1987 Aero Twin Obs

[slpcamaross97]

Kinda new to the OB world, have had them before but only on sub 21ft checkmates. After good luck with on my two 28 panteras, i wanted something that was smaller and twin 2 strokes.

I knew of a 24ft Aero(24x7) with twin 200 hp mercs and kept at the owner. He finally decided to sell it to me. She needs some love, but nothing to crazy.

She is a little rocket. Currently rebuilding the carbs and general service. Plus removing oil injection and black boxes to keep the motors safe.

Future plans are to perform a complete resto-mod style boat similar to 28 skater or Cigarette gladiator interior. PPI bucket seats, center console throttles and a extended cockpit.

Here are a few pictures from the day i picked it up.

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438045


Her first night kept indoors in 19 years

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[specboatops]

Good looking boat.

[2jz]

Nice boat

[Greg G]

Always liked the lines on these. Bring her back to life!

[slpcamaross97]

Always liked the lines on these. Bring her back to life!

I really liked the twin OB on offshore brackets. Looks so mean in the water. Boat is titled as a 29ft. lol

[Dave S]

My brother had one.....called Flyaway in NY ...... think it was grey......nice boat... looks like old super boat deck from the rear shot.

[Instigator]

I’ve seen a couple for sale over the yrs, one here recently, but know nothing about them.

[Greg G]

seems to me I went to a shop that made these in michigan years ago. I think l still have an ad for them and a brochure

Correct. They made a 24, 27 and I believe a 32.

[Greg G]

Kinda new to the OB world, have had them before but only on sub 21ft checkmates. After good luck with on my two 28 panteras, i wanted something that was smaller and twin 2 strokes.

I knew of a 24ft Aero(24x7) with twin 200 hp mercs and kept at the owner. He finally decided to sell it to me. She needs some love, but nothing to crazy.

She is a little rocket. Currently rebuilding the carbs and general service. Plus removing oil injection and black boxes to keep the motors safe.

Future plans are to perform a complete resto-mod style boat similar to 28 skater or Cigarette gladiator interior. PPI bucket seats, center console throttles and a extended cockpit.

Here are a few pictures from the day i picked it up.


438045


Her first night kept indoors in 19 years



Was your boat originally an I/O that was converted? Looks it based on the sunpad.

[slpcamaross97]

Was your boat originally an I/O that was converted? Looks it based on the sunpad.

Boat was built as a OB for the factory. But did retain all of the IO spacing. Thats why i want to extend the cockpit some.

[Greg G]

Gotcha. If you get a moment take a good picture of the interior of the transom. Would be interesting to see how they laid everything out in there and supported the brackets given they kept the entire doghouse.

[slpcamaross97]

seems to me I went to a shop that made these in michigan years ago. I
think l still have an ad for them and a brochure

Ill buy it off of you if you find it! trying to find the AERO logo and design logo to put on the boat.

So the Aero was built in Mi. By a guy named Jim Klem. He started in the 70s selling a copy of the magnum 27ft and the Cheetah 24ft. I heard that a aero 27 ft was about half the cost of a FL Magnum. And for many new racers they bought a aero due to price. Was told that the build quality was ok. But Jim Klem rigging was not.

Later on in the 80s is when he started with the Pantera style deck on the 24fts with a Magnum style window. The bottom and hull sides were from the Cheetah(Multiple builders made copies of that famous 24x7 hull).

Klem also started multiple boat companies like Panther, Lancer, Aero-Tech, Awesome,

[Instigator]

Ive seen two 24' twin O/Bs for sale and both had the lounge.

Have you seen them w/splashwells?


Gotcha. If you get a moment take a good picture of the interior of the transom. Would be interesting to see how they laid everything out in there and supported the brackets given they kept the entire doghouse.

[slpcamaross97]

Gotcha. If you get a moment take a good picture of the interior of the transom. Would be interesting to see how they laid everything out in there and supported the brackets given they kept the entire doghouse.

Here is a bad picture. 438396

[slpcamaross97]

Ive seen two 24' twin O/Bs for sale and both had the lounge.

Have you seen them w/splashwells?

I have not seen any aero boats with splash wells. But not many were made compared to other builders.

I know a few panteras were built with extended cockpit space and no splash well. But some were converted to extended cockpits. I know the splash well was big in the 80s for factory OB boats. Ive been told that a 24x7 runs better with them on the transom with a splash well. But mine looks bad ass hanging so far back.

[slpcamaross97]

Here is a picture of a factory rigged 26ft Larry smith race boat with twin obs. I like how much bracing they have. Im thinking about adding two more keels to my boat when i start to get into the fiberglass work.


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[Greg G]

Here is a picture of a factory rigged 26ft Larry smith race boat with twin obs. I like how much bracing they have. Im thinking about adding two more keels to my boat when i start to get into the fiberglass work.

Wow, that Scarab is impressive construction. You could hang 3 outboards off that transom and never worry. The Smith team had it down cold.

[Greg G]

......
When I decided to convert my Ultra 23 from big block to single wacker on the back this is how we did the transom ............

[Instigator]

Here’s how I did my 25’ Checkmate I/O to O/B conversion.

Wanted it to look factory.
In addition to the knees, I laminated two layers of 3/4” ply across the top of the transom, just above the knees.

[slpcamaross97]

Here’s how I did my 25’ Checkmate I/O to O/B conversion.

Wanted it to look factory.
In addition to the knees, I laminated two layers of 3/4” ply across the top of the transom, just above the knees.

Ive been watching your build. Taking all kinds of notes for redoing mine. I was considering doing a OB conversion before i got this boat.

[FUJIMO]

Ill buy it off of you if you find it! trying to find the AERO logo and design logo to put on the boat.

So the Aero was built in Mi. By a guy named Jim Klem. He started in the 70s selling a copy of the magnum 27ft and the Cheetah 24ft. I heard that a aero 27 ft was about half the cost of a FL Magnum. And for many new racers they bought a aero due to price. Was told that the build quality was ok. But Jim Klem rigging was not.

Later on in the 80s is when he started with the Pantera style deck on the 24fts with a Magnum style window. The bottom and hull sides were from the Cheetah(Multiple builders made copies of that famous 24x7 hull).

Klem also started multiple boat companies like Panther, Lancer, Aero-Tech, Awesome,
...and then the dishonored cop comitted suicide by blow'n his own brains out. true story.

[slpcamaross97]

...and then the dishonored cop comitted suicide by blow'n his own brains out. true story.

Yep. Saved tax payers money by not sitting in jail. Why not take the high road and not bring up BS.

[FUJIMO]

Yep. Saved tax payers money by not sitting in jail. Why not take the high road and not bring up BS.
its just another piece of history that needs to be shared. good history or bad, its history.

[Dave S]

Yes..... good or bad....do not take them down.....history.....watca sainngggg Dave?