SNobsessed (on CCF) asked:

Grant - where are you at on your boat rebuild?

We are making good progress on the '72 Skier.
(I think I told you I bought -- and have sold -- a '77 Skier which I took on the 200 mile ACBS St. John's River Cruise earlier this year.)

The '77 is now in KS on a Lake Clinton (or maybe Clinton Lake?)
The '72 Skier rebuild is coming along nicely, although progress has been interrupted by two recent visits to Wisconsin:

. . . and by a poor decision on my part. After replacing original motor mounts at all four corners, I've decided exhaust routing will be better if I use rear mounts of my own design. We'll be installing them tomorrow. I'm also replacing all the wiring (except for much of the main harness between console and engine). I've had spacers cut (water jetted, 5/16 in.) to move exhaust manifolds away from new cast aluminum rocker arm covers. PCV routing has been changed.

Installed all new gauges by Faria (except fuel), new starter, new single-wire alternator, new bilge pump, new leakless propeller shaft seal etc.

Installed a "leakless" shaft seal by PSS. (I've seen them installed with grat success in a number of boats, including three large lake cruisers, a 30' mahogany with twin engines, and a nicely rebuilt Gravette.) See later in this page for my installation.

I must travel to VA this month (family), then 2 more "boat" trips to WI. But still plan to launch here before the ice forms.

Haven't done much posting to my 72skier website lately, but it's still there for those with interest (see below).

-=Grant MacLaren=-
Retired Expert
www.grantmaclaren.com/72skier

Here are a few photos made 8/5/15 showing the new motor mounts, the prop shaft flanges connected and the new leakless seal. Later in the day the starboard exhaust manifold was installed. Now we can determine how the exhaust will be designed, fabricated, routed and installed.

Leakless Seal

The "new" boat will have more floor
space aft of the engine. As you can see here,
I'll have to cut away a fraction of the new floor's
insert, to clear the flanges.