Delcraft Tunnel Boat Complete Restoration

[Tom Smyth]

no idea on the nose cone. It ws already on the lower when i got it. This boat set the Sport J APBA record in 1970 at 77 MPH and change with a 135 Merc. Bob Holloway was the owner / driver for that .

[WaterZebra]

long long time coming but actually hung the motor on the transom for a fit check and measurements for the trim rams and other stuff... Looks good... Will be disassembles AGAIN and transom plates tweaked and powder coated before final assembly...

Pics #1 and #4............I never did get a straight answer from all my Sport J inspectors on whether the tower wrap cowl had to be in place where the steering bars were attached? I heard these wild tales about how the engine could draw more air with the wrap cowl not being there?

[Tom Smyth]

started poking holes in the dash. Trying to use only vintage hardware....

[Tom Smyth]

and the rigging continues SLOWLY with the one and a 1/4 arm man........

[1954bmw]

What's the quarter arm???

[Tom Smyth]

Had left thumb surgery last week. Sucks to get old….

[1954bmw]

Not for the weak!!

[Tom Smyth]

progress is slow with left hand still recovering from surgery and in a hard splint. BUT managed to get the mechanical trim indicator mounted and cable installed. Also the floor board that will support the seat, gas tank, battery and trim pump cut, fit checked and starting the process of 3 or 4 coats of UV resistant epoxy on it.

going with the floor board to eliminate bolting directly to the tunnel bottom as was originally done. Not looking for SPEED. want this boat to last another 50 years...

[Tom Smyth]

also got the four switch electrical panel drilled and sent out for powder coat.

[WaterZebra]

Nothing like a basic cable trim readout. Nydahls were the best (and still are). I never really knew what the numbers meant (degrees?). I used 1/4 marks instead.

[Tom Smyth]

A little more progress today. Main wiring harness in and main switch panel installed. Hole drilled for the kill switch. Control box with the gear shift cable in place. It will just fit in the beside the bucket seat...

[Tom Smyth]

so the cockpit dash is complete. Kill switch is in, tach in , everything wired........progress towards the first engine fire up in a few weeks hopefully. Power trim arrangement set and hoses measured. They should be ordered this week. Battery switch installed. Just about done except for steering stuff.........

[Tom Smyth]

Oh and building the rear cowling. Hope to start that in a week or two.....

[WaterZebra]

Oh and building the rear cowling. Hope to start that in a week or two.....

Greg Horn used a simple tonneau cover. Wood? Fiberglass? Simple half circle?

[Tom Smyth]

Greg Horn used a simple tonneau cover. Wood? Fiberglass? Simple half circle?

Yes the boat was raced with a simple tonneau cover. Eventually it got a more standard rear cowl made of a sheet of flexible fiberglass. I have that cowling. Plan to build a more traditional stiffer rear cowl for it.