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harbormaster
06-10-2003, 06:08 AM
I pulled the deck off of the Z29 yesterday.

You wimpy 18/16 classic guys who pull your deck ain't got nothing on me! Try pulling a 29 foot deck! :p

We used a cherry picker and 5 guys to do it. I was not planning on doing it so I did not have a camera to take photos. I will get some today of the deck off.

I missed the deals on the 502's so I have firmed up the deal on the twin 454/BW/TRS drivetrain out of a 38 Fountain.

I would love to sell the twin TRS drives & Borgwarner transmissions and use Bravos instead. Anyone have any thoughts on that?(I know, I know the TRS's are bulletproof!).

Can anyone give me the length from the front of a 454 to the transom? (double checking clearances).

I forgot my cell phone today so if anyone needs to call me me I can be reached at my office 281-336-3458. I am already at the office now at 6am CST. I am making up the time I took off yesterday! :D

OH I also need some sort of a trailer for the 29. Anyone want to sell me a second hand trailer? :D

I NEED A BUYER FOR THE 18 CLASSIC! BOTTOM PRICE IS 14.5. GOT TO BANK ROLL THIS PROJECT.

BERTRAM BOY
06-10-2003, 06:37 AM
Harbormaster,
We REALLY need to see some pics of that operation......Wowwwww
BERTRAM BOY :D :D :D

Team Jefe
06-10-2003, 06:37 AM
"I pulled the deck off of the Z29 yesterday.

You wimpy 18/16 classic guys".......


I go out of the country for a few weeks and my entire world changes wink

The HM Himself is getting out of the "Classic" business.

Well Scot, let me the Last to tell you, welcome to the world of Z.

JEFE

Trueser
06-10-2003, 09:47 AM
Scot,
I should have a new interior within 2 weeks. I will post the pictures. It would be great to see some pictures of the Z29 apart. If you need anything just drop me a note.

I'm thinking about the Texas roundup.

Mike

DAULEY
06-10-2003, 10:20 AM
scot
i have someone interested in my 29 without the trailer if he buys it the trailer will be forsale for 2000

DAULEY
06-10-2003, 10:20 AM
scot
i have someone interested in my 29 without the trailer if he buys it the trailer will be forsale for 2000

olredalert
06-10-2003, 10:36 AM
Scott,
------Man,are you getting your hands dirty.Any of the dreaded fiberglass itch?
------Call your favorite dealer in Michigan as he sometimes has used trailers around that he has taken in trade just to make a sale..........Bill S

harbormaster
06-10-2003, 05:07 PM
I am trying to bum a camera to take photos.

Its amazing to see how these were assembled.

You can really see with the cap off.

HyperDonzi
06-10-2003, 05:49 PM
Scot,
Last summer you seemed to love the Classic, the 29 just has to be better. Could someone post up a pic of one, Cant remember seeing one ever?

Tommy

MOP
06-10-2003, 06:07 PM
TRS with Borg boxes is a good combo but you need quite a bit more room length wise. I would do the Bravos, you will need some stuff. But I think the benefits gained will make up for the extras plus resale should be alot better down the road. I guess we will hear the Grunting & Groaning all the way up here far north!

harbormaster
06-10-2003, 06:40 PM
Don't get me wrong. I love the 18 classic. I do most of my boating in a shallow water bay that get s really rough. Its fun for a while but not all the time. The 29 which I got for free, will allow me to run offshore with the big boys in the Gulf of Mexico as well as the bay more comfortably with more people along for the ride. (and it did not cost me $60,000!)

Here is an example of a attractive Z-29 with an updated paint scheme.
http://www.donzi.net/photos/good.jpg

http://www.donzi.net/photos/z-29interior.jpg

TMANN
06-10-2003, 06:51 PM
Scot,
If you need help with the project give me a call. I would love to help. I am always up to a challenge and this one sounds like a big one. You have my numbers.

TMANN

HyperDonzi
06-10-2003, 06:53 PM
I like that. If you happen to see any other go-fast style boats for next to nothing...

Have fun with it, get it done quickly, its summer time!!
Tommy

Greg Maier
06-10-2003, 07:33 PM
Scot,

Have you thought about glassing in the side windows? I saw a boat on the other website that a guy was restoring, and he glassed in the windows. It looked real good when he was done.

harbormaster
06-11-2003, 03:42 AM
Maybe I'm crazy, but I kinda like the ports on the boat. It breaks up all that freeboard.

Here is my favorite photo of a z29. This is our very own Bud Staples driving it. Does anyone have a better electronic version of this photo?
I took this photo of a framed post I have and the glare was impossible to get rid of.

http://www.donzi.net/photos/z29air.jpg

BigGrizzly
06-11-2003, 09:25 PM
Scott depending which borg you have. If it is a 1017(C17) the distance to the back of the motor is 18 1/4 inches(including the bellhousing) and the 1018(c18) is another 2 inches to the back of the block(not the front). Remember my Criterion has a TRS and I like it. Hope this helps.

Rick
06-13-2003, 08:12 AM
Harbormaster, WOW! I am impressed. Good luck!!! Can't wait to see the pictures of the hull with the lid off! I totally dig the Z boats. Rick

harbormaster
06-13-2003, 09:44 PM
OK here are some shots fro today. I went over and stripped the interior out. I brought home the AC/DC refrigerator from the boat. I plugged it in and it works!!

Here are some pics before I started pulling out the interior.

http://www.donzi.net/photos/z29-interiorbefore1.jpg
http://www.donzi.net/photos/z29-interiorbefore2.jpg


Here it is half out.

http://www.donzi.net/photos/z29-interiorhalfout.jpg

Here is what it looks like under the cockpit.
Hey Bud. Did the Factory put that Bondo ontop of the stringers to support the cockpit floor?

http://www.donzi.net/photos/z29-undercockpit.JPG

Here are some photos of the the interior out.

http://www.donzi.net/photos/z29-interiorafter1.JPG
http://www.donzi.net/photos/z29-interiorafter2.JPG
http://www.donzi.net/photos/z29-interiorafter3.JPG

Spagetti time!! The wiring for the helm....

http://www.donzi.net/photos/z29-interiorhelmwiring.JPG

harbormaster
06-13-2003, 09:51 PM
Here are some pics of the engine room. I am cleaning everything out of this out tomorrow,

From the stern
http://www.donzi.net/photos/z29-engineroom1.JPG

From the bow.
http://www.donzi.net/photos/z29-engineroom2.JPG

I also found some reglassing that needs to be done.
on some stringers under the cockpit.

http://www.donzi.net/photos/z29-stringerglassloose.JPG

Ripping out the interior was easier than I thought. I pulled it out intact so that I could restore it.

Kirk
06-13-2003, 10:11 PM
Now that is progress!!

Keep up the great work..

KJ

Trueser
06-14-2003, 06:53 AM
Scot,
I didn’t see any bondo on top of our stringers. And those look like 2x4 ‘s on top of the fuel tank, don’t look rite. I added some boards for support on top of my tank and a 2x4 was two big. I had to rip them down a bunch.

Are you going to leave the fridge in?


Trueser

Fish boy
06-14-2003, 06:57 AM
Let me see what I can do. Might even have a poster somewhere, I will look.

harbormaster
06-14-2003, 07:36 AM
I am definetly leaving the fridge in. Nothing like rippin' across the bay then stopping to pull a cold one from the fridge!

Its cooling nicely. I noticed that it does not have a seal on the door to seal it when it closes.

Wonder where I can get one?

the Fuel tank loks loke it has been replaced. There is a factory inspection panel in the floor that is not big enough to pull the tank out.

As for the 2x4's, they were there to support the cockpit floor. It makes a cracking noise(like a hiss) when you walk on it. I will be glassing up the bottom of it. It won't do that again.

MOP
06-14-2003, 08:09 AM
Scot I have to give MASSIVE credit on this task it did not sink in till I looked at the photos. Can't wait to see the results, I know everyone is Rooting for you :)

Jbesst
06-15-2003, 10:34 AM
Scot, I am impressed!Thats one big project, good luck, thats gonna a fine ride when your done! I have some stainless davits to pitch in, a 14 hanging off the back would be cool and handy too (running to keep the frig. stocked)You can never have too many projects and you certainly can't use too many. I know this from personal experience.

ToonaFish
06-15-2003, 11:55 AM
Let me know when you are ready for curtains!

Bunches,

Celene 'thinking a nice pink lace...'

Donzigo
06-15-2003, 06:09 PM
Scot,

Nice job so far. What an effort. BTW, I cut a hatch, rather large, maybe 2 X 3 ft, on the floor under where the mattress lies and between the two hatches already there and the bulkhead. I deleted the table. It wasn't very functional. Hit your knees. When I change the interior, I will block the little bottom near the floor flapped opening leading to that area now. The new hatch gives plenty of access to the storage area. I would recommend that you cut a hatch there too. It seems so logical. Don't know why it wasn't there all along. Maybe the idea was extra strength, although it doesn't look too structural.

I would also do through hull water pickups and do away with the pickups through the outdrive. Gives far more availabe water.

That bondo stuff was put there just to keep the floorboard from slapping the stringeres, my guess. It was on Dino's 25, when I did the fiberglass work. We went ahead and glassed the floorboard to the stringers. My guess is that it would have taken a lot more production time to glass them, hence the bondo stuff. The above fuel tanks, 2 x 4's were in the 25, too. Don't know why. They didn't do anything structural, far as I could tell. Maybe they heald the fuel tank in place, while it was being foamed in? I'm sure somebody out there knows.

Makes me want to hop a plane to see this thing.

Richard

krakmeup
06-15-2003, 07:10 PM
Scot - awesome work!
As for retouching the photo, send me copy and I'll work it up on Photoshop.

Keith

Budmann
06-18-2003, 04:17 PM
Donzigo is right. The bondo is for squeeky floor. Even Donzi builders have an after thought or two. Watching these things go together was incrediable. Its only when you talk things apart, that you see some of the oops in some of the boats. There were many times that Dick Genth would come through the Factory yelling to get those boats on a truck. Fortunatly, it was after they were almost all together. As far as the 2x4's Can't help you there. Not there on my Mom's boat. Have seen a few other Z's apart, and nothing like that was over the tank. Sorry I can't be more help. However, Harbormaster, you got one hell of a boat! Big blocks w/Bravos is going to be the easiest way for you to get her on the water. I really don't think your going to fit TRS's under the swim platform nor get those trany's in the engine room. It's going to be tight fit. Anyway, good luck with that project. Any questions I can help you with, please don't hessitate to call.