Regulate It
Well-known member
I recently bought a 2001 21' SE after fishing for years on my buddies identical guide boat in the Chesapeake. The boat was fairly rough cosmetically, lots of minor issues in my book. Had to replace O2 sensor in motor and re-do most of the trailer, wheels, brakes, and replace the surge actuator. I used American Truck and Trailer in Manassas area - great work and great prices.
So I stripped it bare of just about everthing, sold T-top, electronics, anything not bolted down on craighslist and e-bay, filled dozens and dozens of holes via the PorkChunker method, sanded off the bottom paint from the waterline and wet sanded/compounded and waxed the hull back to a glossy shine (not sure if I will repaint, or when/if I will strip the rest of the paint). I also added an electronics box I purchased from a member on the site, super nice guy, and proceeded to cut holes in the beautiful box to flush mount electronics and a new Blue Seas panel for new lighting and other goodies I am adding. I rewired an older existing HDS 5 unit in the e-box, added Lowrance structure scan, Airmar B60 thru hull 12 degree transducer and I plan on adding an HDS8 unit all from Jim at BOE Marine in Annapolis. Also top notch guy.
Finally, courtesy of my lovely wife's desire for shade, I ended up purchasing a custom T-top from Commercial Towers in Monroe, NC. The site is http://www.commercialboattowersusa.com. (I am not advertising for any of these companies, just passing along information for great vendors). I can't say enough about the owner of Commercial Towers, Michael Kinard. Sent him a cardboard template of the console and after a few weeks of impatiently waiting, a georgous t-top with all the bells and whistles shows up today and it fit like a glove. I added 2 LED spreader lights, 3 LED rigging lights including one in bottom of e-box since I fish at night quite often, electronics box (future site of vhf and Fusion stereo etc.), and 3 sided canvas enclosure. Its just beautiful, very well priced and he delivers within a 400 mile radius of Monroe, N.C. On the to-do list is upgrade bilge pump, add a leaning post (also doing it custom through Commercial Towers), stereo, etc.
So long story short, I have probably dumped way too much money in an old boat and could not be happier. I dropped it in last Friday, ran 87 miles from Solomons Island across and down the eastern shore to Tangier Island and back. We caught tons of fish, blood everwhere and I still can't wipe the grin off my face. Thanks to everybody on the site for the advice so far, and thanks to Mr. Parker for building a bad ass boat. (I even e-mailed them and they gave me the wiring diagram for the boat, pictures with dimension of the e-box). Just awesome customer service and I'm not even the original owner. I have not come across a builder with better customer service and I have owned several SeaCraft, a 23 Sailfish, a 23 Regulator (my last boat and reason for my board name).
Here are some before and afters...subtle, but huge in person. A different boat.
Before:
;
So I stripped it bare of just about everthing, sold T-top, electronics, anything not bolted down on craighslist and e-bay, filled dozens and dozens of holes via the PorkChunker method, sanded off the bottom paint from the waterline and wet sanded/compounded and waxed the hull back to a glossy shine (not sure if I will repaint, or when/if I will strip the rest of the paint). I also added an electronics box I purchased from a member on the site, super nice guy, and proceeded to cut holes in the beautiful box to flush mount electronics and a new Blue Seas panel for new lighting and other goodies I am adding. I rewired an older existing HDS 5 unit in the e-box, added Lowrance structure scan, Airmar B60 thru hull 12 degree transducer and I plan on adding an HDS8 unit all from Jim at BOE Marine in Annapolis. Also top notch guy.
Finally, courtesy of my lovely wife's desire for shade, I ended up purchasing a custom T-top from Commercial Towers in Monroe, NC. The site is http://www.commercialboattowersusa.com. (I am not advertising for any of these companies, just passing along information for great vendors). I can't say enough about the owner of Commercial Towers, Michael Kinard. Sent him a cardboard template of the console and after a few weeks of impatiently waiting, a georgous t-top with all the bells and whistles shows up today and it fit like a glove. I added 2 LED spreader lights, 3 LED rigging lights including one in bottom of e-box since I fish at night quite often, electronics box (future site of vhf and Fusion stereo etc.), and 3 sided canvas enclosure. Its just beautiful, very well priced and he delivers within a 400 mile radius of Monroe, N.C. On the to-do list is upgrade bilge pump, add a leaning post (also doing it custom through Commercial Towers), stereo, etc.
So long story short, I have probably dumped way too much money in an old boat and could not be happier. I dropped it in last Friday, ran 87 miles from Solomons Island across and down the eastern shore to Tangier Island and back. We caught tons of fish, blood everwhere and I still can't wipe the grin off my face. Thanks to everybody on the site for the advice so far, and thanks to Mr. Parker for building a bad ass boat. (I even e-mailed them and they gave me the wiring diagram for the boat, pictures with dimension of the e-box). Just awesome customer service and I'm not even the original owner. I have not come across a builder with better customer service and I have owned several SeaCraft, a 23 Sailfish, a 23 Regulator (my last boat and reason for my board name).
Here are some before and afters...subtle, but huge in person. A different boat.
Before:
;
