got me a new boat
 

yup . . got rid of the old daycruiser an picked up a new boat ( well new ta me anyway :D ) picked up an 86 chris craft 260 scorpion with twin small blocks . its a one owner boat with 400 hours on it and is all original. mechanically and structurally its perfect but it is badly faded and needs some cockpit upolstery ( fortunatly i know someone that can take care of that :cool: ) was able to get it for 6K. seemed like a decent deal.

anyway, this is my first boat with twins an im just curious about boathandling around the docks. i know the basics of spliting shifts with the drives straight but what effect does it have with the drives turned all the way to one side or the other when you split them. i know its mostly a learn as you go process with any new boat but just looking for some info on what to expect. or any guidance in my transition to twins. thanks all.

by the way, anybody have any opinions on the 260 chris scorpion . . .god or bad . . .i can take it . . :D . . thanks again

Dave,

Got any pics?? Isn't a 260 scorpion a day cruiser too? I have a 86 210 scorpion and love it.....I have had to do some fiberglass work where a couple of spots have just popped out. I have heard that it was either the scorpion or the stinger I don't know which, has stringer problems. I don't think that's my problem.

no pics yet . .but soon . . i had heard of stringer probs on a few of these so i looked at that stuff real close. the bilge is almost as original. which suprised me for a boat this old. the owner had taken good care of it . also heard of a few fuel tank probs but this one seems OK for now. not sure if this is called a daycruiser or not. looks like a cross between an offshore an a sportcruiser kinda thing. lotsa room on this boat. also alot of freeboard too which will be nice in lake erie :D .

well . . .this isnt it . . but it looks juist like it :D

an mine is grey and red

Mine is red and gray too. That is not a day cruiser. I'd like to find one of those babies. Here are the kind i thought you were talking about.
http://www.grandpappy.com/tmwebitems...Scorpion85.jpg

Just remember that your alphas probably don't counter-rotate like a bravo application would.

Congrats on the new ride !

As for docking with twins ,,,,, Just forward and back and use the wheel like you did with the single engine . Doing one forward and one back dosent' do much for you on that type of boat . The drives are too close together . It works great on a big yatch or sprt fish where the props are 8' apart or more . Dock it just like you did the single engine boat . YOu may only need to use 1 engine though . 2 may move it too fast for you . You'll get it ! Good luck with it ! Lets see some shots after you find a good painter !!:D :D

Dave coool deal :D:D I know you have been looking for a while. I can not waite to see what you do with the paint :D:D Driving with twins is like with a single only a lot more flexability. Just go slow and you will be fine. You can really make the boat so some cool things once you learn what to do. I always am amazed at how guys that have been driving twins for a long time can make their boats move.

Jon

good point foul. i'm asuming they dont make a left hand alpha (or do they ?)

yea boot . . funny thing is , i might just go all white with it. havent thought of any graphics yet. heck i dont make anything working on my stuff. :D . . .uh-course ya never know . . it may be nice to have a floating buisness card though. . . .hmmmmmmm . . . :cool:

tanned fat, i have seen the scorps that look like that . not sure why CC did that with the same names an all. i think mine says 260 stinger on it too. this is the old (west coast) daycruiser i just sold. fun boat but i really had to pick my days on the lake. last time i blew the windshield out . that was a week before i sold it. :rolleyes:

There is a Scorpion around here that is mint and bad ass! It is a bigger one, and looks like brand new.

I just got my first twin this year too. I usually dock with only one engine in gear and the other idling. I was used to only one control for docking, and four were just too much for me to operate under stress!:)

The twin alpha's will probably hold up ok. Mine are 1985's and I'm pretty sure they are original. Just keep good oil in them (changed mine this morning).

Alpha does make a counter rotating lower. I was thinking of getting one myself, then I could save the other for a spare for either of my boats.

What engines does it have?

Good luck with the new project!

The first boat I owned was a 230 Scorpian. We lived in SW Florida at the time and have some great memories form it. The only thing I didn't like was the amount of deck flex when running in rough stuff. Never had any problems with the hull or stringers.
Good luck with your new toy, I'm sure you'll have some great times too.

Just remember, now you have two props, so you can power dock better. You know throw 'em both in reverse buzz 'em then toss a line like you know what your doing. And the good thing is that when you stall a motor doing that, and smoke the dock, you know how to fix it.:D :D

You will definately enjoy the Scorpion. I've had a 260 for 4 years and have gotten a ton of enjoyment out of it. Haven't had any problems with the hull or stringers but did have the sling braces replaced last year due to a bit of cracking. Part of that may be due to having the 260's and alphas replaced with 454 mags and bravos. The boat will fly level and it runs well in big cruiser chop or flying across lake Superior.



http://www.4jpc.com/Pictures/2002/Boat/July22/Boat.JPG
http://www.4jpc.com/Pictures/2002/Bo...ious/boat6.JPG

cuda- this boat has stock 260 mercs. i'll prolly leave em alone for now, they are very well running unmolested originals. an thats a good idea about finding a counter rotating alpha an keeping the extra one for a spare. gonna hafta look into that . also heard the alpha ss is a good addition. any thoughts .

nice boat kohhldog. hows it run with the big blocks an brovos. how tough was the conversion. the more i look at this boat the more i think i will have it around for a while. the things got a ton of room on it. im gonna have some fun with this thing.

madcow- i'm gonna hafta remember that tip. i've been watch'n some of you LEOPA guys long enough so i know what not to do :D :p . . hey if you get this message early give me a call . thinkin about go'n ride'n in the morning. if you get this later give me a call any way an pick up yer jet ski . . shes ready to go an i'm outa town for the whole week.

audio, your right . . i may just hafta get alittle nuts on this one. i got the whole winter to come up with somthing :cool: hmmmm

boaat'n rules :D

Dave, it runs pretty well and will break 70 with a light load. It definately surprises people when they see this old boat passing their new go fast boats.

The switch was made right before I got the boat. The transom had to be redone because the BB's are wider than the SB's. New motor mounts were made and the controls were switched to Merc zero efforts. Sorry I can't tell you the specifics on this.

You will definately love the boat and you're right, it does have a ton of room.

Docking mine with counter rotating props is a brease. When I'm docking I don't touch the wheel at all and just use the shifters to put it wherever it neads to go.

Say good-bye to the windows :D:D;) ;)

hey jon . . now thats a good idea . . .hmmmm . . . also thinkin about lowering the windshield and making it solid like a fairing. :cool: . . .see, now ya got me all fired up to turn this into a huge project. already started on some layouts. damn you :mad: :p . . .i gotta get go'n , i only have the winter to get this thing done. :D . . .oh man what did i get myself into. . . . geeze, i hafta keep a cool head. as it stands all it really needs is a serious buff an wax . . .but noooooooooooooooo i think i'll just take the whole thing apart instead . . .yea thats the smart thing to do . . . .oh god i need help . . . maaybe i just need a break from OSO. . . .yea thats it . . i'll go out to the country, where theres no water. stay on a farm or somthin. . . .ahhhh screw it. i'm head'n out back to work on the boat. :D :D :cool:

WHAT A V-HAUL AND NOT A CAT I thought I tought you better than that. L.O.L. That should be a great boat for you dave it's been good for Ken. As far as moving around the docks let me know and I show ya how to walk it sideways. Lets get together for halloween at the bay. :cool:

sounds good tizbad . . .i'll bring the cap'n morgans :D . . was think'n about make'n halloween at the bay my maiden voyage. :cool: :cool: hear there is a pretty good group going :D

sounds good dave i'll be back in town the 16th i'll call ya. Get that boat ready!! 1/2 gallon captain 16oz coke. There ya have it.

thats it
 

He will help you sand. He is good.:D

Oh hell no I am all done with that. Of course I guess I do owe him something for all the help he gave me on my project.

Hear it is

YOU CAN DO IT!!! :D:D

Jon

Glassdave,
Great find. There is an 85 here in town for sale that is trick. It was completely regelled white and had modern vinyl graphics added. Interior was done white with accents matching the graphics. What a difference this makes in the apperance of this boat. It doesn't look like an 85 anymore. It also has a counter rotating Gen II alpha on one side and the original on the other. I wish I had a picture I garantee you would gel it white and add graphics one you saw it.

Good luck. I'm sure it will be great.

Brian