76 Custom Sea Ray Restoration Almost Complete

[dmnolan]

My 1976 SRV 240 is a single engine.
The only "structural" Stingers were the ones that ran down both sides of the tank to the engine space. then they kick out to port and starboard a little before heading to the transom.
The rest of the stringers didn't touch the hull.
When I replace them I had all of them bedded and glassed to the hull.

 

[Alright Already]

Lucky enuf - Love what you did. I just picked up a 75 and am going to do the same thing. How does the hydraulic steering perform? I have the old cables to power steering (which no longer has a pump). Tons of slop. Looking to get the Seastar system but want to make sure it isn't sloppy or you get too much feedback. I'm running the original 302 and TR2 drive right now with a 20" prop. Want to swap out to a 300hp outboard next year.

 

[douglee25]

Great thread and excellent work!

 

[lucky enuff]

Lucky enuf - Love what you did. I just picked up a 75 and am going to do the same thing. How does the hydraulic steering perform? I have the old cables to power steering (which no longer has a pump). Tons of slop. Looking to get the Seastar system but want to make sure it isn't sloppy or you get too much feedback. I'm running the original 302 and TR2 drive right now with a 20" prop. Want to swap out to a 300hp outboard next year.

Let's put it this way, I couldn't imagine not having hydraulic steering. It's the only way to go, you won't regret it !

 

[lucky enuff]

Great thread and excellent work!

Thank You !!

 

[Alright Already]

Let's put it this way, I couldn't imagine not having hydraulic steering. It's the only way to go, you won't regret it !

Thanks man. Doing a similar mod to roof. Your pics and thoughts have been very helpful.

 

[Thornton69]

My 1976 SRV 240 is a single engine.
The only "structural" Stingers were the ones that ran down both sides of the tank to the engine space. then they kick out to port and starboard a little before heading to the transom.
The rest of the stringers didn't touch the hull.
When I replace them I had all of them bedded and glassed to the hull.

Any chance you took picks of your engine mount bases?

 

[El Capitan]

Wanting to bump this thread.

Question I have is...and I am originally from Sou Fla, and have family living in the Keys, why did the Keys influence your decision to convert from IO to outboard?

I am considering similar vintage 240's and will be moving back to Fla in couple years but that doesn't influence my preference in power setup.

The only thing about the Keys is that there's a lot of skinny water down there but I navigated my 1980 SRV240 cc down from Miami to Key Largo on the inside route and had no problems with skinny water...just had to know the charts well and have good visual on water color changes.

Any insight is appreciated.

 

[lucky enuff]

Wanting to bump this thread.

Question I have is...and I am originally from Sou Fla, and have family living in the Keys, why did the Keys influence your decision to convert from IO to outboard?

I am considering similar vintage 240's and will be moving back to Fla in couple years but that doesn't influence my preference in power setup.

The only thing about the Keys is that there's a lot of skinny water down there but I navigated my 1980 SRV240 cc down from Miami to Key Largo on the inside route and had no problems with skinny water...just had to know the charts well and have good visual on water color changes.

Any insight is appreciated.

It was only one factor in the equation, But my experience with the alpha 1 style outdrives is that they are old technology and in most cases not water tight. Mine got saltwater inside the bellows and seized up the gimbal bearing. Not being able to trim the drive out of the water is a problem for me. Also, the motors are raw water cooled, so another problematic situation. I just prefer outboards for saltwater, or straight inboards. Just my opinion.

 

[dmnolan]

Any chance you took picks of your engine mount bases?

Sorry just saw this. Have lots of pictures let me know if you still need anything

 

[lucky enuff]

Hey Everyone, I haven't updated this in awhile. Another summer in the books with the old Ray. Not too much done to it this year. I made coaming cushions and I decided to remove the second steering station because I don't need it with the auto pilot.

As these projects so often go, now that she's about done It's about that time in life where I am ready for a different type of boat. Something a bit lighter that I can more easily trailer. It's been 13 years I've owned this boat and I was sure I'd be It's last owner due to it's age. Might run it another year or two, might sell her next year. I'll have the winter to think it through.

The new hull paint has stood up super well !! I don't think I've even scratched it. She's in a wet slip on on Lake Ontario, coming home in a few weeks.

Anyway....a couple pics from this past summer doing what I built her to do