Restoration project start 1990 chris craft 254 seahawk

[joelewis73]

I got very excited by reading the thread for another Chris Craft 254 Seahawk... I mean super excited lol... i bought her almost 3 years ago with a brand new Jasper 350 engine, outdrive with less than 5 hours of run time (I could not open her up for a while) I am posting pictures of what she looks like after almost 2 years of being parked... I own the boat outright and since I have the family boat in the water the Admiral has agreed to allow me to keep this one and fix it up for myself vice selling it... Esp after she saw the other one on here all lit up like christmas. I am looking for a hard top similar to the DahlFin II and have to find a engine cover to work with since mine is all wood and needs to be replaced. I haave a long way to go but engine is good runs great the hull is awesome but I will be hitting it up this week with some 1000 grit and a RA sander, rubbing compound and waxing the hell out of it. It has the stickers on it now but they will be first to come off this week as well before I hop to the sanding and waxing. I used "GUNK" engine foam clearner last week to get the old name off of her and the old adhesive came off easily with that so I am sure it will do the same to the original stickers. I really appreciate all the hard work that wasa put into DahlFinn II and I am not much on copying anyone I sure am envious of what he has done and will not replicate exactly what he has done I will do my best to get mine in the same shape...
Thanks
Joe

 

[Westport]

Re: Restoration project start 1990 chris craft 254 seahawk

Sounds great!! Bring on the pics and progress!

 

[joelewis73]

Re: Restoration project start 1990 chris craft 254 seahawk

From the first pic I have attached you can see about half of what I have cleaned so far. Love my boat wash with a added bleach kicker to get the mold and two years of growth and junk off. I love my boats both of them and try to split time up with them. I recently paid the Chris CRaft off and took the name off and am waiting for the Admiral and my girls to give me a new name for her.
You may ask why it has been sitting for two years well I am in the Navy and was deployed for 11 months and the work schedule prior to that did not leave much time to do anything with it. I did cover her up but too much time with noone taking care of it put a toll on it but I have seen the light(LOL ) of just what it can be with the TLC, time and money. So I am kickcing it off with another picture as soon as I can figure out how to flip the picture. I will post it. I will take more pictures to post this weekend after I get it worked on some more. I know this is going to be a long project but I am more than up to the challenge.
I am officially a welder in the Navy but mostly a jack of all trades and should be able to use alot of my skills and then also learn some new ones right here.. So please enjoy what I try to do to my boat and it will be one step at a time....

 

[Westport]

Re: Restoration project start 1990 chris craft 254 seahawk

"You may ask why it has been sitting for two years well I am in the Navy and was deployed for 11 months and the work schedule prior to that did not leave much time to do anything with it."

Thank you for your service! We'll be watching....

 

[lil buggy]

Re: Restoration project start 1990 chris craft 254 seahawk

joe,
welcome aboard to all the madness, and thank you for your service.
this is a great place to get advice, and shortcuts. chriscraft 254 has happened upon alot of useful ideas to cut the time needed to get her into A1 shape, and i'm sure he'll be onboard to help you along, as well as the rest of us.

let me start by asking how the stringers and transom are? do you have any rot anywhere?
many pics, my friend, will keep everyone interested as you go along.

good luck in advance, and glad you opened up a thread

 

[joelewis73]

Re: Restoration project start 1990 chris craft 254 seahawk

let me start by asking how the stringers and transom are? do you have any rot anywhere?
many pics, my friend, will keep everyone interested as you go along.

The boat is solid from stem to stearn.. No issues that I have come across as of yet. I plan to get the battery charger and pump out the old gas sometime this week and see what I need to work on mechanically to make sure it is running right before I jump head into the restoration. The engine has less than 30 hours on it and the outdrive is brand new with probably no more than 5 hours on it. I replaced that shortly before I left last year so CROSSING EVERYTHING I CAN THAT DOES NOT HURT.. to make sure that it all goes well mechanically... Then let the sander and waxing begin....
Thanks for the words of encouragement...Not much to update but I hve two boats and my Rinker (The Admirals Boat) took up most of my tie the last two weeks. Had a issue with the trailer and had to leave it moored without bottom paint for too long and had to correct that before I can start anymore on the CC so hope to jump into it later this week or have to wait to get it down to Mississippi when we move in July..So have to wait and see.,

Joe

 

[Pmccraney]

Re: Restoration project start 1990 chris craft 254 seahawk

Alright another Chris Craft - love those seahawk's. Yes, Bud's boat is pretty much the bees knees.... The "lord of the lights" should stop by here shortly to give the seahawk secret handshake and such...

Check in on the Chris Craft thread in my signature line and keep posting your progress.


Welcome aboard... look forward to following along.

 

[joelewis73]

Re: Restoration project start 1990 chris craft 254 seahawk

Ok well a little update.. Have not had the opportunity to get down and dirty with the CC yet but it is coming in full steam this week, next week and after that.. Replaced the engine in the Admirals boat almost two years ago but due to deployents there has only been minimal time a whole 10 hours in that time span. Yesterday for fathers day I took the family out to our hang out spot called the Cove and we made it there but engine was sounding pretty rough hard time getting up on plane. Spent the afternoon and as we left the boat sounded like a volkswagon on crack... Long tory short I limped a whole 2 miles and then bang (loud grinding metallic sound) the engine shuts down less than a mile away from the ramp and my buddy who followed us back towed us the rest of the way in.. Smoke filled the engine compartment and oil was all in the bilge. Looks as if I have to replace the engine in the admrials boat agai but she is pretty upset and the shop who rebuilt it said nothing they would do to help so now I have to get it fixed... eventually. Looks as if I am towing the Chris Craft to Mississippi with me in a couple of weeks and leaving the Admirals boat being in the shop...Not that I want to spend that much money again on a engine but kind of one of those things. WE will have to save up for that so I may cover it until tax season and just put all of my time an effort into getting the CC looking and running nice... She suggested pulling the Chris Craft engine and swapping and putting twin outboards on the CC so will have to see I kind of like that Idea....

 

[bldgengineer]

Re: Restoration project start 1990 chris craft 254 seahawk

Subscribed

 

[joelewis73]

Re: Restoration project start 1990 chris craft 254 seahawk

Well got a chance to go over and take some pice of the before...Well before I get a chance to start on anything anyway that and it shoudl give all of you an idea of what I will be working with. Or show you how much hell I am putting myself through..

 

[joelewis73]

Re: Restoration project start 1990 chris craft 254 seahawk

More pics

 

[joelewis73]

Re: Restoration project start 1990 chris craft 254 seahawk

I got a few more pics as you can all see I have a long road ahead of me. I planned on pressure washing the entire thing today and cleaning out the cabin to try to make it shine a little better. A clean boat makes the owner that much happier with it. Anyway where I am storing it at the water was down today and may be down all week so not really much I can do with it without water and will go from there. I did inspect it a little better and someone came by and out some new eyes on it and pointed out some things that I missed. I have a few deep scratches in the gel coat on the bottom that will need attention so I get to lean on a few people here with that kind of experience to walk me through it. Well that is about all for today and maybe for the week. I put on a new winch and have the new trailer jack to install but I have to do some mods in the shop tomorrow before that goes in and I am ordering a new winch again since the one I bought is not what I was hoping for. If anyone can point me in the direction of a good electric winch to put on both my boats that would be awesome.
Joe

 

[lil buggy]

Re: Restoration project start 1990 chris craft 254 seahawk

looks good Joe,
the pressure washer will take away most of the uglies( stay away from the decals if possible), i'm sure you will be quite pleased when shes all cleaned up ,, after that one job at a time and she'll be sittin pretty in no time.

best of luck,,
and i hope the admirals boat is up and running soon so she can give ya a lil time on the cc

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: Restoration project start 1990 chris craft 254 seahawk

Just caught up to your thread. Gonna look great very soon, I'm sure. I'll be watching.

And thank you very much for your service to our country.

Sea ya...

 

[joelewis73]

Re: Restoration project start 1990 chris craft 254 seahawk

My pleasure to serve and protect. I almost started crying yesterday all choked up and proud. My son graduated from high school friday night which was huge by all measures and he called me yesterday on his way to MEPS to ship out to boot camp and in 13 long weeks will be one of the chosen as a US Marine...I have a long line family tradition for military service. Dad- Army, Grandfather Navy, Uncle Air Force, Little Brother LCDR US Navy, baby brother and sister Retired US NAvy and myself less than 6 years to retirement. I look forward to end of september making the trek to Paris Island SC to watch my son graduate. He has come along ways and hope that he will do well. Thanks to all for your support it means alot to us military that we have you support in a job we all love...

Now back to the work at hand...
Admiral said yes hurry and get her boat up and running and I can have all the time and fundage I need to do what I want.. YOu should see the wish list on amazon of the things I am looking to get, New seats, lights and yes of course LEDs all around so yes one step at a time and it will be great. Waiting for them to hook the H2O back up at the storage place since they are building a new Garage the water was turned off for construction but hopefully by the end of the week I will get it cleaned up then covered for the long haul south. THe admiral said I have to tow her boat down with us first and get it repaired and come back and tow "Alomst Ready" back in a few weeks or at the latest after boot camp graduation. Either way is fine with me. I found a 1991 f350 dually with only 180000 miles on it for $2000 which I think is a steal and am going to buy it this week so it is waiting for me when I get to Ms so hopefully as soon as all the unpacking is done I want to turn around and make one last run for "Almost Ready" at least that is my plan. Will post a bit more later want to go charge the batteries up and replace the key today. One small step at a time>

 

[joelewis73]

Re: Restoration project start 1990 chris craft 254 seahawk

Can someone tell me how to post my signature after I type in a post that would be great. I got one saved but I do not know how to input it when I am done
oops nevermind it does it automatically...:facepalm:

 

[joelewis73]

Re: Restoration project start 1990 chris craft 254 seahawk

Great day yesterday for me and "Almost Ready" the Admiral came up to me and suggested that we take "Almost Ready" to mississippi first and come back and pick up her boat at a later date so that i can get to work on her. HER WORDS EXACTLY---"I think we should take the Chris Craft with us since it is running and all you need to do is cosmetic stuff to it. You can come back and pick up my boat after you get another truck or when we come for Justin's boot camp graduation. Beisdes that with your boat running we will get the opportunity to get out to the islands and you can fill the freezer with Mahi and shrimp." END QUOTE LOL
I am notr sure where it came from but she said once we get it down there she will open up the bank and I can have at it. Luckily for me there are plenty of boat salvage yards down there where I can go and find just the right stuff for much less than new. Considering how big my Amazon wish list is it will be alot easier to find the parts vice buy them all new. Now I have to start all over on my getting things together for the move because I have to go get "Almost Ready"'s trailer straight and really road worthy. Ordering tires today and hopfully this weekend will get the bearings and brakes all worked out with minimal issues---I hope... Well guys wish me luck or congratulations on that milestone and I am hoping for the best when it comes to filling up her freezer because we are buying a new bigger freezer as soon as we get down there next week.
Lots of work in store and very soon so I will keep you posted on the progress.

 

[lil buggy]

Re: Restoration project start 1990 chris craft 254 seahawk

congrats on the nod from the admil ! that is no small feat you accomplished there,,, best of luck, we are behind you.

 

[joelewis73]

Re: Restoration project start 1990 chris craft 254 seahawk

Well the list is started so first things first. New trailer jack-check, new trailer lights-check, new LED trailer lights-check, new electric winch-check. Got all of that today from amazon ordered it yesterday wish it was not so hot car thermometer say 104 so in a couple hours it is on oh yeah got newer tires and rims to replace also. Gonna be a busy evening for me. Now that I got the up check from the admiral on taking it to Mississippi Ottawa get it ready to hit the road. Going to the ship it he am to make bracket to change trailer from roller to bunk boards. Apparently the rollers on it do not line up right and scarred the bottom. Since I have all the metal and equipment I need no need to buy the brackets I am sure I can build much better and heavy duty compared to some galvanized ones at the trailer shop and the way I figure save me well over $300 by building them. At least I like to thnk I am kind of smart and can make it happen.lol will send before after pics when I get to it....

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Restoration project start 1990 chris craft 254 seahawk

Hi Joe,
Welcome to the drydock and Thanks for your service!

I would like to come aboard watch, learn, cheer and help if I can...

Looks like you have a super project on hand...

Sorry to hear about the Mrs. Boat engine, but I'm sure you'll have that all worked out in time...

One of the biggest things I hear from all of my close boat buddies is that a boat is one of those things you have to use and maintain feverishly to prevent having problems with...They don't like to sit and be neglected...

Unfortunately your much appreciated service to our country keeps that from happening...

From what I have read so far, you are fairly close to retirement...but in the time you have left, you need to hook up with a trusted compadre to look after your rigs while you are deployed, to prevent all the hard work and money you are about to put into both of your boats from going to waste...

Forgive me for being forward, but I would hate to see you get both of these wonderful boats put back to like new condition, and have them start to deteriorate on you while on your next deployment...

Hey, I've rambled on and made a nuisance of myself long enough...

Best Regards and Safe Sailing,
GT1M