MTI race boat conversion

[Brad Zastrow]

I own a Sawzall and I am not afraid to use it! My wife thinks I am nuts. After getting my butt kicked in rough water by some MTI's I looked high and low for deal. Only thing that even resembled being a reasonble deal was a 39' carbon fiber/epoxy race boat with no power. Cut the top off and will make it a pleasure boat. One cool feature is the top will go back on for Poker Runs.

[beer30]

All I can say is WOW!!!!!!!:eek: :D What are you going to power it with? :cool: And what do you call a good deal????:D Chuck.

[Brad Zastrow]

MTI's are pricey even used and bare hull. These pictures are from October and involved hundreds of hours to just get this far. First was to completly strip the hull bare. No rigging is being reused. It had Imco drives and 525's for racing in Supercat Lite. I will have much bigger power and Number sixes. I was able to do this much at my home. The cut, glass work, strip the hull, and fill the holes in the hatches from the headers were done at the house. I then packed up my drives, engines, parts and the hull and went to Miami Florida for the rigging and paint job. That was in December.

[rsess]

I think you have graduated from Screamandfly to Offshoreonly. Good Luck on your conversion. Looks like a fun ride.

[Brad Zastrow]

After some rigging it is now end of Feb. More glass work done by experts and finish work. The hatches need scoops because the tiny 600 CI 16:71 blower enignes are too tall. Wild looking scoops. The dash has all new Livorsi Gauges. The dash is painted to match the general paint scheme of the boat. I filled the dash holes to make it blank and cut again for my design. Even the drivers side is changed from starboard to port.

[Brad Zastrow]

I think you have graduated from Screamandfly to Offshoreonly. Good Luck on your conversion. Looks like a fun ride.

Truth is I have more fun with my O/B boat than these big boats. 100 mph is boring in big boats. I love two-stroke screaming n' flying with my hair blowing trying not to grin too much for fear of eating a bug.

[blkmtrfan]

Brad you are the king of race boat conversions :cool:

What about 4 clamp-ons instead of I/O's (those #6 drives are alot of $$$)

Then you can still scream and fly ;)

[Chummy]

that is so bada$$ :D :D keep us posted on the progress

[Brad Zastrow]

Here is the dash. It is now March and the boat is in the body shop. I now understand the high prices you hear for paint jobs. Because this is a light layup race hull there is print through (balsa core pattern showing) in the gel coat. The body shop spent a week epoxy prime and block sanding the hull. Four guys were on it all week!

[Brad Zastrow]

More pre-paint work.

[stylishskier]

bringing bling to a whole new level, very awesome stuff:cool:

[Brad Zastrow]

Here are the most recent photos. The paint as you see it gives very little idea of the final design. There is a lot of airbrushing and fading that will be in the paint. Three more weeks and go for a ride.

[LakeTrash]

Can not think of anything else to say, except - I am impressed.

LT

[fastercat]

very COOL LOOKING BOAT:D how fast do you think she will go 150 plus:eek:

[SERIOUS]

Mti Great Boat Screw Oso Screem&fly Has Some Big Boys Me For 1

[Brad Zastrow]

Could be more like 180. Here is the paint design.

[Fish]

that is absolutely awesome!!! I can't wait to see the finished product; looks great so far.

I think we have a new contestant for flying machine of the month!!!

[fastercat]

that Is Even Better 180 Mph That Is A True Scream And Flyer

[jerry]

nice rig brad !!! what do you do for a living ?

[Brad Zastrow]

I am a Business Broker during the day.

[jerry]

and a pimp at night ?? hahahahaha
you really have stepped it up in the last few years . lol

[THE HOGG]

With A Budget Like That Why Not New?? Damn!!! Sure Is Pretty Though..

[JUPITER PULSARE]

Brad, very impressive and extensive conversion. All I can say is you have much deeper pockets than many of us here playing with small outboard powered rockets!!! Good luck with the end result. Looks like it's gonna be a winner!!!

[Jigsaw89]

Brad,
Thanks for sharing your progress... I'm very impressed with the transformation of your cat! I'm sure I'm not the only one who gets motivated when they see great things evolve from some elbow grease and a passion for boating. Best of luck with it and keep posting progress pics.
Dan

[eli]

Its going to be awsum i,m counting the days to ride in that bad boy linda cant wait either are we going to break a bottle on the sponson maybe a plastic one ha ha see you soon

[mikesufka]

Awesome rig Brad. Can't wait to see pictures of the final product.

Mike Sufka
St. Cloud, MN

[tunnelmike]

He seems to like to build them from the ground up .......or would that be water up ? How many does this one make ? The good part is he eventually sells them ! Amazing work Brad ! Mike

[Brad Zastrow]

This will be my third race boat conversion. A 25 Warlock O/B cat that was used in offshore racing. That boat originally was a two seater that I converted to a full cockpit. This was a big project. A lot more work than it looks.

[Brad Zastrow]

Now for the "after" pictures. I love this boat. I still own it. It is fast and handles rough water fantastic.

[Liqui-Fly]

Now that was a steering post on the Warlock racer!!

[EASY MONEY]

sweat keep the pics coming, lots of work, it will be worth it.

[tunnelmike]

didn't you also do a 30' Motion with triples ?? I thought that was one of your build up's. Mike

[Sam Baker]

I've been fortunate enough to know Brad for several years now. He's quite possibly one of the most boat-crazy guys I know.

He's meticulous and he doesn't settle for half a$$ed work. When I met him, he had a nice looking Sleekcraft then he bought an Allison GrandSport with a 225 ProMax on it, then came a 22' Rapid Craft Twister with Twin 260s. Then came the 30' Motion with Triple 280s, then the 35' Motion with twin 1000 HP motors and #6 drives. Keep in mind he had BOTH boats (the 30' AND the 35' Motions) for two years I believe. Then I think he even realized that that was a little on the crazy side and downsized the 30' Motion for "just" a 25' Warlock with twin 260s that is his bombing around boat. The 35' Motion got him involved with the Poker Run crowd and even though he did some damage with that boat, I think he realized that he didn't want to get beat anymore so going from the 35' Motion to the 39' MTI is the logical step up.

If you ever get a chance to talk to him, you'll find that he's a SUPER knowledgeable boater (knows outboards, inboards, High Perf, etc.) and truly loves the hobby of boating and high performance boating in general. He's one of the fortunate ones that can afford to make most of his dreams come true. It's been fun seeing it happen up here. I can't wait to see the new boat up close and in person.

[Brad Zastrow]

Yes, but it was a new boat not a race conversion. Here is a 35 Motion race boat I converted.

[Brad Zastrow]

Thanks Sam!

[MODVP22]

This is an awsome thread, I don't think Brad ever does anything half way, or anything less than amazing

[eli]

yes its been a wild fun trip to ride in all his boats i feel very lucky to be a part of this not many get to experience the extreem!!!! thanks brad. ice is almost out the eliminator is gettin itchy staring at me.

[aircraftman]

Cool ****! You gonna run it in the speed challenge against Callan Marine and Miss Bud???:D

who ya got doin the paint work?

you gonna run it on the chain? :eek: thats scary to think about.

Kris

[Brad Zastrow]

No speed runs for me. I am not real anxious to have top speeds public record. Hard enough getting insurance. I will take it on the Chain-o-Lakes once in a while. I think the boat needs to show up at Blarney Island for the drag races at least once. The rigger is Xtreme Marine in Miami and the paint is done by Grafik EFX and Guardado Marine in Miami.

[WARLOCK]

People are gonna FLIP when they see this thing pull up!!! ( Me included). By the way, I think your old triple Motion is for sale. Later, Dave

[yellowallison]

Awesome post ... . keep the pics coming~!!!!!!!!!! :p :p

[Brad Zastrow]

One of the last colors. I think it is interesting to see the process and compare to the final result. Next post will be the finished boat.

[150aintenuff]

hope yer motors are 1300+ each... mike defreeze(sp) liver across the river from me ad has his ex race hull(team CRC) converted as yours is comming along, and bumps mid 160's with twin 1300 sterlings.... 180 is gunna take BIG power... good luck

[Brad Zastrow]

Sterling 1300's are really 1100 on gas and 1300 on race gas. MTI's will run 160+ on twin 1100 hp which I am sure is the hp Mike is really running in pleasure form. Barcardi Silver ran 202 with twin 1500's in a 36 Skater. My engines are 1400's on race gas.

[eli]

and that is before nos! ha,ha.

[rchevelle71]

Brad,

Which race boat was it??

[SERIOUS]

Tommy Bahama Was A Mti Won Many Races Then Bowed Out Because Of Politics? I Attended Many Races They Entered Also A Yellow Boat Good Luck Your Boat Looks Great!!!

[Brad Zastrow]

It was called PaceMaker. Raced one race and failed to complete a second race. Boat had about 5 hours on it. It ran in Supercat lite with 525's. The only thing we kept in the boat was the Mercury wiring harness. I striped the boat completely and sold everything off and started from scratch.

[rchevelle71]

It was called PaceMaker. Raced one race and failed to complete a second race. Boat had about 5 hours on it. It ran in Supercat lite with 525's. The only thing we kept in the boat was the Mercury wiring harness. I striped the boat completely and sold everything off and started from scratch.

I dont remember the boat, but that looks like lauderdale 2003??

We just finished a Platinum Cat with twin T-53 Lycoming Turbines, and are working on the 39 MTI with T-53's now:D

[SERIOUS]

2003 Mti Cleaned House In Super Cat Mark&paul Nemschoff In Tommy Bahama! Bacardi Silver Fuller&tomlinson! Also Super Cat Light Dirty Duck Harlan&reindl! Liquid Metal Teague &talley! I Think They Are Right There With Skater As Far As Performance If Not Better Just My 02?randy Scism Builds A Fast Boat Good Luck Again!!

[Brad Zastrow]

Done!!!

[Brad Zastrow]

I will take some more pictures with the canopy top and scoop on.

[MODVP22]

now that looks bad-ass

[Racemore]

Thats the coldblooded NUTS.:D Have fun,be safe.:cool:

[blkmtrfan]

Wow Brad that is pretty impressive :cool: :cool:

Have you run it yet?

[Chummy]

Thats a piece of art there!!! Congrats on finishing it up. Sure it doesn't sound too shabby either :)

[Brad Zastrow]

It is too loud. I am having CMI make some downturns to get the exhaust under the water level at idle. I have the boat back in Illinois now. 24 hour straight drive home. Saturday we went for a maiden voyage. I can not describe how nice the boat rides in the ocean. At 140 mph (2/3 throttle) on the ocean it like being in a STV at 80 mph in nice water. I really believe the best drivers of boats are Scream n Flyers in fast outboards. You have to drive small boats. This MTI is point and shoot. Even the Skaters are not up to the level of MTI's right now. A 40 Skater with twin 1000's came along with us and could not keep up on the ocean. We lost him in a big way. He went for a ride in the MTI later in the day, his Skater is now for sale and he wants a MTI.

This weekend I am taking the "drivers" boat out, my outboard cat. :D

[stokernick]

ah,decisions,decisions!

[RedRider]

Both boat are good in there own type of water!!! It's all about who is behind the sticks in each boat. Thank's for the pic's, It's a big change from what it was.

[Brad Zastrow]

Both boat are good in there own type of water!!! It's all about who is behind the sticks in each boat. Thank's for the pic's, It's a big change from what it was.
The Skater was throttled by a ex Supercat Lite racer. The racer also owns a MTI. He mentioned there is a difference.

Here are photos of the removable canopy installed. This looks so cool I may run it this was most of the time.

[Brad Zastrow]

Custom Interior. Seats are Recaro car seats recovered in vinyl. I painted the seat shells and dash to match the boat. The easy painting I can handle.

[gearcase]

Gibson performance exhaust makes a turn down set up. there 39 mti makes no noise off plane and no restriction on plane it is a fun ride. quadrotter dart big M motors. might want to check it out. your boat looks cool have fun with it.

[WARLOCK]

I went over to Brads last night to check this beast out. HOLY CRAP!!! What a friggen piece of art!! Brad told me if I was real nice he would let me clean the wheels on the trailer. J/K I can not wait to see the people faces if he shows up at the Island. Congats Brad!!! Sweet boat!!! Later, Dave

[Ziemer]

Here are photos of the removable canopy installed. This looks so cool I may run it this was most of the time.<!-- / message --><!-- attachments -->

Throw some heat and A/C in there and you could ride all year long. :D

The boat looks great in the pics, can't imagine how nice it is in person. ;)

[Dd24skater]

VERY Nice!

[Jigsaw89]

Great lookin' cat and attention to detail!

[BottomsUp]

you are insane Brad. I just found this thread . I have not had to much seat time in front the old Dell. I like building custom boats. But my God what have you created?????

Have you ran it on the big pond? Is there a diffence from the ocean to fresh water?
Again what a boat!!! Can't wait to see it in person if I get the chance.

Bill


ps If I knew what is was for I would have thought real hard about charging you more for the little piece of cloth.LOL

[jimmyj]

BLING BLING and more BLING:p

[Brad Zastrow]

ps If I knew what is was for I would have thought real hard about charging you more for the little piece of cloth.LOL
Thanks for the glass! I have the boat back from Florida. The boat needed a few more things to complete it which I am doing. Little things like seat belts and a rear view camera (like a RV) in case somebody actually is coming up on me. :o As soon as possible I would like to rip it up on Lake Michigan. Mufflers are needed first. It is far too loud as it sits now with four tailpipes that are 5" dry exhaust. In Florida they leave you alone. They are on order. I think the boat needs to be on the Chain-O-Lakes a few times this summer. I feel the need to race some pontoons.