Project: Skater 24

[Tango]

Well it sure has taken me long enough to get this party started on my 1989 Skater 24. It was about a year ago I learned from Tray Archer that I could make a deal on this pretty Lil'Red 24 and after he grabbed the twin 260s off the transom, I brought her to my shop in Florence, SC. Well as busy as the Marine transport business can be and other projects taking up my time... I simply have been overwhelmed this season. In addition to the Skater, I have a few other projects like my 21' Eliminator and a 32' Dakota CC Cuddy with twin Opti 250XS motors.

So cruise through the pics and I will upload more as I get through the build. At this time, my focus on the boat is to not cut it up too much. She is a very low time, 227 hour boat. It's kinda like finding 1965 Mustang Fastback and knowing the LS Swap would be SO MUCH MORE fun but common sense is telling you to kinda keep it original but with some updates. If I thought I could keep two Bridgeport 2.4 EFIs to live through a weekend with the Keys Island Runners, I would do exactly that... but we all know it would take three times the fuel and more than that in spare powerheads! I am thinking this build will add a touch of the new power with twin 250XS optis on 300X offshore mids, full SmartCraft and VesselView integration to the original cables.

Since my ass isn't any lighter these days... I will move the batteries from the transom area to forward of the front bulkhead and mount the oil tanks in their location. So enough text... let me share some pics and add a bit of show to this project. I look forward to everyone's response, feedback and suggestions. I will say, my goal is to run the <25' Cat class next year at LOTO.

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Once I made it back to my shop, she got parked and this weekend work began. Let's look at what I am starting with.

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[Tango]

Yesterday I spent about 5-6 hours scrubbing with my friend "ZEP"! I thought Zep was going to do most of the work and not even my Dog was willing to lend a hand, er or Paw!

So here are the results of a few tubes of elbow grease and some ZEP with water.

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The dirt cleaned out well and then my attention was caught by the shifters and throttles...

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The Port shifter is reversed... and it made me think is this how the earlier gearcases got into reverse? Can they be run forward or reverse? I will have to swap this for the LH Sporty I have.

[Tango]

The transom had four stainless plates used to shim the motors to clear the rubrail at the time. I just removed them and the trim indicator actuators so I can whip out the polisher and clean up the gelcoat. Just a little bit of 3M and about a half-tube of elbow grease to get this transom shiny and ready for the mids.

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Does anyone have a photo they can share on how this trim indicator mounts to the Offshore Trim Ram? THANKS!!

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[tnelsmn]

Subscribed. Looks like a fun ride!

[Tango]

Subscribed. Looks like a fun ride!


Thanks! I'm going to get it done without mortgaging the house, and trying to keep it simple and light.

[NAVISPEED1]

Any updates on this Tango?

[Tango]

Any updates on this Tango?

I've moved it from one building to the back shop and waiting to finish my L87 engine swaps into the SeaRay 290 slx before jumping onto this project. I did pickup the interior pieces last month and I'll get a few pics of those loaded up soon.