'81 255SRV Remod

[Sammy Hooker]

I found this ol' vessel in a lot repo situation and brought it home for $250! I've seen this boat on the lot for about a decade now, and had all kinds of remod visions for it. Well, it's coming to fruition now! The twin Mercs are coming out, the cockpit is getting lowered, tw200 egg beaters are going on the back, the flybridge is getting a chop, new paint for the cap and interior, the hull is getting a full wrap, and she's already sitting on top of a brand new Venture aluminum trailer! This baby's gonna turn some heads!

The interior is almost completely stripped, the flybridge is emptied out, the outboard bracket is in production, the motors and controls are on a palate and it goes into the boat shop this week for the fiberglass work! I'm Beyond Excited!

 

[Loyd Dinneen]

What a find and looks like it is going to be a great project. I think going with outboards is a great idea I have a older model 1977 24 ft Sundancer and have really considered taking out the twin 470's and going to outboards. Good luck with your project keep us imformed.

 

[Sammy Hooker]

Momentum is building! The cockpit deck is out, transom plugged and re-glassed, tank is flushed and polished, outboard bracket is at the powdercoater, egg beaters are on the crate waiting to be hung! The pic of the motors and bracket is the exact match for what I have. Those in the pic are pushing a 27' BAMF Excursion. Let me tell ya, it was a huge sigh of relief seeing how dry and solid the inside of the transom was, and another huge sigh of relief when the fuel tank checked out! Planning on late April splash, just in time for shrimp and halibut season!

 

[JC3]

What a GREAT job you have done. Looking forward to seeing the final refit and the splashing of that classic! GOD speed. JC

 

[Sammy Hooker]

I'm gaining some traction on the helm. I used a piece of aluminum strip to mold the bends. The cartoon sketch is from my phone and the stupid pen and my elementary art skills! lol Took the strip to my local aluminum boat builder and they'll bend a sheet of 3/16" to mask my helm. Then the electronics can be laid out and then some cutting. I went with a full Raymarine pkg with the 16" Axiom Pro on center stage. Autopilot with remote fob was a must for me, too. The helm is going to be ultra modern while the rest of the decor in the boat will have a bit of the 80's SeaRay nostalgia restored to her original glory. I'm getting So damn excited!

 

[JC3]

Its getting there! Keep up the really fine work. GOD speed, JC

 

[Sammy Hooker]

Really picking up some speed now! Flybridge is gone, transom is finished, engine bracket arrived, aluminum helm cover cut and bent to fit, distribution panel arrived and deck is stripped and ready for paint...Excited!!
View attachment 100372

View attachment 100372

 

[JC3]

It really is looking good! You have made significant progress. Wont be long now. GOD speed. JC

 

[Blueone]

Really picking up some speed now! Flybridge is gone, transom is finished, engine bracket arrived, aluminum helm cover cut and bent to fit, distribution panel arrived and deck is stripped and ready for paint...Excited!!

If you are ever looking for a boater just go to the bank .... there will always be one parked there

 

[Sammy Hooker]

If you are ever looking for a boater just go to the bank .... there will always be one parked there

Hahaha! You got that right! It's a free and clear to this point, and coming down the home stretch I have some good barters in place to reduce the cash requirement.

 

[Sammy Hooker]

My mock up versus the progress of the real thing ....

 

[Sammy Hooker]

Things are starting to get a little spiffy

 

[Pirate Lady]

That is amazing. You are the handiest handy man that ever held a handy. No way I could do that. Congrats to you!

 

[Pirate Lady]

Sam, I am curious, what you did is amazing and I would be proud to own it, but have you thought about how you gonna get $30k out of an 81 when you try to sell? Your like in custom car territory here.

 

[Pirate Lady]

Progress at this point?

 

[Pirate Lady]

Sammy, what going on? We following progress, update?

 

[Sammy Hooker]

Sam, I am curious, what you did is amazing and I would be proud to own it, but have you thought about how you gonna get $30k out of an 81 when you try to sell? Your like in custom car territory here.

That's exactly the territory I'm in! Lol No way I could sell this for what I'll have into it, but it should last me as long as I care to use it.

 

[Sammy Hooker]

 

[Sammy Hooker]

So, the flybridge is now trimmed down to a hardtop with a super pimpin' attitude brow! The distribution panel is installed as well as the other small panels which are the remote battery switches, I'm super excited about these!! No more digging, bending and twisting to find the Perko switch and count the clicks! LOL I'm going with a Shockwave S5 mechanism for my captain seat. If your hiney has never experienced a ride on one of these, you're missing out! We'll be running 50+ miles for tuna, halibut and ling cod, so this type of seat will save my back and my energy. New Seadog wiper motors are in with intermittent functionality. This is really a nice feature for my kind of weather and water here in the PNW. Bulkheads are in and the cockpit deck is rough fit and ready for 5 hatches - 2 macerated fish boxes, two dry battery boxes and one large center dry hatch with a false bottom that gives access to all the pumps - bait tank, washdown, bilge. Electrician goes in this week. I hired a patient of mine that works for a local boat builder. He's doing it on the side for $75/hr which is a great deal! His work so meticulous, I won't have Any concerns about it being done right, and it'll look like the wiring he does on their Mil$$ builds. We're ready for paint now, on the brow/hardtop as well as above the rubrail. It'll be marlin blue hardtop, white deck and cockpit, and full custom wrap below the rub tail. Looks like we're 4-5 weeks to splash time, but the wrap will have to be a bit later. Can't WAIT!!!

 

[Thornton69]

Nice work! Our '81 245 has a real close resemblance to yours. It was a custom build without the flybridge. Have been doing lots of work to it as well. They sure are a nice solid platform to work with. Will be following your progress for ideas.