1980 HydroStream Vamp resto-mod

All the bunk u bolts have not been replaced with the correct ones. Trailer still has a few more things to do, but I need to launch the boat to do them.

But, if I launch the boat to do repairs on the trailer... then I am going to want to take out the boat and not do repairs. So, I think the plan is going to be launch the boat, fish for a few hours, then beach the boat and go work on the trailer since it should be dry after sitting in the parking lot for a few hours.

 

Bimini top is here, and its fucking tall as hell.... Its 54 inches tall, but then you stack that onto the sides of the boat and now its sitting a good 8 inches above my head.
So I need to figure out how I can shorten it without messing it up. Most people say you can cut below the lower joint and it wont have any effect on the tops operation, but thats only a few inches dropped. Not nearly enough for it to look good on this boat, So I think I have an idea that will keep everything aligned right and keep the fabric tensioned right.

If I cut 6 inches off the poles where the red lines are on both sides, and move the lower pivot point up it should lower it a bit, then because the two main hoops will need to be at more of a angle to get the fabric tight, it should lower the total height even more while maintaining the correct geometry.

Alternately I can take the front pole out of its spot in the canvas, move it back one spot, remove the 2nd pole completely, and then use snaps to attach the front fabric right to the windshield.

What do you all think? Does this sound like it will work? I cant seem to find many people who make these things shorter, they just deal with them being 7 feet tall.

 

Ok, so I just cut 6 inches off each pole... it does infact work! Cutting 6 inches dropped me down to 48 inches of height. I am going to mock it up on the boat and see if its still too tall, but that height puts it right around head level for me to get up and stand with the top up.

I want to get it down to like 28 inches, but I fear thats way too much to cut off and it wont work right. I might cut another 6 off and see how it sits though.

 

Just cut another 6 inches off, I think it should be at a good level now, but I may cut another 4 inches off the main legs to bring it down a few more inches. But I want to set it up in the yard to make sure it all still works right.

 

ok, this top looks fucking stupid, but I think I am still going to put it on just for the shade. Im going to move the 2 center bars down a little bit, that should remove that big hump in the middle and lower the top a bit more.

 

That is after you cut 12" off the poles - it does tower over the low profile boat a bit.

 

Yep, its just so damn high! I might see if I can figure out a way to mount it without drilling into the hull, because im not 100% happy with it, but I do want it.

 

You ever figure out the fuel issue?
& get an actual max rpm running the new tach?
You mentioned creating a vacuum on the tank creating a the fuel starvation symptom...
Ive actually experienced that on one of our skiffs back in the day...
External tank, the fill cap had a vent screw that for some reason was closed...
Blasting to the kelp beds, engine started surging & it was due to vacuum created in the tank cuz vent was closed.
Was a long time ago, may have even been a plastic tank & it was all sucked-in till we opened the vent...

Good possibility thats what youre dealing with, same time old 2 strokes are notorious for needing carb work but from your video dont think thats the case.
I havent browsed your entire thread yet but intrigued, cool little boat for what it is!

 

I have not yet gotten to test it much yet, I only took it out twice with the new motor last year, but im going to be taking it out this week for testing and hopefully I can get things all sorted out. But I fired up the motor when I pulled it out of the garage the other day. Thing fired right up! But the bottom carb is pissing fuel right now. I think its got a stuck float or a dirty needle. I put some seafoam in there and ran it for a bit, going to let it soak and hoping it frees it up. This coming weekend I am going to take it out and flog it around the lake for a bit.

But the neighbor wives heard the engine fire up and are all ready for "hot girl summer", so need to get this ready for the river so I can take them out to the dunes.

 

Were going to need "hot girl summer" pics of the neighbors wife.....

 

Spent the day buffing and waxing the boat today, got it nice and glossy!

Hoping to get it out this weekend, but I also want to clean up the garage so its a little easier to get it in and out of there. Right now the biggest issue is the gantry crane taking up so much space. While I dont need the crane anymore, I still want to keep it for future engine swaps, truck topper, or any time I just need to lift a heavy load.
I want to remove some of the back wall shelves and see if I can pull the boat in straight instead of having to angle it in the garage. Being angled right now means I have to move the motorcycles, lawn stuff, bikes, and the rest of the crap in the garage out just so I can pull it out.

 

Sounds like the story of my life - the answer is always "need a bigger garage".

 

Trying to design some side graphics to break up the massive amount of black on the boat. I like the idea of doing "billboards" on the sides, so I want to do something with that. Im going to use vinyl so it can be removed or changed.
But I have taped out the area I think would look good with the vinyl, I just need to decide on a color to use. Was thinking of getting sparkly orange thats near match to my truck.

 

Ok, new idea for some side graphics. The flat angled area right above the top blue tape line... It goes nearly the full length of the boat, so get some knifeless tape, lay some vinyl over that spot and then cut it to fit perfectly. Then, just put some vinyl on the rear side areas with some sort of 1980s miami vice coke dealer vibe picture, get some matching registration numbers made up for the front with a nice square spot for the year decal that I hate but have to put on there.

I could do some pink/blue 80s colors there on the angled part, then put matching on the engine cowling.

What do you all think?

 

I masked off a new area with some painters tape to get an idea of how this version would look with a color there. I kinda like it!
Would look pretty good with like a matte gray there that then has angled cuts near the back.





Something like these stripes, but solid for the front 3/4, then into the "strobe" pattern.

 

Did some work on the top today to get it less ugly. I cut down the 2 center bars to flatten it out a bit, top now has only a slight hump and sits at 36 inches tall. I can drop it another 4 inches before I start getting into having to modify even more stuff.

I think 36 inches and flat on the top is where I will call it good.

But, I was hoping to get it out today on the lake, but the weather had other plans, it was 45 degrees and cloudy out.

 

OK You peel off those stripes and I will take the rest of the car! LOL

 

Took the boat out yesterday, she ran well, but was running way too rich at lower rpms. So need to do some carb work soon. But after I got home I went down into the basement to wash some clothes and found a nice puddle of water. My 1994 water heater sprung a leak so time for a new one!

https://youtube.com/shorts/4UbjZAc7KCA


Dragged this fucker up the stair with a strap I used to lift the boat last winter. My neighbor was going to help, but he wouldnt be able to do it until after work.






Going to pick up the new one in a little bit and get it all installed.

 

^^^
Liked for the boat part, not the water heater.

Thankful it didn't cut loose when you were out of town for the day or more.

 

Alright, I think I got the carbs all tuned up. I had to remove the lower carb and replace the needle valve and seat as it was just pissing fuel out.

So, now its all fixed and she idles great. Going to take it to the lake this week and see how she performs.