THE REBIRTH OF MY LAVEY CAT !!!

[catman]

I purchased this Laveycraft Sabre new in 2003.I stopped Laceycraft to check out the deck boat plug they were building at the time.Well I wanted a new boat sooner then the time frame was going to be with the deck boat.There are 100'S and 100'S of hours that go into building the plug.I walked into the showroom and seen the Sabre sitting there.The boat was built for a poker run and only had 5 hours on it.Well 6 months later the boat was mine...

The boat has been great for 13 years.It loves big water and the more power you gave The boat the safer it felt.I always felt very safe in the boat.After a few years I added a intercooler,smaller top pullys and a bigger fuel system to the Mercury 575sci.The would run around 95 mph.

About a year ago I started looking at new boats.The Lavey had 440 hours on it,the motor was showing its age and the interior was old school and the boat has seen it time.After looking at new and used boats I thought the bottom on this Lavey is rock solid (vacuum bagged),its 27' and I really did not want to go bigger and I still really liked the boat.

I then made the decision to freshen up the motor and have a new interior built.I then figured I would keep the boat for two more years then see where I could go from there. THAT IS WHEN IT ALL STARTED !!!!!!!!

To be continued.........

 

[catman]

I knew that I would be bring the boat to Chris at Laveycraft.Chris who I call a friend not just a boat builder is one if not the best riggers on the west coast.Chris was rigging Eliminator boats when there biggest boat was a 18' sprint deck.

I went to just have Chris pull the motor,r & r the interior and do some minor gel coat repairs.The more he did,the more I wanted.We capped the front and rear of the boat,cut down the seat bases,removed the interior railings,new controls,added and replaced gauges,tilt helm, ew sounds and more that I can't even think of right now.

If anyone knows Chris,they know he is a rigger.Well he did all the gel coat work,filled the front and rear cap and it came out GREAT !!!!!

 

[catman]

At this time I needed to decide who I was going to have freshen the motor.Well after much thought and talking to deferent motor builders I went with Alexi at Boostpower.I went in with going to do a rebuild and came out with a tall deck 599 cu in 1050 or more hp.I wanted a builder that when I called I could talk with the guy that was turning the wrenches on my motor,not a guy that just answers the phone.Alexi is hands on and communicates great every step of the build and the man knows how to make big power !!!!
Well with big power you need a drive that has a chance to hold up.I went with a Imco SCX with 1:35 gears.

After Chris installed the motor and drive the boat went back to Alexi. Alexi re plumbed all the fuel lines,custom made brackets,installed the Imco fuel valve,oil cooler,fuel filter.Pretty much went through the boat putting his Schiada touch on everything.

 

[YoPengo]

Wow nice rebuild. Nice to see West coast builders doing what they do best. [emoji1303]

 

[catman]

Next off it was time to think about who was going to do the interior...There are so many great upholstery shops out there.I went with Martinez Interiors.Eddie does nice work and it showed .I did not want any bling in the interior.I went with white,greys and a little black.The boat has grey pen lines and some of the dark blue turns into black.He did some inserts of grey Alcantara and some other product I can remember the name right now.If anyone is thinking about a new interior,Eddie is great.Just be ready to wait....Great things don't come fast.

 

[Get415]

beautiful!!!!

 

[catman]

In the end,the boat turned out great !!!!! I spent a lot more $$$$ then I started out to,but it shows how much faith I have in what Chris puts out.Lavey has gone through tough times as a lot of builders without big wallets or sugar daddy's.Chris,Eric and Dave (UD) are keeping the Laveycraft name going strong and I am looking forward to working with them in the down the line.I think for Chris getting to re born this boat put a little sparkle in his eye and he deserves it....

Working with Alexi was great,just going to his super shop was a joy.The kid is a lot younger then me,but has the knowledge of a 100 year old.He did what he said he was going to do and with a few shake down runs I am very pleased.I can sit in the boat floating and call him if I have some stupid questions,that means a lot ...I can also call Alexi a friend,not just someone who built a motor for me.

This winter the boat will be going to Boat Customs in Michigan to cut the deck and do a wrap around windshield.Some could call me stupid for spending some much on a 2003 Laveycraft,but it's a LAVEY !!!!

I have made a few shake down runs on the boat finding out what prop will work best.We will do some more prop testing first of next week then the boat will be at the Speedboat Magazine tests end of the week.We will see what kind of number Alexi can get.

 

[catman]

More pics

 

[28Eliminator]

Wow... beautiful [emoji106]

 

[catman]

Pics

 

[catman]

Before pics

 

[Sbarry]

Very nice!!! [emoji1360][emoji1360]

 

[renodaytona]

That came out super nice. :thumbsup

 

[purrfecttremor]

It turned out Beautiful!

 

[aka619er]

Money well spent. Boats looks awesome.

 

[Rotten deal]

Great looking boat.

 

[TBulger]

You are the man.

 

[BoostPower]

Such a cool project! And of course thanks to you Dave for letting us do our thing[emoji469][emoji1303] and the kind words. Myself and the staff take pride in every step and just frankly don't sleep if something's not perfect [emoji1303]Thanks again

 

[Uncle Dave]

Truly an aspirational machine.
Amazing project Dave.
Thanks!


UD

 

[92562]

Looks like it was well worth every penny!!!

 

[catman]

Such a cool project! And of course thanks to you Dave for letting us do our thing[emoji469][emoji1303] and the kind words. Myself and the staff take pride in every step and just frankly don't sleep if something's not perfect [emoji1303]Thanks again

Can not wait to unleash it !!!!!!! And for thank you for putting up with me going "STEHLE" every once and awhile..LOL

 

[BoostPower]

Can not wait to unleash it !!!!!!! And for thank you for putting up with me going "STEHLE" every once and awhile..LOL

Lol! We all have those moments. It's not the relationships when things are good that matter, it's how folks handle things when it's ruff that make em strong [emoji1320] we are alike[emoji16]

 

[BoostPower]

Truly an aspirational machine.
Amazing project Dave.
Thanks!


UD

I keep wondering how fast yours will be [emoji963]

 

[catman]

I keep wondering how fast yours will be [emoji963]

I am pretty sure UD'S is going to fly !!!!

 

[BoostPower]

I am pretty sure UD'S is going to fly !!!!

Sounds like it. [video=youtube_https;rRPJkpmB7ns]https://youtu.be/rRPJkpmB7ns[/video]

 

[lenmann]

Friggin gorgeous! Well done sir(s)!

 

[Mandelon]

Love it.

 

[ToMorrow44]

Came out amazing. Can't wait to see what it runs. Congrats!

 

[last1]

Came out amazing. Can't wait to see what it runs. Congrats!

I seen it. I road in it, it came out very nice, but it is so QUIET. It is hard to believe it makes that much HP! Very nice from all party's.

 

[catman]

I seen it. I road in it, it came out very nice, but it is so QUIET. It is hard to believe it makes that much HP! Very nice from all party's.

Running 80 mph @ 4200 rpm with only 1 lb of boost and the wrong prop @ 1/3 throttle,I hope there is a big number to come !!! We will see what Alexi can pull off..

Thanks for being my boat bitch last1

 

[MooreMoney]

The boat looks great! Very nice sled you have.

 

[plaster dave]

Very nice work. Boat looks great and so does the motor.

 

[Member: 71]

Well done..congrats. Like it without the scoop.

Looking forward to the updates once it's sent to Boat Customs for the wrap around windshield.

 

[J.P.]

Your boat turned out really nice, the motor fitting under the flat hatch indicates how big the boat is. So the motor is lower profile with the Whipple cooler and 4.5 on top than the 575 with the super chiller. I say money well spent if you plan on keeping it. Looks new!:thumbsup

 

[Abc123]

Bad ass! I love the suede.

 

[Outdrive1]

Saw this in person Thursday. It's beautiful.

 

[AZLineman]

It looks amazing! Cant imagine what that cost. Lol

 

[bruddah]

Well done... I have always been a fan of these hulls and to see one with these updates is awesome!

 

[Kailuaboy89]

Boat looks absolutely Fantabulous! love that interior!

 

[ToMorrow44]

Catman, you ever get this boat dialed in? Curious how it runs. Also did you ever do the wrap around windscreen...?

 

[catman]

Catman, you ever get this boat dialed in? Curious how it runs. Also did you ever do the wrap around windscreen...?

Thanks for you?re interest.
Well it?s been a long road trying to dial the boat in.It all came down to the scx drive.I tried deferent lowers,many props 4 & 5 blade.Also mounted go pros on the transom to try and find out why the boat handled bad and also developed a bad porpoise.My conclusion was the cav plate on the scx is very big.Plus the fact that the scx is around 85lbs heavier and sits back 3/4? from a bravo style drive.After months of testing I threw in the towel and had Max build me the best they can build.The only down side is it still has xr gears which are the weak link.I will find a used drive to keep as a spare and have Aaron break them down every 20 hours to inspect.

After talking with some of the most talented Boat gurus I was told to go back to what worked before I repowered.I went with a standard lower and 1:50 gears.I took the boat out for the first time with the max drive last week.I only ran it up to 70 mph to break in the drive.I had a 32 four blade on it and it was to small.I just picked up a 34 four blade from Chris on Saturday.I hope to run the boat this week and if the 34is right I will see what it will pull.Even with the 32 I can tell that the boat is back where it was pre scx and there is only a small porpoise in flat water from 65 to 72 mph like before.

I think I am on the right track for set up now just have to find the right prop.I wanted the scx to work so bad but it just don?t agree with the boat/ and drive height.I have talked to a few others with f 26 DCB?s that went through the same deal.

All in all I am very happy with how the boat turned out.Even with the scx The boat ran great up to 70 mph and that is when all hell would break loose.I am pretty sure that is solved and now I can see how hard it will run.

As far as the wrap around windscreen last winter I was still trying to solve the handling problems so my focus was on that.I would still like to go that route this winter but Now my real focus is buying a cc .I am a grandpa and need some kind of family boat.We were thinking of a Tritoon but we have been boating on Parker/Havasu for 40 years.I am ready for some new waters.We really like south Florida and the keys.We also want to check out Lake of the Osarks next shootout.I would love to keep the Lavey in all this but we will see.

 

[ToMorrow44]

Good info thanks! Sorry it took so long to get dialed in, but it should be a rocket once set up!

In terms of south florida and the keys, definitely use a CC there, don't use the Lavey there!

 

[J.P.]

MMW drive turned out nice.:thumbsup

 

[Uncle Dave]

Catman worked the SCX angle as hard as it could practically be worked.

He went up, he went down, he propped here and there, diff blade counts, bigger wheels, smaller wheels- you name it.

It just woudln't calm down anywhere we/he put it- and freshly equipped with enough power easily kill you, ones self preservation alone dictates not seeing if you can drive through it.

Frustrating, and once you get to the "well you could try this" stage where your next step is cutting up stuff that could then simply be ruined, better to cut bait and go back to what you know works.

Im eager to see what he can get out of it - boat has serious juevos and should put up a pretty decent #.

UD

 

[Wildlavey]

Interested to see how it looks with the wrap around windshield

 

[4Waters]

Interested to see how it looks with the wrap around windshield

Welcome to the boards, start a new thread introducing yourself we'll need to see pics of the boat. You are now one of us.

 

[Uncle Dave]

Not ideal conditions today a little rough - but the stability is back, and its putting numbers down.

Pretty sure it needs a 35-36 according to Dave - it pulled a 34 easily.


UD

 

[boatnam2]

Solid number!

 

[J.P.]

thanks for the update great looking boat..

 

[River Lynchmob]

1st time I've seen this thread...the redo looks great...working bugs out can be a pain but in the end worth it...congrats!