1980 HydroStream Vamp resto-mod

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/oh22FrR09h8

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/klPoCDm4yHw

 

Starts instantly

 

Thing runs better than my tacoma now...

 

Started getting the boat all cleaned out (again), put the throttle controls in and finishing up the wiring. Also ordered a big towable tube from fleetfarm, they had a $20 coupon and $80 off sale, so I got a Red Hubbub towable for just under $200. I need to go out to fleet farm anyways to pick up some guide posts for the trailer and a single tire to replace the bad one, also I need to get more contact cement so I can put the carpet up front.

But everything is looking like the boat will be ready for our lake house trip in 2 weeks. The boat will be a little light on fit and finish, only 2 chairs, the kids will sit on the floor for now, and the side trim panels may just be covered in carpet instead of foam and vinyl. But as long as I can tow them around on the tube, they will be thrilled.

 

This should be fun!
Also got a new tire, some wire and terminals to wrap this thing up.

 

Wiring is pretty much all wrapped up, lights work, radio works, gauges work, just need to secure it under the gunnels. I think my fuse box solutions might of been overkill, so some of the stuff wont be getting used in the boat, but will probably be getting used in my ice house build. The ice house will be getting started this fall, its going to be a 5f x 8f pop top ice house/camper.

Also started cutting my teak wood for the front area.

 

Sounds *very* smooth.

 

Teak all screwed down, going to get carpet glue tonight to finish up the carpet job and wire hangers to secure all the wiring.

 

Trim panels have been carpeted... well, 3 of the 4 are done, I need to pull the throttle off to do the driver side one.
Went with a gray marine carpet to give it a match to the seats.

 

Oh and I put 1 new tire on the trailer today too... the old one was showing belts. The other side was already pretty new, so I left that one alone. I do need to wire the trailer soon though, but that should be pretty quick and easy.

 

Front carpet glued in, trim panels all done, and wiring mostly all tucked up and out of the way. Going to go get the bilge pump tomorrow so I can get the fuel tank and batteries installed.

 

Getting ready to take the boat out, decided I should probably check the lower unit oil... amazingly fresh and clean.

So, just need to fill the fuel tank and hit the lake in about an hour.

 

Success! Got it wide open a few times, but the lake I was at had lots of paddle boards and is pretty small. So most of it was spent light on the throttle.

We did have a small leak, the lower motor bolts didnt seal up perfectly, so we had some water coming in. I started pulling those bolts out tonight, but it seems the threads are spun so they are not coming off. Got the grinder all ready to cut the nuts off and push the bolts out. Going to leave the bolts out for a few days with a fan blowing on them to dry it out a bit. Then I can put in new bolts with more silicone glue.

 

Congratulations!

I can imagine how satisfying it felt to finally be on the water after all the hours of work.

 

Holly crap those lower bolts were a pain.... My snapon impact gun couldnt get them lose, I ended up grinding the nuts off to get them out. But now they are out and I have a fan blowing on them. Tonight after dropping my daughter off at dance I will swing by the hardware store and get some more stainless bolts and nuts. I will be leaving the fan blowing on it all week before I put in the new bolts and glue.

 

Nice little video clip of the maiden voyage congratulations! A nice video might be from land with the beautiful new boat flying down the river or lake near the dock for example. Gosh sorry your fans are getting so specific LOL but I think it would show off the paint job of the boat from the outside a little better

 

I will have my wife take a few videos of me doing pulls at the lake next week. We are spending a week at a cabin on a 5 mile long lake. We have our own dock there to tie up the boat.
But here is a picture I got of my buddy after putting the boat in the water the first time.

 

Congratulations! That was a long journey with lots of work but it looks like it paid off!

 

Little things today on lunch.
I cleaned up my transducer mount for the sonar unit, going to glue that to the back of the boat tonight and run the wiring up to the fish finder so I can see what the water depth is and if there are any fish under me.
I put on the chrome hydrostream badges onto the sides and sealed the screws from the back side.

I also ordered a new wire harness for my tilt and trim unit since the old one is pretty beat up.
Also ordered some EVA foam deck flooring stuff. Plan is to put that on the rear splash well area so its not so slippery when its wet.

Tonight I am going to build the backrests for the lounge seats and start planning the rear bench seat. Also going to carpet the lounge seats and maybe build some plugs for the storage holes where your butt goes on the lounge seats so that the kids can sit there without falling into the hull.

 

Lounge seat backs done, going to cut out plugs now for those big square storage holes... Slow going though as its 90 degrees with like 100% humidity.

I got the carpet cut for the lounge area, though I am not certain I want to carpet there anymore. I think just getting some foam and wrapping it in vinyl there would be enough.