see how it goes, then maybe you’d need the ventilation

I couldn`t get on plane with them ventilators, at all. Just kept slipping. (29-32 pitch props)
Bad Kitty has 37 pitch and doesnt need them either but different boat, it gets on plane at 1500rpm.

You will love the notch, I have one of only a few Cafe's with a notch from the factory. I've run up against some without the notch and more power and had no problem keeping up or walking away. With the six's and a high X dimension it should run great. Nice job it looks great.

The water shearing off the hullimmediately rises up to equaloze with the natural water levels. The angle of water is dependand on the hull speed. 60mph is 4°. Something like that.

As mentioned, getting the props in cleaner water is a good thing. It also allows a better X dimension. The water is higher, where it meets the prop farther from the water shear point.

Notching reduces wetted surface, moving the COG aft.

Awesome work, looking great. What are the final measurements of the notch now finished?

I’ll have some dimensions this week.


Been kind of slow progress lately bc we’re waiting on parts and time to start rigging. But here’s a pic of the transom and bottom all painted.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...7a7243b74.jpeg

Every time you post pics im
just amazed. Such nice work. Looks fantastic! I wish everyone worked as fast as your guys did. lol

sh*ts gonna look mean with those 6’s hanging off the back.

thanks man. I can’t believe how quick it got done and not only that but the quality as well. Beyond happy. I just wasn’t planning on behind this far ahead now I’m waiting on engine/drive parts lol. Spring is officially here tho!

What is happening with the engines? Do you have a goal when it comes to speed?
Boat is coming along very nice man!

So that’s kind of what I’m waiting on. My original engines that came with the boat are basically nothing special 454 based long blocks with Ls6/ls7 style heads. But they definitely have aggressive cam shafts and good blowers and super chillers. These may go back in the boat until my new motors are done because they probably won’t be ready for a few months. Only concern I have is exhaust location because my new engines are tall deck.

As far as speed goals, I hate setting them lol. When I built my Pantera I never had one set and the boat kept impressing me every time we made a small
improvement. Ended up last season 79mph and that was with 5 people on board full tank and full cooler of beer. I try to let the boats do the talking if that makes sense lol.

looks awesome Nick, run what ya have and build the others while youre using it, and you still have the pantera. you can also tweak the boat for running with the smaller power.

Got her back up to NJ for me to start rigging. Or atleast try for that matter. What’s the saying again? 1 step forward 3 steps back..

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...f44e8b323.jpeg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...391ac9c8e.jpeg

was super happy with this hexagon light tho. For $179 on amazon I highly recommend..

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...8bca6958d.jpeghttps://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...9a376e9a0.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...84d160c0d.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...2a22ade24.jpeg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...2074afd12.jpeg

It sucks, but man am I happy we did it. No way for the water to get out in between the 2 bulkheads where tanks sit. Pumped out over 15 gallons.

they told me the tanks have been replaced which they were. But only 45 gallons per side! Man would I have been pissed after putting some big motors in this thing.

Getting 2 125ish gallon tanks built up now. Should squeeze nicely in between both bulkheads. Then you know new floor rear seat etc. I guess it’s a good excuse to put some seadek or marine mat down now 😂

I think spring is here btw 🤦🏽‍♂️

Should say: Pro Tip Hexagon Lighting.

I have a commercial building that I keep all my things in. Lighting is always an issue for me. I am going to order something to see how I like it. 18' under the joists, but from the looks of your work area, it's not exactly low ceilings either.

Thanks for mentioning this, and good luck with the project!

That light put out lots of light?

Looks awesome Nick... dont take the shortcuts! do it right, one time. I prefer lonseal and carpet, i had the seadek in my 20 and hated it, light gray got dirty quick and didnt clean well.

Looks like you'll use every inch of the sub floor with new tanks....who's building tanks...Jersey fabricator?

Wow ! This will certainly shed some light on this project ! :)

if you saw how dark this shop was before I’d say it puts out lots of light lol.

Rob, im gonna message you I have some interior questions.

Oh yeah it’s gonna be tight but I want all the fuel we can fit. Honestly if the holes in the transom weren’t drilled I would’ve semi staggered it, but I still have to remember this is a “pleasure” boat lol. I have Atlantic Coastal welding in NJ doing the tanks. They did my Pantera and are able to rush the job for the cig. Gonna cost some more but gotta pay to play as they say.

Boat is great, hope it rolls out.
Otherwise:
With all due respect, :hitfan: Am I the only one that gets infuriated with quoting a post with pictures by multiple people, then there are 5 copies of all the same pictures to scroll through??

NO, I don't understand it ether

Have you posted a pic with the tanks out, or did I miss it?

no I haven’t posted any yet. They’re both out along with 80% of the floor. I have all the cockpit interior and dash apart too. Have to make new dash panels and bolster bases since whoever did the old ones made them out of steel. Ripped the old stereo out and started gathering everything for that. Got plenty to do while I’m waiting on tanks to be built.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...227d3947c.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...006ad5d5c.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...f9ae6c74f.jpeg

Are they the old bolster stands or the new ones,either way they look pretty nice.

old ones.. I’m having new ones made out of aluminum basically same design just a little simpler. Whoever fabricated the boat did a great job, even the dash panel and gauge bezels were all welded and body worked. The swim platform that came off was built as well. Problem is it’s all out of steel so not only is it heavy as hell but it won’t last especially in salt.

speaking of platforms.. I think I may have to ditch it to keep the transom clean. Thoughts?

that’s always a tough one. Especially when you have 6’s. The transom looks all business without a step. But we swim in havasu a lot and the step is a must. I don’t think it looks bad just meaner without. So, depends if you’re in and out of the water a lot. The big transom assemblies do actually make good platforms though. Little grip tape but stand by if someone slips. SLICE

prob drop a few hundred lbs getting rid of all that steel for aluminum.

for sure. The old stuff was so heavy. Luckily the frame was made out of aluminum so I can salvage that.

started messing around with ideas tonight

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...1b81a7011.jpeg

waiting on some switch panels I ordered. Think I might bend the top portion where the gauges are instead of getting angled bezels.

awesome work!

Any updates??

Man I wish I had some more. I’ve been so busy with work and so have the guys working on the boat. We’re slowly but surely getting there.


All new bulkheads, new center stringer between tanks, and outer stringers. Going to be replacing the sides of cockpit too since they were like Swiss cheese. This boat officially has no more wood rear of the cabin.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...05fd68e82.jpeg

I don’t have any pics since but the center stringer and bulkheads are glassed in. Need to fit the tanks to outer stringers next before they get glassed in.

Little update…
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...db387cfab.jpeg

These should help this big girl get going. Especially with everything from the cabin back to transom now being coosa. Got a new phone and lost a ton of photos but we’re back on track now!

little update? Quite an understatement !

Id run a bead of RTV along the entire length of the valve covers , otherwise they will leak.

Everything is lookin great! Did you dyno those engines? Any details on the engines? this is gonna be 1 bad Flat Deck!

This should get you fired up!! Dan (ICDEDPPL) old flat deck.





can’t wait to see the boat done and in the water!!

did you know when you bought it that you were gonna dive this deep into a project, or kinda snowballed?

Thanks I’ll keep that in mind.

Theyre 588s. Dart blocks and heads. Jesel valve train. Dry sump systems. 1050 dominator carbs and 8.3 whipples. Have dyno time only on them. Made a little over 1000 on 6 psi.

Damn I haven’t seen that full video yet just clips. Looks so bad ass.

And to be honest I had no idea it was going to be to this extent. I should’ve known after re doing my 24 Pantera which I still have and probably won’t get rid of bc of how much work it was. But a boat this big is a whole other level. Especially when you have to do a lot of the work yourself bc unfortunately financially I wouldn’t be able to afford it otherwise.

Few updates..

got a motor mocked up on port side. Nice that I can start laying put where things go in the bilge. We have to raise the drip rail that the hatch lays on now that the motors are much higher/taller. But I think it’ll look better this way anyway. What’s a little more glass work at this point lol.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...220c2ffa0.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...f44179cca.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...ee8521f06.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...be3d77472.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...7fde5ccca.jpeg


fuel system and dry sump tanks are mounted. Made brackets for the dry sump tanks out of the old bumper holders that were in the boat. Who needs bumpers when you got horsepower
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...196938a23.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...ce65405f3.jpeg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...ef3c97b7f.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...bb5340f5d.jpeg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...60f2752b1.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...b96700ada.jpeg

the ugly inner transom plate is just there for mock up purposes. Such an eye sore lol.

So far my only “dilemma” is figuring out the damn serpentine drive set up these motors have. I believe they're old Keith Eickerts but it’s hard to get any type of info on them. I tried calling Hardin and they say it’s different than theirs. If anyone has any info on these it would be much appreciated! Absolute worst case I’ll switch back to tradtional v belt if I have to.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...e6c845abc.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...90f38fba7.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...c86d60b9f.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...beac024f4.jpeg

Thanks for the update! Everything looks great! Are you going to be able to get to those dry sump tanks with both engines and exhaust installed? looks tight.... I guess thats what the whole "mock up" is for! Nice work!

it’s definitely tight but I want to keep the “clutter” out of the front of the engine room if possible so i have some room to work in there. I can get to the oil tank fills no issue. But things will get changed I’m sure.