Toeknee217 Posted May 8, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2020 What I originally thought was badly glassed lead in the bow turned out to be two separate rotten pieces of wood. Im also glad I removed as I didn't see how I was going to mount two batteries up here in the future for the trolling motor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toeknee217 Posted May 8, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2020 A lot of sanding and two layers later of the gray Bilgekote and this is where I'm at so far. Ill probably finish bolting it up and running the lines by tomorrow. I still haven't ridden on one of these boats so I'm itching to get it on the water Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TURN ME LOOSE Posted May 8, 2020 Report Share Posted May 8, 2020 I grew up with two of these in the family. The first was an 80s model with the livewell boxes on the transom. Originally powered by a 140 Evinrude and then repowered by a 130 Yamaha. Sold to an uncle. The second was a 93 dad bought from Capt. Murphy. Powered with a 150 XR6 Merc. Repowered by a 135 Optimax and then stolen. Said all that to say this, I remember the ride of both very well. Is it amazingly soft? No, but for what it is, an 18 foot flats boat, it's a great ride. You'll enjoy the boat, the compliments you get, and the memories made for as long as you own it. Then, you'll regret selling it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toeknee217 Posted May 10, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2020 On 5/8/2020 at 4:49 PM, TURN ME LOOSE said: I grew up with two of these in the family. The first was an 80s model with the livewell boxes on the transom. Originally powered by a 140 Evinrude and then repowered by a 130 Yamaha. Sold to an uncle. The second was a 93 dad bought from Capt. Murphy. Powered with a 150 XR6 Merc. Repowered by a 135 Optimax and then stolen. Said all that to say this, I remember the ride of both very well. Is it amazingly soft? No, but for what it is, an 18 foot flats boat, it's a great ride. You'll enjoy the boat, the compliments you get, and the memories made for as long as you own it. Then, you'll regret selling it. Thanks for that and sorry to hear about your Hewes being stolen. The recollections from owners such as yourself have had me drooling at these lapstrake Hewes for years. I see myself creeping well past my "budget" already but I know this boat is worth it and ill be keeping it for years to come. My father and I did a similar re-do with our classic contender 25 so I'm quite fond of all these sought after hulls and the process of getting them back onto the water. As far as the ride goes, my last flats boat was a Carolina Skiff so I'm sure this boat will ride incredibly in comparison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuddyBottomBluz Posted May 10, 2020 Report Share Posted May 10, 2020 I went from a Mako 17 to the Redfisher and my wife was not happy because of the safety factor for our daughters but when she went for a ride she was amazed in the ride quality over the Mako. It was like going from a VW bug to a Cadillac. Just the responsiveness alone was amazing! You will enjoy it for many years to come. By the way my wife wants me to find our old Redfisher and buy it back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toeknee217 Posted May 10, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2020 A neighbor of mine had an 89 Redfisher in what looked like a faded bikini blue and the original Johnson sitting along the side of his house for a friend to get exposure. It was sitting on a nice aluminum trailer and the original poling platform out the back. Wonder if that was yours? The ad said it needed a repaint and wanted $6500 and came with the new paint if I remember correctly. Cant be that many in that color down here. 2 hours ago, MuddyBottomBluz said: I went from a Mako 17 to the Redfisher and my wife was not happy because of the safety factor for our daughters but when she went for a ride she was amazed in the ride quality over the Mako. It was like going from a VW bug to a Cadillac. Just the responsiveness alone was amazing! You will enjoy it for many years to come. By the way my wife wants me to find our old Redfisher and buy it back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuddyBottomBluz Posted May 10, 2020 Report Share Posted May 10, 2020 That's probably it, how long ago? Was it in the 97th ave & Sunset Drive area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toeknee217 Posted May 10, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2020 Haha small world that was exactly it!!! I looked it over but couldn't spring the money at the time as I had already bought my Carolina Skiff a month or so before. Must've been in 2016 or 17. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuddyBottomBluz Posted May 11, 2020 Report Share Posted May 11, 2020 That was my boat I sold it in order to buy my bay boat, it was at my buddy Pat's house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toeknee217 Posted May 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2020 Yes he came out when I was looking at it. That bikini blue and white color combo is my favorite out of all of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toeknee217 Posted May 13, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 Does anyone know if I will require setback via a Jackplate in order to clear the splash well when in full tilt of the outboard? Baystar is not an option bc of the horsepower limit of 150hp. I know the 16 footers of this era were problematic with hydraulic steering but I'm not sure about the 90s lapstrake Hewes 18' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TURN ME LOOSE Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 I can't remember if they had hydraulic steering or not, as it was so long ago, but every motor we ever had (on both boats) never had any problems clearing. That would be an 80s 140 Evinrude, a early 90s 130 Yamaha, a '93 150 XR6 Mercury, and a 2000 135 Optimax. Not a jackplate on either of the two boats. Every motor tilted fully out of the water without hitting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toeknee217 Posted May 16, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2020 On 5/14/2020 at 9:53 AM, TURN ME LOOSE said: I can't remember if they had hydraulic steering or not, as it was so long ago, but every motor we ever had (on both boats) never had any problems clearing. That would be an 80s 140 Evinrude, a early 90s 130 Yamaha, a '93 150 XR6 Mercury, and a 2000 135 Optimax. Not a jackplate on either of the two boats. Every motor tilted fully out of the water without hitting. Im basically hanging an xr6 so ill just hold off and try it without a jackplate first. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toeknee217 Posted May 16, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2020 We got a break from the rain this morning and got the cap back on. The new fuel fill cap had to be cut down in order for it to drop into place as it would hit the side of the hull. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toeknee217 Posted June 15, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2020 Small update. Got the cap back on and got the cuts glassed and gel coated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toeknee217 Posted June 15, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2020 Also got the bottom sandblasted and it revealed quite a few blisters and imperfections on the bottom. Seems the previous owner had this boat in the water many years in the keys with bottom paint but no barrier coat. After fixing the imperfections I'm going to give vc performance epoxy a try since this will be a trailered boat from now on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quest4reds Posted June 16, 2020 Report Share Posted June 16, 2020 Wow! What a project. Looks like it's going to turn out very nice. Can't wait to see it out on your first sea trial. Thanks for sharing this with us. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toeknee217 Posted June 25, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2020 Used the playground again and was finally able to mount the 2.5l ff block I had purchased a while back for the boat. Looks like a rocket ship sitting on the trailer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toeknee217 Posted June 25, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2020 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toeknee217 Posted June 25, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2020 I mounted on the second lowest position. Still hoping the standard hydraulic steering ram will work without interfering with splash well. We shall see Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lap it Up Posted June 26, 2020 Report Share Posted June 26, 2020 Looking good! Curious to see what numbers you get with the Merc! On a Yamaha you need setback to clear a standard Seastar ram. I would assume the same for a Merc. Let us know what you find! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toeknee217 Posted June 29, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2020 I have the ability to purchase a bobs machine jack plate with 5” setback for a good price. I know of a couple of people with 6” setback but have never seen it in person. Wonder if that would be enough to clear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lap it Up Posted June 29, 2020 Report Share Posted June 29, 2020 13 hours ago, Toeknee217 said: I have the ability to purchase a bobs machine jack plate with 5” setback for a good price. I know of a couple of people with 6” setback but have never seen it in person. Wonder if that would be enough to clear. I ran a 6" on my 1998 18 RF for years. I also ran a standard seastar ram. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toeknee217 Posted July 4, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2020 Mounted up the standard Seastar cylinder onto the old Merc and to my surprise I was able to tilt the engine enough to put the tilt bracket without hitting but it is close. If the boat doesn't like where the engine is mounted and I have to drop another hole I will definitely need a jackplate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toeknee217 Posted July 4, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2020 Im not too familiar with engine mounting height when it comes to hulls with a transom pocket like on this Hewes. Does this look like a good starting point? the anti- ventilation plate is about equal with the bottom of the transom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.