Got The Itch Again....
05-28-2019, 08:03 PM
#261
Gold Member
Gold Member
Happy Birthday mate. 
(belated)
Slap some paint (or marine mat) on the deck then get back to work on the boat! I'm really looking forward to reading how she performs.
RR
(belated)Slap some paint (or marine mat) on the deck then get back to work on the boat! I'm really looking forward to reading how she performs.
RR
05-28-2019, 09:52 PM
#262
VIP Member
VIP Member
I’ve been a big fan of your thread. Coming along so nice and I love the bracket. A great job and big thumbs up!! I patiently await your updates!
05-29-2019, 06:39 AM
#263
Registered
Thread Starter
Thx guys.
Is much appreciated.
Plan is evolving into, mock up/bolt together for the season/testing then strip back to bare hull and paint it before reassembly.
Initial Plan in paint was only for faded deck stripe.
Rest of boat is coming out so well that it needs to be right.
The cabin entry will be a huge part of project too.
Now that I’m 60, and the Mrs is 62, only way this will work as a true weekender as the 24’ Sonics did, is to add a hatch above the entry door.
That means:
pull the windshield
reinforce aft section of deck
totally re-fab the helm/dash
fab entry door and hatch
etc......
Again, this was a large part of not doing this project 20 yrs ago.
On the motors, someone commented on another thread, about them smoking.
Being carbed two strokes.
The last era of OEM carbs on the OMCs were very good.
If, the powerheads are solid, the ignitions are strong (both are new) and I do a good job tuning them........, they will only smoke when started cold.
After warm up, they are virtually smoke free.
I figured this out after docking in groups of sailors 20 yrs ago and them asking me if I wanted a pair of the new Honda’s 🤓
Is much appreciated.
Plan is evolving into, mock up/bolt together for the season/testing then strip back to bare hull and paint it before reassembly.
Initial Plan in paint was only for faded deck stripe.
Rest of boat is coming out so well that it needs to be right.
The cabin entry will be a huge part of project too.
Now that I’m 60, and the Mrs is 62, only way this will work as a true weekender as the 24’ Sonics did, is to add a hatch above the entry door.
That means:
pull the windshield
reinforce aft section of deck
totally re-fab the helm/dash
fab entry door and hatch
etc......
Again, this was a large part of not doing this project 20 yrs ago.
On the motors, someone commented on another thread, about them smoking.
Being carbed two strokes.
The last era of OEM carbs on the OMCs were very good.
If, the powerheads are solid, the ignitions are strong (both are new) and I do a good job tuning them........, they will only smoke when started cold.
After warm up, they are virtually smoke free.
I figured this out after docking in groups of sailors 20 yrs ago and them asking me if I wanted a pair of the new Honda’s 🤓
05-31-2019, 02:45 PM
#264
Registered
Thread Starter
Baby steps (pool/deck).....
Heres what I come up with for my Bimini.
After having the frame apart, cut, reassembled a bazillion times, and one size smaller canvas cover for it....., I think I’m satisfied.
I need more slide/track to get it to the back (protection for bench seat and sun lounge) but you get the idea.
The aft supports replace the two aft straps.
Theyre pretty trick and also mounted to the slide.
Y’all may be used to these but are my first set.
They also allow you to collapse the top, install the boot and run w/the up, out of the way.
May 24’ Sonic didn’t have this feature so if the bimini was on the boat it was stowed laying down either on the windshield or the aft part of Sun lounge.
This way you can have the top with you and not trip over it.
If you do want to lay the frame down you detach the deck mount to the app supports and they pave it up and clipped to the main poles for storage.
05-31-2019, 08:02 PM
#265
Gold Member
Gold Member
I hate Bimini tops on sports boat but that said, I have one on mine. 
Looks like you've got it well sorted. Mine is full stainless supports (no straps) fittings all thru-bolted and it suffered a failure at speed and bent the frame. After some design tweaking and paying for the shop to do it all again, it's now very expensive but holds well up to about 50mph before starting to flap a bit.
I hope you've got yours right (the first time).
RR
Looks like you've got it well sorted. Mine is full stainless supports (no straps) fittings all thru-bolted and it suffered a failure at speed and bent the frame. After some design tweaking and paying for the shop to do it all again, it's now very expensive but holds well up to about 50mph before starting to flap a bit.
I hope you've got yours right (the first time).
RR
06-01-2019, 01:32 AM
#266
Registered
Happy Belated Birthday Gary. 
It's always been important to use protection, but especially in the Mid-West these days.
Even up where You are it's needed and it sure looks like You got a design figured out that'll both be able to handle some speedy runs or fold away smartly. In Bimini itself there are mainly hardtops on the boats nowadays. So when this Floridian fellow Tim, a couple of years ago, completely restored a 1968 Magnum 35, he stuck an Armstrong bracket with triple Suzuki 300s on it and added a 10'6' by 13' hardtop made out of epoxy glued Divinycell. His Magnum is still almost 20,000 lbs wet, but runs an impressive 55 mph. Outboard conversions continue to surprise many. Good luck with the cabin entry stage of the resto.
Premier Bimini run for Tim and his family onboard their 1968/2017 Magnum 35.
It's always been important to use protection, but especially in the Mid-West these days.
Even up where You are it's needed and it sure looks like You got a design figured out that'll both be able to handle some speedy runs or fold away smartly. In Bimini itself there are mainly hardtops on the boats nowadays. So when this Floridian fellow Tim, a couple of years ago, completely restored a 1968 Magnum 35, he stuck an Armstrong bracket with triple Suzuki 300s on it and added a 10'6' by 13' hardtop made out of epoxy glued Divinycell. His Magnum is still almost 20,000 lbs wet, but runs an impressive 55 mph. Outboard conversions continue to surprise many. Good luck with the cabin entry stage of the resto.Premier Bimini run for Tim and his family onboard their 1968/2017 Magnum 35.
Last edited by larslindroth; 06-01-2019 at 01:34 AM.
06-01-2019, 04:23 PM
#267
Registered
Thread Starter
After living in Fla for 9 yrs, you either were on the boat for 2 hrs max or had a bimini.
I agree w/u RR, they are ugly on a sport boat.
But, if weekending on it like we do, it’s mandatory here in the mid west too.
At anchor in sun, on the slides, I can put shade/sheltered wherever u want it.
At dock/anchor, overnight w/no AC/shore power, having the door (and bow hatches) open is mandatory.
We weekended on the 24’ Sonic in Fla, in 85/90 temps w/no AC/shorepower.
No one believed us but, w/shade and a breeze...,cake.
You have to pay attention to dock w/bow into wind to get breeze through hatches.
At anchor, bow always spins bow to wind.
Sleep like a baby.
The bimini shelters the cabin entry, helm, and driver/co-pilot seats from dew and rain.
We carry one duffle bag each, which come off the vee birth at night and stow under driver/co-pilot seats.
My Sonics really started getting happy at 45 MPH and made a great cruising speed.
If I can run that w/boot on bimini, in up position, I will be happy.
The top comes down for calm water.
What always made me nervous in the Sonic was, top up and get passed by a noisy I/O.
Stop to drop the top and never catch him or, destroy the top and take one for the team 🤓
On the O/B conversions, I think if it was cheap and easy everyone would have one by now and look for that market to explode.
I am an O/B guy but not a fan of the quad+, O/B powered boats.
Thr big power O/Bs go up in weight w/power.
The Merc V-8 looks to be the bench mark at 400 HPs and flyweight.
Rumors of more power to come.
500’s????
IMO, twins on a 35’ vee would be decent, triples would be right.
Any bigger than that, you need torque not HPs.
Big blocks or diesels.
I agree w/u RR, they are ugly on a sport boat.
But, if weekending on it like we do, it’s mandatory here in the mid west too.
At anchor in sun, on the slides, I can put shade/sheltered wherever u want it.
At dock/anchor, overnight w/no AC/shore power, having the door (and bow hatches) open is mandatory.
We weekended on the 24’ Sonic in Fla, in 85/90 temps w/no AC/shorepower.
No one believed us but, w/shade and a breeze...,cake.
You have to pay attention to dock w/bow into wind to get breeze through hatches.
At anchor, bow always spins bow to wind.
Sleep like a baby.
The bimini shelters the cabin entry, helm, and driver/co-pilot seats from dew and rain.
We carry one duffle bag each, which come off the vee birth at night and stow under driver/co-pilot seats.
My Sonics really started getting happy at 45 MPH and made a great cruising speed.
If I can run that w/boot on bimini, in up position, I will be happy.
The top comes down for calm water.
What always made me nervous in the Sonic was, top up and get passed by a noisy I/O.
Stop to drop the top and never catch him or, destroy the top and take one for the team 🤓
On the O/B conversions, I think if it was cheap and easy everyone would have one by now and look for that market to explode.
I am an O/B guy but not a fan of the quad+, O/B powered boats.
Thr big power O/Bs go up in weight w/power.
The Merc V-8 looks to be the bench mark at 400 HPs and flyweight.
Rumors of more power to come.
500’s????
IMO, twins on a 35’ vee would be decent, triples would be right.
Any bigger than that, you need torque not HPs.
Big blocks or diesels.
08-18-2019, 10:57 AM
#268
Registered
Thread Starter
The plot thickens....
Over cocktails w/the Mrs the other night, she asked what I wanted to do this weekend.
Told her Id like to spend at least one day in the shop on the twin O/B conversion as its been a while.
Her reply was that she'd like to spend that time w/me instead.
She said she thought we should buy a functioning boat now instead of another yrs work on the project.
Always knew she was smarter than me and chose not to argue
So I found and bought this.
Its new name shall be, "HER BOAT".
'1995 253 Checkmate.
Other than slightly faded cockpit carpeting, the hull, trailer, motor and drive would pass as new.
The pixs of the cuddy show what these guys have done better than almost anyone w/small boats.
Bought it from Kunkels Marine.
Home of their 30' 120 mph, single I/O weapon.
The mold work on this boat is superb. Not a wave anywhere.
Jason Kunkel believes their quality was at its best during this era and this boat looks it.
Was used as a sales aid to sell new trailers of the '2017 version under it.
Welded alum, 16" tires, stainless discs on all 4, back up lights, all LEDs, a ladder on the tongue etc, etc.
I think I now have a truck and trailer capable of 78 mph, non stop, 17 1/2 hr trip to Fla and back.
And the east coast, and Canada etc.
It aint what I want but it'll do.
Last edited by Twin O/B Sonic; 08-18-2019 at 11:00 AM.
Platinum Member
