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FINELINE 24 Skater, South Fla. Finest
- Thread starter jmbtile
- Start date
alright here you go. as you saw it was a little beat but still in great structural shape. i bought that one because it was striped so i didnt have to pay for a bunch of stuff i was going to throw away. the boat went to guardado marine to have the bottom fixed and to cut out the fuel tanks and all the extra stringers in it. it was a race boat set up with the fuel tanks behind the front seats, no back seat and a race hatch. eddies guys did the repairs and p
painted the bottom while it was there. when i got it back the real fun began. thats when i decided to change the splash well from the one big one to two individual ones and eliminate the rub rail across the transom. we also took the rail of the front. we made a mold off of both sides of the well, fabricated two parts out of the molds, cut the well out and bonded in the new parts. it was a major project but what a cool result. next was the hatches in the deck. i drew the shapes and cut them out of the deck. we used the pices as the hatch itself so it has a the same crown as thr deck. we cleaned up the edges, glassed them and made a flange for the hatch to rest in. they arent on thr boat yet but they are cool. eddie marine hinges mounted underneath and electric ram to open and close. will use that area for front bumpers and anchor. next i cut the top of the dash out of the boat. structurally it didnt hurt anything cuz i left the center stringer in and left the face of the dash in. but i wanted a gps and glove box so i needed more area. i was a bit of work but again i feel the result was worth the effort. next we put new aluminum tanks in and put a floor in it. being a race boat in didnt have the floor liner like most 24's have. so we made the floor glassed it in and shot awl grip nonskid. we also smoothed out the bilge area, lots of grinding and dura glass, a coat of gel-coat, one more sand, and two coats of awl grip. the bilge is like a mirror. after all that mess it left fineline and went back to guardado for paint. chris dilling from grafix efx did the design work and it was painted. now its back home at the shop and the detail work begins. this project started in february 08 and never sat idle at any one time so its been quite a task. i'm trying to get it done in 4 to 6 weeks. i cant get much done during the week cuz the shop is so busy so mostly weekend work. i'll keep pics comin and any new updates. thank for the compliments, mike
i put my batteries up there also. there are a couple 300 boats down here but nobody has got 120 yet. thats great numbers. what cockpit set up do you have. 2 seats and race hatch or full interior?
jl audio for sure. two 10,s and trying to get three sets of components in. same system i have in my fish boat and it rocks!!!!!
MarylandMark
Charter Member
TY for the write up and what an awesome project! I wish I had the skill/time/patience for things like this!
2scoops
New member
I have a full interior in my boat. I am making some changes this year looking for a bigger top end number. There are 2 of us up here with 24's in the 120+ arena. Now back to the Fineline build up. I cant wait to see the finished product, I cant imagine how much time you have invested.
jmbtile
New member
from Mike
Well the past few weekends i've got some things done. Got the front seats built and foamed, the console has been reshaped, foamed and covered, and the upper dash pad is foamed and covered. Also got the rubrail ends welded and the rails were polished and thru bolted. If any of you have ever been in the sponson of a 24 thru bolting the rail you know what a choir that is!!! The dash panel, indicators, and guages are back in permanetly and will start wiring the dash this weekend. Will also start covering the front seats, making side panels, and begin rear seat. I can only work on the boat on weekends and a couple hours a night so it will be a challenge to get it done by the miami oss race but thats the deadline. A month and counting. Will keep ya posted.
Well the past few weekends i've got some things done. Got the front seats built and foamed, the console has been reshaped, foamed and covered, and the upper dash pad is foamed and covered. Also got the rubrail ends welded and the rails were polished and thru bolted. If any of you have ever been in the sponson of a 24 thru bolting the rail you know what a choir that is!!! The dash panel, indicators, and guages are back in permanetly and will start wiring the dash this weekend. Will also start covering the front seats, making side panels, and begin rear seat. I can only work on the boat on weekends and a couple hours a night so it will be a challenge to get it done by the miami oss race but thats the deadline. A month and counting. Will keep ya posted.
jmbtile
New member
Mike is building the skater for himself. Im just helping him with the posting.
