Spectra 24 Rescue

[eddie.a]

This summer I sold my Spectra 20/21 I/O. What I didn’t realize is how pissed my kids would be. So off to Havasu and bought a local Sectra 24 that was for sale. I have my own Boat repair business in Orange County and over many decades been dealership owner, service manager , racer , rigger etc. The River Daves crowd found one of my old classifieds and critiqued the rigging pretty hard. It wasn’t my rigging! So this boat will be 100% me. It’s gutted right now and goes in for glass and paint next month. Replacing the 330 TRS with a Dart Big M block 572” Brodix Heads, XR Drive. 650 HP should get me to 80. It did 55 with the 330. Structurally the 4 stringer hand layup is pristine including transom. I think it may have sat in storage in Havasu for decades. If anyone knows this boat I’d like some stories. Pics of new helm I just built all mahogany frame, ss ski pole I built for it. I’ve restored all of the windows, restored galley , waiting on pistons and heads, gauges, etc. Hoping to see the water by fall. Original Fotog trailer Also I added disc brakes. Call me crazy but they don’t make boats like this anymore. I love Spectras!

 

[RIVERMANBEN]

what’s the name and where is your shop?

 

[eddie.a]

Orange County Marine / SanJuanCapistrano.

I started this company in 2013. Prior to that I was Service Manager at Boatswains and Searay. I did a lot of fast stuff with Dick Simon in the 90’s I was his first employee there. We ran 1 Indy car and were the Fountain, Cigarette, Formula, Outerlimits dealer. Lots of fun!

 

[lenmann]

Watching this one, loves me a build thread. That ski pole is the real deal too, nice work.

 

[74 spectra20 v-drive]

good luck with the build, looking forward to seeing your progress!!

 

[eddie.a]

Thanks! It’s keeping me out of trouble….

 

[SpectraPat]

I have 24 bow rails, the sliding teak cabin door, and factory fiberglass hatch for the cabin entrance. Let me know if you need them.

 

[eddie.a]

Thanks for the offer. I’m going to leave the bow rail off. My teak and top door are good although the side sliding pins for entry door were jacked up. Kind of a strange assembly. Does your entry have those pins? Maybe you can send a pic when you have time. Mine might be something someone cobbled together. I was missing the drawer in the galley but I made a new one. Do you have a 24 now?

 

[RiverDave]

Just curious if you checked the bottom. I know they added a lot of hook into the 24’s to get them to roll over easier with smaller power. If you are gonna make one fast that hook has to removed.

 

[Gelcoater]

Just curious if you checked the bottom. I know they added a lot of hook into the 24’s to get them to roll over easier with smaller power. If you are gonna make one fast that hook has to removed.

yep
Bottom work is worth more than HP dollar for dollar.

 

[eddie.a]

Thanks for the tip I understand how important that is. My bottom is perfectly neutral no hook no rocker. I do have factory installed 18 X 9 ss trim tabs. Polished even! All of my edges like chine, transom and strakes are razor sharp I think just a testimony to Spectra quality. This is a 1978. I also was expecting fiberglass tanks but luckily it has 2) 46 gallon aluminum factory installed. If anyone wants to see what a gutted 24 hull looks like I can post some pics. Pretty impressive. When you move around in it it sounds like you are in a metal drum!

 

[eddie.a]

Making progress. Could sea test if CMI would build my headers. 9 months and counting. Took 9 months to get it out of paint…

 

[eddie.a]

More pics

 

[RIVERMANBEN]

Looking good!

 

[AZLineman]

Dig it

 

[eddie.a]

Finally Recieved CMI Exhaust after ordering 1 year ago! Getting close to finish now. Carpeting, headliner, rear seat and hatch upholstery all scheduled. Built in floor storage over 70 cu ft.

 

[eddie.a]

I forgot to say the rear bench seat incorporates a Yeti cooler as a permanent piece of the cockpit furniture. It will drain in the the bilge. No more lifting fricken cooler in and out of boat! This boat is all about easy and dependability and fun!

 

[eddie.a]

It’s alive!

 

[NicPaus]

Looks good sounds Better!

 

[RIVERMANBEN]

Great job!!!

 

[eddie.a]

Engine hatch completed! I kind of miss the old dog house…..Still have it if anyone needs one.

 

[eddie.a]

Launched the boat today for first time at Elsinore to test it. My daughter is having my first grand baby next month and wanted to drive the boat before due date. It was super windy but boat ran awesome. I didn’t unload it today with my daughter and nothing to hang on to. Runs 50 on gps @ 3500. I punched it a couple times and it accelerates hard from there, gobs of power. No leaks, no issues, good day!

 

[eddie.a]

Headliner, carpet, windows, most seating installed. Getting close!

 

[eddie.a]

Extra 70 cu ft of floor storage added as well as built in Yeti cooler

 

[eddie.a]

Of course any reputable water ski boat needs a pair of Dick Popes, a Maja, and an HO hanging on the wall !

 

[74 spectra20 v-drive]

Looks great!!!! Love the ski racks!!!

 

[eddie.a]

This photo is of the original ski racks, shag carpet and all!

 

[eddie.a]

Cockpit finished.

 

[eddie.a]

Engine compartment finalized:

• Dart Big M block. 572/ 4.560 X 4.375
• Race Tec Pistons 9.5:1
• Scat forged crank, H Beam Rods
• Brodix DS 320 Heads Manley extreme duty valves 230 intakes
• Isky Hydraulic roller valve train, Johnson lifters, 1.75:1 rockers
• Nickerson custom 4150 1000 cfm carb, billet blocks set up per engine spec. 6 valve mech fuel pump.
• Hardin fuel valve/ filter. 1/2” pickup tubes in tanks.
• Hardin 12 qt offshore pan
• Dan Olson oil cooler/ filter
• Hardin billet -12 oil adapter and billet pulleys
• Hardin ss raw water pump
• MSD ignition complete i.e. dist, 6m box, blaster coil, wires.
• CMI ss Sport Tube headers, down turn tips, S turn under platform tails.
• Bravo Magnum Transom , XR Drive 1.5:1 installed 3” up.
• Ron Hill 26” 4 blade prop for now. Might need 28.

Next time I launch probably in April I’ll pull the trigger. Need to get a/f gauge working. Autometer sending another but they are on b/o. It just stayed at 14.4:1 first time out. I was with my very pregnant daughter and wasn’t time to mess around. Boat ran 50 mph on gps @ 3500 rpm. That’s 23% slip. Should go 80 if I turn 5600. I punched it a couple times from 3500 and it pulled hard so we’ll see.

 

[eddie.a]

Slip is 13% not 23%. Typo.

 

[eddie.a]

Cabin finished.

 

[SpectraPat]

Looks awesome! Nice work

 

[eddie.a]

Bimini is finished. Took a little time out to become Grandpa! Next trip out it’s time to pull the trigger.

 

[eddie.a]

Screwed around all weekend trying to get new replacement Autometer A/F ratio meter working. Not going to happen. My conclusion is it’s not compatible with water cooled exhaust. It has a warm up function to heat up O2 sensor that it won’t come out of. If you cycle power it will read for a few seconds and then stick at 14+. Really pisses me off!

 

[Wave Hi]

Boat is looking killer, keep posting those pics.!!!!

 

[Mcob25rg]

This is an incredible build!

 

[PNWSpectra]

Amazing restoration

 

[Brokeboatin221]

Very nice build, thank you for sharing!

 

[Nanu/Nanu]

Geeze @eddie.a nice work!

 

[eddie.a]

Restoration officially completed! Just finished 5 days at Parker and Spectra Lady met all expectations plus. Absolutely no hiccups! This weekend she was fully loaded with gear and people and it was hot she ran 75 mph. Last month we were at Mohave early morning with 2 people, gear but low on fuel and ran 79.7. I’m very happy!

 

[Brokeboatin221]

Sounds amazing and looks like you made
Some memories! Winning!