Post by: DSR on July 17, 2021, 12:34:15 PM
I haven't posted here in a few years since I had started a build project on a mini tunnel hull jet boat that I had designed and was going to build before life and work got in the way. Still intent on building that bugger, but in the meantime I decided that I HAD to get my hands on a boat that I could enjoy with family and friends.
After a long time searching all over the interweb, I finally found a boat that ticked all the boxes for me........
A 1989 Eliminator Sprint with a Hardin Marine peanut port 330-horse 454 and Dominator pump that turned out to be completely original except for a lot of pump work by ARS Marine done by the previous owner. Original gelcoat, original interior, even the engine is bone stock as far as I can tell.....just what I was looking for! ;D Even the tires on the trailer looked to be original I found out after the 342 mile trip home (super sketchy, but we made it......)
I grew up around these boats and from my first ride in a Sleekcraft with a 455 Olds engine when I was 11 years old, I knew I had to own one at some point before I die......
Now I do and just wanted to share what I found.
Thanks for an awesome site!!
Dave
(https://i.ibb.co/XFpnhb3/20210717-143712.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/Cs5wSTj/20210717-143723.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/ckhZpVX/20210717-143742.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/Rc68J7h/20210717-143802.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/syqfzs5/20210717-143825.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/M2bsf8w/20210717-143839.jpg)
Post by: FordLover on July 17, 2021, 02:56:55 PM
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Post by: DSR on July 17, 2021, 07:03:17 PM
Thanks!
Is it right to already start thinking about the changes I want to make to it after owning it a week? (If it ain't broke, fix it anyway???... ;D.)
Post by: TrollerDave on July 17, 2021, 09:03:07 PM
What are you thinking about doing?
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Post by: DSR on July 18, 2021, 03:20:59 AM
The wallet, definitely the wallet in my case.....
A couple things I'm definitely going to do this winter
Pull the engine and pump and open them up to see what I actually have here. At this point I'm pretty sure this BBC has never been opened up and has a couple tiny oil leaks, so I'll at the very least see what I've got (90% sure it's a 2-bolt cast iron crank deal, but I've been surprised before) and how healthy it is.
Same with the Dominator. ARS went through the pump back in '11 for the previous owner and the PO couldn't remember what all they did to the pump, but he spent some money cause it's got all the goodies just looking at the setup. Loader, shoe and ride plate, double-studded bowl, mini-droop and hydraulic place diverter. Even with the 330 horse, it's pulls hard out of the hole and GPS's 78 mph at about 5600.
Sorry Dave, getting sidetracked ;D
While it's apart, I'm definitely going to change out the original HM 3-point mounting and fab up a 4-point aluminum rail kit for the stringers with a pump brace for the suction housing and redo the cooling system based off an article I found by Performance Jet using AN hardware. Also swap out the fuel system to AN
I'm also toying with the idea of building one of my LY6 rect. port 6.0L LS cores into a 408 stroker and stab it in there with a carb to see what happens........lose a couple hundred pounds and gain a couple hundred horse?
Sorry for rambling Dave. It happens when I get excited about something, and I'm definitely excited about this after so many years ;D
Post by: 08chevyguy on July 18, 2021, 04:38:36 AM
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Post by: DSR on July 18, 2021, 06:59:10 AM
Thanks! It's not perfect, but pretty darn close, and exactly what I wanted.
It's a shame that I've looked at a lot of jet boats around here and for not much less than I paid for the Sprint, they're completely molested piles.......
Post by: mikeclark on May 25, 2022, 07:11:57 PM
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Post by: adamgornik on April 19, 2023, 03:10:04 PM
Sweet boat. Where do you run at? I?m from Ohio, I use to go to marble lake by Quincy
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the color looks eye-catching, my friend, there are a few analyzes for jet boat maintenance, you can check it out if you're interested, I'm leaving a link.
https://boatkinds.com/are-jet-boats-harder-to-drive/ (https://boatkinds.com/are-jet-boats-harder-to-drive/)
Post by: tunnels on April 19, 2023, 04:51:04 PM
Post by: adamgornik on July 05, 2023, 12:56:10 PM
Hi TrollerDave. Thanks!
The wallet, definitely the wallet in my case.....
A couple things I'm definitely going to do this winter
Pull the engine and pump and open them up to see what I actually have here. At this point I'm pretty sure this BBC has never been opened up and has a couple tiny oil leaks, so I'll at the very least see what I've got (90% sure it's a 2-bolt cast iron crank deal, but I've been surprised before) and how healthy it is.
Same with the Dominator. ARS went through the pump back in '11 for the previous owner and the PO couldn't remember what all they did to the pump, but he spent some money cause it's got all the goodies just looking at the setup. Loader, shoe and ride plate, double-studded bowl, mini-droop and hydraulic place diverter. Even with the 330 horse, it's pulls hard out of the hole and GPS's 78 mph at about 5600.
Sorry Dave, getting sidetracked ;D
While it's apart, I'm definitely going to change out the original HM 3-point mounting and fab up a 4-point aluminum rail kit for the stringers with a pump brace for the suction housing and redo the cooling system based off an article I found by Performance Jet using AN hardware. Also swap out the fuel system to AN
I'm also toying with the idea of building one of my LY6 rect. port 6.0L LS cores into a 408 stroker and stab it in there with a carb to see what happens........lose a couple hundred pounds and gain a couple hundred horse?
Sorry for rambling Dave. It happens when I get excited about something, and I'm definitely excited about this after so many years ;D
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Post by: 96Laveycraft21Xt on July 05, 2023, 01:59:35 PM
oh and also NO WAY that is stock 330hp. 530hp is more like it. even better for you