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  1. #1
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    Question '87 strada f 120 questions

    Im contemplating one for a project.
    Anyone have one?
    What do you like about it?
    Changes \ modifications you'd recommend? Ie; deck extension and add storage.
    Leave it stock?
    Any photos of yours?

    Thank You

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    #2

    Well, I did it (almost)

    This boat sat for over 15 years. We found remnants of a tarp, most of which the mice had taken under the top cap, and made nests with.

    IMG_20190323_103516197.jpg

    IMG_20190323_103527448.jpg

    Had brush growing out of it, these pics taken after some of the brush was cleared.


    IMG_20190607_153137471 (1).jpg

    Floor is gone.

    IMG_20190323_164651312.jpg
    Removed from the rubble. Most of the visible trash removed.

    IMG_20190618_111326033_HDR.jpg

    IMG_20190712_125551821_HDR.jpg
    Made a "shelf" for the top cap. I would later move this into the shed.

    IMG_20190618_112653202.jpg
    Pulled several trash bags of junk, and crap out of it. Removed about 200#'s of water logged foam.

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    #3
    IMG_20190820_095555513.jpg
    Cut the old transom out, which wasn't hard. 90% + was paper machete. Same for the stringers. Took a lot of measurements beforehand, and pictures, most everything fit pretty good! I was shocked!!

    IMG_20191209_145241649.jpg
    New transom and stringers are in. Added some knee braces.

    IMG_20191225_162203946.jpg
    Sub floor installed, proper terminology? Added some extra fiberglass between the stringers.

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    #4
    IMG_20191213_161110461.jpg
    Hey, it worked.

    IMG_20200325_184343530.jpg
    IMG_20200325_184420927.jpg
    Cut ins for nav lights, on the top cap.

    IMG_20200303_151523916.jpg
    Front deck, with an added storage, small one on the left, and a recessed tray.

    IMG_20200411_194203661.jpg
    IMG_20200411_200517962.jpg
    Cut out the splashwell, replaced with an angled board. Saw it on a video, they where a member on here. I attempted to copy it.

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    #5
    Wow! Great Job!
    Now for the next step. What to do with the gel coat surface.
    I would suggest you try to get the hull painted before you put the
    cap top back on. The pain is flipping it to gain access to the hull.

    Good Luck!

    Show us more when you get there!

  6. Member OkieLure's Avatar
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    #6
    Good work, so far! Keep updating us!
    1997 Charger 186 TF
    1997 Yamaha ProV 175

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    #7
    Thank you both!

    OK Bassbum - As for the gel coat surface, I sanded off what was left of the gelcoat, and everything else. Then, painted it with tractor paint. Found a formula\mixture on iboats.com. Put 3 coats of primer on first. When I painted, I put the boat on some 2x10's, on edge, about three feet off the ground. It wasn't fun or ideal, got it done though. Couldn't figure out an easy way to flip it. Got tired last night, stopped posting pictures.

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    #8
    IMG_20200512_192600008.jpg
    On the 2x10's, ready for a good cleaning, sanding and prep for priming and painting.

    IMG_20200613_110033666.jpg
    IMG_20200613_180713774.jpg
    After white paint is on. I made a mistake here, when i taped off for the accent panel, i didn't tape off NEAR enough!! Had some over spray. Called a good friend, he advised some rubbing compound, took the over spray off. One bullet dodged. A big thank you too that friend, he had a lot of advice and help in this project.


    In between the white and red paints drying for the boat, I tackled the trailer. Removed everything from it. Sanded, primed, painted, pin stripes, wiring, lights, new ubolts for the springs (had to cut old ones off), backup lights added, gatorback bunk covers, tires, cleaned up the old wheels, new bushings in spring mounts, winch, etc.
    IMG_20200524_214828951 (1).jpg
    Trailer primed. Like the "paint booth"?
    IMG_20200617_154546692.jpg
    IMG_20200531_205438861 (1).jpg
    One bunk with led strip under the cover.

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    #9
    IMG_20200624_203707877.jpg
    Note the three colors on the console. I wanted white, wife was against it. I spray painted red, white and grey. By accident, the boat sat outside, in the sun. I put my hand on all three colors, I would have never imagined how much hotter the red and grey where. I mounted the switches on top of the console, relocated some gauges. Drilled one of the gauge holes in the wrong spot, had to patch it, then drill again.
    IMG_20200701_192910858.jpg
    IMG_20200701_210835330.jpg
    Top cap getting primed and painted.

    While that was drying, sanded primed and painted the engine.
    IMG_20200707_122739464.jpg
    IMG_20200707_141115902.jpg
    I wanted to keep a little of the "nostalgia". Taped off some of the front piece.

    IMG_20200707_122747763.jpg
    Top cap taped off and painted with accent panel.

    IMG_20200707_152652550_HDR.jpg
    IMG_20200707_153920815_HDR.jpg
    Drying in the sun.

    IMG_20200718_145506376.jpg
    Engine painted and mounted, added a 6" jackplate.

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    #10

    Lighting

    IMG_20200709_215400275.jpg
    Recessed nav lights lit up, and rear white light.

    IMG_20200709_221053645.jpg
    White deck lights

    IMG_20200709_221229176.jpg
    Red deck lights
    Compartments have white led's also. The only original wires, is the wiring harness from the control box to the engine. The mice had chewed some of that, i spliced it back together. I've put about 500' of new wire in the boat. I never would've thought it would take that much, and that's with no livewells. I've decided not to put live-well pump's back in it. I do not tournament fish. If I want to, it'll be done later.

    IMG_20200729_204314116.jpg
    Found a used 36volt trolling motor, for a good price. Mounted a "headlight" on it, it's on a switch on the dash. Wanted to stay with 24 volt, for the weight and expense of another battery, however - beggar's cant be choosers!

    IMG_20200827_201538815.jpg
    Had to modify the rod locker lid, due to the deck extension. It used to open in.
    Using millennium B-100 seats for the driver and passenger. To the front right of the passenger seat, you can see the "hump" for the added battery box. I didn't want 4 batteries in the back of this boat. Two of them, and an on-board charger are in that box. The other two batteries are in the rear of the boat. All compartments will have locking latches.

    IMG_20200805_193829306.jpg
    At a local lake, for a leak test.

    IMG_20200823_084145487.jpg

    At a different lake, for the maiden voyage. Hole shot is phenomenal, top end was 45.3 mph, using my phone. No gear other than some tools, three 27 series batteries, one 24 series. Two of the trolling batts are between the passenger and driver, in the floor. I made a box for them.
    The engine started having a fuel issue, when i got to 46-4800 rpm, after a while, it would start sputtering\surging. I need to remove the carbs, go through them, i'm hoping that's it. When I put it on the trailer, trimmed up, fuel came out of one or two carbs. If it's not that, I'll start checking the rest of the fuel system.
    I need to make the lids for the new storage areas, get gear and tackle in it, then test it, and make jackplate adjustments.
    So far, for the engine, I've replaced the water jacket gasket, impeller, removed the carbs and cleaned (which i need to do again), freed up the starter, rebuilt fuel pump, all new fuel lines, new lower unit fluid and new spark plugs. I wouldn't be surprised if i wind up dropping the lower unit again, and replace seals, simply due to it's age. Kinda kicking myself for not doing that when I replaced the impeller. Oh well, that'll be a winter project!
    New tach, fuel gauge, and added a water pressure gauge.
    Three 12 volt sockets in the boat now, two in the cockpit, one on the bow, also a two port USB in the cockpit.

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    #11
    Skunked,
    That's a great job, I liked your 2x10 setup, with the 4x4 blocks cut at a 45 to stabilize it a bit.
    Led update is great, you really sank a lot of effort into it. I did my 82 Ranger 395V, sanded it down
    with fine and the cleaned the gel coat. I sprayed it with a clear coat, it lasted for about 3 years then
    started to peel on the hull. I was putting new carpet and skins on the seats and interior and just went
    for it. I might try it again even though I bought a new skeeter. Need to clean out the warehouse
    to have room. And I might add, I really like the ingenuity of the party tent spray booth!

    On your motor, it's been my experience with old in line merc's, that surging is caused by a fuel pump.
    Timing is critical on those motors! They HAVE TO fire so many degrees before the cylinder reaches
    Top Dead Center. The carbs are easy clean, the needle and seat are easily accessible. When you scour the
    net to find carb kits, buy extra's. Some of the old 2 cycle motor parts are disappearing, I would also suggest
    a couple of water impellors. When you tilt the motor, under normal circumstances you can have a little fuel
    leak out, not much though! Not more than a few drips, any thing else can be a fire hazard, it's most likely
    you needle and seats not sealing. When you get to the timing, I believe there is a special tool made that
    allows you to set the Top dead Center for Cylinder # 1. That in turn will allow you to synch the timing distributor
    that fires the plugs. ( I believe there is a set of dots on the distributor)
    The old man that taught me about merc carbs, if it sneeze's and die's its lean, if it coughs and dies it's rich.
    Many of inline 6's have died from a carb being too lean. The info's out there on the net if you can scrounge
    it up. Look for motor Synchronization for your year and model.

    Again it looks great!

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    #12
    Thank you! I knew someone would like the party tent paint booth. I can't take credit for it, a buddy thought of that. I debated clear coat or even gel coat. After consulting with a friend, and since i was using tractor paint, opted for nothing else. The way I fish, no matter what I put on it, won't last. I'm one that goes in the tree's and rocks to retrieve a $5 lure, ya I know, not smart. During this project, I've lost interest several times, would go months without touching it. I wouldn't have done this project if it wasn't for having room to do it.

    Thank You for the advice on the engine! After reading your last reply, I searched "timing on a 1987 115hp" or something like that, had several hits, thank you again! I've never messed with timing on an engine, that could be about to change! Before this project, I had no experience with fiberglass either. Your reply "When you tilt the motor, under normal circumstances you can have a little fuel
    leak out, not much though! " Thank you, I was wondering how those carbs wouldn't leak anything at all, especially mounted how they are.

    https://youtu.be/qKqhTmLGOoo

    Above is a video of the hole shot. The boat is far from done, I was itching to get it out, get a feel for how it would do. That was my first time on the water with this boat.


    https://youtu.be/F3sm8x8jhDk

    Above is a video of it stalling out.

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    #13


    This what at home, the day before. If i remember correctly, On the lake, if i used spark advance (correct term?), and revved it, it was fine. Under load, after I'd been out there a while, it had problems.

  14. Member OkieLure's Avatar
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    #14
    Unfortunately, mine will act totally different under load/in the water as well. Well done, so far!
    1997 Charger 186 TF
    1997 Yamaha ProV 175

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    #15
    Yes sir! Thank you very much!
    Made some of the lids, for the new storage areas today, hopefully finish that up tonight or tomorrow. Then I'll do something with the engine, even if it's wrong !!!
    Start getting stuff in the boat, that way the next time I go, it'll be a better representation.

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    #16
    IMG_20200913_185030261.jpg

    IMG_20200913_185139361.jpg

    Got the lids installed for the four new storage areas. Need to get the gas struts and latches installed.

    Then figure out the fuel flow flow problem.

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    #17

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    #18
    Figured out the fuel flow problem, I put the fuel filter in backwards!
    Ran it for 10 miles tonight, bumped 48mph on gps/phone app at 5000rpm. Holeshot is awesome. I was thrilled, called it a night. Planning on going sometime this weekend, will try to adjust jackplate, see what happens. Thank you all for the help!
    My plan is this winter, to get new stickers on the boat, engine and trailer. Also, install the flooring.

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    #19
    great job just awesome

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    #20
    Ranger521znem - thank you! I've had the boat out a couple times since the last post, 49mph tops so far, even with more jackplate adjustment. For now, that's what it'll be. I think it needs a different pitch, however, it's on plane with half throttle.
    Got the graph mounted today, a Garmin stryker 4. Planning on mounting the transducer in the bilge.
    I'm going to use an eva foam from amazon, grey color, and try to do some custom routing on the foam. Either with a plunge router, or Dremel tool. Sometime this winter.
    I found some stickers on discontinueddecals.com, that look like the originals. Need to do some more measuring, make sure they'll work.

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