New Chris Cat Project
#1
Thread Starter
Platinum Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 227
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From: Morehead City,NC
I bought her about 30 days ago, shes getting alot o love. New engines, new transom, new forward bulkhead, new paint.......pretty much everything. Im like a kid in a candy store, really enjoying this project!
First night in the hangar....got t make some room tommorow.


These engines look pretty good , but I have no idea whats inside or who built them, so off to my motor guy!

After I pulled my drives I realized I needed somewhere to put them, so off to Lowes for some Metal. Works great!

Soooo, once I pulled the gimbals....it was easy to see where the water was coming from, both gimbals had corroded so bad they pushed themselves away from the stern allowing water to soak in the transom. You can see in the pic no studs were in the bottom four holes on the gimbal....How did it float?
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And this my friend is noooo fun! It just got a little less exciting, the digging out and the grinding are always the worst......Dammit boy! Ill be so glad when the fiberglass is done. ITCHY AS HELL!!!!!
The bottom two pics, all the rotton wood is gone, its sanded and ready for glass....Shew
First night in the hangar....got t make some room tommorow.


These engines look pretty good , but I have no idea whats inside or who built them, so off to my motor guy!

After I pulled my drives I realized I needed somewhere to put them, so off to Lowes for some Metal. Works great!

Soooo, once I pulled the gimbals....it was easy to see where the water was coming from, both gimbals had corroded so bad they pushed themselves away from the stern allowing water to soak in the transom. You can see in the pic no studs were in the bottom four holes on the gimbal....How did it float?
[ATTACH][ATTACH][ATTACH]
[/ATTACH][/ATTACH][/ATTACH]And this my friend is noooo fun! It just got a little less exciting, the digging out and the grinding are always the worst......Dammit boy! Ill be so glad when the fiberglass is done. ITCHY AS HELL!!!!!
The bottom two pics, all the rotton wood is gone, its sanded and ready for glass....Shew
#2
Thread Starter
Platinum Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
From: Morehead City,NC
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Next is creating a template for the transom and forward engine firewall. To the tune of around ten cardboard boxes and a roll of duck tape....and a cold beer! One or twelve.

After the cardboard box finally got to the right size I sketched out the transom onto a piece of luan, or what i would call thin plywood. This template is for the forward bulkhead, close to the same shape as the stern.

This dust dont itch....

Two pieces of marine A<B fur, a true three quater board, laminated together ready to be installed.
Followed by a three inch thick coat of polybond spread on the stern before I bolted it together to create a serious bond with no air pockets, along with 25 carrage head bolts and my impact gave me a good feeling about the transom being what it should be.
Next is creating a template for the transom and forward engine firewall. To the tune of around ten cardboard boxes and a roll of duck tape....and a cold beer! One or twelve.

After the cardboard box finally got to the right size I sketched out the transom onto a piece of luan, or what i would call thin plywood. This template is for the forward bulkhead, close to the same shape as the stern.

This dust dont itch....

Two pieces of marine A<B fur, a true three quater board, laminated together ready to be installed.
Followed by a three inch thick coat of polybond spread on the stern before I bolted it together to create a serious bond with no air pockets, along with 25 carrage head bolts and my impact gave me a good feeling about the transom being what it should be.
#5
that's a tough question is'nt it???
most ran 3's or 4's... if you want to upgrade and use a bravo, i asked myself a couple time how would I know exactly where, or how hi, or low, I would have to cut the hole... can't really easily modify the hole once it is cut....
most ran 3's or 4's... if you want to upgrade and use a bravo, i asked myself a couple time how would I know exactly where, or how hi, or low, I would have to cut the hole... can't really easily modify the hole once it is cut....
#6
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 227
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From: Morehead City,NC
Yeah ,know what u mean. I'm goin back w the ssm2, I know they are dinosaurs but these are in great shape. I'll be getting my buddy's fives once he gets his sixes, I'll stickem on the stand and wait for the twos to retire. With the extent ion boxes the hole in the stern won't be so hard to deal with. Thanx for ur interest......I'm new at the offshore stuff but learning a lot looking and listening.
#8
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 320
Likes: 1
From: Niagara
Fabulous job!It'll look good whe can hardly wait to do sea trials. Would like to hear what it does speedwise and how the new engines sound...you tube for sure!
I love cats! Can't find a Chris right now, but playing around in my buddy's Spectre. Does 100mph but I m not a big fan of outboards....
I noticed a big difference in handling of a cat vs a v hull
I love cats! Can't find a Chris right now, but playing around in my buddy's Spectre. Does 100mph but I m not a big fan of outboards....
I noticed a big difference in handling of a cat vs a v hull
#10
Thread Starter
Platinum Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
From: Morehead City,NC
Fabulous job!It'll look good whe can hardly wait to do sea trials. Would like to hear what it does speedwise and how the new engines sound...you tube for sure!
I love cats! Can't find a Chris right now, but playing around in my buddy's Spectre. Does 100mph but I m not a big fan of outboards....
I noticed a big difference in handling of a cat vs a v hull
I love cats! Can't find a Chris right now, but playing around in my buddy's Spectre. Does 100mph but I m not a big fan of outboards....
I noticed a big difference in handling of a cat vs a v hull




