80's Radar Arches

BlewByYou88

BlewByYou88

Member
Jul 24, 2010
963
Arizona
Boat Info
268 Sea Ray Sundancer 1988
Engines
2X 4.3L 4bbl Mercs w/ Alphas
Well, AZ flipped on the Winter switch, and it got chilly quick. 80's to 90's a week ago to....50's... Yay....

So diving into winter projects, I've had this one on my radar for a while....pun intended as its a radar arch project. Only feature my 268 didn't have from the factory...so I acquired one. It came from NY and its in pretty rough shape. The wood was rotten inside of it where I need to tie it into the boat, and there is going to be some glass/gelcoat work regardless to make it look good.


As an added headache...I want it to be a rear facing arch.....because thats just who I am! So, I'll post photos of my progress. Below you can see I just got it apart, and started getting the rotten crap out of it....Time for some glass and resin.

On a side note...if any of my fellow 80's 268,270,300,340's owners....if I were to make factory replica arches, would anyone be interested in purchasing one? (Say yours was in bad shape or yours doesn't have the factory one?) (PM me if you are interested.)







 
This isn't my boat, but this is what I'm after!

 
Yep....love the look with the arch!

Put some LEDS in it.

Keep us posted, great project.
 
Totally tubular dude!!! :thumbsup: Good luck!

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Awesome... Just as a suggestion. Run some conduit (pvc tube) up the sides of the arch which will allow you to add wires in the future. I have them in mine but it's the wire loom and it's impossible to run wires if you need to. Subscribed for updates!
 
I thought about doing this, but I'm leaning more on scrapping that idea. There is actually a pretty substantial air gap in there. If SR did the same thing in yours as they did in mine, when they ran the wires through, they screwed the zip ties to the internal wood kit before they combined the inner and outter parts. Hence why you couldn't just pull the wires through, but you should be able to get a fish tape down inside without any issues. It really needs some reinforcement, its pretty flimsy.

Pyrojodge said:
Awesome... Just as a suggestion. Run some conduit (pvc tube) up the sides of the arch which will allow you to add wires in the future. I have them in mine but it's the wire loom and it's impossible to run wires if you need to. Subscribed for updates!
Click to expand...
 
Mine had white garden hose zip tied internally and the wiring run thru it. It was impossible to fish more wires through, I had to remove the hose to even get through the side deck with wires. Keep us posted on your progress. BTW, how do the two halves come apart, or how are they connected?
 
Sea Ray has the two halves screwed together, and then finished off with an aluminum trim piece. My Goal is to rid the arch of this trim piece, and bull nose the edges like more modern arches. Along with them being screwed together, they had some form of caulking, that had disintegrated making it easier to pry apart. At the bases they sandwiched a goop or concoction of resin, and a thickening agent to bond the wood stingers for the bases. It was kinda like concrete...From my understanding, I shouldn't have been able to take this apart without destroying it....but that only fueled my will to fix it right, and actually get it apart.

BlewByYou88 said:
I thought about doing this, but I'm leaning more on scrapping that idea. There is actually a pretty substantial air gap in there. If SR did the same thing in yours as they did in mine, when they ran the wires through, they screwed the zip ties to the internal wood kit before they combined the inner and outter parts. Hence why you couldn't just pull the wires through, but you should be able to get a fish tape down inside without any issues. It really needs some reinforcement, its pretty flimsy.
Click to expand...
 
Fellow 268 owner subscribed.

Needed to fold mine down to clear a 12ft barn door, so I made the aluminum tubular style....plus I load them with rod holders, net holders and other fishing gear. These are a fairly easy option if you decide to switch gears.

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GEDC0765_zps6b956cb4.jpg
 
I thought long and hard about this style, or something similar...I was looking at a Wakeboard style arch, as we do that quite a bit behind BBY, but in the end, the radar arch was virtually free, so in keeping with the classic styling, I went this route instead.....Wish it was strong enough to put a pylon on top, but that would make it ridiculously heavy.

Getaway said:
Fellow 268 owner subscribed.

Needed to fold mine down to clear a 12ft barn door, so I made the aluminum tubular style....plus I load them with rod holders, net holders and other fishing gear. These are a fairly easy option if you decide to switch gears.
Click to expand...
 
BlewByYou88 said:
I thought long and hard about this style, or something similar...I was looking at a Wakeboard style arch, as we do that quite a bit behind BBY, but in the end, the radar arch was virtually free, so in keeping with the classic styling, I went this route instead.....Wish it was strong enough to put a pylon on top, but that would make it ridiculously heavy.
Click to expand...

Yeah. Not sure how much wieght the glass version will tolerate, but it will look really nice when done.

I like your idea of flipping it around to better follow the lines of the boat. I never understood the reverse arch concept.
 
Some updates for your viewing pleasure.

Had to do some major grinding where the inner part will fit over the gunwales as those were molded to face forward.

Did a test fit with the shell set up on the boat.

Did some reinforcing around various areas so give it some more strength.

Glassed in the old access holes as I will mount speakers in it and use those as the access holes.

Installed a new wood kit at the basses, and now have them glued back together with thickened epoxy.

Now I have a ton of fairing and sanding to do....yay!











 
Nice work! That will really transform the boats appearance. I love the look of the arch on the 80's boats.
 
Looks awesome so far BBY.
 
We're these ever put on the 260 or just the 268? I love the looks of them and would really like to have one if it would fit.
 
The 260's of the prior vintage never had a factory arch.

Looks good BBY. Nice shop you are doing that work in. Is that also for your boat?
 
Thanks! and no, not my shop...its the company I work for. They are generous enough to let me utilize space to do my projects, as long as the space isn't needed.

keokie said:
The 260's of the prior vintage never had a factory arch.

Looks good BBY. Nice shop you are doing that work in. Is that also for your boat?
Click to expand...
 
BlewByYou88 said:
The smell never gets old....but the itching from the glass does.
Click to expand...

Yup. That spot between your elbow and base of your hand. Scratching it right now! LOL.
 
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