Building 15' Mudboat

Hey TerryKing,

Here's some pictures of the car i took the motor out of and the motor itself. By the way, it runs. We fired it up after i gave it a complete tune up. Changed all the plug wires, spark plugs, Cap and rotor button, oil filter and new oil. She fired up right away and just ran smooth. Can't beat that for 85 bucks out of the junk yard. I hope your wife enjoys the pictures. I had a couple of Roo's while in college and there's nothing better in the snow in the mountains with ruff tread snow tires.
Take care

Hey Mudman,

Sorry, to hear your having some issues with your motor. I wish i could help out, not that great in the motor department, but to me. It's sounds like your on the right track. You might have a Vaccum line that is either not plugged or is leaking, but it also sounds like the choke might be acting up also. I wish i could help out more. I'll ask my dad when he get's back from Covington, LA. He's down there for a company meeting since he's the Chief on his Tug. He'll have a better idea what's going on. Kind of glad he had the meeting coming up. Got him running over to Kirk's picking up some parts for me. Good old Dad, lol. I'll see what he has to say about your post.
Good luck

Well,
Here's some updated pictures. I'll post more sometime this week. Busy with work and all. Post any questions. Gelcoat is done, just need to lite sand, wet sand, and then polish with rubbing compound. I know, is this going to be a mudboat or a fancy mudboat. lol.

 

Above post parts

1988 GL Subaru
Velvet Drive 71C 1:1 Ratio Boat transmission
Velvet Drive Oil Cooler, Transmission Mounts
EA81 Subaru Motor

and of coarse, boat with the new gelcoat

Gelcoat was mixed and bought at Fiberglass Florida, Inc. Its a custom color close to old Army OD Green.

 

Hey Guys,

Sorry, I haven't been around much. Been busy with work and all. I have gotten some work done to the boat, but nothing really posting about. I needed a space made for the drive plate and had a local machine shop cut me a custom unit. I'll get some pictures and explain what's going on with this. This is something better then just placing the drive plate over the splines on the velvet drive. Since there isn't much splines doing it the old way. This spacer will correct this common problem. I'm also tracking down a output shaft with a u-joint. Got a company in Harvey,LA. that carries them and should be picking one up soon.

Back to the hull. I need one more coat of the gel coat. I want to make sure the gel coat is thick enough, so i don't get any discoloration in nics. I should have the gel coat, wet sanding, and polishing done by second week of Aug. Then you will see all the hardware mounted to the bottom of the hull. Right, before we flip the hull right side up. Then we are going to jump inside and knocking out all the decking, etc. So, if your following this thread. Hang in there and next month. You should see allot of progress and the boat coming together nicely. Wait till you see the custom Light bar we are going to be building. 6 lights, with a jeep speaker bar, WOW. Guys, down on the Bayou are saying this isn't a mudboat.lolol I told them it's more a Hybrid or a dressed up mudboat. Any ways, stay tune and more to follow in a few weeks.
Thanks and take care,
Steve

 

daytona i am trying to build an aluminum mud boat using a honda 550 v-4 thinkeng about chain drive from final drive to prop shaft running surface drive config i would appreciate any input you might have concerning this project i have wanted to do it a long time and now just bit the bullet and am starting it never done and building of a surface setup for skinny water but i'm about too come what may good luck ge1111

 

It looks nice Steve. We have these inboard mb's all over the place down here. When you said Kirk's, were you talking about Kirk Matherne in Des Allemands? I've seen some of his boats in Louisiana Sportsman's (www.louisianasportsman.com) online classifieds and they always look good. I live about a half an hour drive from his place. There are a couple of nice boats for sale not far from me in either direction on the highway that I've been meaning to stop and take pictures of to get ideas. I want to build one at some point, I'm just not in the position to do it yet. Anyway, I hope yours is running well by now and good luck with everything.

 

hey cool project, thanks for sharing. What's the stern deck for?