Paul's BEAUTIFUL boat!

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 6:52 pm

Sorry about that Paul, didn't see it the emails in my bulk folder! Got 'em now though. Hope I got them all, beautiful boat! What a spotless boat!!!

Dreamer · Post by **Dreamer** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 7:18 pm

Don't see them that clean everyday. ......nice ride!!

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 10:41 pm

Nice!

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:56 pm

Hard to believe they make a brand new boat that looks like a classic ...

What boat show was this revealed at?

mr elevman · Post by **mr elevman** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 3:10 pm

omg i have never seen sutch a maticules goob no offence !!! now thats being anal

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 12:56 pm

Stripermann,

Thanks for posting the pictures for me and thanks for all the responses. This project was alot of work but we sure enjoy the end result.

Thanks again,

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 1:13 pm

If you look at the photo of the engine, you'll see my buddy pointing at a coolant hose on the port manifold. It has a green tape stripe on it to highlite it in the photo. This is the an original hose. When the 305 was replaced with this 350, we raplaced everything but this hose. I ordered a complete set of hoses thru a local distributor and it was delivered with 2 starboard hoses. I sent the wrong hose back a couple of times but Mercury Marine kept sending me the starboard hose every time I placed an order for the port. Finaly I called Merc directly and was told that this part was no longer available. I think they were just tired of eating the shipping charges. My guess is that they have a part number issue to deal with.

In the mean time I have 1 hose that seems to get a little softer every year. I know it's not a hi-pressure hose, since I have an open cooling system, but I would still like to replace it with the correctly formed hose.

Any Ideas?

RWS · Post by **RWS** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 9:48 pm

Beautilully maintained.

You deserve a salute, Capn.

chucka · Post by **chucka** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 2:14 pm

Hi Paul,

Your boat is absolutely awesome! I'm amazed at how perfectly maintained she is. She brings reality to the phrase, "better than new."

I would love to get more info or detailed photos of your hardtop. I'm particularly intersted in the detials of how the top attaches to the windshield and the supports at the aft end. I'm getting ready to build a hardtop for my '75 F26 Express. Mine was in average shape when I bought her, but suffering from 30 years of salt water exposure. I've done a lot of upgrades, (see the photos below) but you put me to shame. Mine has a soft-top, that needs replacement. the powder coating on my windshield has adhesion problems due to oxidation of the underlying aluminum. I have the windshield in my garage right now, and am in the process of dissassembling it. I want to build a hardtop that looks like it belongs. I'm really impressed with yours. My email address is in my profile.

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 3:16 pm

Thanks for the complements Chuck. However there is no shame in restoring an old Trojan. Only scraped knuckles, bruises, an empty wallet and ultimately an awsom boat. Your boat looks pretty sweet as well. I'll try to get out to my boat this weekend and get some pictures of the hard top & frame for you. It is factory original.

rick1954 · Post by **rick1954** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 11:14 am

Chuch, I have the 76 26ft express I is a great boat I just love that we can take the top down. I have done a total rebuild to her.

foofer b · Post by **foofer b** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 3:53 pm

Man you could serve dinner in his engine compartment. Did you Paint everything down there? Can you post a link to more pics of her?

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 4:06 pm

The bilge was painted with Bilge Coat when it was empty. Those pictures are scanned photos and not the greatest quality. I'll see if I can dig up some more recent digital pictures.

JimmyM · Post by **JimmyM** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 8:31 am

Great Job Paul !!!!!!!!!!

randyp · Post by **randyp** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 7:20 pm

Paul,

So nice to see what you've done to the good old F26. Really a class job. Where is the genny located in the engine compartment? Hard for me to figure out. On the coolant hose issue, can't you find an automotive equivalent? Green stripe hoses are made by Gates (I think).