1974 f32

drbbqking · Post by **drbbqking** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 3:09 pm

Crystlers 318's good or bad They have beem rebuilt and only have an hr each they look like big gas hogs but Iguess all v-8's are. how often should they be serviced and what kind of oil....(what the heck am I gettin in to) ???? goin to give the man some money to nite,,,,, will be painting the bottom soon and will be puttin her in in a week. still thinkin of not putting the flyin bridge back on I kinda like the look. wonder how it would look with a dingy on top???

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 3:46 pm

318's are bullet proof I wouldn't worry if they were correctly rebuilt.
Gas hogs.... not bad really but you need to think about 0.81 miles per gallon as your fuel budget, it is a big heavy boat.

My Summer season (6 months) runs about 600/700 miles (60-70 hrs) = 900+ gallons @ $4.00/gal = $3,600 for fuel only.
Your season may be longer your trips shorter or longer...

That is some real $$ ideas for you to make sure you have a handle on before you get too deep........ make sure the Admiral is OK with it.

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 3:49 pm

You will find it a pain without the bridge... the visibility ahead from below is quite poor in crowded seaways (ignore what you see at rest).... and you certainly cannot see underwater hazards like on the bridge.

Commissionpoint · Post by **Commissionpoint** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 4:26 pm

Leaving the bridge off is asking for it IMO. Lots of holes and voids to fill to prevent water intrusion. Miss a couple or do a few poorly and it will start raining inside the salon. There is a hardtop variant of the F-32, but they aren't as common as the F/B model. What Ready said about submerged hazzards and weekend/holiday traffic on your home waterway are also very valid points.

drbbqking · Post by **drbbqking** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 4:50 pm

would it be possible to just put the wheel and some controls like a centerconsole deal with out puttind the thing as it was !!! just a thought??

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 5:31 pm

drbbqking wrote:would it be possible to just put the wheel and some controls like a centerconsole deal with out puttind the thing as it was !!! just a thought??

it would look real strange if you did that ( strange is being nice ) , and it would be pretty easy to fall off in any seas . with a fly bridge several people can safely ride up top ,
once you try the flybrige I think you will like it most (not all ) do

Commissionpoint · Post by **Commissionpoint** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 7:28 pm

prowlersfish wrote:........ and it would be pretty easy to fall off in any seas . with a fly bridge several people can safely ride up top....

+10 on falling off.

That bench seat is very nice for passengers. Like Paul already said, you can get 5 or 6 adults up there safely the way it was originally designed.

If you want a 'center console' type arrangement up top, add a tower.

That is, after you reinstall the factory bridge.

drbbqking · Post by **drbbqking** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 4:03 pm

Got it It's a 73 don't know why I thought it was a 74 HIN# TRJ30180373321 any one know how to look up the hin's