1977 Mako 25 Project - AKA Boat Porn

[BFOX76]

Wanted to share my latest project with the fellow TF'ers.

I bought a 1977 Mako 25 CC last Saturday from a nice guy in Barnegat, NJ. Have already started tearing into her. Foam is pretty water logged and the fuel lines were in AWFUL condition. Larger fuel tank is out. Smaller fuel tank is next to come out.

I will be doing a new deck and reworking the console. I need to buy a new trailer and will need a new powerplant. Plan is to hang a new 300 or 350 4-stroke. But the budget may only permit a nicely used 250 HP 2-smoker until I can afford a 4S.

Lots of work to be done, but will be a great winter project to help keep me sane.

Today was great. A friend of mine who owns a rigging company sent over a 33 Ton Crane to hoist the boat off the trailer and block it up. I am really happy with how things turned out. I made the stern cribbing supports out of 4"x6" PT lumber with the top piece being 28" long. Great support and weight of the boat is carried down the center of the supports.

This is a lot of FUN and I cant wait to get her on the BAY!

[bebopper]

Nice to have friends in high places. OOOOOOOOOOOOOH!

[hackeyfly]

Looks like a candidate for an i/b diesel. Cool project!
Pat in Joppa

[J bones]

Since you are going to doing the new deck and getting all that old waterlogged foam out, you will be dealing with a much lighter boat. I would slap a good 250 2 smoker on there and you'll have plenty power.

[mrobertson]

F gettin her on the bay.....................lets buddy boat to the canyons when the weathers right.

I know you'll make a masterpiece out of it. Good luck and prepare to spend some $$$$$$$

[flycatcher]

Since I can no longer drool over Mike's SeaCraft boat build, I hope you'll post regularly to keep us appraised of your trials and tribulations. Those Makos were heavy even when the foam was dry (I had a '76 23' cuddy I/O) and had a solid hull that could slug through just about anything. But please, lose the teak and the mustard yellow deck color. Great project - count me in on the fan club.

[BFOX76]

Since you are going to doing the new deck and getting all that old waterlogged foam out, you will be dealing with a much lighter boat. I would slap a good 250 2 smoker on there and you'll have plenty power.

Yes, I like that idea as well. The new deck will be raised a little by default. So I will glass some pieces on top of the stringers so I have some surface area to glue the new deck to. My familarity with foam is not good. I assumed that the foam I take out MUST be replaced. Is this NOT the case?

F gettin her on the bay.....................lets buddy boat to the canyons when the weathers right.
I know you'll make a masterpiece out of it. Good luck and prepare to spend some $$$$$$$

Mike, You have a DEAL! Can't wait to be able to do that!

Since I can no longer drool over Mike's SeaCraft boat build, I hope you'll post regularly to keep us appraised of your trials and tribulations. Those Makos were heavy even when the foam was dry (I had a '76 23' cuddy I/O) and had a solid hull that could slug through just about anything. But please, lose the teak and the mustard yellow deck color. Great project - count me in on the fan club.

Thanks! Mike needs the credit for inspiration. He has tried to talk me out of a project. He has warned me about the amount of money I would spend and the time it takes............But they dont make boat like this anymore and doing a "PAY AS I GO" restoration on boat like this is the only way I would be able to afford it. Not to mention the PRIDE I get from doing all this work. The teak will be gone. It is just too much maintenance and the mustard color will be gone before you know it.

[J bones]

I'm sad you are loosing the teak. If you finish it right and keep the boat covered, you will not have to redo for years. I responded to your thread on the hull truth, I'm right on silver spring with a 231 Mako. The way the guy I bought the boat from redid the teak, it will last forever (as long as the boat is covered), it's completely sealed, and adds a real classic feel. As for the foam, I know guys who have not replaced it. I probably would if it were me, for the unsinkability factor and noise dampening. That is up to you, though. Either way, you will be removing a few hundred pounds of weight I bet. You will want trim tabs on there. I installed Lencos and the ride has improved dramatically. Awesome ride, when done, you will really have a 25 footer that will rival any new boat out there.

[donp]

Congrats on the purchase of the Mako. There’s something about the older Mako’s I really like. Looks like a great project and sure does look nice on that triple axle trailer. I would’ve expected the gas tank to look in worse shape living in an wet environment. Maybe the picture is deceiving or is it relatively a new tank?. How’s the transom look? From reading Mako.com, a lot of boats that age seems to need a one. Of course each one is different. Love the boat porn, keep the pictures coming

[DonQx]

I'm sure you already know this but there's tons of good information on these projects at classicmako.com. I'm redoing a 20 footer myself. Most everyone repairs or replaces the transom as almost all of them have gotten soft over the years. If you undertake that, consider a "full transom" and placing your motor on an Armstrong (or similar) bracket. You won't be sorry.