I was at Norris lake Tn. last week and saw this 1977 Sea Ray sitting on stands. It was totally redone with a beautiful teak swim platform, all new canvas, gel coat looked redone, through hulls were all new...wow it was nice !
1977 Sea Ray - refurbed pics
- Thread starter Quint4
- Start date
theinterceptor
New Member
Nice looking boat, for sure!
I was up there last year actually...Morristown, TN to be exact. There are some really beautiful homesites for sale up there on Norris lake.
I was up there last year actually...Morristown, TN to be exact. There are some really beautiful homesites for sale up there on Norris lake.
velooce
Member
- Jan 28, 2008
- 266
- Boat Info
- 1977 30' Weekender
- Engines
- Twin Merc 454's, Hurth straight inboards
I was at Norris lake Tn. last week and saw this 1977 Sea Ray sitting on stands. It was totally redone with a beautiful teak swim platform, all new canvas, gel coat looked redone, through hulls were all new...wow it was nice !
More pictures , looks clean without the railings, doe's anyone know how many were made in this configuation?
mikesouthwick
New Member
Thats a great looking boat . I just pick up a 77 sea ray last week. Some day will look like that one....
Hey guys just joined. That's my boat. Thanks for the nice words. My 16 year old son and I worked on it all last winter. This boat was a disaster when I bought it. The prior owner completely misled me about "rain water in the bilge". Lesson learned - don't sea trial on a rainy day.
The boat was not able to remain afloat > 24 hours when I first got it. Took on about 10 gallons/hr thru various leaks, so it required a complete hull re-do.
I had help with the gel coat from some experienced Sea Ray hull guys who work at the Knoxville plant. Greg Hessler of Hessler Marine at Lake Norris was very helpful in finding me the right guys. Greg and his crew also did some of the heavy duty mechanical work.
The bow rail was off in that picture but it is back on now. The boat has new gel coat from hardtop to keel, followed by new bottom paint. Closed over the leaking underwater exhausts and ran 4 inch bronze thru transom exhaust.
People love this boat on the lake.
Looking for advice on repower numbers : cruise, nmpg, etc. for this same hull with newer motors. Any thoughts ? The old 351W's are about shot.
Joe
The boat was not able to remain afloat > 24 hours when I first got it. Took on about 10 gallons/hr thru various leaks, so it required a complete hull re-do.
I had help with the gel coat from some experienced Sea Ray hull guys who work at the Knoxville plant. Greg Hessler of Hessler Marine at Lake Norris was very helpful in finding me the right guys. Greg and his crew also did some of the heavy duty mechanical work.
The bow rail was off in that picture but it is back on now. The boat has new gel coat from hardtop to keel, followed by new bottom paint. Closed over the leaking underwater exhausts and ran 4 inch bronze thru transom exhaust.
People love this boat on the lake.
Looking for advice on repower numbers : cruise, nmpg, etc. for this same hull with newer motors. Any thoughts ? The old 351W's are about shot.
Joe
ghuskin
New Member
- Jul 10, 2007
- 1,089
- Boat Info
- SRV225 Cuddy Cabin, 1983
- Engines
- 228 Mercruiser w/ pre-Alpha1 "R" Drive
Not sure about what to repower with, but I'm sure you could use new 5.0 mags? or bigger? what about Yanmar diesles?
- Nov 26, 2006
- 7,628
- Boat Info
- 2008 44 Sedan Bridge
- Engines
- Cummins QSC-500's
Straight Drives
That's really a great complement to have pics of your boat posted on line by another enthusiast, and well deserved. Good luck and keep us updated.
Sherman Moore
New Member
- Dec 12, 2008
- 81
- Boat Info
- 1989 Sea Ray 340EC saved from the crusher and now in the water where it should be
- Engines
- twin 454 GM
Hello gang. I am in the process of restore a 1977 Sedan Bridge. I purchased mine on the ground. Just finished checking all of the wiring AC/DC It all seems to be order. Going after the engines next. Both run and sound good. My fisrt boat. So far so good. Hope mine looks as good as this one when I finally get it in the water.
Hey Joe,
check out this deal on two merc 350s in Michigan.
http://detroit.craigslist.org/boa/982391839.html
check out this deal on two merc 350s in Michigan.
http://detroit.craigslist.org/boa/982391839.html
velooce
Member
- Jan 28, 2008
- 266
- Boat Info
- 1977 30' Weekender
- Engines
- Twin Merc 454's, Hurth straight inboards
Boat looks great,
Thanks - you may remember I saw Seeker pictured in Classic Yacht magazine and called you last year. Appreciate the encouragement. While my boat is looking better, I have never seen a Weekender compare to yours - the gelcoat and interior are like new. It is great to hear you and your family have enjoyed the boat for 20+ years.
velooce
Member
- Jan 28, 2008
- 266
- Boat Info
- 1977 30' Weekender
- Engines
- Twin Merc 454's, Hurth straight inboards
I do remember, what a great father - son project ( with great results by the way). Although my girls are fully grown now boating will always be important part of there life. I find it amusing that many of the new boat manufactured models are now offering hardtop expresses and 30 plus years later yours has much better lines. ENJOY !
CMIRIGGED
New Member
sloppyjoe,
awesome job on that boat. i have grown up working on searays and did a extensive refit on a 30 weekender myself( which is for sale due to getting a 390ec) you did some job, looks great. i put merc 350 small block fuel injected horizons in mine and have been very happy with them. we had to do custom flame arrestors and make brackets for the tanks for the freshwater cooling so they would fit under the deck, but other then that it went smoothly.
awesome job on that boat. i have grown up working on searays and did a extensive refit on a 30 weekender myself( which is for sale due to getting a 390ec) you did some job, looks great. i put merc 350 small block fuel injected horizons in mine and have been very happy with them. we had to do custom flame arrestors and make brackets for the tanks for the freshwater cooling so they would fit under the deck, but other then that it went smoothly.
Attachments
i put merc 350 small block fuel injected horizons in mine
Thanks for the nice words. My interior has a long way to go before it looks like
yours.
Do you have accurate cruising speeds in knots and fuel consumption in nmpg for
various cruising rpms for your 300 hp 350's ? Also what size and blade count
props are you running ?
Thanks for the nice words. My interior has a long way to go before it looks like
yours.
Do you have accurate cruising speeds in knots and fuel consumption in nmpg for
various cruising rpms for your 300 hp 350's ? Also what size and blade count
props are you running ?
HokiesFan
New Member
It would be great to see more photos of your boat with the refurbishment complete. Interior photos as well. If you don't mind leading us through your project, it would be great to here more about details regarding material choices, costs, schedules, etc. that you would be willing to share. Your restoration looks like you've done an incredible job! Congratulations.
It would be great to see more photos of your boat with the refurbishment complete. Interior photos as well. If you don't mind leading us through your project, it would be great to here more about details regarding material choices, costs, schedules, etc. that you would be willing to share. Your restoration looks like you've done an incredible job! Congratulations.
I'm going to try to put some things together. More photos in near future on my page.
Major expenses so far :
About $20,000 for hull redo, which included close off of leaking underwater exhausts, replace every thru hull, repack rudder and shaft glands, and new gelcoat from hardtop to keel followed by Interlux nonablative bottom pain and pinstriping.
I used the recent Pearl gel coat (Ashland Pearl gelcoat) which is used on early 2000's Sea Rays and more recent Amberjacks. It is a creamy off white but noticeably lighter than the slightly darker Sand color the boat came with originally. I like it better.
I have rewired the boat almost completely, with new LED nav lights,4 new Lifeline AGM batteries, new 00 gauge battery cables, 2 new 3700 GPH Rule bilge pumps, and new Blue Sea components throughout. This took aboout $5000 in parts and a few hundred hours of my work.
I replaced the 30 year old 65 gallon sludge filled gas tanks with new ones of my own design of 100 gallons each from SPTanks.com. They were about $1000 each. SPTanks was great to work with and were less expensive and more helpful by far than the original builders of the boat's tanks, Florida Tanks, who didn't seem to want to be bothered with a small order. Anybody who wants a copy of the design document for these tanks can email me for it.
The leaking exhaust was replaced from the manifolds back. I used Centek Dual Stage mufflers with check valves downstream emptying into 4 inch bronze thu transom exhaust. About $1500/side in parts. The fit is snug but works. The result is a quiet boat.
Fuel now runs through a manifold of my own design that can feed either engine from either tank through Racor filters into new PCM fuel pumps on my 351W's. Floscans are set up downstream of the filters. (Best $800 I ever spent). Highly recommend the floscans. They will teach you a lot about how your boat likes to run, and will help you diagnose problems.
Replaced old ignition with Mallory Electronic and replaced impellers and thermostat housings. Replaced impellers and belts. Had to install proper exhaust water blocking plates as the prior owner did not have them installed and the engines would not get over 100 degrees fahrenheit due to improper mixing of cooling water. Put in 165 degree thermostats for fresh water use (raw water cooled). Total about $1500 in parts and my labor.
Transmisson work - flywheel bolts broke off on #1 motor - maybe $1000 or so in labor; checked #2 and it was fine. Could not find a replacement flywheel anywhere so old one was cleaned up at a machine shop and does fine despite slight gouge in 2 of the bold holes.
I had the teak swim platform and bow ribs stripped and refinished with a slight cherry tint and 10 coats of marine polyurethane by a furniture refinishing shop here in Cincinnati for about $950.
I have gutted the interior. That is a project for the NEXT 2 years. I removed the corroded 110 volt system entirely.
I had a company in California create clear plexiglass replacement hatches for my faded, cracked old hatches. I can provide the design documents for these also for anyone who wants them. Cost was about $800 for the 2 hatches.
Aboy $1600 in new props and strut bearings (cutlass bearings).
Please nobody add this all up - I don't really want to know the total ...
I'm going to try to put some things together. More photos in near future on my page.
Major expenses so far :
About $20,000 for hull redo, which included close off of leaking underwater exhausts, replace every thru hull, repack rudder and shaft glands, and new gelcoat from hardtop to keel followed by Interlux nonablative bottom pain and pinstriping.
I used the recent Pearl gel coat (Ashland Pearl gelcoat) which is used on early 2000's Sea Rays and more recent Amberjacks. It is a creamy off white but noticeably lighter than the slightly darker Sand color the boat came with originally. I like it better.
I have rewired the boat almost completely, with new LED nav lights,4 new Lifeline AGM batteries, new 00 gauge battery cables, 2 new 3700 GPH Rule bilge pumps, and new Blue Sea components throughout. This took aboout $5000 in parts and a few hundred hours of my work.
I replaced the 30 year old 65 gallon sludge filled gas tanks with new ones of my own design of 100 gallons each from SPTanks.com. They were about $1000 each. SPTanks was great to work with and were less expensive and more helpful by far than the original builders of the boat's tanks, Florida Tanks, who didn't seem to want to be bothered with a small order. Anybody who wants a copy of the design document for these tanks can email me for it.
The leaking exhaust was replaced from the manifolds back. I used Centek Dual Stage mufflers with check valves downstream emptying into 4 inch bronze thu transom exhaust. About $1500/side in parts. The fit is snug but works. The result is a quiet boat.
Fuel now runs through a manifold of my own design that can feed either engine from either tank through Racor filters into new PCM fuel pumps on my 351W's. Floscans are set up downstream of the filters. (Best $800 I ever spent). Highly recommend the floscans. They will teach you a lot about how your boat likes to run, and will help you diagnose problems.
Replaced old ignition with Mallory Electronic and replaced impellers and thermostat housings. Replaced impellers and belts. Had to install proper exhaust water blocking plates as the prior owner did not have them installed and the engines would not get over 100 degrees fahrenheit due to improper mixing of cooling water. Put in 165 degree thermostats for fresh water use (raw water cooled). Total about $1500 in parts and my labor.
Transmisson work - flywheel bolts broke off on #1 motor - maybe $1000 or so in labor; checked #2 and it was fine. Could not find a replacement flywheel anywhere so old one was cleaned up at a machine shop and does fine despite slight gouge in 2 of the bold holes.
I had the teak swim platform and bow ribs stripped and refinished with a slight cherry tint and 10 coats of marine polyurethane by a furniture refinishing shop here in Cincinnati for about $950.
I have gutted the interior. That is a project for the NEXT 2 years. I removed the corroded 110 volt system entirely.
I had a company in California create clear plexiglass replacement hatches for my faded, cracked old hatches. I can provide the design documents for these also for anyone who wants them. Cost was about $800 for the 2 hatches.
Aboy $1600 in new props and strut bearings (cutlass bearings).
Please nobody add this all up - I don't really want to know the total ...
HokiesFan
New Member
Holy cow! I didn't add that up, but the boat looks like a million, so we know that you're way ahead in the catagory, and think of all the satisfaction that you've gotten out of doing that. Thank you for sharing all of that information. So how many hours of labor do you think you have total in the boat?
