Harley 42'

windshield

I have done research on new curved windshield. I have quotes coming from american marine (now pompanette)-I think they built for HH back in 80's, also got qquote comin from ocean dynamics (miami) & taylormade (NY), One shop wants to use my existing frrame and modify it to a curved corvner set up. There is some savings but it cannot be re-polished due to welds. They want me to go powder coat. I hate to use a colored frame on an older boat. It does not fit the era. Would like to find an old Harley that is sitting dead with a curved windshield. Would gladly swap mine plus some $$$$ instead of putting that $$$$ into modifying mine. I have decided against hard top but will be doing all new canvas and may just upgrade the frame work. Would appreciate any canvas top photos or curved windsheild photos that anyone could post. Got all upholstry in shop now-lookin good so far. Went ahead and removed forward floor to repair my fuel gauges and do some touch up stuff. Just got my spare steering cylinder re-built and all new trim/steering hoses for O/S of tramsom. tryng to find time to get everyting back on. Props going to shop soon for minor repair and slight change to increawse RPM by bout 75. Would really like to redo dash and electronics like Stteve-hoping I can find time and $$$. Going to miami show next month to look @ electronnics. A lot of folks have good stuff to say bout the Garmin-you used yours yet steve?
Have promised girlfriend that me and harley will spend most of 12/13 winter in Fla. so I need to get all projects complete that I can while I have boat inside. Hope all is well for all-and boat projects are moving along. How bout you swamp? I be in fla. in Feb. hope to look u up. LEE

 

Lee - I didnt see your message until now: I will try to take photos tonight and send them to you...hopefully I can find your email after my hard drive crashed at Xmas

 

Lee - just got the message too! I'll run by the boat this afternoon and shoot you some pics as well. I am trying to plan to go to Miami as well - hopefully work will let me get down there. Chetco - Digital Marine Gauges = the ones I want to use are supposed to be there. I know we can get a OEM discount if we do a couple of boats at the same time. Still looks to be around 3 to 5K for the complete system with touch switches and senders, etc.

 

hello guys
looking to replace canvas bimini with a hardtop mounted to my arch. Anyone done any foam core glassing and have tips?
I want it to be strong enough to walk on it but be relatively light. 87" wide by 144 ish
anyone done any drawings or seen something they liked?
lee - lets make two buddy ;-)

 

hard top

Hey swamp, I been lookin at hard tops. You want light weight but want to walk on it? Hard to have both. It seems that regardless of weight you need lots of aluminum bracing for ridgidity. Bracing has weight and costs alot. I have looked at upgraded canvas with heavier frame that is integral to arch. Will share proposals when I get. One interesting product out there is www.hardtotop.com , check them out. I wanted to get a new windshield before the top sso I am workin on that now. I have discovered that the top right of my dashboard would have to be "clipped" to allow for the curved windshield (yours probably got modified by HH). I was planning on new electronics soon so I don't mind the dash job (wanna be like steve!) but it just be another f'ing boat project and time/money that I don't have.

 

pizza ...feel your pain bro. I am looking into hardtop but half heartedly....want to get her running better first. Props will need tweaking since now only have 330 hp. Not sure what will work best.....keeping eye out.
otherwise it is time to name her...going with Swamp Lizard II. Can you guys post how you did your graphics...need ideas

 

so got motors in and drive shafts shortened about a foot....nice to get front of the motors now. New 454s start right up and idle well....seem smoother then the 502s(which I sold on ebay to a guy in finland...small world). Had a blown trans oil cooler which was a pita to swap out did both just in case and changed trans oil twice. Couple gauges were not right so repaired them and thermos were wrong so changed those out. (closed cooling).

next week or so I will do some prop testing as soon as it is flat out on ocean. Down to 330hp so not sure if I will even be able to plane. Also I do not have trim tabs on the boat yet and do not have ventilation snorkles.....should be interesting.

hope to get rpm and gps readings up to wot documented and go from there.keep you posted...if nothing else I don't want to break anything and at least enjoy her in trawler mode for a while.

be well all

swampy

 

sawmp-sounding like you gettin somewhere. I keep fingers crossed for u! I be down this sunday 2-19. b @ boat show on monday. will try to look u up. Look on page #4 of forum for my transom layout, New letters are black but same font. I ran 330hp merlin diesels and 350hp cat diesels for years. I will check my notes for prop sizes. what is your tranny ratio? I would not worry bout prop vents, I notice no diff. with or w/o, although many others swear by them. trim tabs will be important though. The deeeeep vee of the harley along with the 10' 9" beam makes for some serious side to side action. Have you shopped the used market for tabs? I see some around. good luck!!

 

1.53:1 remember they are gassers

 

Took her out last night tried to run it on some flat water.....good news is nothing broke or overheated. Bad newsis I have a lot of prop work to do......not even close

WOT was 3400 rpm at 21 knots. Need another 1000 rpms minimum. Need to dig up last prop scans and gofrom there

Those of you with 330 HP gassers ...what props do you run and who built them for you? Can you provide name and number?

 

Swamp,

I'm still running the original carburated 454s and ASD 8s that HH installed in my 1985. Have Twin Disc 1.54:1 Transmissions. Original props were Nibral 3 blade 19 x 20 LH & RH with cup and I didn't have any issues with them. Then Steve Hixson talked me into trying his new 4 blade 19X20.5 4B props. I like them a lot better. They are quieter and smoother at crusing speed. I don't have any problem getting up on plane. Not sure where he got them, but I think it's posted several pages back on this thread. Have had them up to about 4200 RPM and there is a little more available with more trim but I hate to run those old 454s that high. I typically run about 35 MPH at about 3200 RPM. Steve can probably give you more information about these props.
Here are pics of the old 3 blade props and the new 4 blade props. Good Luck!

 

Thanks Ron. Are you concerned about overloading those 454s? Shouldn't you be spinning 4800 at wot?

 

I don't know Swamp. Should I? I'm new to this and perhaps I am a little overly cautious. The engines are old. One was rebuilt in 2005 and it's in pretty good shape. I have no idea about the other one. I blew a head gasket on it last summer and there were some pretty severe signs of detonation on # 7 piston. Then I broke one of the ASD8s and if not for insurance she would still be layed up. The wife and I just like to cruse Lake Washington and venture out into Puget Sound and the islands occasionally. We're not in any hurry and 35 MPH works well for us. And with the price of gasoline, perhaps that's a little easier on the pocketbook.

 

No worries Ron. Normally one sizes props based on getting to WOT. If you can't get to 5000 rpm on an engine that is supposed to spin to 5000 you may be overloading the engines accross all the revs. I have the older 454 carbed units now and I thing they are supposed to spin up to 4800. Right now I barely get to 3500 so I need to get props checked asap. Like you I am in no hurry...cruise at 30plus is great. Just don't want my 454s to grenade under the load. Cheers

 

STEVE how many sets do you have left and can I try the ones that you think will bebest for me? Probably the lowest pitch ones would make themost sense for my application. Your thoughts?
Olivier

Let know