Lucky Enuff 2.0 Restoration & Outboard Conversion

[Fishtails]

I have owned my 24 ft Sea Ray (Lucky Enuff) since 2007. It's an old hull and about as un- fancy as they come. It's a blue collar fishing boat and nothing more, yet there is just something I love about this old boat. I began my off and on customizing and restoration projects in 2011. Someone had asked for me to put some pics on here so here ya go.

 

Originally it had a flybridge, so I removed that and built a new hardtop in 2011.  I really like the hull of this boat, but one thing I could not live with was the low roof.  Every time someone would yell "FISH  FISH"  I'd jump up and slam my head.  Of course, when your friends are a bunch of degenerates they pick up on that chit and start yelling FISH just to watch me give myself a concussion, so I fixed that problem for good  .  I raised the roof by 6" and did away with the useless flybridge which had no reason being on such a narrow beam boat anyhow.

 

 

The flybridge was a **** to remove, so I pretty much had to cut it off in pieces with a circular saw.

 

 

Once the bridge was removed I drank a lot of beer and hoped I made the right decision. Otherwise I'd be the new owner of a soft top.

 

 

I could find absolutely zero information on how to do this project, so I pretty much winged it and trusted myself.  I do restoration as a profession, but on furniture - not boats.  Either way, I am pretty skilled at thinking outside the box and improvising so I just ran with it and figured it out as I went.

 

 

 

 

It took me an entire summer, but once I finished it I have never looked back. It's just a ton more functional than before and the headroom inside is like 6' 3"  or something like that.

 

 

 

 

So now I am happy with the top, but one problem I had was it moved a lot and I couldn't seem to fix that. In rough seas it just flexed and that totally bummed me out.  It wasn't going anywhere, but it just wasn't up to my standards so it lead me into my next project that I had planned on anyway.  I decided to add a wall and turn the cockpit into a pilothouse.  It was an option on my model Sea Ray anyhow, but the factory wall looked like crap so I came up with my own design.

 

 

 

This turned out to be an awesome addition and really secured the top and made it completely rigid.  I didn't take any pictures of the process and how I did it - not sure why?  I purchased new windows from an RV supply company so they all three open and have screens.

 

I also added a second steering station to the hydraulic steering.  I'll continue the next  phase on a new post......

Edited May 26, 2016 by Fishtails

[Fishtails]

In Jan 2015 I took Lucky Enuff all the way down to Key Largo for the month of January.  We go to the Keys every year, but this was Lucky Enuff's first trip.  It was am amazing month, but little did I know how it would shape my future plans for my boat.

 

 

 

In the summer of 2015, I almost sold my boat.  I knew I needed a better rig to handle saltwater because I wanted to do mor winter trips.  After listing it and searching for boats, I realized that the layout I had was pretty much exactly what I wanted except for it being I/O's.  After doing some research I found the style boat I wanted.....

 

 

So, I could sell mine (which I owed nothing on) and spend upwards of 100K for the new boat I wanted or convert mine to an outboard (s).

 

I decided since I already know my boat inside out, and know it's seaworthiness, I'd invest in mine and not only have the boat I wanted but no boat payment either  .

 

After doing a chit ton of research, I ordered my Armstrong bracket from a boat builder in North Carolina.  While it was being built, I pulled the motors on my boat.

 

 

 

I didn't know if I wanted to go with a single or twin setup so I spent the extra coin and ordered a twin bracket just to be safe. I then made a road trip and picked it up. That turned out to be cool because the boat builder and I discussed some things I found very useful.

 

 

 

Pulling all the old crap off the boat was not fun. I never want to do that again.  Once I got er done though and filled the holes with plywood cutouts and used a ship lap router bit on the edges and 3M  5200 to seal them in place.  I then glassed the back with about 4 coats of fiberglass and cloth.

 

The Bracket is held on by 12 - 3 1/2 " stainless bolts and locknuts as well as 5200. 

 

 

 

 

On the inside of the transom, Two large aluminum brackets are used to secure the bracket and distribute the weight. 

 

 

Before doing any of this, I was sure to check the transom for signs of rot and thickness.  The hull is a 1976 Sea Ray, so it was 2 plus inch thick cored plywood glassed on both sides and in solid condition.

 

Once complete, I decided to go with a single outboard and kicker, at least to begin with.  After lots of research, I choose a 2007 Mercury 250 Optimax as my "starter" motor.  I paired that with a Mercury 15hp  four stroke kicker.  I set up both motors on Sea Star hydraulic steering with  and piped that into both steering stations using teleflex hoses.  The main engine controls are at the helm in the pilot house and the kicker is controlled from the back by the second station.

 

 

My trial run was during the Niagara Pro Am last week.  It went amazing !  Besides needing to change props, I was blown away by what seems to be a whole different boat. It's fast enough (wot is still unknown, but 40ish or more is expected) and fuel burn at cruise should be between 8 & 9 gph at 25 to 27 mph once the prop is squared away.  I am planing on a Revolution 4 Stainless prop. 

 

 

 

 

So there ya have it for now.  The final stage happens this fall with re-doing the entire exterior in Imron MS 6000.  Not sure of the hull color yet.  Oyster white on the top and maybe a super light aqua on the hull sides.  Then she's off to Key Largo to rest in a slip from November through February.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“There is nothing -- absolutely nothing -- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats†
 

Edited May 26, 2016 by Fishtails

[whaler1]

That's fantastic!  great story and pics.  Good for you for knowing how to do things like that and for the courage to learn the rest..

[Sk8man]

Truly amazing! What a nice rig.

[JakeyBaby]

That i am absolutely amazed! Beautiful work and the best part is there is not another boat like that out there. Great job!

[BAZOOKAJOE]

ðŸ‘

Nice work!! She's purty!!

[Frogger]

My hats of to ya! What a project, nice work and congrats on a dream of a rig!

Sent from my iPad using Lake Ontario United

[Gill-T]

Wow I thought I have boat projects! Nice work Rod

[Fishtails]

Thanks guys !!   I somehow really enjoy working on boats. It distracts me from life. My wife is incredibly understanding and tolerates it but I know she's happy when it finally heads to NY each year   I tell her I'm almost done with it and she's like....yeah, sure you are  

 

This summer the boat is getting a generator and air conditioning just for the wife !!  

[MeanMachine]

Wow!! Amazing work!!

[Yankee Troller]

Great job bud! Looked great on the water.

[bondouley]

She's beautiful great job bud!!!

[times two]

Saw it while we were slipped in Wilson....glad to hear the story....

Nice job!

[TileMan Dan]

Nice Job.  Love how you turned it into a pilot house.

[Xxx]

WOW that's a sharp looking ride there fishtails, anyone that did any kind of repairing on boats, rebuilding the transome, replacing stringers, ect can relate to this and the guys who polish & wax can get a grip on the magnitude of this prodject. Amazing what a man can do if he puts his mind to it!! Congrats on your build!!!

[momay4000]

Awesome story - thanks for taking the time to write it. I really enjoyed your flybridge rebuild when you posted it a few years back so it was great to see all the other stuff you've done over the years since.

 

Thanks for sharing - you are one handy dude,

 

Chris

[horsehunter]

WOW and I get nervous bolting a transducer on the transom. Enjoy

[Fishtails]

Thanks a million guys, it means a lot !!!!

Edited May 28, 2016 by Fishtails

[lineman49]

  WoW is right, lots of nice work & she looks great!  I to am afraid to drill a hole in my boat.

[woody 184]

Rod I passed you last Sunday on route 104 in Webster, I was kind of shocked because I knew the boat was an I/O boat but the lucky enuff I saw on 104 had a Sweet outboard on in. So then I started thinking you got a new boat, so I appreciate the post about your boat. Awesome job on the boat it's sweet . Woody

[Capt Vince Pierleoni]

I did a double take running by you Pro-Am week. You are amazingly talented!