1970 Sutphen-Sport Pacer Project

[Boston Predictor]

Just when you think you don't have enough time for another project, one like this comes around.
The boat is a 17' Sutphen Sport Pacer with a 1979 100hp Evinrude.:thumb:
We got the Boat w/ motor, trailer, seats, anchor, ski pole, a bunch of rope, 3 props, 2 kneeboards, a tube and a few extra bonuses for $300. :eek:

The guy who owned it before never ran it, It just sat in his yard for years so the exact condition of the engine was unknown but for the price I didnt care. He bought it to go fishing w/ and never got to it I guess.

We got it home, changed the battery, Wires, gas, fuses and spark plugs and it fired right up. I couldn't beleive it, I thought something must be the matter w/ it judging by how it looked.

The compression is 125, 120, 120, 120 and runs beautifully.

The floor was rotten - no suprise, but the transom apears solid. I stood on the whale tail and no flexing whatsoever :)

My friend and I spent the last 3 days gutting the interior, floor and stringers, as well as replacing it all again.
Like most boats, it is a work in progress but so far so good.

Here are some pics:

Working away...
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Things to come are:

-New blue paint w/ White flames
-Rear storage/sundeck
-New Dash w/ guages
-Stereo
-Steering wheel
-Misc hardware
-Seats
-Engine painted

[Chris]

BP.

Thanks for sharing!

It's already like night and day! :thumb:

How long did it take you to do the floor work?

[Boston Predictor]

Thanks Chris and you're welcome. It took about 20 hrs from beginning to end. The most time consuming part was removing the stringers:eyes: That part sucked

Yesterday was a long day...:sleep:

[Chris]

Wow!

That's quick, really quick.

I'll bet the old owner would be shocked to see how quickly it's progressed. :eyecrazy:

It's going to be neat to see how it runs. :thumb:

[Boston Predictor]

We were saying he didnt know what he lost out on. Its amazing what a little teamwork and determination can do to an old boat like this. He seemed like a nice guy though, maybe close to my age...I even offered to take him for a ride "if" we got it going. Some people are just better off as passengers oposed to captains:D

[Chris]

Well if you can master that kind of work, there are a ton of boats that can be had for a song.

There aren't too many places that will do that kind of work, and the ones that will aren't cheap. And that usually makes salvaging an old boat, cost prohibitive.

If you can do it yourself though and to a good job at that...

giddy up. :bounce:

[Cooperider]

Things go faster when there are more than one of you. AND you have everything you need when you start. Good job.

[Chris]

I'd like to learn how to glass.

Never done much of it.

I did a bit on one of the old seafleas and that was about it.

Coop, why don't you do a how to? ;)

[Boston Predictor]

I'd like to learn how to glass.

Never done much of it.

I did a bit on one of the old seafleas and that was about it.

Coop, why don't you do a how to? ;)


Ive always wanted to learn how to make diffrent things with fiberglass. I can mix some resin together and slap some mat down no problem, but Im talking about stuff like Seat frames, speaker boxes or anything else creative. Its the molds and stuff I dont get. A kid I went to school used to build custom subwoofer boxes and center counsels and what not out of fiberglass and he made some good money. It was pretty nice stuff. I dont understand how they came out so smooth...that is what I would like to master, cuz my head is full of great ideas

[Boston Predictor]

I'd like to learn how to glass.



Coop, why don't you do a how to? ;)
dito

[Cooperider]

ditoYou mean like a video or something? Would there be a market for say a 2 hour DVD on say: Building a Fiberglass boat, or Replacing a Transom, or Gel Coat repair, or even METALFLAKE repair? Maybe a couple of hours on each subject.

[Chris]

How about just a thread? :D

[Cooperider]

A thread would work. I'll see what I can do.

[Chris]

Thanks Coop! :)

[Boston Predictor]

A thread would work. I'll see what I can do.
That would be awsome. can you give some details on how to make molds for seats and other small stuff?:cheers:

[83PREDICTOR]

I would love to learn to glass. Sometime in the near future I need to do some repairs to my 13ft Orlando CLipper

[Boston Predictor]

Orlando CLipper
Is that like a Boston Whaler or a Carolina Skiff?

[Eaglenva]

that sutphen is really looking good, let us know how it goes on the "big lake" tween there and europe.

speaking

[Chris]

Any updates on the Sutphen? :)

[Boston Predictor]

We built the rear storage/sundeck already, looks okay for what it is. Ill get some pics of that.

We took the boat out Friday for another test run with a diffrent gas tank, cuz the tank in the bow wasnt working propperly. It ran fine on the hose but when you gave it throttle it would bog and stall out - It shifted fine on the hose 10 min before we launched it:eyes: I guess thats how these boats work though. lol
Anyways, I would like to get that issue sorted out so I can see for sure what I got. It sure looks nice sitting in the water though. Very sleek:surf:

[Chris]

BP, do you still have the 'Rude on it?

[Boston Predictor]

yes.

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Finally got some time to mess w/ the Sutphen. My father found out that the motor is actually an 1981 90hp.:thumb: w/ the 1979 100 cowling.

As it turns out, the motor was only running on one cylinder :yikes::o
I didnt even know that was possible! lol
Anyways, we narrowed the issue down to 3 bad coils, Swapped them from another junker motor, Butt-spliced some old deteriorating wires and it's as good as new.
We took it out in the ocean for a quick test run and boy is this a fun boat. It shoots out of the water faster than a jetski and handels real nice too. I am amazed at how fast it is out of the hole.
The speedo was reading 35mph, but we all know how accurate those are. It cruises very nicely and planes out just over harbor speed, with the engine sounding like its ideling. Very efficiant cruising boat, and Its so low to the water, I almost forgot what that was like. Im very pleased with it so far. Ill shoot some pics next time.;)

[LAPLANT]

GREAT LOOKING LITTLE BOAT
ISNT IT FUNNY HOW A LITTLE BOAT SEEMS TO HANDLE BETTER WITHOUT A PILE OF CASH IN IT:rof:

[Chris]

Kewl! :)

[ct20sutphen]

very nice glass work.

its nice to be able to do it your self.