Just bought an Armstrong Pilot House and am glad to be here

[Armstrong]

Super excited to finally be a member!


Paperwork should sail through and I'll be the new owner. The boat is a 99 and definetly needs some TLC.
Looking forward to some source of ideas for changes and a chance to show her off. I rig marine electronics for a living and can't wait to start.

[pjay9]

Welcome aboard! PIcs are always delightful.

[Armstrong]

AS you can see, its more of a diamond in the rough. I am truly excited.

[Chaps]

Congrads and welcome to the site. It looks like its in good shape, where are the rough spots?

So you rig marine electronics? Cool, get ready for a bunch of questions . . .

For instance, I've got this Garmin pilot that is acting up . . .

[Gypseas]

I was going to say more diamond than rough, looks like she's ready to rock and roll

Congrats on your purchase, Armstrongs are beasts, couple 225s should push her pretty good.

cheers

[MacCTD]

Nice looking boat, those are good motors but can have exhaust corrosion issues, did you have them checked out?

[goatram]

Welcome

No Fish Stories required here but Boat Porn on Occasion is

[Armstrong]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the kind words.

I'm a pretty damn picky guy. Perfect for my line of work.

The rough part is years of Commercial and Chartering have some interesting side affects. Weird parts that I'll never use and the need for some cutting and grinding. Great previous owner. Super nice guy. But man, I hope to make some interesting changes.

All new electronics
Maybe add a bathroom
Maybe add a work station for Plano tackel boxes.

Today I began the process of removing almost everything from the dash. Removal of a 100' of wires and "stuff".
Needless hour gauges
Pull switches
Old electronics

Pretty good for 3 hours of work.

The motors. Sore subject.

One of the motors had the exhaust corrosion issue. The other was added in 2006, so, no issues with that one. I'm spending some additional funds to straighten both motors up. A bit of maintenance and a ton of parts, they'll be fine. Thank you for the heads-up. Thank gosh for Google, I hadn't heard of the early 225 corrosion issues till Wed. A little additional price negotiations and now both parties are happy.

The weight of the boat is going to be a mystery. Previous owner was thinking 9k with motors. Unfortunately, my new boat was from Canada and Armstrong has no real printed data to give me. So, Armstrong took an educated guess of the hull weight and said 6500lbs. I wonder who is correct? Hopefully the foam isn't wet.

Before and after shots...

[Chtucker]

Are you sure there is foam?

I have been watching that boat for sale.. I say you got a great deal/boat.

Not much change to their hull shapes over the years, just them different forward pilothouse windows.

That boat should fly with the 225s!

[goatram]

The Trailer website should confirm what the Title says for weight. Then run the boat over a scale and then minus the trailer should tell you the weight. Howard has it right I think no foam in the boat.Not required for boats 21' and over. If mine Sinks I don't want it back. She'ed will have let me down, the B^^^ch

[Armstrong]

Thanks about the good deal comment. I spent some more time on the boat today, sorry no boat porn today.

I hate to break it to you guys, there absolutely is foam in this boat! It' appears to be darn dense too. The forward cabin (ahead of the helm area) happens to have an unusual plywood deck I know for a fact it's all (foam) below the deck. I cannot confirm its below deck in the cabin area too, because there are zero access plates in the deck. The owner believes the boat might be unsinkable. I decided that I wont challenge his assertion.

As far as the performance of the boat with twin 225's, I will say this. This boat has a neck-breaking hole shot. BUT, there is an issue I plan to address fairly soon. The cavitation plates are nearly 3" BELOW the hull! With the extended transom being two feet long, I plan on moving them up 4". That would get me 1" above the hull. I have to figure it will increase the fuel economy, but honestly, I have to data to back up my comment. Anyone have any thought on that?

Second issue, the boat seems squirrly when on plane. Very very unstable on plane. This boat feels like it's teetering on a pin. Any slight weight change port or starboard dramatically changes the lateral cruising angle. I have no idea if this is due to the motors being to low causing the boat to ride lower in the stern and higher in the bow, or .... Thoughts?

[Chaps]

Most BC built boats tend to be deep V hulls which ride through rough stuff well but are tender, very sensitive to lateral weight shift while underway, they'll lean way over into turns at higher speeds and roll quite a bit when fishing on the drift. What is your deadrise at the transom? I'll guess about 23 degrees. Raising the engines will worsen the effect due to higher CG. Need to carve out some of that foam deep down on the centerline and refill with lead bars.

[Aluminum Clone Owner]

sold

[goatram]

Nice Clean up of the wiring. How doe she run for you? Been out fishing it yet ?

[Aluminum Clone Owner]

sold

[goatram]

Nicely Done Sire

I know the pleasure and pain of mods.