Projects

100-mph Chaparral Project Update: Trailer Upgrade

Written by Matt Trulio Tuesday, 21 May 2013 12:21

With his hopped-up 427-cubic-inch naturally aspirated engine ready to install and hull and deck reassembly for his 1986 Chaparral Villain sportboat well underway, owner Chris Uzzolina (Read the first story) of Charlotte, N.C., has purchased a new trailer for the 23-footer from Loadmaster Trailer Company of Port Huron, Ohio. The trailer will be painted tomorrow.

“We’re having it painted blue to match the boat and it should be ready on Friday,” said Uzzolina. “I will be making the trip out there to next weekend to pick up the trailer and get a tour of the factory.”

Ready for paint at Loadmaster Trailer Company, the trailer for Chris Uzzolina's vintage 23-foot sporboat will be color-matched to the boat.

Uzzolina said he estimates that Lake Effects Marine in Mooresville, N.C., which is handling the hull and deck restoration, will begin engine installation and rigging in the next two weeks.

100-mph Chaparral Project Update: Engine and Deck Complete

Written by Matt Trulio Tuesday, 07 May 2013 00:00

Work on restoring a 1986 Chaparral Villain, which began approximately six weeks ago and has been covered on speedonthewater.com (See Related Stories below) reached two major milestones late last week. The 23-footer’s engine rebuild/upgrade and deck restoration are now complete.

Looking good—the restored deck for the 23-footer is complete.

"I picked up the engine from White’s (White Performance & Machine) on Thursday,” said Chris Uzzolina, the owner of the boat, who lives in Charlotte, N.C. “The final numbers were 640 hp at 6,700 rpm and 571 foot-pounds of torque at 5,600 rpm. We have kept the timing conservative to prolong the engine's life, as well as because marina fuel is not always the best. The deck is complete with new gelcoat and the hull is under reconstruction now.

“I am happy with the engine build, but I will only know for sure when it's in the boat and running,” he added.

Project Update: Broken Arrow Apache Graphics Chosen, Interior Gutted

Written by Matt Trulio Monday, 06 May 2013 00:00

After looking at more than 20 renderings by artist Chris Dilling of Grafik EFX, the new owner of the classic 47’ Apache Broken Arrow V-bottom selected a final version with elements from each drawing. That’s the word from Marc Jacob, the Delray Beach, Fla.-based go-fast boat and yacht broker who is managing the restoration of the 47-footer (Read the story) for his Middle East-based client.

Chris Dilling of Grafik EFX created the new look for Broken Arrow.

“My client doesn’t want the ‘latest and greatest’ in paint technique like pearl and flake, he wants something really traditional,” said Jacob. “He wants it to be attractive, but he doesn’t want it to be flashy. Don Rossi (the painter for the project) will have his hands full, but he’s more than up to the job.”

According to Jacob, Jason Ventura of Brand X Hi-Performance Marine has gutted almost all of the boat’s interior. That includes the cockpit and the dash, as well as the primary cabin—the forward-most section of the cabin has not yet been stripped.

Project Update: Stinson’s Jet Boat Renovation

Written by Matt Trulio Monday, 29 April 2013 12:26

Proving there are hidden complications and delays in even small powerboat renovation projects, well-known offshoronly.com member Sean Stinson reported that when he removed the hull from the deck of the 18-foot jetboat he is restoring to sell (Read the story), he found “a soft floor.” That means when Stinson gets home from his relatively new job of brokerage and sales manager at Campisano Marine in Brick, N.J., later today, he’ll be replacing the sole of the 18-footer.

“I’m cutting out the floor and replacing it today,” said Stinson. “I’m also putting in new bulkheads and replacing all the foam. I should have it done by the end of the week.”

When he separated the 18-footer's hull and deck, Stinson found damanage to the boat's sole.

Stinson originally separated the boat’s hull and deck so the hull could be painted black, which will happen after the new bulkheads and foam are installed—the deck will remain red. Refreshment of the boat’s 460-cubic-inch, single-carburetor Ford engine, also has taken more time than Stinson expected because of additional cylinder head work that was needed.

100-mph Chaparral Project Update: Major Hull and Deck Surgery Underway

Written by Matt Trulio Monday, 22 April 2013 12:27

While the 427-cubic-inch naturally aspirated engine that will be power Chris Uzzolina’s soon-to-be-restored 1986 Chaparral Villain III sportboat is getting prepped by White Performance & Machine for its second round of dynamometer testing, Lake Effects Marine of Moorsesville, N.C., has begun tearing into hull and deck of the 23-footer. That’s the word from Uzzolina, who has said that running 100 mph is one of this goals when the project is finished. (Read the story.)

Major renovation work is underway on the Chris Uzzollina's 23-foot Chaparral Villain.

“At this point we are in the major tear down stage,” said Uzzolina, who lives in Charlotte, N.C., but is originally from New Jersey. “Floors are being cut out, as well as the removal of the rotten stringers. Next will be the transom and then sanding of the hull to be refinished. The top cap is removed and is being prepped for stripping and sanding.”

While Uzzolina said he had hoped to have the project complete by June, he realizes it may take a few weeks longer than that. But he’d rather see the job completed competently and thoroughly than rush. The work to be done is far beyond cosmetic.