THIS 2-YEAR PASSION PROJECT CAME OUT BETTER THAN I COULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED.

I AM 53 YEARS OLD AND GREW UP IN NY AND MIAMI IN THE 70’S AND 80’S DURING THE ORIGINAL THUNDERBOAT ROW RACING ERA. MY FATHER WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL OWNER / RACERS IN ONE OF HIS MANY CIGARETTES THAT WERE ALWAYS NAMED “MIGHTY MOUSE”. MY CRAZY DAD BOUGHT ME MY FIRST 24’ CIGARETTE FIRE FOX IN MIAMI WHEN I WAS ONLY 10 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE BEEN HOOKED ON POWERBOATS EVER SINCE

3 my father, little brother and me at a race won

Me at age 3 in my dad's 1st Cigarette

Me at 6 years old

My dad's 35’ Cigarette

My dad's 1st 28 raceboat with Volvo drives

My dad's 28 Cigarette

I HAVE HAD MANY BOATS OVER THE YEARS, BUT MY LAST TWO PERFORMANCE BOATS WERE CATAMARANS. AFTER ENJOYING POUNDING AROUND IN THE SITTING POSITION AT OVER 100 MPH IN MY LAST TWO CATAMARANS, MY LOWER BACK ENDED UP IN HORIBLE SHAPE. VISITS TO THE PAIN CENTER FOR EPIDURALS WERE GETTING ME TO ACTUALLY CONTEMPLATE GIVING UP POWERBOATING. AS A LAST DITCH EFFORT TO CONTINUE ON WITH SOMETHING I TRULY LOVE, I DECIDED TO MOVE BACK TOWARDS SOMETHING COOL THAT I CAN STAND UP IN SO MY LEGS CAN ABSORB MOST OF THE POUNDING. I WANTED TO FIND SOMETHING UNIQUE AND FAST THAT WOULD ALLOW ME TO CRUSH THROUGH WAVES WHILE I’M IN THE STANDING POSITION.

Me Bobby and uncle Frank the day we bought it

Me racing a skater

My son and I in my old cat

I SPEND MOST OF MY TIME IN LOS ANGELES THESE DAYS, BUT WHEN I SET OUT ON MY SEARCH FOR THE PERFECT BOAT PROJECT, I DECIDED THAT EITHER MIAMI OR THE LAKE OF THE OZARKS IS PROBABLY WHERE I WOULD FIND MY UNICORN. I KNEW THAT I WANTED A 38’ TO 50’ V-BOTTOM THAT WAS DEEP ENOUGH TO STAND IN. I ALSO WANTED STAGGERED ENGINES AND A TRANSOM CUT FOR MERCURY #6 DRIVES.
AFTER NUMEROUS TEST DRIVES IN DIFFERENT BOATS, I NARROWED MY SIGHTS ON TWO BOAT FINALISTS THAT BOTH INTERESTED ME.

# 39' Cigarette Topgun

#6 Drives (Short Stagger)

Molden Dash + Billet Parts

THIS BOAT HAD ALL OF THE POLISH AND COOL NEW AGED DESIGN HARDWARE. FROM THE BILLET GRAB HANDLES TO THE SLIDING CABIN DOOR WITH INTEGRATED STEP THAT MADE IT EASY TO CLIMB UP TO THE DECK. IT ALSO HAD JUST ENOUGH ROOM FOR A SHORT-STAGGERED ENGINE SETUP, 5-PERSON COCKPIT AND A STEP BOTTOM HULL THAT ADDS A FEW MPH IN CALM WATER. THE NEGATIVES TO THESE BOATS ARE THAT ALL OF THE 39’S ARE FAIRLY NEW AND TOO NICE TO GUT DOWN TO THE FIBERGLASS AND COMPLETELY RENOVATE. AS YOU WILL SOON SEE, I LIKE ALL MY TOYS TO LOOK A CERTAIN WAY AND TEARING APPART AN ALREADY PERFECT 39’ TOPGUN FELT WRONG AND WOULD HAVE BEEN A BIG WASTE OF MONEY. BOTTOM LINE, THERE WEREN’T ANY GOOD DEALS ON BEAT UP 39’ TOP GUN’S WITH #6 HOLES IN THE TRANSOM. ANOTHER NEGATIVE TO THEM IS THAT, BECAUSE OF THE STEPS, THEY END UP HAVING A SHALLOWER COCKPIT THAN THE NON-STEPPED 38’ TOPGUNS AND I DON’T LIKE THE FEELING OF THE TOP ½ OF MY BODY HANGING OUT OF A BOAT WHILE DRIVING IN THE STANDING POSITION. I HAVE ALSO HEARD THAT CIGARETTE STEPS CAN CATCH IN TURNS AND CAUSE THE BOAT TO HOOK WHICH CAN'T BE FUN. LASTLY, THERE ARE TOO MANY TOPGUNS AROUND SO IT NEVER BE A UNICORN.

Bobby Flying

So smooth

#2 the 41' Apache

ANYONE WHO HAS EVER RIDDEN IN AN APACHE IN ANY SORT OF ROUGH SEAS, UNDERSTANDS THE AWE-INSPIRING APPEAL. PLAIN AND SIMPLE, THERE IS JUST NO BETTER (OR MORE FUN) BOAT TO JUMP WAVES ALONG THE FLORIDA COAST IN THAN AN OLD SCHOOL 41’ APACHE RACE BOAT. THE BENEFITS OF THE 41’ APACHES WERE THAT THERE ARE A FEW AROUND WITH # 6 DRIVES AND STAGGERED ENGINES AND THEY CAN ALL USE SOME LOVE AND CUSTOMIZATION. THE NEGATIVES DIFFER BECAUSE WITHIN THE APACHE BRAND, THERE ARE REALLY 3 DIFFERENT TYPES OF APACHE BOATS.

41' Apache I wanted

TYPE 1 THE ORIGINAL, BOB SACCENTI / KRAMER BUILT 41’ APACHE RACEBOATS. THESE ARE MY FAVORITE. THEY ARE BUILT STRONG BUT on the LIGHTER SIDE AND DRIVE LIKE NO OTHER BOAT OUT THERE. THEY ARE SUPER DEEP V-BOTTOMS AND YOU WILL FEEL MORE SECURE LAUNCHING OFF A 10’ WAVE IN THESE BOATS THAN IN ANY OTHER BOAT IN THE WORLD. THE ONES I COULD BUY WERE ALL CHEAP ENOUGH THAT I WOULDN’T FEEL BAD TEARING THEM DOWN TO THE BARE FIBERGLASS AND CREATING THE BOAT I HAD ENVISIONED. THE NEGATIVES WERE THAT MOST OF THESE BOATS HAVE NO PLEASURE CABINS IN THEM. THEY HAVE AN OVERLY DEEP DASHBOARD AND 3-MAN BOLSTER SETUP SO WE WOULD NEED TO DO A TON OF FIBERGLASS WORK TO TURN ONE INTO A PLEASURE BOAT WITH A 6-PERSON COCKPIT AND SMALL CABIN. THE OTHER ISSUE IS THAT THEY ARE OLDER BOATS AND HAVE ALL BEEN EXPOSED TO YEARS OF ABUSE.

41' pleasure Apache

TYPE 2 THERE ARE SOME OLD ERA PLEASURE BOAT APACHES BUT MOST DIDN’T HAVE STAGGERED MOTORS AND THEY RIDE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BECAUSE THE CENTER OF GRAVITY JUST SEEMS OFF WITH NON STAGGERED ENGINES IN ROUGH SEAS. MOST OF THESE BOATS ALSO HAVE OLD-SCHOOL #3 SPEEDMASTER HOLES IN THE TRANSOM.

Macmanus Apache

TYPE 3 THE NEWER MCMANUS APACHE. THESE BOATS ALL SEEM TO BE SUPER HEAVY AND THEY NEED MONSTER HORSEPOWER TO BREAK THE 100 MPH MARK. THEY ARE LAYED UP THICK AND THE FINISHINGS ARE NICE BUT I AM NOT A FAN OF THE NEW-STYLE DECK AND WINDSHIELD AREA THEY USE FOR THE 41’ MODEL.

REACHED OUT TO MY FATHER’S GOOD FRIEND AND THROTTLEMAN FOR OVER 50 YEARS, WHO IS NONE OTHER THAN THE APACHE CREATOR BOBBY SACCENTI. HE WAS THE ONE THAT HAD RIGGED MY ORIGINAL 24’ CIGARETTE ON 135TH STREET WHEN I WAS 10 YEARS OLD AND HAD BUILT ME TWO SMALLER APACHES SINCE. WE HADN’T SPOKEN IN OVER 15 YEARS BUT THE SECOND HE ANSWERED THE PHONE, IT WAS JUST LIKE OLD TIMES. TO MY SURPRISE, BOBBY WAS STILL IN GREAT HEALTH FOR An 80-YEAR-OLD THAT HAS SPENT MOST OF HIS LIFE INHALING FIBERGLASS FUMES AND POUNDING THROUGH SOME OF THE LARGEST WAVES THE OCEAN HAS TO OFFER. HE WAS MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY ALL THERE AND WAS STILL BUILDING A FEW BOATS A YEAR FOR SOME OF HIS OLD FRIENDS. AFTER A FEW HOURS OF REMINISCING AND COUNTLESS STORIES ABOUT RACING WITH MY FATHER IN THE 70’S AND 80’S, WE WERE ABLE TO GET DOWN TO BUSINESS.

BOBBY IS LIKE THE HUMAN WIKI FOR EVERY APACHE EVER MADE. HE KNOWS WHERE THEY WENT, WHO BUILT THEM, WHO LAyed UP THE FIBERGLASS (IF THEY WERE ANY GOOD), WHO OWNED THEM, HOW THEY RAN AND MOST EVERY REPAIR EVER MADE ON THEM. I KNEW HE WAS THE ONE I WANTED TO HIRE TO GUIDE ME ON MY JOURNEY.

My dad, Bobby + Rocky Aoki

Bobby + My dad winning a race

Bobby when he isnt built the boat

OVER THE NEXT MONTH WE LOOKED AT 5 DIFFERENT BOATS AND MY FINALIST WAS THE 41’ APACHE CALLED THE PREDATOR LOCATED IN NY. IT WAS THE PERFECT COLOR AND IT HAD THE STAGGERED #6 DRIVE SETUP THAT I WAS LOOKING FOR. IT WOULD DEFINITELY BE A PROJECT TO TURN IT INTO A PLEASURE BOAT, BUT I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE JOURNEY. AT THE TIME WE WERE NEGOTIATING THE PURCHASE, ONE OF THE ENGINES WAS OUT OF THE BOAT AND BEING REBUILT. I WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO BUY THE BOAT AND PICK IT UP UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS FINISHED AND RE-INSTALLED. IT IS STRANGE HOW THINGS WORK BECAUSE DESTINY AND THAT SMALL DELAY, ENDED UP DRASTICALLY CHANGING THE DIRECTION THAT THIS PROJECT WOULD GO.

ONE OF MY FRIENDS THAT KNEW THE TYPE OF BOAT I WAS LOOKING FOR, TOLD ME ABOUT AN APACHE-TYPE BOAT SITTING IN A TOW YARD NEAR HIS SHOP IN FT. LAUDERDALE FL.

I TOLD HIM TO SEND ME SOME PICTURES OF THE BOAT AND IMEDIATELY FORWARDED THEM TO WIKI- BOBBY. BOBBY LAUGHED WHEN HE SAW THE PICTURES AND TOLD ME IT WASN’T ACTUALLY AN APACHE AND THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY A MORE MODERN 42’ “CHIEF POWERBOAT”. HE PROCEEDED TO TELL ME ALL ABOUT HIS JOURNEY AND HOW HE INVENTED AND DESIGNED THE BOAT AND THE EVOLUTION OF HOW THE CHIEF HULL AND COMPANY CAME TO PASS. THE GREAT THING ABOUT THE CHIEFS IS THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME HULL SHAPE AND DECK STYLING AS THE OLD-SCHOOL APACHES BUT THEY HAVE A NEW-SCHOOL REVERSE STEP AND NEGATIVE CHINE THAT MAKES THEM 15 MPH FASTER THAN THE APACHES IN CALM WATER WITH THE SAME POWER. THEY ARE ALSO, 1-FOOT LONGER AND WERE ALL BUILT AFTER 2006. THEY ALSO HAVE LARGE PLEASURE CABINS, 5 PERSON COCKPITS AND HUGE FULL-STAGGERED ENGINE COMPARTMENTS. THE BAD PART IS THAT THEY ONLY BUILT 6 OF THEM SO GOOD LUCK TRYING TO FIND ONE LET ALONE GETTING SOMEONE TO SELL IT TO YOU. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, ONE OF THEM IS A FULL RACE BOAT WITH ARNESON DRIVES AND HAS BEEN POUNDING AROUND ENGLAND FOR YEARS. ANOTHER ONE HAS A FULL ILMORE SETUP AND UNFORTUNATELY HAS THE PROBLEMATIC INDY DRIVES CUT INTO THE TRANSOM. ONE IS A DIESEL BOAT THAT IS OUT OF THE COUNTRY. ONE WAS A HYBRID DEAL THAT WAS LAID UP AND BUILT BY CHECKMATE (NOT CHIEF). THERE IS A HULL AND DECK SOMEPLACE THAT VERY FEW KNOW ABOUT OR CAN FIND. THE LAST ONE IS THE ORIGINAL “FIRST MOHICAN” CHIEF THAT BOBBY BUILT WITH THE HAND SELECTED TEAM THAT LAUNCHED THE CHIEF BRAND AND IT ACTUALLY ALSO HAD #6 DRY-SUMP DRIVES HANGING OFF THE TRANSOM. IN THE END, THERE WAS REALLY ONLY ONE OF THESE 6 BOATS WHICH FIT WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.

WHAT WERE THE ODDS THAT IT WAS THIS EXACT BOAT THAT MY BUDDY SAW IN THE TOW LOT. AFTER A CALL TO THE TOW COMPANY, I WAS ABLE TO FIND OUT THAT THE BOAT WAS NOT FOR SALE BUT WAS ACTUALLY BEING STORED THERE WHILE THE INTERIOR WAS BEING RECOVERED DOWN THE STREET. I CALLED THE INTERIOR SHOP AND THEY GOT ME IN TOUCH WITH THE BOAT’S OWNER AND WE WERE ABLE TO FINALIZE A DEAL. BOBBY DROVE DOWN TO THE LOW LOT THE NEXT DAY AND DID HIS SURVEY. ALTHOUGH THE BOAT WAS HORRIBLY MAINTAINED AND COATED WITH CORROSION, RUST AND MOLD, IT STILL HAD LESS THAN 80 HRS ON IT SINCE IT WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT AND WAS THE PERFECT FIT FOR WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.

My boat when it was inst spotted

Abused dash

Abused interior

Bobby Picking it up after we bought it

I HAD THE INTERIOR SHOP STOP ALL THEIR WORK ON THE BOAT IMMEDIATELY AND TOLD THEM TO JUST THROW ALL OF THE INTERIOR PIECES IN THE COCKPIT AND CABIN. BOBBY DROVE OVER AND PICKED IT UP THE NEXT DAY.

FROM THERE, BOBBY’S 60-YEAR-OLD ROLODEX KICKED INTO HIGH GEAR AND THE BOAT WENT DIRECTLY OVER TO RANDY AT COBRA POWER. IN ONE DAY THESE TWO OLD-SCHOOLERS STRIPPED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND DRIVES OUT OF IT SO RANDY COULD BEGIN HIS REBUILD AND REFINISHING WORK. RANDY IS A MAN AFTER MY OWN HEART AND EVEN THOUGH HE HAS MORE MONEY THAT ME AND DOESN’T NEED TO BE IN THE BOAT BUSINESS AT ALL, HE SHOWS UP EVERY DAY BECAUSE IT IS HIS PASSION.

Getting stripped down at Cobra power

Removing my drives

Stripped engine compartment

HE ACTUALLY WORKED THE FORKLIFT HIMSELF TO REMOVE MY DRIVES. RANDY, ALBERT, AND THE WHOLE COBRA POWER TEAM ARE REALLY A CLASS ACT AND IF YOU LOOK AT BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES OF MY ENGINES AND DRIVES, IT IS REALLY INCREDIBLE WHAT THEY CAN DO AND THE LEVEL AT WHICH THEY DO IT.

Randy + Bobby at Cobra

Removing the gimbals

Don't drop my #6

Albert the surgeon

Old school brain power

Gimbal surgery

Corroed engines

Corroed drives

Let it down easy

Corroed gimbal housing

Transmission needs love

Rebuilt gimbal housing

Refurbished transmissions

Rebuilt drives by Cobra power

Finished engines on their way to port orange

FROM THERE THE BOAT WENT TO BOBBY’S SHOP IN HALLANDALE FL WHERE ALL OF THE HARDWARE WAS REMOVED AND THE REST OF THE BOAT WAS STRIPPED DOWN TO THE FIBERGLASS HULL AND DECK. AT 80+ YEARS OLD, BOBBY SACCENTI HIMSELF, REMOVED MUCH OF THE HARDWARE, FLOORING AND EVEN THE GAS TANKS.

Boat stripped clean

Old tanks being lifted out

Accomplishment

INSTEAD OF TAKING A CHANCE, I HAD NEW GAS TANKS FABRICATED AND INSTALLED ALONG WITH A NEW COMPOSITE FLOOR.

Bobby removing floor tanks at 78

New tanks

New tanks all foamed in

I AM AN OLD-SCHOOL GUY BUT I HATE THE OLD ABOVE THE SURFACE, FLIP-UP, DECK HATCHES THAT OLDER BOATS LIKE THIS ONE HAVE. I HAD SOME FLUSH MOUNT HATCHES MADE AND ALSO HAD THEM MAKE ME A FLUSH-MOUNT ANCHOR LOCKER FOR THE NOSE AND BODIED THEM ALL INTO THE BOAT DURING THIS RAW STAGE.

Old above-deck hatches

Anchor locker fabrication

Flush mount deck hatches + anchor locker

FROM THERE, A TRUCKLOAD OF PARTS ALL WENT TO THE POLISHER AND THEN TO BOBBY’S POWDER COATER PATTY AT INOVATIVE POWTER COATER FT LAUDERDALE WHO DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB OVER THE COURSE OF THE WHOLE PROJECT.

Parts going to powercoating

Set pedestals + misc parts

Sea strainers

Freshly powercoated parts

Finished seat pedestals

Bumblee Bee sea strainers

THEN THE BOAT WENT UP TO BOBBY’S BUDDY TODD AT PORTA FIBERGLASS IN EDGEWATER FL. FOR THE PAINT AND BODYWORK. TODD AND HIS TEAM AT PORTA FIBERGLASS SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS REMOVING THE CRAZY 30 COAT INDIAN PAINT JOB. HE THEN HAD TO FLOAT IN THE ANCHOR LOCKER, ALL OF THE NEW HATCHES AND MAKE IT LOOK LIKE IT JUST CAME OUT OF THE FACTORY.

Blocking + Sanding

Floated deck hatches

Floated anchor locker

WE DID THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IN GLOSS BLACK GELCOAT AND USED AWLCRAFT SUPERSET BLACK (F2091) ON THE SIDES AND AWLCRAFT LEMON YELLOW (F9333) ON THE BOTTOM AND DECK. IT DOESN’T GET MUCH HARDER THAN RE-PAINTING A 42’ BOAT IN GLOSS BLACK AND TRYING TO GET THE SIDES SMOOTH ENOUGH TO LOOK GOOD. AFTER MANY HRS OF BLOCKING AND SANDING, TODD AND THE PORTA TEAM DEFINITELY DID NOT DISAPPOINT.

Old, nasty + white

Prepped + ready

Black gelcoat engine compartment

HIS OPERATION AND 65 FT SPRAY BOOTH ARE SECOND TO NONE AND I APPRECIATE HIS HARD WORK ON THIS PROJECT MORE THAT HE KNOWS.

Finished transom

Striped deck

Smooth black sides

WHEN I BOUGHT THE BOAT, THE STEEL TRAILER IT CAME WITH WAS A RUSTED PIECE OF CRAP THAT NEEDED TO BE REINFORCED TO GET THE BOAT UP TO THE PAINT SHOP. THE GOOD PART ABOUT THE OLD TRAILER WAS THAT IT ALLOWED THE BOAT TO BE WORKED ON AND PAINTED WITHOUT ME HAVING TO CARE ABOUT OVERSPRAY OR MESSING UP A NICER TRAILER.

WHILE THE BOAT WAS BEING PAINTED, BOBBY PUT ME IN TOUCH WITH BILL TWEEDIE OVER AT MYCO TRAILERS AND WE DESIGNED A NEW CUSTOM ALUMINUM TRAILER FROM SCRATCH. THEY FINISHED AND DELIVERED MY NEW ALUMINUM TRAILER BEFORE THE PAINT ON THE BOAT WAS DONE SO IT ALL WORKED OUT GREAT.

Old steel trailer

Rusted out old trainer

Rust damage everywhere

Forward boxes for wet launch

Custom wheels

Fits like a baby

BECAUSE I AM FROM THE OLD SCHOOL ERA OF BOATING, MY VISION FOR MY DREAM PLEASURE BOAT, ALWAYS HAD THE HUGE LAYDOWN SUNBATHING PAD ON THE ENGINE HATCH. UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME, THE “FIRST MOHICAN” HAD A 1-OFF CUSTOM RAISED HATCH WITH HEADRESTS AND A ROUNDED BUBBLE-LIKE ARCH BUILT INTO IT.

Old bubble hatch

Rear cushion

Integrated vent

I SKETCHED OUT A DESIGN FOR HOW I WANTED IT MODIFIED AND SHOWED IT TO BOBBY. ONCE AGAIN HE PULLED OUT HIS ROLODEX AND PUT ME IN TOUCH WITH SCOTT PORTA AT PORTA PRODUCTS. HE BUILDS AND RACES BOATS AND ALSO FABRICATES PARTS SO HE WAS THE PERFECT PERSON FOR THE JOB. WE GAVE HIM THE HATCH AND AFTER 2 MONTHS, HE HAD MADE MY SKETCH A REALITY.

THEN THE HATCH WENT BACK TO TODD’S FOR PAINT AND BODY WORK AND WAS SOON BACK ON MY BOAT.

Bobby + Scott Porta

My hi-tech sketch

Loaded and off to Scotts

Fabricated hatch

Bondod up

New hatch ready for paint

FROM THERE THE BOAT WENT TO PORT ORANGE FL TO THE LEGENDARY JOHN POMPI’S “MARINE PERFORMANCE INC.”. JOHN WAS ACTUALLY THE ONE THAT ORIGINALLY RIGGED THE BOAT WHEN IT WAS BUILT IN 2006, SO HE KNEW EVERYTHING ABOUT IT AND WAS THE PERFECT PERSON FOR THE PROJECT.

THE WORK HE HAS DONE ON THIS BOAT HAS BEEN IMPECCABLE AND AS YOU CAN SEE, HE SPENDS THE EXTRA TIME AND EXPENSE TO COVER EVERYTHING SO THE BOAT ISN’T SCRATCHED TO HELL ONCE IT IS FINALLY FINISHED.

Bobby + I making plans

John + Bobby making it happen

Bobby + Augie

Pompi's right hand

Everything is covered for safety

Engine install

JOHN IS A DETAIL PERSON THAT WILL SPEND HOURS FIXING SOMETHING THAT HE DEEMS AS NOT PERFECT AND OVER THE COURSE OF THIS PROJECT HAS CONSTANTLY REINFORCED THE FACT THAT MY DECISION TO HAVE HIM RIG MY BABY WAS THE BEST ONE I COULD HAVE EVER MADE.

THERE WERE A FEW PAIN POINTS DURING THE RIGGING PROCESS THAT ARE WORTH NOTING. AS STUPID AS IT MAY SEEM, THE TWO BIGGEST ONES WERE THE HINGES AND LOCKING MECHANISMS FOR THE DECK HATCHES.

Short rest

Tidy wiring

Engine compartment pompi style

SINCE I SPENT ALL OF THIS MONEY TO INSTALL FLUSH MOUNT HATCHES AND AN ANCHOR LOCKER INTO THE DECK, I DECIDED THAT I DIDN’T WANT TO SEE ANY HARDWARE FROM THE SURFACE. THE ISSUE WITH MAKING THAT HAPPEN IS THAT THERE IS A CHANNEL ON THE INSIDE EDGE OF THESE HATCHES SO WHATEVER HINGE I USED NEEDED TO GO UP TO CLEAR THE CHANNEL BEFORE IT PIVOTS BACK AND OPENS.

I, INCORRECTLY, FIGURED THAT A HINGE LIKE THIS WOULD BE EASY TO FIND FROM A STANDARD MARINE STORE BUT NOTHING i could find WAS CLOSE to what i needed. ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THESE HATCHES WAS MY CABIN SO I ALSO needed TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DIDN’T HANG DOWN AND GOUGE PEOPLE’S HEADS WHEN THEY WERE WALKING THROUGH THE CABIN. ON MY QUEST TO FIND SOMETHING THAT would work, I BOUGHT (AND STILL HAVE) OVER 30 HINGES AND 20 LATCHES. NONE OF THEM WORKED PERFECTLY.

ONE LATE NIGHT GOOGLE SEARCH BROUGHT ME TO A YACHT SITE WITH A COOL HINGE THAT DID WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO. THE ARTICLE THANKFULLY REFERENCED THE HINGE DESIGNER WHO WAS PAUL EDMONDSON FROM PE MARINE DESIGNZ LTD. THE BAD PART WAS THAT THE GUY WAS LOCATED IN ENGLAND. I STAYED UP SUPER LATE (WHICH WAS HIS TIME TO OPEN) AND CALLED HIM THE NEXT DAY.

HE DESIGNS AND BUILDS ALL OF HIS OWN PARTS AND WAS PERFECT FOR THE JOB. WITHIN DAYS, HE SENT DESIGNS, GAS PISTON OPTIONS AS WELL AS DIFFERENT LATCH TYPES. HE WAS ABLE TO DESIGN A LOW PROFILE 4-POINT SCISSOR HINGE FOR ME AND EVEN SENT ALONG 3-D RENDERINGS WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. HE IS DEFINITELY NOT THE CHEAPEST OPTION FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS BUT I KNEW THAT THIS WAS ONE OF THE CORNERS THAT WOULD BUG ME FOR YEARS TO COME IF I CUT IT TO SAVE MONEY. THE GUY COULDN’T HAVE BEEN NICER OR A MORE PERFECT FIT. MY RESULT IS A SMOOTH DECK WITH ZERO SCREW HOLES VISIBLE FROM THE SURFACE.

Installation schematic

3d rendering

Custom hinges by Pe

BOBBY PUT ME IN TOUCH WITH HIS LONGTIME FRIEND “MIKE LIVORSI” WHO HELPED ME DESIGN A WHOLE NEW GAUGE CLUSTER. IT IS CRAZY THAT I WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO BUY LIVORSI GAUGES FROM THE MAN HIMSELF, ALL WIth A SIMPLE TEXT FROM BOBBY.

Matt carbon fiber

Personalized gauge faces

Custom livorsi gauges

ONE OTHER COOL IDEA TO NOTE IS THAT TINE DRAINS NEED TO BE INSTALLED IN THESE DECK HATCH CHANNELS. THE ISSUE IS THAT WITH A FINISHED CABIN WITH A HEAD LINER, THE DRAIN NEEDS TO BE ROUTED THROUGH SOME HOSE TO GET THE WATER OUT OF THE BOAT OR INTO THE BILGE. JOHN POMPI CAME UP WITH THE BRILLIANT IDEA TO DISPEL THE WATER BY CONNECTING THE DRAIN TO THE FEMALE PORTION OF THE FENDER QUICK DISCONNECTS THAT ARE MOUNTED IN THE SIDE OF THE BOAT. IT WAS A SUPER COOL IDEA THAT WORKED PERFECTLY AND SAVED US FROM DRILLING AN ADDITIONAL DRAIN HOLE IN THE BOAT. (JUST DON’T HOSE THE BOAT DOWN WITH THE FINDER PIN IN).

Fender latch drain

Rain channel for drain

Fender pin / drain