My Varmint project

[gregpro50]

I bought this boat as a shell out of someone's back yard over a year ago. It looked like crap and had a clearcoat job that was faded and falling off it. I found a trailer for it and stripped it down to the bare shell. I've been picking away at it but I entered a bass tournament at the end of July so now I have to get moving on this thing.

So far I've found a trailer for it and removed the old clearcoat. The gelcoat was faded but there were no stress cracks or anything in it so I just re-cleared it.

I've got a 200hp Merc with a CLE lower for it and a rapid jack with a 6" setback. The steering is going to be a dual cable setup with the original Hydrostream steering wheel.

Now I just have to get carpet for it and figure out how I am going to do the interior.

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj306/gregpro50/P5151968.jpg

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj306/gregpro50/P5151969.jpg

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj306/gregpro50/P5151970.jpg






After the clear coat. I put on 3 coats. Now I just have to buff it out. Looks like a new boat again.

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj306/gregpro50/P5161971.jpg

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj306/gregpro50/P5161972.jpg

[noots]

Looks great. Excellent job!

[Storz]

Looks awesome! Nice Stingray btw :)

[gregpro50]

Hung the mota with the sleeper stickers today and got the emblems back on.

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj306/gregpro50/P5171973.jpg

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj306/gregpro50/P5171974.jpg

[gregpro50]

Steering and controls mounted. I went with a dual cable ride guide setup. I had to bring both cables out on the starboard side. I had a dual cable teleflex setup but the steering wheel mount was different and I really wanted to use the original wheel. I have to cut a hole for the tachometer. There isn't much room to mount a hotfoot either. I still have to sand and clear the hatches before I install them.

I'm still waiting on my carpet kit. This thing is going to look awesome with carpet.

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj306/gregpro50/P5201976.jpg

[gregpro50]

It was nice and sunny today. I couldn't believe how good the flake looked in full sun when I pulled in the driveway coming home from work.

[whatsamerc??]

looks good. i couldnt get used to the hot foot being angled in mine so i scooted the seat back and mounted it straight. if you have the rod locker lid you have to keep the passenger seat removable to use it. i ended up taking the lid off and mounting a seat solid to the floor. if you dont have the rubber flap under the front livewell you may get a surprise when easing around and it starts to overflow.............benji

[gregpro50]

Cool someone with experience.

I was thinking about the interior setup. I was thinking about arranging the seats just as you did but as you say, you cant use the locker lid. I'm still undecided as to what to do.

That is good advice with the hot foot. I think I am going to do the same.

Mine still has the rubber flap but I can't believe it would work that great. I bought a scupper I was going to put in there.

[AlanButts]

man i miss my varmint , and i esspecially like that you left the livewells intact , when i redid mine i cheated the rack at an angle to get as close to center console as i could, mounted the seat close to the middle ,and straightened out the hot foot, only thing was i had to drive it with my left outside the console but your boat rocks dude

[gregpro50]

and i esspecially like that you left the livewells intact ,
This thing is going to be a fishing rig. I had to repair some cracks in the wells with glass and west system expoxy and I repainted the insides with white pool paint. I like the fact that it has two wells. My old tracker only had one.

Probably the most fun I am going to have with it is when the flag goes down at the start of the bass tournament and everyone is wondering what the hell kind of boat that is tearing past everyone.

This boat was really ahead of it's time in terms of a fishing rig. I'd have to think if this exact same design was around today then it would sell pretty well.

[gregpro50]

All done except for some little things and ready to get wet this weekend for the first time since I've got her.

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj306/gregpro50/Hydrostream%20Varmint/P6301986.jpg

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj306/gregpro50/Hydrostream%20Varmint/P6301988.jpg

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj306/gregpro50/Hydrostream%20Varmint/P6301987.jpg

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj306/gregpro50/Hydrostream%20Varmint/P6301985.jpg

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj306/gregpro50/Hydrostream%20Varmint/P6301984.jpg

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj306/gregpro50/Hydrostream%20Varmint/P6301983.jpg

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj306/gregpro50/Hydrostream%20Varmint/P6301982.jpg

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj306/gregpro50/Hydrostream%20Varmint/P6301989.jpg

[WATERWINGS]

Nice !!!:thumbsup::cool:

[lakeracer1]

looks great:cheers:

[stlrfn83m]

Very nice!

A friend of mine has a Viper in the same colors. Will post photos later.

I'm the one that started the thread "Vandal Ressurection". That is my HydroSCEAM. It's the little Vandal done in Steeler Colors.

[motexas]

Very very well done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mo

[clamponracing]

sweet lookin little basser

[WATERWINGS]

If I was cruisin down the river, and saw that boat, I would think "who in the hell would screw a trollin motor to the front of a Vector??"

[gregpro50]

I've been out playing with it today to try to get it dialed in. The motor runs like a champ and this boat has some insane acceleration. If the motor is tilted at all when you hit the throttle it will literally jump out of the water.

It does seem to like to porpoise alot. I have the jack plate set in the middle and the motor all the way up on the jack plate. Do you think the motor has to go up or down to help with this?

It's been pretty windy and choppy up here so I haven't had a chance to get it really going yet. The boat seems solid as a rock though. It doesn't seem to have any hull flex whatsoever. No funny noises rattles or bangs. I was worried about core problems but I drilled some sample holes when I was working on it and they all came up good.

I've already got the "how fast does it go?" questions when pulling up to the store to get some groceries.

[Gorilla0178]

Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!

[stlrfn83m]

Here's the Viper

[gregpro50]

Some pics on the water.
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj306/gregpro50/Hydrostream%20Varmint/SANY0258.jpg
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj306/gregpro50/Hydrostream%20Varmint/SANY0259.jpg
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj306/gregpro50/Hydrostream%20Varmint/Camcorderpictures156.jpg
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj306/gregpro50/Hydrostream%20Varmint/Camcorderpictures173.jpg

[gregpro50]

Well I did the annual bass tournament this year in the boat. I can tell you that without a doubt it was the fastest boat in the tournament but it didn't help me catch any damn fish since I came in 30th out of 50 boats. It was an aweful fishing day but I still had fun. I usually come in the top 15. Maybe the boat scared the fish...

Here we are waiting for our livewell inspection.

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj306/gregpro50/Hydrostream%20Varmint/P7241978.jpg

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj306/gregpro50/Hydrostream%20Varmint/P7241979.jpg

[JP Love]

Nice on water and look fast too..

[JP Love]

Look good on water and your 150 push hard... Your best speed??:thumbsup:

[gregpro50]

It actually has a 2.4 225 but it's stickered as a 150 (didnt want trouble from Johnny Law). I had it up to 80 on the gps before I got scared and it still had plenty to go although it was starting to over-rev. It has a 27p SRX prop on a CLE lower.

I've had so much god damn fun with this thing this season. My wife hates the boat but everyone else on the lake loves it. I took my 70 yr old neighbor for a ride in it and he couldn't stop giggling. This is my first true performance boat and this thing just seems stupid fast to me with insane acceleration.

[gregpro50]

And I'll tell you what.... This motor sucks down gas like that is it's only job. But it runs perfect.

This thing make a great toy boat but I couldn't have it as an only boat.

[stokernick]

I don't miss carrying 3 5gal cans of gas with me to feed that thirsty Bridgeport!I have 84 hours on my Promax XS and have used 134 gallons,almost feel guilty![but I do the extra 15 mph!]

[gregpro50]

I use 3 6 gal portable tanks and it really doesn't take long to go through them without even driving the boat spirited. I'm starting to see the benefit in this Optimax technology. My cousin has a Skeeter with a 175 hpdi and he hardly uses any fuel compared to mine. Of course mine is faster by at least 10mph though on early '80's technology...

[stokernick]

I'm sure you've seen the post for the Sept10-12 Romp at the Great Sacandaga,would be more challenging than the Stingray,you'd have a blast!

[gdp]

Used to be a red Varmint around the St. Louis area in the early 80's that rope raced with a strong Mercury on it. Strong runner.

[jbull232]

What kind of clearcoat did you use on your project?

[IMAD!man]

IT is unusual that you dont end up getting into the flake while removing the oxidized clear. Count yourself among the fortunate few! It looks great. We just finished completely rebuilding a 1979 Cee Bee Avenger and if you put masking tape on the metal flake when you pull it off you see the flakes stuck to the tape.
Watch here for the job to be uploaded to the site www.bowkersfiberglass.com

[gregpro50]

That's funny because I am also working on a '79 Avenger and they must not have laid down any clear gelcoat in the mold before they sprayed flake because the flake is right at the surface on those. The Varmint seemed to have a thick layer of clear gel because you have to sand a while before you hit the flake.

[hemi2005]

Here's a '77 Varmint that I had to reflake....That was one fun boat to drive!


253144 253145

[hydroholic]

A note on the gas consumption. My Vector started life with me with a little ole 2.0 150 carb motor. It drank gas quite a bit , but was fairly fast. Then I went to a 2.4 200 carb motor, it drank a whole lot more gas, but was quite a bit faster. Then I went to a modified Bridgeport with center horn EFI with a digital e-prom box. Goes even faster , but drinks less gas than both of the previous motors. Boat has 20 gallon tank and best figure was on an average day at the river I would burn around 20 gallons with the 150, around 23 with the 200 and around 18 with the Bridgeport. Of course there is no way to actually figure gas mileage exactly on these boats, but this is a best guestimate figured after plentry of river days with each motor and kinda making an average guess. That sounds kinda screwy but I guess what Im saying is the EFI is better on the fuel consumption even with some more power. Know a guy who had taken a 2.0 175 and fitted a 2.4 centerhorn EFI system on , hung on the back of a Varmit and said fuel mileage wise it made a hell of a difference! Ran pretty sweet too! Sorry for the screwy worded rant.

[JWTjr.]

[QUOTE=hydroholic;2301419]Of course there is no way to actually figure gas mileage exactly on these boats, but this is a best guestimate figured after plentry of river days with each motor and kinda making an average guess./QUOTE]

Sure there is. Use a FloScan fuel gauge and use the gallon counter, a stopwatch and GPS. You can calculate GPH and then MPG with these tools.

John

[Li'l Toy]

You see, I like to go places when I take the boat out. If I run from Stuart locks to roland martin's, I am told it is about 50 miles, and I have dried out one 25 gallon tank, then I know that, at cruise, I get about 2 mpg. Wonders of the V8. Don't ask me about WOT.

[JP Love]

I bought this boat as a shell out of someone's back yard over a year ago. It looked like crap and had a clearcoat job that was faded and falling off it. I found a trailer for it and stripped it down to the bare shell. I've been picking away at it but I entered a bass tournament at the end of July so now I have to get moving on this thing.

So far I've found a trailer for it and removed the old clearcoat. The gelcoat was faded but there were no stress cracks or anything in it so I just re-cleared it.

I've got a 200hp Merc with a CLE lower for it and a rapid jack with a 6" setback. The steering is going to be a dual cable setup with the original Hydrostream steering wheel.

Now I just have to get carpet for it and figure out how I am going to do the interior.

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj306/gregpro50/P5151968.jpg

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj306/gregpro50/P5151969.jpg

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj306/gregpro50/P5151970.jpg






After the clear coat. I put on 3 coats. Now I just have to buff it out. Looks like a new boat again.

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj306/gregpro50/P5161971.jpg

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj306/gregpro50/P5161972.jpg
You are lucky you began on a solid boat and you do a look like new again with a good paint job.. I'm curious to know I much you paid for the Varmint!!!!!! Anyway is a nice light old rule Hydrostream... Nice fishing boat, now is the only problem with the old engine they love suck fuel.... But the interest of a new boat pay lot fuel... I was happy If I would have one clean like your.. 30 years old and still outrun new ones.....Light and fast rig... Have fun buddy... JP Love