A Florida based 1987 390 Express Restoration

Al :thumbsup:

This is the link to swimplatforms.com ...ehi that's David "quint4" on the homepage!!!!

http://www.swimplatforms.com/


SwimPlatformLogo5.gif



The platform is the single greatest mod I made on the boat. It will transform your 390 completely! Just go for it!
 
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Perfect! I requested a quote. I am considering installing a hard top. Has anyone any experience in a hard top for a 390 Express? I really don't like the canvas top, it limits the visibility through the wind shield. I would like to look OVER the top of the wind shield - possibly through opening windows between the top of the windshield and the hard top like the new Tiara 43 Open - but larger.
http://www.motorboating.com/photo_gallery.jsp?ID=1000025201&picture=2

This is what I envision my Sea Ray to look like when complete:
http://www.motorboating.com/articleHtml.jsp?ID=1000082994

Al
 
I have also fancied an hard top like the ones on Tiaras, but our radar arch is too low! You should make it at least two foot higher and this would completely spoil the beautiful lines of our boat...
 
That one is pretty ugly. I was thinking of doing away with the radar arch all together and making it look more like the Tiara with a tubular aluminum structure along with extending the side window lines down to the cockpit with a fiberglass filler panel. I do not intend to butcher the original lines of the boat. This will take some thought and some design work! I just don't like that canvas top at all - just too closed in in the hot Florida sun. With all our rain putting the top down just won't work either.
 
Looks like you're doing everything the right way. Great job. :smt038 When do you plan to launch? Also, did you have any luck finding replacement hardware for the passageway slider?
 
Thank you for your kind comments. I plan to launch by my 60th birthday. I will be 58 next month. The passageway slider looks like it uses standard sliding door hardware available at Home Depot etc. Of course that is the problem too! Sea Ray tends to do things on the cheap. Non marine quality hardware in many cases. I just got it freed up so it would slide. I will build a replacement roller in my shop using stainless, Delrin plastic for the roller and sealed stainless ball bearings. As always I will post photos.
 
Thanks. Launching would be an excellent 60th birthday gift.

I'll try HD for the slider parts. Stainless would be nice. Good luck with the fabrication. I installed a new Swim Platforms swim platform last year after the original was damaged by a rogue sailboat. Best thing that ever happened. I love the new one, so much room and it is solid. Good color match too.

Changing gears for a second. Were you able to find literature and parts for your searchlight rebuild? That's one of my projects for the winter. I just removed it today.
 
Here is a link for glass door parts:
http://www.swisco.com/cl/Patio-Glass-Door-Single-Wheel-Rollers

Problem is they do not use sealed ball bearings and the rust in just a few months. I machine wheels out of Delrin plastic and press in sealed ball bearings.

Searchlight and many other parts come from Defender.com. Gotta replace the rubber seal to keep the water out. You have to DL a parts diagram from Jabsco? (I think that was the mfg) then call or email Defender. They are great to work with and can get parts for most anything. I am not in my office now but I can email you the PDF for the light if I still have it.
 
I created a web site for this project over and above the photo gallery. It is a work in progress. When I do something on the boat that needs explaining or people ask me questions I will post pertinent information on the site so it is available without having to dig through forum posts. Maintaining a web site is a time consuming project. Be patient. I will update it at night, when it rains and when it is too cold to work on the boat!

See your answer about the searchlight and hatch roller there.
 
Weather in north Florida is FINALLY wonderful again. I can actually work outside. Both CAT 3208TA rebuilds are complete. See the videos on my site. I am now rebuilding EVERYTHING in the engine room. Steering, shafts and logs, bonding system, marine sanitation, water heater, blowers, 12v panels, battery boxes, instrument panel. You name it - I am rebuilding it.

Pictures next week.
 
The engines are now complete. I am now in the process of Removal and Restoration of the engine room. Almost everything in the engine room will be removed and restored. This weekend I removed the shafts,steering and rudders. The rudders were seized to the logs. See the photos on how I got them out. The shafts were also seized to the trans couplers. The set screws were rusted in to the hubs. I had to use my vertical mill to mill out the set screws and then press the shafts out. Thank goodness for hydraulic presses and my forklift.

The shaft logs and steering gear cleaned up nicely. Nothing like a bath in hydrocloric acid!

See the galleries at the bottom of the page for the most recent progress.

http://www.trans-micro.com/Stroboflash/SeaRayProject/Gallery/

Does your Twin Disc tranny sound like it has a bunch of marbles in it. Replace this drive gear and it will get nice and quiet.
http://www.trans-micro.com/Strobofl...0-11-12 Twin Disc MG 507/slides/DSC_7355.html

More to come. Ask questions if you please.

Al
 
I have dragged and dropped a bunch of photos here. If this turns out to be a mess I will post a PDF - AL


I have been sooooo busy that I have not had time to post. However I have taken lots of pictures of my progress. I will post some real soon I promise! Just not enough time in the day. I work 7 days a week, 8-12 hrs per day on the project. Who needs to go to the gym?!

Here is what I have done since finishing the engines:

Stripped out the engine room completely. Cleaned and painted with white epoxy. Installed new soundproof firewall insulation foam.

2Q==



2Q==


9k=


R & R the rudders and steering cylinder.

Z

9k=

Rebuilt the trim tab pump and replaced the cylinders and hoses.
2Q==


R&R all the drain hoses. Replaced all the plastic thru hulls with SS.

2Q==

Had new fuel tanks built out of 3/16" aluminum. Prepped the tanks with Alodine and painted the tanks with coal tar epoxy. Mounted them on hard rubber strips not the flimsy foam rubber.

9k=


Z


9k=


Installed new LED lighting in the engine room. Home made from $4 EBAY festoon lights and clear casting epoxy. Bright and Bullet Proof!!
9k=
2Q==

Z


Replaced or repaired all wiring.

Replaced the bonding system including making new bonding/grounding bus bars.
9k=

Replaced the circuit breaker boxes near the battery box.

Z


Built a new battery box for 2 8D's and 2 golf car batteries.
Z


2Q==

R&R the strainers and sea cocks.
2Q==


Rebuilt the A/C pump and the A/C
2Q==


Z

Rebuilt the Mansfield TDX, duckbill pumps and vacu-flush head.

New water heater and mounting plywood. Epoxy over glass then white epoxy paint.
Z


Fixed ALL leaks from ABOVE in to the engine room. It is TOTALLY DRY.

Fixed the delaminated cockpit coaming by drilling holes and injecting rot fix epoxy between the layers. Now solid as a rock!

Z


Rebuilt all the cockpit storage compartments out of Starboard

9k=


Rebuilt the cockpit side panels next to the seat cabinets. Sheathed in epoxy and ALL plywood edges totally sealed with epoxy. Painted with 2 part polyurethane.
9k=

Built new pilot and passenger seat boxes out of marine ply and epoxy over glass.



2Q==


After

Z


Z


EVERYTHING exterior is encapsulated in epoxy and painted with 2 part white or clear polyurethane or made of starboard.

Removed all the frickin' glue down carpet and rebuilt cabinet fronts and stairs out of cherry plywood and coated with epoxy.
Z


2Q==


Built new stainless steel generator mounting rails

9k=


Removed the console and getting ready to R&R it.
9k=
2Q==


R&R'd the fuel filters


2Q==



AND ABOUT 10,000,000 OTHER THINGS THAT I CAN'T THINK OF RIGHT NOW!
 
douglee25 said:
Yeah that post doesn't show up right!

I'm excited to see your progress!

Doug
Click to expand...


I have been sooooo busy that I have not had time to post. However I have taken lots of pictures of my progress. I will post some real soon I promise! Just not enough time in the day. I work 7 days a week, 8-12 hrs per day on the project. Who needs to go to the gym?!

OK See the PDF HERE
http://www.stroboflash.com/temp/ProgressJuly2011.pdf
 
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