1989 Python 24' - Project

[cdail28590]

Snomad good job on getting the boat all back together. I know what its like to redo one and get it out on the water for the 1st time. Unfortunately for me I had to pull the motor back out of mine as it dropped a valve seat and destroyed a few pistons with only 2.5 hrs on the newly rebuilt motor. I'm hoping to have it back together before the 4th of July. I appreciate the article you sent me. A buddy also had a old hot boat magazine where they tested a 24 Python with a blower on it. They quit running it at 82 mph as they said it got to scary. Pretty interesting read though. Good luck on getting all the little issues worked out.

[old377guy]

Way to go!

[snomad]

Took her out on Monona and it was very choppy. Not the best conditions to learn the boats handling characteristics - I learned a lot!

I should have some pictures up in a day or so...

[Bobcat]

Cool!

[rbr2328]

I knew a python 24 once that ran 107 with about 800hp

[J-Bonz]

Took her out on Monona and it was very choppy. Not the best conditions to learn the boats handling characteristics - I learned a lot!

I should have some pictures up in a day or so...

Sweet!!

[snomad]

Here are the pictures as promised (but late). I had the boat out again this weekend after rebuilding the carb and changing out fuel filters. I hate to admit but my problem is worse! I believe the fuel pump may be failing but have not yet diagnosed.

As you know - I had to build a garage extension to work on the boat over th winter. Here we are dismantling the "box" to remove the patient from sick bay.


Got her out of the garage and running on the muffs for the first time since last fall.


Here is a shot of the interior...


And a shot on the trailer...which needs work too!


Here is a look into the cabin. I have not yet made the strips to clean up the transition from hull sides to cap.


Finally - a picture of her wet!


Work continues, tweaking and tuning.

[Bobcat]

She sits nice in the water.

[old377guy]

She sits nice in the water.

so does my wife

[rchevelle71]

Amazing how close the lines are to a Pantera

[Buoy]

Amazing how close the lines are to a Pantera

[rchevelle71]

When(if) I win the lottery, I am gonna get me a set of molds from one of the splashes, and have Chris modify/stretch/step it, and start building boats

How about a 26x7 stepped hull with Kevlar/carbon layup

[Ratickle]

Very nice.....

[snomad]

I think we have figured out our fuel delivery problem. I pulled the sending unit to get a good look into the tank and was pleasantly surprised to see a VERY clean interior, no apparent water in the fuel and only a little debris in the bottom. The pickup is an aluminum tube with no screen/filter on the bottom. Pulling fuel through the pickup with the electric pump, however, produced significantly less volume than pulling it direct through a 3/8" hose inserted into the fuel. We pulled the pickup tube out of the tank, separated it from the fitting and found a screen at the top of the tube...that had enough dirt and crap in it to start a small potato farm! Water test tonight!

[rschap1]

Looking very nice!!
Good Luck with next outing

[snomad]

Got out last night for a brief water test. I am happy to say the fuel delivery issue is resolved. Now we need to tune.

Installed a 4-blade Hydromotive 25P and it eliminated the cavitation problem. Finally got the boat running in the 60's and it is a handful to drive. We were chased off the lake by storms, so did not have much time to tinker. We made some adjustments back at the shop and will run again this weekend. I think hydraulic steering is in my (near) future.

[rchevelle71]

Got out last night for a brief water test. I am happy to say the fuel delivery issue is resolved. Now we need to tune.

Installed a 4-blade Hydromotive 25P and it eliminated the cavitation problem. Finally got the boat running in the 60's and it is a handful to drive. We were chased off the lake by storms, so did not have much time to tinker. We made some adjustments back at the shop and will run again this weekend. I think hydraulic steering is in my (near) future.

Oh YEAH,

gotta have hydraulic over 60 in a 24x7

[snomad]

Based on last night's experience, I am not sure how this thing has been on the water for 20+ years without it. Yikes!!!

[liquordistributor]

I would be looking for something else to be the handleing problem. I have had a few of these with 502's and NEVER had one to be hard to drive at all. You should also be seeing 70+ mph. At 70 you should not need more than one hand on the wheel. These boats usually do not start to get squarly untill about 80. Mabe check the gimble ring for play, drive line, or it could be that that prop is just not good for that boat. Hydraulic steering is great, once you have a boat with it, you will never have one without. Unfortunatly I do not think that it would fix you problem though.

[snomad]

I would be looking for something else to be the handleing problem. I have had a few of these with 502's and NEVER had one to be hard to drive at all. You should also be seeing 70+ mph. At 70 you should not need more than one hand on the wheel. These boats usually do not start to get squarly untill about 80. Mabe check the gimble ring for play, drive line, or it could be that that prop is just not good for that boat. Hydraulic steering is great, once you have a boat with it, you will never have one without. Unfortunatly I do not think that it would fix you problem though.

Thanks for the suggestions and input. We are focused on the gimble and stock steering now. I was blowing out the Mirage Plus 25P, but have it back on for the next test to see if it impacts the erratic handling I had last night. We'll get it dialed in soon and I appreciate the feedback!!