new owner / old boat

[octotat]

just wanted to intoduce myself and my boat

i bought this boat a year and a half ago in fair shape. had her out on the lake for a couple shakedown trips. due to health, time and money issues she's been parked for the last year.

i am now working on getting her back in the water.

http://www.mastercraft.com/teamtalk/picture.php?albumid=272&pictureid=1605

"hollywood" is a 1978 mastercraft 19skier outfitted with a 351 ford engine and 1:1 transmission.

since i purchased it i have been buying some parts when i could and now i am able to start doing some work on it.

done so far
repair prop (looked like it had been mashed into the ground while on the trailer)
replace carb (it had a quadrajet on there for some reason - i got a used holley 4160)
convert ignition (mallory e-spark w/ pertronix coil new wires and plugs)
replace exhaust hose (it had a hodge podge of hose and pvc pipe fittings)
replace steering cable
repair electrics (nothing worked but engine harness had to clean fuse block and solder fuse posts and add new fuses)

need to do
water pump(it seems to have dried up and is leaking out the front seal - got one coming next week)
interior
stereo
clean and detail
carpet (gonna have to wait a while)
Install tower (or not - i have one but haven't committed yet)
trailer maintanence

some questions
is this a factory paint scheme?
the engine has "pcm" exhaust manifolds but "escort xl 351" valve covers. which is it?
do i have a factory trailer, it looks homemade?
it had a zercom depth finder in the right speedo slot, was this a dealer added option?
one of the fins is a little crooked, can i fix this?


the goal is to get it together in the next few weeks and drag the kids around the lake all summer.


i have been lurking awhile and have found this place to be a great source of knowledge and inspiration. i hope to be able to add some content soon.

thanks
-chuck

[octotat]

you can see the name "hollywood" on the back

http://www.mastercraft.com/teamtalk/picture.php?albumid=272&pictureid=1606

[Jerseydave]

Chuck, you have a nice classic MC there. Glad to hear you're bringing it back to life.

I don't have any answers to your questions, but other will.
All I do have to say is PLEASE DON'T PUT A TOWER ON THAT SWEET CLASSIC! :D

I'd love to see pics of the old girl shined up! ;)

[nascar]

+1 on the NO tower ! yes it is your boat and you can do what you want with it but there were not that many of these boats made and to me , it would lower the value of a classic boat . I am sure I offended serveral people with that statement but that my opinion . Others that have that year boat , I feel sure will post pictures of the factory paint and decals for you view . Thanks for bringing a classic boat back to life .

[83SuperSlot]

Based on your dog house, your instrument cluster, and your rounded windshield I would say you have a mid to late 70's model.
The paint is not original. The trailer looks like it might be original but had the fiberglass removed and homemade fenders. The depth finder is not original. And the fin is definitely replaceable. I can't remember where but I have seen them for sale... maybe skidim?

Hope this helps! Have fun with your project! :popcorn:

[oxberger]

Welcome Chuck!! Awesome boat you have there. As stated by 83, the trailer does look original with some mods to it, and as stated by others (and I'm sure many more will state the same opinion) don't put a tower on it. Sell the tower and get a SKylon if you want to wakeboard. Thanks for the pics and keep 'em coming.

[octotat]

thanks for the warm welcome

how could i tell what the original color scheme was? it looks like maybe the white parts have been repainted/painted as there is a defineant paint ridge, but no ridge with the purples. was "stars and stripes" the only factory paint scheme?

any ideas on the pcm vs escort contridiction?


thanks
-chuck

[ShamrockIV]

Def not the original paint. stars and stripes till 86 as far as i know. welcomem to the fam and you will get all the answers you need here!!!

p.s. no tower please.

[83SuperSlot]

thanks for the warm welcome

how could i tell what the original color scheme was? it looks like maybe the white parts have been repainted/painted as there is a defineant paint ridge, but no ridge with the purples. was "stars and stripes" the only factory paint scheme?

any ideas on the pcm vs escort contridiction?


thanks
-chuck

Yep, all S&S until '86

[FrankSchwab]

Notice how most of the people who tell you not to put a tower on it, are people with new boats?

I'll cut Oxberger some slack.

It's a boat - do what you need to do to have fun. A tower, for example, makes kneeboarding more fun for the kids because it keeps the rope out of the water and so keeps the spray out of their face.

Frankly, if you wanted to paint it pink and put a tower on it, I'd say more power to you!
Oh, wait, someone already did paint it pink....

/frank

[bkhallpass]

Tracking fins can typically be straightened. If you aren't able to do it yourself, whoever fixed your prop should be able to do it. Obviously, I'd check the price of a replacement first so that you don't pay more for a repair than a new fin would cost you. BKH

[83SuperSlot]

thanks for the warm welcome

how could i tell what the original color scheme was? it looks like maybe the white parts have been repainted/painted as there is a defineant paint ridge, but no ridge with the purples. was "stars and stripes" the only factory paint scheme?


thanks
-chuck

You might have to find a inconspicuous place and either sand or scratch through the paint....

[ski_king]

This may help.
http://www.mastercraft.com/teamtalk/attachment.php?attachmentid=45902&d=1239122545

[octotat]

Frankly, if you wanted to paint it pink and put a tower on it, I'd say more power to you!
Oh, wait, someone already did paint it pink....
/frank

i guess there's a fine line between fusia and hot pink.
i like to think of it as purple with a touch of purple and a little purple thrown in.

You might have to find a inconspicuous place and either sand or scratch through the paint....

i'll do that

This may help.

i've checked out the "history" thread and every picture i could find of 77-79 boats and they do all have the s&s scheme. i guess i gotta do some investigating


thanks
-chuck

[octotat]

was the color in the gelcoat?
how deep is the gelcoat?

thanks
-chuck

[ski_king]

I believe they were all the stars and stripe scheme, except for a few in canada that were maple leafs and stripes.

[ski_king]

My guess is that the gelcoat over the metalflake wore thin and the metalflake was exposed. They may have sanded smooth and painted over. It may be impossible to bring the orginal metalflake back, but you can probobly repain the boat to look closer to orginal. Check out the photos of the yellow 78 on this site. I understand it has been repainted and looks great.
http://www.mastercraft.com/teamtalk/picture.php?albumid=162&pictureid=937

[Ski-me]

Comparing back and forth between the yellow boat and your boat, you can see where the old "stars and stripes" scheme use to be (the whiter section stripe). It looks like the whole upper part was added afterwards and either the original was covered or some how removed.

[Ski-me]

A few older trailers......

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/boa/1758544758.html
http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/boa/1771167602.html

[octotat]

Comparing back and forth between the yellow boat and your boat, you can see where the old "stars and stripes" scheme use to be (the whiter section stripe). It looks like the whole upper part was added afterwards and either the original was covered or some how removed.

the "whiter section" is just the light playing tricks, that is the creases or angle changes of the hull. it does appear that the s&s stripe follows them though.

thanks
-chuck

[jomiddour]

Good looking old boat. Give it a buff and it will shine up fine. Do not try to straighten the fin while it is still on the boat. You could damage the hull. Remove and try to straighten or replace. Would definetly convert to electronic ignition. You could probably do the carpet for less than $50 with some indoor outdoor carpet, patience, and inginuity. Have fun with it!

[joecarew3]

If your carpet needs replacing, its super cheap and really pretty easy. I have done a couple boats now. I would not hesitate at all to use indoor outdoor carpet, opposed to strictly using marine carpet. The only exception would be if your boat is going to be constantly sitting outdoors and never covered. Stop by a local flooring store, they should be able to help. PM me if you have any questions about it. I own a flooring store.

[octotat]

Good looking old boat. Give it a buff and it will shine up fine. Do not try to straighten the fin while it is still on the boat. You could damage the hull. Remove and try to straighten or replace. Would definetly convert to electronic ignition. You could probably do the carpet for less than $50 with some indoor outdoor carpet, patience, and inginuity. Have fun with it!

If your carpet needs replacing, its super cheap and really pretty easy. I have done a couple boats now. I would not hesitate at all to use indoor outdoor carpet, opposed to strictly using marine carpet. The only exception would be if your boat is going to be constantly sitting outdoors and never covered. Stop by a local flooring store, they should be able to help. PM me if you have any questions about it. I own a flooring store.

hey jo and joe

thanks
for your input

i already did the ignition conversion. i used the mallory e-spark unit (since i have a mallory distributor) pertronix internal resistor coil, new wires and plugs. starts up immediately now and purrs like a kitten.

i am thinking about doing the carpet. i am just going to do the floor as the carpet going up the sides is in good shape. i went to the upolstery supply store, they have an auto carpet ($15 lin yd x 72") that exactly matches what is in the boat. the sales guy says it wouldn't be the best choice for a boat because it has rubber backing. the boat carpet ($13 lin yd x 72") they have is hardly carpet, more like thick felt with what looks like dried spray adhesive on the back. the home depot indoor/outdoor stuff is about the same. usable?

any suggestions?

thanks
-chuck

[octotat]

i talked with a nearby upolstery shop a few months ago about the seats

we're talking snap in drivers, the L shaped bottom and 2 uppers for the observer. and a bottom and upper for the rear.

the foam and wood are fine so he would be basicly replacing the skins. there really isn't any removal/installing in this boat, it all snaps in/out.

he quoted me $750 with matching stripes in the seats.


so as we are talking he comments "i need one of those" refering to my 4 post auto lift. well it just so happens i have a 2 post lift i picked up a while back that didn't work out at the house and is in storage. we make a tentitive deal but he never calls to finialize anything. so several months go by and he calls me yesterday and wants to do the deal.

what do you guys think?

i am not worried about quality or craftsmanship or turnaround (i can deal with this stuff)

the lifts are selling for between $1250 and $1500 so i am not sure if this is a fair deal for me.

thanks
-chuck

[octotat]

turns out one of my customers does upholstery on the side. we struck a deal. he picked up the vinyl today. the local upholstery shop stocks http://www.nassimi.com/Products44.asp?pattern=1 and the colors are a pretty close match. looks to be good stuff from what i know (nothing). he gonna try and have them done next week.

[octotat]

got the new waterpump installed and me and my son take the boat to the lake. put the plug in and back it down. boat is floating and i'm going through the preflight checklist trying to teach my son a little bit. so we open the cover to let it air out and there is water gushing up the raw water pickup. i guess i thought i had reconnected it after running it in the driveway, oops. pulled it back out reconnected the hose let the water drain. backed it down got it floating again, duh, rembered i didn't put the plug in. got it out again, put the plug in....third time is a charm.

putted around a little bit, seems to be running fine. opened it up...... varooom. the boat is runnig well!!! run it out a little then back to idle and it's idling high somethings wrong with the tach, showing about 3000 at idle. so reset the carb idle. run it out some more, runnig good then lose power and it dies. tried to crank it over but the battery has no juice.

a nice guy tows us back to the dock. we load up and head home.

had a blow out about a quarter of the way back. i didn't have a spare but luckily the spare for the truck fit. but the truck lug wrench didn't. had to leave the boat and hit the auto parts store frot the wrench. well kinda fit, it rubbed a little on the inside. we made it to the nearby tire store where they didn't have a used getcha home kinda tire and wanted to sell me a new set of tires and wheels. (right now i have the mismatched set that came with the trailer, i have the wheels i want to use at home). so we go to home depot and get some washers to space the wheel out so we can drive it home. all of this in 105* heat.

what an adventure!!!


so we get the the boat home and i bring the alternator in for testing. sure enough it is shot. i have one on order should be here next week. i can't wait to do some more bonding with my son.

[nascar]

"what an adventure ! " is correct but it is a " time ", that you and your son will always remember !

[oxberger]

That's a great story! You and your son will be telling it for years. Sorry for all the frustrations, but once all the gremlins are taken care of you'll be creating better memories about skiing and the one time that fish jumped out of the water just as you were cutting into the wake and it hit you in the chest.