1991 Keith Willis Downeaster rebuild

[gofshn]

1991 Keith Willis Downeaster rebuild 25'

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Picked this boat up in late summer with trialerwith rotted out floor and stringers, rebuilt engine 351 windsor PCM fresh water cooled with new risers and manifolds, all accessories on engine have been replaced. Engine has sat up for over a year and a half so not trusting it or the rebuilt tranny as the boat sat outdoors for a while. Have gutted her now and taken the upper station off to get her in the shop while grinding and glassin due to weather and wanting to keep a constant temp while doing glasswork. she has all new Bennet trim tabs and the auto leveler control system so that helps. Bought her on the cheap for $1000.00. including trailer and outriggers. her is some before and after pictures. Thinking about repowering her with either a 5.7 Crusader efi engine or the 6.0 liter version. At the point now to start stringer work,tabbing, glassing and putting her back together. A little unsure of the drive system as it seems like just a fiberglass stern tube with a rubber coupler with two hose clamps holdng it and a bronze coupling attached to the forend of the shaft. any advice or help on identifying this set-up would be helpful.

[gottaflylee]

Sweet boat and should be a nice ride for you. Good talking to you the other day.

[gofshn]

Thanks Lee, I actually plan on doing some fishing this year after having the majority of my health problems sorted out. I'll give u a shout sometim soon if Andrew brings the Jim Smith Sportfish down to wilmington.

[alex n]

Looks like a great project, How about a diesel engine though, much more reliable in a boat and don't have to worry about the volatility of gasoline.

[hotshot1]

Very nice work so far. Just curious if you have any better pictures of your rod holder in the truck

[gofshn]

was looking at a 330 cummins 6bta but cost is a factor. I can get new crusaders with a tranny cheap. Designing fuel tanks that are large enough in the limited space is my main concern. The prop pockettakes up a lot of the depth and width the way it transitions in the aft of the hull so saddles will have to be custom made and fit with a lot of thinking process. I woul like to get twin 80-90 gallons in there.

[clt_capt]

The through hull fiberglass tube is pretty standard for Inboard boats - If you check the big bronze nut at the end of the rubber tubing, you'll find packing (or where packing used to be).

Definitely replace the rubber and probably wouldn't hurt to replace the stuffing box at the same time (the bronze thing)

[seapower]

Properly rigged out C/C fishes. Just got new 7 section curtain's to stay dry, getting some cosmetic hull work and spray rail's put on now. I can tell you that if the inboard thing look's like it's not gonna work out, then a couple mid sized (130-150 hp) 4 strokes will do just fine. They will push the boat well and not bust the bank doing it. If you haven't been on one of them yet, when I get mine back in the water, come spend a day on it. There isn't another 25 out there that I've seen that gives you the open fishing room this boat does. Is extremely stable bottom fishing and great on the troll. Fancy it's not, but then again Mr Willis didn't have that in mind when he built her. Frank