A Florida based 1987 390 Express Restoration

Wow, many congrats you have to feel very pleased with your efforts! She looks fantastic for a gal who's a bit older Bet if she could talk she'd be saying, "he's a keeper"

Congratulations Al! Nice work all around. Now go boating!

Dale

Looks like a great day in Fort Pierce. Good for you Al ... it has been a long time coming, but well worth the effort. The 390 is a great boat, but you just made it even better.

congratulations, Ken

Conranlations

The boat looks great best of luck

Congratulation, my friend!!! I can just imagine your emotions... I can only say "I wish I was there...."

Congratulations! A truly impressive build. Enjoy!

Amazing! I can't believe I missed the updates to your thread until just today. I for one would like to see some more pictures of it out on the water

JC80 said:

Amazing! I can't believe I missed the updates to your thread until just today. I for one would like to see some more pictures of it out on the water

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BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE!

I just contracted with a canvas shop to do a total enclosure of the cockpit AND a standup helm enclosure. All in nice tight MIAMI SNOW WHITE to match the boat. Weblon Regatta fabric with Strataglass Crystal Clear 20/20 windows. U Zips front and back at the helm and roll ups in the cockpit.

I will post full photos when the canvas is done.

I got an email from a guy that saw my web site. I thought I might post my reply to him here:

On 6/17/2015 1:20 PM, Dan Heiskell wrote:

I have a 1985 Weekender. It has a beautiful shell, two good engines and everything else is rough. Any chance you can give me some advice as I start to try to bring this boat back? I have very little boating experience and not real good at doing this kind of thing!

Dan:

Restoring a boat is a HUGE project that requires great skill and more time and money than you can imagine. I have decades of mechanical and boating experience and a had the boat parked next to my fully equipped shop. I am fortunate to own my own company, work at home and can devote 30 to 40 hours a week to the project. There were two reasons I restored this boat. The first and most important was the fact it was diesel and the engines were restoreable. Gas powered Sea Rays have little market value. Heck - diesel Sea Rays have little value! Just ask my insurance company! The other reason is the boat belonged to my dad, he loved boats and I wanted to keep him close to me even though he is gone.

My advice with your weekender is clean it up, make it look good on the outside. Pride in ownership goes a long way. Get a professional marine surveyor to tell you what is wrong with it, get it seaworthy so you don't harm yourself or someone else and enjoy it. Use whatever skills you have to work on it yourself. Read books and use the internet to learn how to do things. I don't know how old you are but it is NEVER too late to learn new skills. Buy tools, learn how to use them and only hire tradesmen to do the absolute highly skilled jobs. If you can possibly park it next to your house or close to where you live - by all means do it. Don't spend any more money on it than you have to. You will never get it back.

Join ClubSeaRay.com and cruise the forums, ask questions. Lots of helpful people out there. I am going to post this reply on my thread.

There are also many extremely good deals on used boats in excellent condition - consider dumping the weekender for something in better condition. Always consult a marine surveyor that you choose (don't rely on the broker to find you one) before buying a boat.

Dr. MicroChip

Congratulations on a job well done!

It should provide you with many years of happiness to come!

Enjoy!

Hey Dale! (MasterFab) I know you are listening....

I need to fabricate an electric seat "elevator" to move the pilot seat up and down about 12". My boat is in the canvas shop now getting a stand up helm bimini top and a full cockpit enclosure. When I sit in the pilot seat and steer, the top rail of the windshield is right in my line of vision (bummer). I can stand but that gets tiring. I am thinking linear actuator. How would you "MasterFab" it? Gotta be strong in seas.

Doc

Al,

What makes you think I am listening??

Wait, it seems I am. I agree with a linear actuator based system - it's the simplest to install, and most convenient, when compared to a hydraulic, pneumatic, or mechanical system. A mechanical system requires too much human labor input (hitting a switch is much easier), while the pneumatic and hydraulic actuators require other support systems, plumbing, controls, etc. So, an electric linear is the way to go. They also offer the advantage of self braking, so they stay where you leave them.

But, the actuator is only a part of the lift "system". I would use it to support the weight only, and I would likely use a tight tolerance telescoping column, or 3 or 4 ground shafts with linear bearings mounted in a saddle that moved up and down, to counter lateral forces. It's an interesting thought, totally doable, but it will take some time to design and bring to life.

Dale

Hey Guys,

Don't overlook a Bennett Trim pump and tab actuator as opposed to a linear actuator. The only electronics involved is a fused 12VDC source and a double throw toggle switch. The advantages are the plumbing can be neat small dia plastic lines, the pump can go under the helm seat, and the switch mounted anywere Al find convenient. The advantages in a Florida salt water environment is that the Bennett equipment is already designed to be in a wet location and the actuators even go under water. In our area we have not had very good long term luck with conventional linear actuators due to the salt air, but have used Bennett equipment for electronic enclosures, large hatchs, even foldable arches. Give it a look........

Back to your regular scheduled programming.................

What about a folding bolster seat, like on the newer Sea Rays?

How in the world did I know you were listening?

The whole thing has to fit in the 4" between the bottom of the seat and the top of the seat cabinet. No room to put anything below inside the cabinet. I was thinking 2 sets of hinged plates in an A shape where the top of the A was attached to a slide on the seat so it can move laterally. One leg of the A is hinged and the other attached to the linear actuator. One actuator for both sets of plates. It wont move fore and aft but it has to be stabilized laterally.

Doc

rcknecht said:

What about a folding bolster seat, like on the newer Sea Rays?

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Have never seen one. Got a link?

fwebster said:

Hey Guys,

Don't overlook a Bennett Trim pump and tab actuator as opposed to a linear actuator. The only electronics involved is a fused 12VDC source and a double throw toggle switch. The advantages are the plumbing can be neat small dia plastic lines, the pump can go under the helm seat, and the switch mounted anywere Al find convenient. The advantages in a Florida salt water environment is that the Bennett equipment is already designed to be in a wet location and the actuators even go under water. In our area we have not had very good long term luck with conventional linear actuators due to the salt air, but have used Bennett equipment for electronic enclosures, large hatchs, even foldable arches. Give it a look........

Back to your regular scheduled programming.................

Click to expand...

The mechanism is the problem here. Linear actuator or hydraulic cyl is a no brainer. My zinc die cast windshield wiper motors are still working after 28 years in the salt air - go figure.
Doc

Dr MicroChip said:

Have never seen one. Got a link?

Click to expand...

I do think a MasterFab custom seat would be way cool, and I would like to see it made...

I was trying to avoid the installation of support systems in the design, but Frank makes a good point about corrosion resistance in the environment "down there". Pics and dimensions would be helpful, as well as an idea how much travel you are looking for.

Dale