Engine Choices- Another ?

[Wheeler]

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Join DateDec 2007LocationMTPosts39
1970 Rayson Craft 18 LP with FE Engine

Here is my LP Rayson Craft 18 footer. It is an old Circle boat, I can share what I know of its history if desired.
It Has a 390 Block and Heads, A cast 427 Crank and Lemans Rods. I ran it when I picked it up years ago, I pulled the motor, pulled the heads and replaced a leaking gasket with Perma Torque gaskets and installed ARP head studs and an aluminum Dual Port Offy manifold. The carb was rebuilt at that time and has not seen fuel. I put a new Mallory Distributor and braided plug wires on it. I have two sets of seats, the Fiberglass buckets have nice new covers and are just resting on the mounts, no holes have been drilled. The larger seats fit snug and would work great if re-covered to match. It has drop thru hardware, Casale V-Drive and Jones Tach. I have a Two Blade Prop that goes with it, Looks like a Carey, it was cleaned up by Ron Hill. It has a very nice Custom Canvas Towing cover.
The Glass tanks will need to be replaced, I have a nice set of 10 Gallon Imco tanks for $300 if you need them.
I also have a set of FE headers with Super Trapps for $100 if the buyer wants them.
The trailer tows great, I towed it from Oregon to So-Cal and then to Montana, I added the torque thrust wheels, I felt they were a good match to the boat.
I understand that with this boat being in Montana, that it may be off the normal route for many folks, the buyer will have 30 days to arrange for shipping and get the boat picked up. I do travel and may be able to tow this for a fee to your area or a meeting point, please contact me to see if we can work out a delivery plan.

$5000

[Wheeler]

Ron, here's the Schiada parked at Ryan's house today.

[RyanPartridge]

I agree with what Southwind previously mentioned...if you know what kind of boating you're looking to do it'll be easier to narrow down what you should be looking for.

Where will you be boating?
Are you a weekend boater? Are you going to want to launch your boat on a holiday weekend?
Are you gonna want to be able to take a bunch of friends with you?
How fast are you gonna be happy with?
Will you be doing regular boat maintenance/fixes yourself or will you be taking it to a boat mechanic?

In my opinion, this stuff should determine which direction you go in when buying any boat...but it also can help figure out which hull/style/setup will work best for you with a v-drive.

[Mitch]

Details Ryan ....

[Wheeler]

Details Ryan ....

I think I'll drive over and see what the boat looks like up close.

[GotHalos]

I agree with what Southwind previously mentioned...if you know what kind of boating you're looking to do it'll be easier to narrow down what you should be looking for.

Where will you be boating?
Are you a weekend boater? Are you going to want to launch your boat on a holiday weekend?
Are you gonna want to be able to take a bunch of friends with you?
How fast are you gonna be happy with?
Will you be doing regular boat maintenance/fixes yourself or will you be taking it to a boat mechanic?

In my opinion, this stuff should determine which direction you go in when buying any boat...but it also can help figure out which hull/style/setup will work best for you with a v-drive.

Mainly Parker area, but would like to make some trips up north.

Yes, will mainly be a weekend type deal, and I would have no problem leaving it on the trailer during "rush hour" conditions. I also wouldn't have a problem scratching my "itch" at 6 a.m.

I would prefer something that can seat 4 uncomfortably or comfortably.

How fast I want to go is still up in the air. I'm not afraid to admit I have zero seat time behind the wheel of a v-drive, ski boats don't count here lol. Really, the only thing I can say about this is, I don't really want something that is going to top out around 40 mph.

I would like to do most of the maintenance myself.

Another question I have is, what are your guys' thoughts on fixed cav. plates vs. adjustable? Is a boat going to ride harsh with a fixed plate?

Edit: thank you for chiming in BTW.

[gn7]

Don't even remotely consider not having a cock pit adjustable cav plate. You really need a pedal override, but an adjustable as the absolute minimum.

[RyanPartridge]

Details Ryan ....

Is this Joe M.?

I just found the boat in Lomita Pines, poor thing was sitting out in the sun for some time. Fortunately the original gel can be saved, cap rail will need to be redone. It's yellow with root beer brown metal flake checkers, some interesting hardware, I haven't begun to really track the history on it yet but I have some leads...

Mainly Parker area, but would like to make some trips up north.

Yes, will mainly be a weekend type deal, and I would have no problem leaving it on the trailer during "rush hour" conditions. I also wouldn't have a problem scratching my "itch" at 6 a.m.

I would prefer something that can seat 4 uncomfortably or comfortably.

How fast I want to go is still up in the air. I'm not afraid to admit I have zero seat time behind the wheel of a v-drive, ski boats don't count here lol. Really, the only thing I can say about this is, I don't really want something that is going to top out around 40 mph.

I would like to do most of the maintenance myself.

Another question I have is, what are your guys' thoughts on fixed cav. plates vs. adjustable? Is a boat going to ride harsh with a fixed plate?

Edit: thank you for chiming in BTW.

In my opinion only, you'd be happy down the road if you found a cool semi V bottom boat. You'll be able to fit a couple extra seats in, it'll handle rougher water better on weekends, you'll spend more of your weekend out on the boat. It'll be much more fun, trust me.

I'm a Parker guy myself...and with a flatty I tend to look at the river like an older, seasoned longboard surfer looks at the ocean...you avoid the weekends and the weekend crowds because they're not your kind. You plan your river time/boating around the days that nobody but the locals are in Parker so that you have the river all to yourself. Doing this allows you to use your boat all day without over populated/crowded conditions so that you get the full FUN potential out of your old style classic flatty. I do everything in my boat that everyone else does...just not on Friday-Sunday durning peak Summer season. I pull skiers, tubers, cruise up and down the Strip and float all day...just not when most everyone else does it. The old flats can be like time machines that take you back to another era, it's an older style of river boating. It never really died, it just got moved to Monday thru Thursday for the lucky few and full time locals.

Again, this is just me and my take on it all. Everyone has their own style that suits their own personality. I know guys with flats that twice a year launch their boats, leave the tailer on the ramp, make 6 passes and put em right back on the trailer. Not my style, just another type of flat bottom boating.

If you're a young guy with buddies, a girlfriend/wife that enjoys weekends on the water, then I'll always recommend a v-bottom boat with some extra seating so that you get more enjoyment out of your boat and more time out on the water. There's plenty of cool semi or deep V classic v-drive boats out there that work perfect for all conditions on the Parker Strip.

[GotHalos]

This makes a lot of sense thank you

I too, would like to use the boat as much as possible.

[Cole Trickle]

I would take you're 5k and go to Vegas for a weekend of fun...lol

I think it will be a better investment

Nothing cheap about a v drive. If you want a fun toy why not try and find a clean 20 spectra in a jet. Find a guy that dumped 20k into it and steal it for 7k.



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