Just got a 97 180pro (PICTURES ADDED)

fishinfranklin · July 13, 2013, 06:42:18 AM

Yesterday was my birthday,, so I went and got myself a present. I picked up a 1997 185pro,, It's a small project for me and should have the engine on and going by sunday. All the carpet has just been replaced and it came with a brand new set of seats, onboard charger and a custom cover. I am hanging a 90hp tower of power with a 22p prop on it just to get it in the water and building a 175hp engine to
be installed in the near future. Only got 800 bucks in it as it sits now. My plans are to add 70lb Johnson hand controlled trolling motor( hope central fl trolling motors still has one),, 12 ft talon, yes 12 ft!! was just introduced at Icast and a lowrance hds7 on the bow and a hds9 at the console. I will post a few pictures of it later today.

fishinfranklin · July 14, 2013, 01:05:33 AM

Well I was really sad this morning when I went outside and found that all of the carpet
in the boat had been glued down with the wrong type of glue and was all coming off.
Today my brother and myself got all the carpet and glue off, cleaned and ready for new carpet
to be install. We are going to reclear all of the burgundy on the boat. with extra fine
scotch-brite pads we was able to get most of the water deposits stain and oxidation
off. plans for in the morning is to go back over all the areas that bleed back thru with
the scotch-brite pads and water and then wet sand all areas to be cleared with 1500
wet paper then clean it with wax and grease remover and finaly wash. Hope to get
it into the paint room to be cleared Monday evening. Here is a few pictures of it as we
was cleaning it today.

Donald Garner · July 14, 2013, 08:14:52 AM

Good luck with the project. Can't wait to see the finished boat.

Camden · July 14, 2013, 12:21:00 PM

nice looking start. that thing will look SWEET with some TLC

Bigwrench · July 14, 2013, 12:24:39 PM

Can't wait to see it when your done with it !

fishinfranklin · July 15, 2013, 06:40:45 AM

Thanks Guys!! well its coming along sweet. we sanded it and my brother got the buffer on it
and its going to look great without reclearing the whole boat, the back and port sides of the
the boat look almost new now. carpet should be in on wensday. and I am still looking for a engine
a good used one or a compete one that's in need of rebuilding up to 175hp. I will post some more pictures tonight. if anyone knows of a engine please let me know

urban · July 15, 2013, 07:39:14 AM

Quote from: Bigwrench on July 14, 2013, 12:24:39 PM
Can't wait to see it when your done with it !

agreed!

fishinfranklin · July 15, 2013, 08:57:13 PM

Well I got a 03 150 mercury to build for the procraft. Only downfall too it, it's
a 25in mid-section so I am in need of a 20in. mid-section. It is looking better
by the hour that we put into it. I picked up a 3in buffing mandrel and a wool
and foam pad for them today to use on the inside of the boat. Also picked up
some gel filler and touch-up paint to fix the couple of scratches.
Here is a couple of pictures of the area's we
got sanded and buffed and the polished

fishinfranklin · July 21, 2013, 06:37:22 AM

Well yesterday we got the rest of the top cap and interior of the procraft
sanded buffed and polished. Now we got to get the bottom of the hull
cleaned, two chips fixed and sanded and buffed. Not waxing any of the
boat until we get the bottom done then we will repolish the whole boat
and then apply two good coats of meguiar's# 56 pure wax. To clean
the bottom, we will use alum. brighter acid. Spray it on scrub it with a
brush and rinse it off pretty quick with the pressure washer. Then I will
wet sand with 1000 grit to 1500 grit wet and then buff polish and wax it.
The two chips in the hulls gel coat will be repaired by a friend of mine
and I will take detail pictures and watch him closely so I can post it here
how to repair chips in the gel coat. Here's a couple more after polishing.

fishinfranklin · November 01, 2013, 10:21:29 AM

It been a while since I posted about this project. Well it got put on hold when I blew the 90 up on my Triton. I sold the 03 150 25in motor for a profit to apply to the repair of the 90 for my Triton. Since then I got a 02 20in. 150 with a busted block which is ruined but still has lots of parts I will use. I got a 99 150 that's has one melted piston that I will use the block, crank, rods, heads and use all of the externally parts off of the 02 engine. This will give me the intergraded coils without a switchbox. The build will be posted in the outboard section. We have got all of the wiring redone and all new pumps installed. I got to find or build a fuel tank, install carpet, hot foot and seats, restore the dash panel.
If weather permits my brother is going to install carpet this sat. I will be posting the progress as we move forward with everything.

fishinfranklin · January 01, 2014, 09:13:19 AM

Well we was able to get back on it a little over the holidays. We got the carpet in and wanting on removable seats mounts to come in to finish up the interior. Here is a few picture of the decks getting covered. My buddy Burt that owns the carpet store next door laid the decks for me and told me he had done the easy part, I thought he was joking, I got all of the lids covered myself but sure could have used some advice for wrapping it around the lids. Cutting it to wrap and cover and not bulk up was tough. We used outdoor carpet glue for the decks and on the top of the lids and used 3M contact adhesive where it wrapped around to the inside.

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fishinfranklin · January 19, 2014, 10:21:50 AM

The boat is coming along great!! I will build the engine this week and my brother will get the trailer fenders and frame painted this week. Wheels should be in by Friday, so I can mount the tires and get them balanced and on the trailer. I had gotten really busy and had to put this project aside for a while but now it is time to get it done. If the Lords willing and the creek doesn't rise I will be putting it in the water for the 1st time next sunday.

Donald Garner · January 19, 2014, 01:55:04 PM

Alright can't wait to see the finished project

fishinfranklin · February 04, 2014, 07:27:30 AM

Well over the weekend we got the all of the fabrication work done on the trailer and got the frame painted and new carpeted bunk boards installed. Glad Fastenal is 200 yards away lol, Hope to get the metal flake sprayed one night this week being it has warmed up so we can spray it. LED lights are going to have to be installed without the gaskets to fit in the back of the fenders, think I have come up with a way to hold them in from the backside. I have the block assy. put together still needing fuel and ignition
installed. Going to set it up 3.25 below pad and looking for a 25P Tempest plus prop for it.

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fishinfranklin · March 08, 2014, 02:16:53 PM

here is a few pictures of the seats and carpet.

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Donald Garner · March 08, 2014, 05:24:39 PM

Tks for sharing the update. She's getting there

fishinfranklin · March 11, 2014, 09:09:55 AM

We got the engine busted off last night and she runs sweet!! going to a local small lake today to do some riding and play with a few props and try and burn out my 12 gallons of 32to 1 fuel so I can hammer this baby!!

Mike Cork · March 11, 2014, 09:27:35 AM

See if you can get some photo's in the sunlight of the whole rig

fishinfranklin · March 12, 2014, 07:10:49 AM

I will Mike..The fenders are much brighter than the boat but matches great for me just to walk in and look at a chip and say that's it. the engine runs great, going today to fix a small area on the port rear corner of the hull and go back out and run it some more to try and get at least 20 gallons thru it, it is killing me I am ready to do prop runs !!!

Mike Cork · March 12, 2014, 09:36:01 AM

I'm sitting the sidelines and am excited to see how it all turns out... Can't imagine how pumped you are