leadsledmercs resto

[poncho]

He`s probably too shy or chicken to post so i will,Keith has been at it hard and is just about ready to hit the water,congrads buddy

[LeadSledMerc]

He`s probably too shy or chicken to post so i will,Keith has been at it hard and is just about ready to hit the water,congrads buddy

Yea Kenny, you know that I'm a shy guy so thanks for putting this thread up. haha

This has been a fun project being my first flat bottom and not being a car. It's almost done and hopefully will be hitting the lake next weekend. For those that didn't see my intro in the old forum, I picked up the boat 2 years ago for the Hemi that was in it and the Caddy wheels on the trailer to be used for a car hot rod project. I was going to junk the boat and trailer, but when I got it home I decided it was too nice to scrap...the restis history.
The Hemi came out and a Nailhead went cause thats what I run in all my hot rods! I built the front to back seats cause it's going to be a fun family boat and the paint sceme is to match the colors on my'37 Chevy taildragger that will tow the boat around.
It's been a blast, but I think the fun is just starting!:D

Here's a couple more pics.

[Norseman]

Very Nice!!!

How about posting a before picture?

What did the Hemi end up in?

Bob

[BradP]

I'd be shy too, how could you be seen in that old beater?:D:D:D

Very nice!!!!

[SonnyGlide]

Outstanding:cool:

[SPUN1]

Beautiful ride! nice work.

[Flatmvn]

Very clean , Very Nice Boat. I think your right about the fun just begining, enjoy it.


Louis

[61SCHIADA]

You did a beautiful job ! What did you do with the hemi ?
That nailhead is awesome. Enjoy the boat.

My brother will be very happy to see it in that condition.

David Barton

[LeadSledMerc]

Very Nice!!!

How about posting a before picture?

What did the Hemi end up in?

Bob

The Hemi isn't in anything yet, but will be going into my next car project which'l either be a nostalgia B/A or C/A.

Here's a few pics of how I bought it. No seats or gas tanks, the engine needed work, the hull was basically good but needed some attension in some areas and paint for sure.
Overall though it was in pretty good shape, that's why I decided to keep it.

[LeadSledMerc]

Over the winter 2 years ago I fixed and painted the Hemi, put some saddle tanks in it, bucket seats, cleaned up the oxidized paint and shot some clear on it, then played with it a few times at the end of the season to make sure every thing else was OK before I tore it down.
This is my first flatbottom, so my big grin :D started last year and has carried me through the build!
Here's a few pics from last year...thats my son.

[LeadSledMerc]

Oh yea, I can't forget my tow rig.
I'll be painting it the same maroon as the boat...and yes, it has a nailhead also!:D

[FC-Pilot]

love it!
http://www.v-driveboat.com/vweb/attachment.php?attachmentid=408&d=1212166015

[Terrible toy]

Way cool, I would have a hard time choosing between your boat and Mike's (AquaCraft) nailhead powered beauty. You two tow them puppies to my house and let me try them out for the summer, that will help me decide.:D:D

[AquaCraft]

Hey LeadSledMerc,

Great job on the boat and I am diggin' the tow rig as well!

Awesome!

Thanks for sharing your photos and story.

AquaCraft

[Norseman]

Beautifull!!

You'll sure turn heads with that rig heading out to the lake!!

The Buick Nailhead looks perfect in that hull!

I'm partial to old chryslers!! I have a couple of 354's and a 331 in the garage.

But I have to say the Nailhead sure is a pretty engine!!

Bob

[67 Wickens]

Very Nice!

[RiverRacer]

That is totally awesome, congrats on a job well done!..:cool:

[hm66Howard]

Sweet! I hope you've got an extendable tounge on that trailer. Could be tough in spots with how low your cool tow rig is. :D

[LeadSledMerc]

Thanks a lot guys.
Like I've said before, this is my first flatbottom and my first boat project. I couldn't have done it without the help and ideas from all of you guys on this forum.:cool:
Thanks again, Keith

[poncho]

You did a beautiful job ! What did you do with the hemi ?
That nailhead is awesome. Enjoy the boat.

My brother will be very happy to see it in that condition.

David Barton

Are you the one that responded a year ago stating that boat had been in your family for years?the ID was the cartoon character

[poncho]

I can only hope my high school car (70 El Camino-BB-4-speed)has landed with someone like Keith

[LeadSledMerc]

I can only hope my high school car (70 El Camino-BB-4-speed)has landed with someone like Keith
Kenny, if I had your high school car, it would have been at the drags yesterday gettin a proper thrashing...I hope that's what you meant!:D

[poncho]

Kenny, if I had your high school car, it would have been at the drags yesterday gettin a proper thrashing...I hope that's what you meant!:D

Knowing that it would be kept flawless and yes it was quite familiar with the drags and plenty of late night street action

[61SCHIADA]

Yes , That was my brother`s Stevens, you did a great job! Enjoy it and show it off!
61Schiada

[LeadSledMerc]

Yes , That was my brother`s Stevens, you did a great job! Enjoy it and show it off!
61Schiada
Cool David, with my intro thread gone when the old forum died, I couldn't remember if that was you that had responded last time. Thanks and yes I'll be enjoying the heck out of it pretty soon.:D

I sent you a PM.

[dry]

Very Nice Rig as a whole...That will be one attention getter on the road and at the ramp!
Nice Job!!

[LeadSledMerc]

We finally got it in the water today, ran excellant...I'm real happy with how the Nailhead turned out and I'm real glad I made the swap! I haven't done any tuning yet, but it runs better than the Hemi already.

What a great day on the lake today, I can't wait to get back out!:D

[poncho]

You my friend single handedly saved that boat from obscurity that is so cool,congrats

[RiverRacer]

That is one sweet piece!.:cool::cool: And somebody needs to be decapitated for running such a classic up on the ground!...:mad:

http://www.v-driveboat.com/vweb/attachment.php?attachmentid=499&d=1212966667

[poncho]

Art we have a special sand out here thats softer than a .................never mind

[LeadSledMerc]

[QUOTE=RiverRacer;5522]That is one sweet piece!.:cool::cool: And somebody needs to be decapitated for running such a classic up on the ground!...:mad:
QUOTE]

Yes sir, after thinking about what you said, you're 100% correct.

Like I've said before Art, this is my first flatbottom, never mind it being a boat worth worrying about.

How's about you spare me my head and just keep the puppy chow coming for a full year 'til I'm full grown?;)

[poncho]

Alright i`ll chime in here my boat spent 39 years on the beaches of the Columbia River and is no worse for the wear,i think when you pull in lift it yank it up and set it down and should be good.I think Keiths picture makes it appear like the whole bottom is just drifting around and having been on that beach its not the case

[RiverRacer]

Alright i`ll chime in here my boat spent 39 years on the beaches of the Columbia River and is no worse for the wear,i think when you pull in lift it yank it up and set it down and should be good.I think Keiths picture makes it appear like the whole bottom is just drifting around and having been on that beach its not the case

Not the whole boat but the bow is getting all FKED up!..

[RiverRacer]

[QUOTE=RiverRacer;5522]That is one sweet piece!.:cool::cool: And somebody needs to be decapitated for running such a classic up on the ground!...
QUOTE]

Yes sir, after thinking about what you said, you're 100% correct.

Like I've said before Art, this is my first flatbottom, never mind it being a boat worth worrying about.

How's about you spare me my head and just keep the puppy chow coming for a full year 'til I'm full grown?;)

We all learn sooner or later, this is the "ONLY" way to beach a boat unless you don't give a shit about it!...

http://www.v-driveboat.com/vweb/attachment.php?attachmentid=501&stc=1&d=1213074190

[LeadSledMerc]

We all learn sooner or later, this is the "ONLY" way to beach a boat unless you don't give a shit about it!...



We all hopefully learn sooner or later.
In this case, I've learned sooner...so thanks for the advice, Art.

Being a car guy I relate it to something like having dirt or sand on that nice paint job, and then something rubbing against it. Something has got to give, like the paint!:(

[SPUN1]

I have to admit, my first Rayson got trashed that way, bow in the sand. I have to say though i never even thought of the damage i'd caused untill i had it on the trailer, it stood out like turd in a punch bowl. Up here in Oregon you also get rock damage if you're not carefull. :)

[RiverRacer]

We all hopefully learn sooner or later.
In this case, I've learned sooner...so thanks for the advice, Art.

Being a car guy I relate it to something like having dirt or sand on that nice paint job, and then something rubbing against it. Something has got to give, like the paint!:(

Yep same difference, I did the same thing with my first boat(Stevens)never gave it a thought until I had to crawl under the trailer to repair wiring, then it hit me, how stupid I was but live and learn, never did it again!..

[RiverRacer]

I have to admit, my first Rayson got trashed that way, bow in the sand. I have to say though i never even thought of the damage i'd caused untill i had it on the trailer, it stood out like turd in a punch bowl. Up here in Oregon you also get rock damage if you're not carefull. :)

Been there done that!..:mad:

[poncho]

Hey guys short vid of keiths boat,met up on Sat and had a couple of hours of fun sucked being in my beater boat and not the flatbottom seems like the Stevens gets faster as the cooler empties but the outboard boat slows down:D

Keiths boat has turned out better than all expectations just a wonderful ride,congrads pal

Gotta figure out how to block wind noise to the camcorder next time


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNUuccvzXj8

[RiverRacer]

Congrats, did a good job!..

[SPUN1]

Another fine piece of work complete and water worthy, kudo's.:)

[LeadSledMerc]

Thanks for the compliments guys and thanks for posting the video, Kenny.

I guess all the up front time spent on it this past winter has paid off big time and I couldn't be happier right from the first time I got it wet...it's run flawless so far (knock on wood here!).

Not know anything about V-Drives when I picked this up, it's definitely turned out better than all of my expectations. I'm frikin psyched that I have it ready early enough in the season to get out and enjoy it with my family and buds!:D

That video is going to keep that grin I've got going all winter!:D:D:D

[Norseman]

Congratulations!!

Looks like a great ride!!

Bob

[29bowtie]

That is one very sweet flatbottom,LeadSledMerc. The only downer,is seeing anyone going fast on water,without a life jacket. That water is harder than it looks. Not trying to preach,but things happen,and when they do often the boat hits you,making swimming really difficult.(Hey,you can tell GlassGuy I scolded you now,just not about OSHA Squint safety glasses:D) It's a horrible feeling when you watch the medi-vac chopper leaving the beach with your boat driver on board,trust me, i've been there.

[RiverRacer]

It's a horrible feeling when you watch the medi-vac chopper leaving the beach with your boat driver on board,trust me, i've been there.

It's a bad feeling any time that happens, gotta wear the safety $hit!..