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Leigh's 1975 Skicraft Clinker Deluxe - "HORNET" - Restoration Project

Leigh_G

..forgot the sump bolt
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Hi all, thought seeming I don't have my beloved Calais to show off anymore, and noticing a few other blokes sharing boats, I'd whack up my new toy.

Bought this in January this year, it's a '75 Skicraft Clinker Deluxe, 16 foot ski boat. Powered by a 351 Cleveland 2V with a dog clutch, it had a pretty tired paintjob when I picked it up. I've spent the last 9 months stripping it down and restoring it, HOPEFULLY ready for this upcoming season (which is literally almost here)..

I've got my own blog here where I keep track of it's progress, but I'll whack some pics up here as well to show how it's progressed throughout the year.

When I bought it:




As soon as I got it back to the in-laws (they have a large shed to work in, lol):


Engine:


Pulling it all apart: (I'm the short dude with the receding hairline :( )




Engine transport to shed :p
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ly56h5rHH81rn8v8so1_500.jpg

Stripped of everything:
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lyg26e84Yi1rn8v8so1_500.jpg

Wear on the keel:
http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lyk6wbZJCu1r5cl78.jpg

Weeks and weeks of $%@!ing sanding:


DIY spray booth:


Primed:
http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2ddk5XMna1r5cl78.jpg


Painting Bottom:

White Base


Masking


Orange Base


Intercoat+Flake and clear coats


Engine goodies:
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2z5v14eOu1rn8v8so1_500.jpg

Trailer Restoration:
New guards/steps all round:
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m466ytH7tY1rn8v8so4_500.jpg

Welding it all up:


Primed and painted:


Engine back together:
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7z8n7GYc21rn8v8so1_500.jpg

Boat back on trailer correct way up (looked odd after working on it for months upside down!):
tumblr_m8c8arRE9y1rn8v8so1_500.jpg



Engine back in, all new exhaust, plumbing etc etc:


As it stands currently.. Interior and top all primed, ready for colour:
tumblr_mcngryZ0vt1rn8v8so7_500.jpg



Keen to hear what you guys think, love seeing other people's speedboats too, so send me a link to yours if you have one, so many cool projects out there! :)
 
Last edited:

Sabbath'

Redblock Jesus
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Definatly keeping an eye on this. Love the work that you've done already.

How far off having it all back together are you?
 

Leigh_G

..forgot the sump bolt
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Definatly keeping an eye on this. Love the work that you've done already.

How far off having it all back together are you?

Thanks mate, been a long slug, but some light is appearing at the end of the tunnel..
Colour goes down this weekend on the top, then need to paint the engine cover. Still hunting for a new set of gauges at a decent price (need 7 of them, ugh..), need to look at windscreen, as the aluminium frame is bent from someone leaning/falling on it.. hopefully can get it back into shape. Maybe new plexiglass (current windscreen has crows feet through it) and then get it tinted black. Got some designs of my own to have stickered up, need to make a decision on the final design to use, more importantly need to finish wiring everything together, cut out, paint/seal new floor panels, all new carpet, hook up new clutch linkage, bolt new taillights into trailer, and wire that up.
Also keen on whacking a ski-platform on the back of the transom in hardwood, but not sure if I'll have the time..
 

Sabbath'

Redblock Jesus
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Ive got to do the same with my screen, crows feet to the extreme and it has a crack down the bottom. But ATM I'm just going to run it without a screen and wear sunnies instead. Might cut the frame down a touch aswell because it's WAYYY too tall. Will keep checking in on this thread.


Sent from here, so you can read it there via iPhone.
 

Leigh_G

..forgot the sump bolt
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Looks great.. I would love a boat 1 day I spoze

Cheers bud, they're good fun as long as everyone chips a few bob in for the juice! :beer chug:
I've sorta been around ski boats and the river most of my life, always wanted my own boat and this popped up rice place right time (and most importantly right price :) )
 

Leigh_G

..forgot the sump bolt
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Ive got to do the same with my screen, crows feet to the extreme and it has a crack down the bottom. But ATM I'm just going to run it without a screen and wear sunnies instead. Might cut the frame down a touch aswell because it's WAYYY too tall. Will keep checking in on this thread.

That's one thing I liked about my boat, for it's age, it has a pretty aggressive and sleek shape compared to others built around the same time, including the windscreen profile. I totally agree on cutting it down, can completely change the look of the boat. But you'd already know that running without one! :)

Quick update: I spent 11 hours straight today on the paint, managed to get the primer nice and flat, 4 coats of white, masked out scallops on the deck, then 2.5 coats of orange, then 2 coats of clear with golden/orange flake. Very happy with the result, paint sat a lot flatter than the bottom of the hull with less orange peel in the clear. Now I gotta go over the whole top with several coats of clear this week sometime before I can get to work on the rest of the checklist while the paint cures for 3 weeks :)

Putting the orange base-coat down:


After clear/flake, and peeling all the tape off (pic doesn't do the flake justice at all..):
 

Leigh_G

..forgot the sump bolt
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Got clear coat down on the top of the boat today, came up nice and flat. Very shiny. Very happy with it. Hesitant to even touch it with wet rub! :)

tumblr_mcynpeEwQG1r5cl78.jpg


tumblr_mcynpxNsGV1r5cl78.jpg
 
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