I have the same exact red Continental trailer as you do. When I went to check out the Superboat, I paid close attention to the areas of the trailer that were most prone to corrosion. I wish I could find a way to preserve this trailer better, but ungalvanized painted steel & saltwater don't mix. I religiously wash my trailer down, inside & out...but I think I'm just pissing in the wind. Kinda surprised it has lasted as long as it has.

1989-2006 Michigan, freshwater trailer excellent condition.
2007-2012 Long Island, rapid and noticeable decline in overall condition...stuff is starting to fall off.

The best product I could find to stop rust and also add tensile strength was POR-15 and then some type of roll-on truck bedliner. But I just can't find a way to treat the inside of the trailer, inside the box rail....so it'll just eventually rot from the inside out.

Non-hot dipped galvanized is the same way.

Dba900
I've got a 1995 eagle trailer custom made for a 24x7

Four new tires, brandy new sand blast with black imron paint.
Never seen salt. $2000

Tows fast & true.

Scarab63, thanks for the offer. I think we're going to build a new one (we have a full fab shop here), but I will for sure let you know if we decide to go a different route.

11 degrees out this morning...c'mon summer!

We welded a new rear cross-member into place and dropped the boat back on the trailer. I'll get some photos soon. Time to get the deck fixed. If anyone knows of a decent upholstery guy in eastern Mass/RI, please PM me. We have a TON of stuff we could trade, etc. if that's an incentive, or of course cash.

I realize a BBC will probably be the smart option for this boat in the long run. However, how realistic would it be to get this motor to 550-600 HP and what would it take to do it? If it's simply a matter of changing the rods and bolting on a big enough blower, that might make more sense than tracking down or building a whole new BBC.

Specs:
Motor:
-355 SBC
-Forged/balanced bottom end, "pink" rods
I think it's about 8.5:1 compression, but he wasn't 100% sure.
-Dart (Sportsman) II heads, 72/200cc; roller rockers
-Comp Cams Magnum 280 cam (I believe .525" lift and 280 deg. duration)
-Victor Jr. intake, Holley 750 carb

Last yr I sort of had an opportunity to get a sbc blower motor in my 24. Think it was making 700 and I bet it would have been a good time! U have low comp so should be able to run a small blower.

I presume a 174 would be the way to go and not a bigger blower (a 6-71, for instance?)

Honestly not sure. I have no experience with sb. Id tend to agree with ya train of thought. 174 or the like. Oc Barry runs blown small blocks but I'm not sure his internal builds. He runs weiand 177 blowers.

Nothing new to report, though hopefully I'll have some news soon. One thing I was wondering: This boat seems to have no coring anywhere except the flooring and deck. Is this common among Superboats of this era? Even the bottom doesn't seem to be cored. Our Sutphen, by contrast, is cored and as solid as a rock. I realize they're completely different animals.

Balsa core in the hulls was for the race boats on the 24's, it was an option on regular 24's

Ok, so this is the regular layup. Thanks, Rick.