Turning the ugliest boat in Costa Rica into a respectable 28' Center Console Diesel

[Matt G]

We'll need some video of the maiden voyage!

[GringoJohn]

Yes sir, will do!

[GringoJohn]

No pictures to show, as today was a LOT of work, but we got it in the water. I took it up to 20 knots, we were running 1800 rpm. Prop curve on a cummins 210 at 1800 rpm is 4.6 gallons an hour. So a 20 knot at 4.6 gallons an hour beats my original 20 knots at 5.5 gph goal I was going to take it fishing tomorrow but the temp gauge won't work, I'm going to get that fixed tomorrow and then get some shots of it running hopefully and post some up here. It runs a lot flatter when I put people up in the front, when everybody was sitting on the box watching the gauges, it ran nose up in the air, but with harol and Mike sitting in the seats up front, it ran pretty level. I didn't get it running and try it out until 5pm, and we are still getting night rains here, and today around 4:30 it was a nasty storm. So that 20 knots at 1800 was in slop as well. More pictures soon,

[GringoJohn]

Not the best quality, but here is some running video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mra1I2PkOZY

[GringoJohn]

Well, with the first "Quepos 28" in the water, I needed a new project! So, here it is. We are starting with a 1991 31 foot Ocean Master Center console, and we are going to finish with a super light weight, 31 foot Ocean Master Express! Here's the thread for you guys that want to see a lot of work go into fixing up an old boat!

Boating Talk: Putting my 1991 31 foot Ocean Master on a SERIOUS diet! - SaltyCajun.com

Boating Talk: Putting my 1991 31 foot Ocean Master on a SERIOUS diet! - SaltyCajun.com

[TidewateR]

possibly the best thread on SC!

Any updates? New pics?? How has she fished so far etc.

[GringoJohn]

Here's a cool picture of the boat, I haven't had a chance to get a whole lot of outside of the boat pictures. The boat is not square with the camera, so it looks a little shorter than it is, but the background is so pretty I love this pic! I plan on getting one of those DJI drones in November, so I'll get more cool out of the boat photos, but I thought it was appropriate to at least get one nice picture of this boat fishing at the end of it's build blog!

Here's a nice snook it caught last week as well:

[Feesherman]

Originally Posted by GringoJohn

Here's a cool picture of the boat, I haven't had a chance to get a whole lot of outside of the boat pictures. The boat is not square with the camera, so it looks a little shorter than it is, but the background is so pretty I love this pic! I plan on getting one of those DJI drones in November, so I'll get more cool out of the boat photos, but I thought it was appropriate to at least get one nice picture of this boat fishing at the end of it's build blog!

Here's a nice snook it caught last week as well:

That guy must have learn to take fish pics in Texas

[GringoJohn]

Originally Posted by Feesherman

That guy must have learn to take fish pics in Texas

Mostly Louisiana. I went to high school in Slidell and then off to LSU. I moved here from Houston, but in Houston I spent all my days washing cars, so most of my boating experience and fun came from Lake Pontchartrain and the Pearl River / Honey Island Swamp areas.

[Feesherman]

Originally Posted by GringoJohn

Mostly Louisiana. I went to high school in Slidell and then off to LSU. I moved here from Houston, but in Houston I spent all my days washing cars, so most of my boating experience and fun came from Lake Pontchartrain and the Pearl River / Honey Island Swamp areas.

You sure it wasn't one of them Houston guys that told you to make sure you stretch your arms all the way out?? LOL

[GringoJohn]

Originally Posted by Feesherman

You sure it wasn't one of them Houston guys that told you to make sure you stretch your arms all the way out?? LOL

He held it out a little, but that sucker is heavy so it wasn't too far