Lavey Craft Sebrings!

**luv2gofast** · 03-07-2016, 04:20 PM

Are you going to have it ready for Parker?

I won't be able to make it again this year because of races, Long Beach the weekend before, Buttonwillow that weekend and Cal Speedway after...

**Lavey jr.** · 03-08-2016, 09:27 PM

I've got a question... How many people in this thread would be interested in building a brand new Lavey Craft 20.8 hull? With all the modern advancements in gel coat, lamination, vacuum bagging, and overall fit and finish the boat would be insane! I feel with enough interest we could all make this happen!

**Uncle Dave** · 03-08-2016, 09:49 PM

Originally Posted by luv2gofast

Are you going to have it ready for Parker?

I won't be able to make it again this year because of races, Long Beach the weekend before, Buttonwillow that weekend and Cal Speedway after...

Gonna be close- may have to take the 2750.

I'll probably take some time off and do little floating...

Bummer you'll miss, but you have a legit excuse......

Dave

**hydr0_scrm2** · 03-24-2016, 10:26 PM

Originally Posted by custom1skier

Any of you guys have updates as spring approaches? Would hate to see this thread die off...

Saw this message a week or so ago and took a while to get around to replying. Too much work and family time with the new baby... not enough time to play.

My update: pulled the interior to replace it last winter and ran into a wet/rotting floor & bad transom. Definitely wasn't expecting that. Boat showed no signs of getting wet but this was clearly from the previous owner (or owners).

1 year later and I might just get to use the boat more than 2 times this year

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**hydr0_scrm2** · 03-24-2016, 10:29 PM

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**hydr0_scrm2** · 03-24-2016, 10:35 PM

Interior definitely looks better in-person

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**team supra** · 03-26-2016, 02:42 PM

That interior looks sweet hope to see you on the lake this year. Nice work

**hydr0_scrm2** · 03-26-2016, 03:14 PM

Originally Posted by team supra

That interior looks sweet hope to see you on the lake this year. Nice work

We'll definitely make it out to the lake this year!

**custom1skier** · 03-27-2016, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by hydr0_scrm2

Interior definitely looks better in-person

Interior looks really good! Hate you had to go through all that tho.. I like what you did with the seat and side panels. I had something like that in mind if I ever redo my interior.

**hydr0_scrm2** · 03-28-2016, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by custom1skier

Interior looks really good! Hate you had to through all that tho.. I like what you did with the beat and side panels. I had something like that in mind if I ever redo my interior.

Thank you. I can't take too much credit. I gave my suggestions but the interior shop did most of the design work and came up with all the cool stuff: easy access back seat... jumper seat side panel on hinge to access/inspect fuel lines... jumper seat that can be sat-in sideways or backwards (unlike before)... front rib pad... LED lighting... etc.

I wasn't totally sold on the "S" designs being incorporated into the seating (you'll notice all the seat patterns follow very similar patterns to the gel graphics), but in the end it actually looks really cool in person and everything flows together well with colors that complement <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w

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Now I just need to rewire the entire boat

**cocacola** · 03-29-2016, 07:58 AM

I had some wood rot too. All the places where battery, switch or anything else screwed into the wood. Stainless screws used, but still happened. Mostly fixed, but I did a much less job than you did.

Originally Posted by hydr0_scrm2

Saw this message a week or so ago and took a while to get around to replying. Too much work and family time with the new baby... not enough time to play.

My update: pulled the interior to replace it last winter and ran into a wet/rotting floor & bad transom. Definitely wasn't expecting that. Boat showed no signs of getting wet but this was clearly from the previous owner (or owners).

1 year later and I might just get to use the boat more than 2 times this year

**hydr0_scrm2** · 03-30-2016, 09:18 PM

Originally Posted by cocacola

I had some wood rot too. All the places where battery, switch or anything else screwed into the wood. Stainless screws used, but still happened. Mostly fixed, but I did a much less job than you did.

DAMN.... seems to be more common than you would expect. I remember talking to another guy on the forum with a 20.8 Sebring that also had to replace the transom.

Mine seemed to start at the floor (around the rear bench seat box), and since the floor and knees were glassed together and not separate, the moisture from the floor appeared to seap directly into the knees. The way we redid it, it won't have that problem again.

Ultimately it didn't show any signs that it was as bad as it was... and I sure didn't want to take on a job that big, but at least everything is solid now!

**Oregon Gator** · 04-28-2016, 01:10 PM

I recently purchased the Sebring 20.8 Open Bow that was featured in the 1997 October issue of Hot Boat Magazine. I am in the process of restoring the boat, and making a few upgrades. It is now running a GM 502 stroked to a 540 producing 605.9 HP at 5300 rpm. Once the boat is all back together, I am sending a 30P Bravo 1 to BBlades to have it labbed. Last summer I took it out a couple of times to just get a feel for it before I started the restoration. It will run 77 mph on GPS with the stock 26P, not sure of the rpm due to the fact that it broke after tapping on the Tach too hard. I have since purchased a complete new Livorsi gauge pack. My concern is that this is going to be a family boat, and I don't want to endanger them or anyone else that I might have the pleasure to take out. From my understanding that once you start running 80+ MPH you need to upgrade your steering. The question is... Does anyone know of any integrated transom steering systems that I can get installed without having to cut or modify the swim steps? Any and all recommendations are greatly appreciated.

**Uncle Dave** · 05-02-2016, 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by Oregon Gator

I recently purchased the Sebring 20.8 Open Bow that was featured in the 1997 October issue of Hot Boat Magazine. I am in the process of restoring the boat, and making a few upgrades. It is now running a GM 502 stroked to a 540 producing 605.9 HP at 5300 rpm. Once the boat is all back together, I am sending a 30P Bravo 1 to BBlades to have it labbed. Last summer I took it out a couple of times to just get a feel for it before I started the restoration. It will run 77 mph on GPS with the stock 26P, not sure of the rpm due to the fact that it broke after tapping on the Tach too hard. I have since purchased a complete new Livorsi gauge pack. My concern is that this is going to be a family boat, and I don't want to endanger them or anyone else that I might have the pleasure to take out. From my understanding that once you start running 80+ MPH you need to upgrade your steering. The question is... Does anyone know of any integrated transom steering systems that I can get installed without having to cut or modify the swim steps? Any and all recommendations are greatly appreciated.

Yup at 80MPH you are at or over the limit where the stock steering signs off.
I personally think the boat becomes somewhat dangerous without steering beyond this and with it as tame as a puppy ( a very fast puppy)

The Merc ITS is what I used. An amazing awesome system, horrifically expensive though and will require a hydraulic helm.
Fits right between the steps perfectly though.

You may need to buy a new drive upper though....Let me dig a bit. Chris may have an angle on how to get a ram kit on there.
Ill see what I can find out.

UD