One Hot Ride

[GotHalos]

One Hot Ride

By: Wendi


Hotboat of the Month Winner February 2013
1979 Schiada River Cruiser
Owner: Marc Kasaboski (Member: SFV2RVR)

We were able to catch up with Marc and asked him a few questions about his 1979 Schiada River Cruiser, a boat that he is a proud owner of. Marc has owned this boat since Labor Day weekend 2006 when he purchased the boat in Lake Elsinore, CA. He bought the boat knowing he was going to change a few things, but never envisioned a 3 year full rebuild.



Marc started boating at a very young age. His parents met in Parker AZ, March 25th 1967. 8 years later, to the date, Marc was born. His father, an avid boater, owned a 1967 Byers wood deck blown flatbottom that you would find cruising up and down the Parker strip. As a family this is how they spent their summer vacations. His father passed away in 2001, always wanting a V-drive cruiser, but unfortunately never bought one. Marc made it his mission to have a “badass V-drive hotrod”, that he knew his father would appreciate. As winner of Hotboat of the Month for February 2013, we can all say that his father would be very proud.



In the beginning of 2010 Marc decided to tear down the boat and start with a bare hull. He dropped off the boat with Don of Pat’s Fiberlass in Upland, CA, where they filled in every hole in the boat. He was upgrading his C-500 V-drive to a billet case 10* so the hole needed to be filled in for the new strut angle. Don then laid balsa core throughout the floor and added a charcoal grey accent with yellow pin lines.

From there he flipped the boat over and blueprinted the bottom.

Moving on to the exterior of the boat, the full cap was next, followed by re-gelling the whole boat the same color to keep those classic Schiada lines. The motor was sent to QMP Racing Engines in Chatsworth, CA where he did a complete rebuild from pan to carbs.



Todd Mielke in Lake Havasu City, AZ is responsible for the fabrication and rigging of the boat transom to bow. Todd has been rigging boats for Schiada for the last 15 years, so Marc knew taking the boat there it would be done by the best. The rigging throughout this Schiada is flawless.

The seats and side panels were done at Schiada in Long Beach, CA. A back seat and an engine hatch are still in the works, so the cleaning process will be much less! If you are ever in Parker, AZ do not hesitate to take a gander at this beautiful classic.



Engine Specifications:
Top speed is 100+
460CI BBC
Dart aluminum heads
Eagle crank/rods
JE pistons
Jesel belt drive
Race Aero/Gentry turbo system w/ Holley 830's
Turbo400 3 speed transmission