1977 Hydrodyne Tournament Skier 18 OB Rebuild

Discussion in 'Hydrodyne® Boats' started by barefootrocker, Dec 15, 2014.

  1. tj309

    tj309 Composite Specialist

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2010
    Messages:
    399
    Location:
    LA (lower Alabama)
    Boat Model and Year:
    1972 18' Hydrodyne
    Ski Team:
    Former Hodag Water shows
    When I was a kid my mon took us to Syvania to camp for a few days. What a beautiful place. I did not know Sylvania was in WI - I thought we were in MI. My dad was really pissed because he just bought his 1st brand new car - a 1971 Buick estate wagon with the 455 - and mom took the car and us up North.

    Jim - I am pretty sure that there are 16' bubble decks out there but will do some research and see. From what you are telling me any 18' bubbledeck is a tournament skier?
     
  2. jim

    jim Hydrodyne 18 Specialist

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2006
    Messages:
    2,321
    Location:
    FL
    Boat Model and Year:
    77 Dyne 18 I/O converted to Outboard
    Sylvania is in the Upper Peninsula of MI, just north of the WI line. I first visited there in 1953 while it was still privately owned.

    It depends on how you define tournament skier. The AWSA tests and approves ski boats at the manufacturers expense I think. The then refer to them as tournament approved I think.

    I guess any manufacturer could refer to their boat as a tournament skier if they wish. I don't know if the 18 was ever approved or if it has ever been referred to as a tournament skier. The short answer is that I don't know.

    I have never seen or heard of a 16 bubble deck.

    jim
     
  3. barefootrocker

    barefootrocker Hydrodyner

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2014
    Messages:
    25
    Location:
    Central Wisconsin
    Ski Team:
    CWWSST
    Well folks, neither my dad nor I have fallen off the world, contrary to the lack of posts. The '77 Tourney Skier project is still in full swing. My computer which I was saving the pictures on as we went had a hard drive failure, and I finally got around to getting it fixed and getting the pictures pulled. A lot of progress has been made in a little over two years. And at the risk of jinxing the project, it seems there's a light at the end of the tunnel and the Dyne will see the lake this season.

    This may be a long post. I will let the pictures tell the story mostly...

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    Maybe a gratuitous choice of picture to open with... I'm just going in chronological order. The 1995 Mariner EFI that should move the little Dyne quite nicely. Already bench fired it. Started up after only a couple revs and purred perfectly. The cavitation plate will be pulled off. Don't need it, don't want it.

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    Floor is in. We opted for resin coated wood stringers, layered over with cloth and fillets to the glassed hull. Expanding foam under the floor, drain tube in place from the footwell to the bilge. Aluminum tabs for the pylon.

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    Found a deal on four Wise bolster buckets. Dry fit illustrates that this seating configuration would make it a bobsled. Hard pass on this configuration.

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    Transom laminated, cut, drilled, resin coated. Ready to install.

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    Much of original outermost layer of glass was left intact to ensure proper transom position and angle. The notch cut out of the center to remove transom core was beveled and glassed back in. All holes in the shell were beveled and glassed shut. New transom core installed.

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    Glass on the inside of transom, layered to hull, stringers and gunnels.
     

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  4. barefootrocker

    barefootrocker Hydrodyner

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2014
    Messages:
    25
    Location:
    Central Wisconsin
    Ski Team:
    CWWSST
    I apparently missed any photo opportunities after dad reinstalled the rear portion of the deck. I will fill in the gaps quickly... Glass fillets from the deck to the sides similar to original. Reinforced heavily under the joints between the rear portion of deck and the remainder where we cut to remove the deck. Reinforcements under the tops of the gunnels for people stepping on the sides. Reinforcement under the rear deck for when the pylon is reinstalled. Fillet from the motorwell to the new transom. And a loooong time addressing the joints on the top between the two deck pieces to get them flush. Time to flip the rig and do some work on the bottom....


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    Go-go gadget rotisserie chicken style boat flipping piece. I guess it comes from Dad's years of grilling experience. He eyeballed the center of mass of the boat within a couple of inches and fabricated this.

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    Strap on the bow eye hung from the cherry picker for good measure.

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    I mentioned finding the center of mass within a couple of inches?? Flipped the boat with one hand. Drama free. Barely cleared the garage door though...

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    Upside down allows filling, sanding of the hull. Tracking fin needed a bit of tweaking as well. First coat of poly on the hull. Gave us another better opportunity to go over the shape of hull. Everything looked very good, very true. The lip where the deck comes over the gunnel is filled with rivets for the rub rail. Rivets popped, rub rail removed, gap filled with resin coated wood filler strips, and filled with putty to seal out splash while underway and strengthen the lip the new rub rail will be mounted to. Not sure why these last two pictures came in sideways, but it's too late in the evening to worry about it.
     
  5. barefootrocker

    barefootrocker Hydrodyner

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2014
    Messages:
    25
    Location:
    Central Wisconsin
    Ski Team:
    CWWSST
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    One of the best parts of the find. The original batwing trailer. Cleaned up, painted, new brackets for bunks. Would soon get new lights.

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    Original winch mount and bow stop. Pretty humble. Also a peek at some of the graphics Dad printed up for the trailer.


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    Can't find a picture of the actual finished product. I designed a new winch mount and bow roller, here's a rendering. When installed it fit perfect and looked much cleaner than the old one.

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    Remember the nose weight/sand in the gas tank fiasco? After many attempts at cleaning the tank, you could still hear sand sliding around inside. We torched a hole in the top of the tank and opened it like a can of tuna. This doesn't look like much but it's about half a cup of sand and residue. Would have surely caused a lot of fuel filter headaches if not much worse mechanical issues. We cleaned the inside thoroughly then cut a coupon of matching aluminum and TIG welded back in place. This offers much needed peace of mind on what's happening inside the once neglected gas tank.
     
    Last edited: Mar 30, 2017
  6. barefootrocker

    barefootrocker Hydrodyner

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2014
    Messages:
    25
    Location:
    Central Wisconsin
    Ski Team:
    CWWSST
    IMG_3642.JPG
    There was concern that too much buildup was created on top of the transom and that the height would now be too tall for the motor. I believe the height measured right at 21". We dry fit the motor and it looks like the height should be just perfect, with the cavitation plate riding just barely below the bottom of the transom. We may want to raise the motor one hole after the first run for better top end, but this will be a fine place to start.

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    This is the last picture I have at this time. We opted for a rear bench. Dad created the layout and built the framing. We then sent it to a local upholstery outfit who did a great job matching the factory seats. We also had trim strips created for the gunnels to finish off the interior. Carpet, seats and trim in this picture are all dry fit, but these kinds of visualizations are always fun to keep motivation behind the project. Looks plenty roomy and quite comfortable.

    Hope you all have enjoyed the update, and there will be more to come.
     
    Last edited: Mar 30, 2017
  7. barefootrocker

    barefootrocker Hydrodyner

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2014
    Messages:
    25
    Location:
    Central Wisconsin
    Ski Team:
    CWWSST
    Well folks, here we are again, about a year after my last post. Dad ran into a very understandable hangup in making progress on the Dyne last year. He and my mom bought a beautiful cabin early last year, on North Nokomis Lake near St. Germain in northern Wisconsin. The cabin was nearly turn key but there were a lot of items which Dad wanted to address to get it to their liking. So that took the majority of Dad's spare time. This spring however he's made a push on the Dyne, and hopefully it will make an appearance at said cabin this year. Not a ton to show but the following:


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    Fast forward countless hours of sanding, filling, and painting, and here is the last hours of prep for the top coat on the top of the boat. Bottom is complete as done at home. Dad decided to outsource the top coat of the top to ensure a nice finish. Mom and Dad elected for a color of 'Sugar Cookie'. I think it has a bit better definition than plain white and will go with the rest of the color scheme well. *Yes we will be installing front bunks on the trailer before taking it on the road.*

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    The finished base coat. Starting to resemble a real boat! The color scheme will be completed with black rub rail, and decals to match the interior seating color of forest green.

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    The custom fabricated winch tower.

    Next up will be to hang the motor and begin to run lines/controls/electrical. With any luck mother nature will come around from this temper tantrum of snow and we will get some warm days to work on the boat. Stay tuned!
     
  8. jim

    jim Hydrodyne 18 Specialist

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2006
    Messages:
    2,321
    Location:
    FL
    Boat Model and Year:
    77 Dyne 18 I/O converted to Outboard
    Beautiful boat!! I agree with your conclusion about the transom height. The 175 is the perfect motor. Put a 17 pitch prop on it and it pull you arms off.

    jim
     
  9. kevinb

    kevinb Elite Hydrodyner

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2006
    Messages:
    459
    Location:
    Brookfield, WI
    Boat Model and Year:
    1985 HD 20' I/O 350 (Yep I/O Boat #2 of maybe7?)
    Ski Team:
    NA
    Looks like you are getting close, nice work! The 18' 73 Tournament skier 265 CID i/o that I co-owned was a bit of a labor of love but a fun boat (May 2000 through 2002 and sold out my half the ski friend), the 75 Tournament skier 351 CID i/o was a joy to own with just minor maintenance issues (1998 through Oct 2013 pics are still in the classifieds), the 1985 HD 20' 350 i/o was a bit of a bear to bring back but never lost interest (its in the restoration section under HD 20 I/O) and it is pulling strong when it gets out. Also located in Wisconsin (SE region) so know all about the weather and the limitations to do work in the garage through the off-season. Will keep an eye toward your progress and suggest you hit the forum up with questions. Forum has been a little quiet lately but might wake up a few ????'s

    My best,

    Kevin-
     
  10. barefootrocker

    barefootrocker Hydrodyner

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2014
    Messages:
    25
    Location:
    Central Wisconsin
    Ski Team:
    CWWSST
    Thanks guys. I wish I could take more of the credit but it’s all been my dad. I help out here and there when I can but it’s been 99% his work. Most of the tough questions have been addressed already. Regarding the prop selection, I know ski38off uses a 17 pitch with great results on his single, but over revving is a concern; we want it to be a dummy-proof family boat. Plus the motor included a 19 pitch 3 blade aluminum with it so that’ll be a good place to start.
    I’m pretty sure Dad has a game plan through the end but in case he doesn’t I guess I can just throw out some upcoming items. We’re about 16” of snow into this mid-April storm and no sign of slowing down so might as well at least talk about it.
    We have a side mount throttle control, and the cables come out the back end of the box. We’re trying to figure out a way to elegantly mount this and how to run the cables. I suppose it’d be possible to run a hole through the gunnels but that would also have to go through the upholstery. Anyone have any tricks for this?
    After carpet then would be seating. Anyone have any best practices for mounting seats and maintaining a good seal in the floor?
    Lastly, any pros/cons to anyone running a swim platform? Again we’d like this to be a family friendly ski boat so a small platform is in the agenda. Thanks all,

    Aaron
     

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