I have been reading this site on and off for a year now and have learned a lot.   It all started last summer when I picked up a 18’ 1976 Omega tri hull with an AMC 360 and a panther jet.  I was drawn to this boat because I have a family of 6 including two under the age of  2.  I wanted a project cause I enjoy playing out in the garage.  This is my second jet so I had an idea what to look for.  This boat didn’t start which help me negotiate the deal down to $1500.00.   I decided I would put a couple hundred into it and take it out and see if it was worth fixing up.  I dumped the gas, flushed the tanks, installed an HEI distributor, spark plugs, plug wires and a 100 amp internal regulator alternator.  I installed a edlebrock 600 carb I had lying around and took it out.  I was pleasantly surprised at how well it performed for a boat of its size.  Not going to set any speed records but it has a certain coolness to it not to mention the safety factor and simplicity of it being a jet.  It planes out very quickly and cuts through the chop due to its deep V.  I ran the boat all last summer making little changes between outings.  I separated the throttle from the forward and reverse and installed a foot pedal to make it both more fun and easier to drive.  I did feel some cavitation only when hitting it hard to pull a skier up.  In the winter I decided to give my ride a facelift and make it more family friendly.  I cured the cavitation problem by filling the erosion in the pump housing with devcon epoxy putty.  I fabricated a full swim step with stainless hand rails.  All stress cracks and unwanted holes were repaired before putting on the single stage polyurethane white on the bottom and top/inside of boat.  The sides were base coat clear coat polyurethane.with paint I mostly  had lying around the garage after many years of  auto/truck painting.  I tried to reuse most of the original parts and clean up and or paint, including the rub rail.  I redid the trailer while I was at it, installing disc brakes and LED lights.  The trailer was also painted a single stage polyurethane so it would hold up over time.I put Overton Pre fabbed seats in it.  I bought extra vinyl, made all new wood for a new design engine cover, front seats, interior panels etc.  All wood was fiber glassed for  added strength and waterproofing before going to the upholstery shop to match the seats.  The boat has been out a few times this summer.  It no longer cavitates under load.  Tom at JBP built me a sweet Holley 650 DP which gives it a better punch out of the hole.   Here are some before and after pics.  Let me know what you guys think.   Thanks for all the info you guys put up on here.
                   Darryl

Looks like a gullwing.  Cool.  Can you post bigger pictures?

I compressed these pics using microsoft Picture manager.  I agree, they look pretty bad.  Can someone chime in as to a better way to send them?  As for the disk brakes Gordy,  It would be a piece of cake for you.  I saw your nice project.  I already had drums so it was a direct bolt on to the backing plates.  I found the best price at easternmarine.com.  They have several kits to choose from.  I paid around $475.00(single axel) for the whole kit with a swing away actuator.  I purchased the Titan kit.  The Tie down engineering kit seems a little easier but I needed the swing away to get it in the garage after adding the swim step.

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see if thats better.

real nice boat. i think i might have modded the window set up a bit to try to bring the look a little more up ot date. but other than that that boat is nice. great paint work.

thats sick.. welcome to SCJB

Everything about that boat (except the windscreens) screams COOL.    One of a kind and its just bitchin'.   Nice paint design for sure.

Thanks for all the welcome and appreciated replies.  My plan was to cut down the windshield but a local glass shop said it was difficult to do with tempered safety glass.  I decided to paint the frames the same purple pearl that is on the side of the boat.  Maybe a tint on the glass will make it look better.   As for the interior, a local shop, Pacific Upholstery did the work.  A real nice trust worthy guy.    He did the front seats,  3 piece engine compartment both having some double stitched pleats and the side gunnel panels for $750.   I supplied the matching vinyl.  He did it in two weeks and it looks great.  As for the gauge bezels, they are the original working gauges.  I used a pourable mask over the faces and painted them the same red pearl that is on the boat.  I painted many other items using the colors on the boat.  I only have 1 pic showing the front of the boat taken a couple hours after painting.  Thanks again guys,
     Darryl
 

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Hey OTH,
Nice Omega.  Getting caught up on some of these threads, so I did a little windshield job on your tri.



I made my own windshield, but you should contact WayneEarl manufacturing in Anaheim.  They make custom boat windshields and have everything you will need.

http://www.wayneearl.com/

p-jet