Hey everyone, I'm new here, but I'd like to introduce my new project. She's a 1976 CobraJet. 18', and originally came with a Hardin Marine 455 Olds and a Berkley JC-A pump. I picked her up for $650. Here's what it looked like the day I picked it up.
http://www.jostmotorsports.com/cobrajetboat1.jpg
http://www.jostmotorsports.com/cobrajetboat2.jpg
http://www.jostmotorsports.com/cobrajetboat3.jpg
My brother and I started gutting it a couple of weeks ago, which begins my restoration project. I'm a newbie to boats like these (and to a certain extent, boating in general), so it seems like it's in *OK* shape to me. It was non-running, there is a hole in the bow that was repaired kind of cheaply (which I plan on re-doing), there is a lot of stress cracks in the gelcoat, and the transom is rotten.
I got the motor and pump out a couple weeks ago, and got the motor tore down. It was tight when I got it, and after I got it tore down, I found out why...rust in every cylinder, valves rusted to the seats, all sorts of sand in the cooling jacket in the block, etc. I gave the engine away to a buddy that I work with who is a total Olds nut. I know that he'll do something good with it.
Here's a couple pictures of some of the work.
http://www.jostmotorsports.com/cobrajetboat4.jpg
http://www.jostmotorsports.com/cobrajetboat5.jpg
http://www.jostmotorsports.com/cobrajetboat6.jpg
As we started to dig into it further, I've come to the conclusion that the floor is also soft, so it's already beginning to get more involved than I had expected...
After doing some reading here about rotton transoms, I began to chisel the transom wood away, while leaving the outer 'glass skin intact. It went pretty easily, but it still needs to be cleaned up a little bit.
http://www.jostmotorsports.com/cobrajetboat7.jpg
What kind of plywood should I use to replace the transom, and where would be a good place to source it?
Here's what it looks like as of last night, I'm hoping to have it back on the water by next summer.
http://www.jostmotorsports.com/cobrajetboat8.jpg
I know there's a lot of work ahead, but that's the fun of doing it yourself, right?? Basically, I'll be around a lot asking a lot of newbie questions and looking for some guidance from the seasoned veterans out there.
Later!
-Jeff