1976 Century Arabian complete restoration

[Surflat19]

I'm looking forward to sharing my project and my trials and tribulations too. I've been a lurker far too long. I've had some struggles finding other Arabian restoration nuts. So I'm hopeful my project might be of help to anybody and encourage people to reach out and say hi. So that said this is my journey so far. I bought my Arabian near Austin, TX for $300. Nice guy but he didn't know a ton about the boat. I think it had really been his brother-in-laws. So he informed me to the best he could that the block was viable on the motor. I was really attracted to the Arabian because of the stock 440. I just love that about this boat. So money paid my son and dragged the boat out of the weeds and brought her home. This was February 5 th, 2017.

 

[Surflat19]

Here are the rest of my restoration photos. I Hope you'll check them out. Let me know what you think. Thanks. https://www.flickr.com/photos/142125230@N08/sets/72157700490561094

 

[chevymaher]

Looking outstanding. Did you get a new block because the original froze? Very good looking boat.

 

[Woodonglass]

Hmm, did you not use resin and fabric on the substructure. I didn't see any evidence of it. How did you attach all the wood stringers and bulkheads to the hull? I'm confused!!!

 

[Surflat19]

Hey guys thanks for looking. Yes, sadly the "viable" block had more than one crack so I had to find another. That turned out not to be as difficult as I feared. Regarding the frames and longitudinals yes everything was glassed in with layers of mat. In fact if you look closely every hull and frame union is tabbed with strips of rigid foam at a 45 degrees for joint strength. I believe this glassed in grid system will provide superior rigidity and strength. And without any spray in foam to trap water which can eventually cause rot and extra weight. Because the motor has been enhanced to 475 hp. I also beefed up the engine stringers and used 4" aluminum angle iron through bolted with backing plate to the stringers and through bolted the motor mounts to the aluminum. The original mount was only bolted with carrage bolts from the top into the wood stringers which eventually allowed moisture in and caused the engine stringers to rot.

 

[Surflat19]

Correction, I had a senior moment when talking about how the motor was bolted in place originally. I said carrage bolts when I meant to say Lag bolts.