No longer boat-less.

[Lugnutz]

It looks like I'm no longer boat-less. I finally found what I was looking for and drug it home.
It’s a 1987 AmberJack Sportfisher 270. Twin chev V8’s and outdrives.
It needs a good cleaning, some basic maintenance and a couple of small projects done on it. Although, I'm sure I could turn it into a big project without trying very hard. Sometimes I am my own worst enemy.

 

[Nehalennia]

Congrats. More pics when you get a chance

 

[Pyrojodge]

Wow awsome congrads.... enjoy your new project

Jason

 

[Banagy]

Welcome aboard

 

[OldSkool]

Welcome back. Did the trailer come with it?

 

[Getaway]

Awesome! Very nice rig. One of those is for sale about 1/2 hour north of me and I darn near stopped to look at it.

 

[Lugnutz]

Here ya go. More pictures.
The trailer came with the boat but is too small for it.
I did some poking around on it today and it has twin 230hp engines. Probably 305's with 4Bbl carbs.

Take a look at the last picture. Anybody know what it is used for? You can also see it again in the first picture.

 

[KRB64]

Sweet!

And you have the right tow vehicle

As, for that bracket, beats me... Some kind of out-rigger bracket???

 

[Getaway]

Those are outrigger mounts.

Some TLC and you should have yourself a nice fishing rig there!

 

[John_Gault]

Congrats!

 

[Nehalennia]

The bracket is either a dinglehopper or a snarfblatt.


Looks like some rust remover(oxalic acid) is in your immediate future.

Best of luck.

 

[Lugnutz]

I have been looking for over 3 years for a nice (small project in okay shape) 255 model with no luck. I have been to Nebraska and California to look at what the owners claimed were in great shape only to leave them there and even found a nice one up north of me only to discover it had twin 470’s.

I kinda stumbled onto this one by accident. The Searay archives do not show a flybridge model on the Amberjack in 1987 so I emailed Searay with the HIN and they confirmed it was an Amberjack Sportfisher. The Flybridge model was a special order option and that I have hull number 11 but they could not tell me how many were made in that year.

The nicest thing for me was that it was all there and in pretty good shape. It looks like it has been sitting for a few years and the captain seats and cushions from the flybridge are just not in the pictures. I’m sure it will clean up nice with a good wash and some scrubbing.

The hatches were bolted down with angle iron and that’s what the rust is from. My guess is the prior owner didn’t want anybody messing with anything below deck. The engines have the reman tabs on them and the manifolds are real clean and shiny. I’m not sure how old they are but suspect a year or two.

My truck did pretty good towing it considering I thought the boat a trailer package would only weigh in around 10k. Boy, was I wrong! Full package going down the road was 19,860lbs. Fuel mileage did not vary much from 8.4 to 9.1mpg.

It should keep me busy over the winter, as I would like to take it out next summer.

 

[OldSkool]

Great boat and I love the old school Dodge duely!

 

[Getaway]

You are getting great gas mileage with the ole Dodge Dually. My 2002 Chevy HD gets 8.5mph towing my 268DA. Sucks on fuel. You have twice as much weight and getting as good or better mileage.

Again, nice rig and a great find! Can't wait to see her all spiffed up!

 

[KRB64]

I usually get 11-12mpg towing but I don't think I've ever towed over 14K. Mines an auto, whats yours? How was stopping that rig? It looks to be in excellent shape for a truck approaching twenty.

 

[Getaway]

Dually's are awesome for towing. Their brakes are huge and they have a big tire footprint for stopping and hauling big loads.

I had an '89 Chevy dually that I loved except for the crappie diesel engine that was in it. If it was not so expensive to maintain and keep running, I would still have it....

 

[trit21]

Outrigger mount, notice here

http://ruppmarine.com/Compact-Outriggers/Rupp-Sidekicks/Rupp-Sidekicks-25.html

They probably aren't rupp outrigger mounts but work the same.

 

[Pack66Dad]

Kind of looks like a smaller version of my boat, very cool. I'm in Tacoma too..... PM me

 

[saopm]

She is a long way from New Jersey. Good luck with her!

 

[Lugnutz]

You are getting great gas mileage with the ole Dodge Dually. My 2002 Chevy HD gets 8.5mph towing my 268DA. Sucks on fuel. You have twice as much weight and getting as good or better mileage.

I thought it would dip lower when I started pulling the hills and fighting the wind in Wyoming but it stayed pretty consistent.

I usually get 11-12mpg towing but I don't think I've ever towed over 14K. Mines an auto, whats yours? How was stopping that rig? It looks to be in excellent shape for a truck approaching twenty.

I have the infamous Getrag 5spd. With only a couple of minor mods to it. A set of injectors and a cold side upgrade on the turbo with the smaller exhaust housing. The exhaust temps ran hot pulling any significant size hills and had to drop into third to keep them in check.

No problems stopping since I had to install new bearings and brakes on the trailer before I left.

Kind of looks like a smaller version of my boat, very cool. I'm in Tacoma too..... PM me

Hey Pack,
Don’t know if you remember, I pm’d you before summer wanting to look at your boat to help me decide what I was looking for. I really wanted the flybridge and was considering a hartop I found.

Outrigger mount, notice here

http://ruppmarine.com/Compact-Outriggers/Rupp-Sidekicks/Rupp-Sidekicks-25.html

They probably aren't rupp outrigger mounts but work the same.

Thanks for the help on what they are. Looks like I will add them to the list of take offs.

She is a long way from New Jersey. Good luck with her!

Thanks, and yes it is. What an adventure it was to get it home.