know this 28ss?
 

Guys,

I bought this 76 28ss early this year and am in the process of restoring it. I know this boat is nothing special but I would really like to know its history. I was told that it was always a NJ boat and was owned by Gerard Christensen? originally. I found some old paperwork marked "MaryLou" racing. I also found an old registration with Robert Gross on it from Ventnor, NJ

Does anyone recognize this boat?

i would love to see some pictures of it back in the day.

PS - these pictures were taken when I bought the boat - yes I know the boat was a mess

Thanks,

Chris

more pics
 

more pics

I know the boat... It was kept at Kings Grant Inn.
Mary Lou was the name. I do have some pics somewhere
It was a 280 - TRS boat. Mary Lou was Gerards wife.

LS

LS,

I would really appreciate seeing them if your come across the pictures.

Thanks

Chris

what have you done to the boat so far. I have an 85 28ss that I keep stubbornly pouring money into but it's a great boat and it will be exactly how I want it. My new interior will be done this week and I'll post some pics

Can't help you with info on the boat, but my Pantera has the same deck hatches - The wife fell in love with the look of them the day I brought it home.
Don't know why I feel I needed to mention that...

Chris,
That boat is a true offshore classic. Any vintage off-shore boat (especially something like a 28 Cig) that can be restored and enjoyed is very special. I can't help with the history but look foward to seeing it on Barnegat Bay someday!

a few restoration pics
 

Dan,

here are a few pictures of what I have been working on so far.

all of the mechanicals are either new or completely rebuilt.

I am just waiting for the engines.

Chris

Looks great so far. What are you putting in it for power? what exhaust are you going to use?

Dave,

a new set of stainless marine exhausts came with the boat - so they will be going back on. As for power - the small blocks are being built right now and will be dyno'd next week end. as long as the river is not frozen over the boat is going in the water.

thanks

Chris

Nice boat!

Who is doing your engines?

Engines
 

Panther,

My brother is a test engineer for Petty enterprises (Richard Petty). one of their engine builders -(when they were building there own engines) - Fred Langford is building these engines in NC. His friend is letting us have some dyno time next week end and I should have them back shortly.

Chris

chris, just make sure you're building them to marine spec, not for a car.

SR,

We talked about it alot and he is building them to make power up to 5500rpm with low end torque. Fred has had some experience with marine engines and has spent a considerable amount of time with the heads to ensure the heat gets out of them. He says they are very similar to building a short track engine as they are also under heavy load all the time and need the torque to get out of the corners. We wound up using RHS 200cc heads and a dual plane manifold. CR is at 9.7:1, crane 280 cam, solid lifter, jessel 1.6 rockers (I got them with the boat).

any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks

Chris

Hey Chris,

The boat's looking great!! I have a 1973 and love the boat! When that baby's finished, you will be blown away how good that boat runs and all your hard work will pay off!!

Congrats,

CJ

is that 28 still for sale.....I have always loved that 28 that sean redid....

Chris, i'm no engine guy to be able to give you advice on this, but it may not be a bad idea to have him/you bounce some of this off a marine builder.
Maybe post the build in the Technical General Q&A forum looking for some suggestions.

Here ya go...found one for you. This was Mary Lou when she was new.
LS

Chris nice boat ... please keep posting pics as you progress each step! :cool:

I'm in Lanoka Harbor, NJ and would love to see in person some day.

Chris Ward

a few bumps in the carpet over the weekend
 

I finally got the engines back last weekend and thought I had everything in order. I had made a few miscalculations though but to make a long story short I has to move the trim pumps and change the valve covers temporarily.make pressure dumps for the intake and a few other items.

started installation Sat morning and had the boat in the water by noon on Sunday. got the boat up on plane and blew the gasket out of the top of the merctrans. So the boat is getting winterized and won't see the water again until the spring.
a few pics

more pics
 

pics

Congrats on getting her wet. looks pretty good in the pics. What are you planning for a windshield? I think it kinda looks pretty bad a$$ old school race boat without one.

Valve covers: Did the fabricated ones not fit with your exhaust?

Did you put the motors on the dyno?

Chris,

I live near the Toms River Golf course and am usually around if you want to take a look at the progress.

let me know

Chris

Dangerous Dave,

My choices were wait another 2 weeks for dyno time (in Ohio) or get the engines back. I was anxious to get the boat in the water so I told the guys to just bring them. I'm still on the fence if that was the right thing to do. I really wanted to have a good benchmark of real HP #'s to plot the hp curves to the boat speeds. - at the end of the day I'll enjoy the boat and get a pretty good idea of the power from the speed. there is alot of history with these hulls and drive combinations out there to compare.

As for the valve covers - they would not clear the exhaust with the RHS heads - so the old ones had to go back on - for now. I am making exhaust flange spacers so we can use them.

Great PM me a phone number and address I am off for the next week :cool: Working on some updates to my 35 as well ... like to ask and see what you did with the bilge.

Lookind good :drink:

Chris

chris, i,m jim i had the brown 28 that i sold this summer, if you need an original windshield i might know someone who has one, its the short aluminum one.i know your boat had the taller one and my 28 had the tinted plexiglass one. pm me if your interested. i also have transmissions and alot of new parts available.

I would have tried it also at this time!!! tripps

Jim,

thanks for the offer - Im planning on building a fairing about 1/2 the height of the high windshield. I mocked one up out of 1/4 plywood at full height and it was way too high. it looked out of proportion with the boat. So I kept cutting it down untill I thought it looked good. I plan on making it out of 1"decolite and then painting it. I also plan on making it removable in case it needs to be changed later.

i may take you up on the trans parts after I see what happeded to my Stbd merctrans.

Thanks Again

Chris

28 Ss
 

Hey Chrissbb,
I have a 1980 28ss also And i live here in Towson Maryland. I, grew up in brick nj. I come up a few times a year in the summer . I used to live on the Metedeconk river I know the area well.Maybe next summer I'll drag the boat up and we can cruise together.

Gassticks,

come on up - anytime. What shape is your ss in?

Chris

Re: 28' SS
 

Chris,

What's the latest on your restore ???
Up-date us with some Pic's........

C.B.

28SS restoration
 

CB
I have just started working on the boat again. we made some custom CNC bilet spacers for the exhaust manifolds so we could use the aluminum valve covers. we also found that the gasket that blew out of the stbd Merctrans was due to the bolts holding the valve body down were too long and not alowing the housings to seal the gasket. I have a few minor mechanical items to take care of and will probably try to get the boat in the water in the next few weeks for "ROUND 2".

thanks for the interest

Chris

The time has come to move my 28SS.

Anyone interested PM me.

Details????

Hey Chris, What up?! Glad to see you got the trans and valve covers figured out :) How is the faring coming along did you get it fabricated?

Mine is coming along slowly, still working on glassing transom up. Bought my gimbals and got all correct hoses and fittings from McMaster-Carr :cool: Thanks bro. Never sent out the steering arms for plating :( But can still get that done, just want to get the transom done, painted, and then start RE-assembling everything. Hopefully will be good '08 :drink:

Chris,

I finaly squared up with the engine builder and although he did an awesome job with the engines the bill wound up being ALOT more than we talked about. So I since I havent even run the boat one time yet. anything major - like the fairing is on hold. I bolted up the stainless marine risers yesterday. Now all I need is a nice day to run the boat.

Chris - who has your insurance? i am having a hard time with getting insurance on the ss. PM me .
Let me know if you need a hand witht the mistress to get it ready for this season.

Chris

Yeah isn't it fun!! :rolleyes: :D It'll get done ... at least you're getting ready to run and weather is getting nicer (well not reallly yet), thanks on the offer to help man. PM sent.

Talk soon.

project moving along
 

Thought i would post as few pictures of the boat together.

unfortunately I will be replacing the stbd transmission as it burned up this weekend.

I am finding that I have less and less time to finish this restoration. and even less time to enjoy the boat.

i am replacing the trans and then i think I will be looking to move this boat. if anyone is interested let me know.

This is an awesome boat and all the mechanicals are brand new or rebuilt. aside from the stbd trans this boat only needs some cosmetics to be 100%.

more pics
 

more pics

how do you like the stainless marine manifolds and tailpipes what type of tailpipes did you use? what kind of power are you making, boat looks great