You looking for an F or a Q?

Decided to fire it up tonight. Matt Byrne stopped by to lend me his ignition button. After 10 minutes of start-up failure, I discovered I had the fuel valve turned off at the filter. Duct-taped the pipes on to get the full effect. Crank up the volume. Now, if I just had a boat to drop it in... https...

Thanks guys! Although, I won't be dropping in the boat any time soon. The hull work has yet to begin. As long as I keep moving forward with something, I'll ll eventually have a finished boat. Ron, the PCV hose is the original. I just rubbed off the old paint with a Scotch Brite pad and shined it up ...

Some photos after the decals and final detailing.

I'm good for now, I already have my name on an unfinished boat. Should be finished around 2020.

If it was burned from the backside, it's probably burned all the way through. Use a router or hole saw to remove the burnt wood and replace with a wooden plug, try to match color and grain as close as possible. Will just look like a large bung. I made one for a 1" thru-hull fitting once, barely noti...

Hey John,

Found this one on Craigslist today and thought of you. Looks like a fun project.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/ant/bo ... 31215.html

Looking good Troy!

The engine is a 327QA. Will someday drop into a '69 Commander SS.

To my knowledge, it has always been mounted below. There were no signs of it being relocated. Nice score on the NOS filter. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled.

Here's an easy box to make. I used 2x12s so I could get it to a comfortable work height and give my V-drive clearance off the floor. You could probably get by with 2x10s. Lag bolted the sides to the ends. Heavy duty casters make it a breeze to wheel around the shop. I just measured the width of the ...

Do you have a photo of the light? Someone will chime in once they see what style light it is.

Mine Sportsman '52 U-18 has a modern replacement globe from Jim at finewoodboats.com

If it's a post-war assembly, there is a snap ring on the underside of the metal piece that joins the globe to the socket. It is not threaded.

I just chose to keep it in it's original position. There is quite a bit of room in the engine bay on the SS. I can easily reach the filter by hand but may have some issues if I need to put a wrench on it. I would have to remove the water pump intake hose to get at it. I can always relocate it later ...

The good news... The Antique Wooden Boat Show & Art Festival in Hessel is the same weekend.

That's what I was thinking - "non-caloric silicon-based kitchen lubricant". 500 times more slippery than cooking oil.

Oh yah, well I'll spray non-stick cooking spray on the hull. 327QA-PAM

It's a 327QA, I still have to apply my new decals. Someday, we'll have to run them together to compare. You are much closer to completion than me. I have not touched the hull. Your ski boat is gonna scoot, and sound great. The plug wires are from CD's Engine Shop. I believe he made them to length, u...

Some head casting information I found useful.

John, you're on your own with that Argentinian stuff!

I agree, boats can wait. Family is always first. Best of luck with Sophia's new treatment. I decided to keep the original heads and have them rebuilt. New: 1.94/1.50 valves, guides, springs, push rods, hardened seats. New alternator, distributor cap, exhaust risers & elbows. Rebuilt fuel pump & carb...

Check with Jim Staib at www.finewoodboats.com

The boat and the engine are looking great! Can't wait to see them reunited and running on the water. Looks like you are getting close.

I've finally completed the resto of the 327QA engine from the '69 Commander SS. If you've followed "quitchabitchin's" restoration of his 327Q, you'll find them to be very similar. The only difference between the two engines is the V-Drive assembly of the QA. Thanks goes to Andy for paving the way fo...

Thanks Tom, I'll send him the link.

Does anybody have any information on Skiff Craft? I'm looking for owners, boats, photos, literature, anything. A buddy of mine is looking to restore his recently acquired boat, a 1965 19' Skiff Craft Runabout. It is powered by a CC 283 paired with a Mercruiser outdrive. Any info would be greatly app...

I'll take a guess. I'd say they should be attached with R&P oval head SB screws. Mine (on a 52) were attached at the frame ans battens with 2 or 3 screws, depending on the width of the board. I believe they were #6 x1 (not sure). There were also a few nails on the narrow ceiling boards along the flo...

Looking good. I cleaned my cooper pipes last week using the toilet bowl cleaner trick as well. I will never sand another piece of copper again.

Thanks Matt. Great work!

Looks great. Can't wait to see it with the new upholstery and the Q dropped in.

Looking good. Wish I was moving along on the SS hull. Keep chippin' away!