Instigator
Well-known member
Always wanted to do this and finally threw the switch.
A short bio for those that done know me:
I've owned two 24' Sonic twin O/B's. An '84 and a '85, both for 7 yrs each.
Ive owned little boats (<20') and big (>25'), slow and fast and those two Sonics were my favorite boats of all.
We raced anything/everything willing w/them, explored, traveled, cruised, camped etc.
We had the 2nd one while in Fla and I wrote and posted a story on OSO.com about a 5 day trip w/it in the Keys.
Thinking that was all big/expensive/rich stuff I figured the story would flop.
Called it "5 days and 4 night on a 24' cuddy in the Keys" and the story exploded.
That really changed my previous view of no one boating like this anymore.
So theres me and now back to the project.
I know they built twin O/B 25's (and larger) but they had splash wells which eliminated the sun lounge and the area underneath.
I added a lounge to our last Sonic and loved it.
So the plan was, find as clean of 251 I/O as I could, ideally w/a blown motor (making it affordable) and bonus points for an aluminum trailer to take it to salt water.
Just found/bought a '86 w/a stroker 454 w/a dropped valve, hooked to a Bravo drive.
I figure if all goes well, I will recoup 1/2 my initial investment by unloading all the car motor funk.
We just moved and I lost my shop so the boat is stuffed under a carport till spring while my new shop is built.
Plan is to fill all the holes in the transom left from the I/O stuff then screw on a integral platform/bracket for the twin O/B's.
This will give me a HUGE storage space under the lounge where the car moter used to be.
That will hold our two fold up bicycles,$40 Walmart inflatable dinghy, beach chairs, table, grill, etc, etc.
We do a lot of weekends on Lake Erie where we get on the boat Friday afternoon, head to the islands, anchor out (saving $1.75 per ft dockage), dinghy in, bon fire, dinner on the grill etc.
Then bikes to shore via dinghy to explore the islands (Keys).
An issue delaying this project has been fuel capacity. I sold Mates in '89/90 and remember that being an issue.
My Sonics both had 89 gl tanks and I ran them out of gas many times.
The new project has a 67 gl tank!
I called and talked to Kip and Dean at the factory (now 45 mins from me
) about the project.
Based on age of boat they were both scetchy on details.
Dean remembered that center floor panel over tank stopped at a bulkhead at forward edge of tank.
Mine goes all the way to cabin entry but was replaced by previous owner so doesnt tell me much.
He expected it to stop a couple feet short of cabin. Meaning, room for a larger tank.
Based on not wanting to affect balance, I will verify existing space to expand tank before doing anything else on that end.
I got a quote for a custom bracket from Armstrong in Fla and it was $5K!
Being the skin flint that I am, that means either A., I draw up prints for a fab shop to build me one or B., I build one myself out of fiberglass.
My second Sonic had a glass bracket.
I am also brainstorming on motors.
Unfortunately I don't have $50K for a new pair of 300's.
So they will be used.
I have established a $10K budget for ready to run units and they will be 2 strokes.
As in used/good condition, or rebuilt/newer motors.
Im an OMC guy but Ive looked at everything.
I'd really like to have a pair of the newer direct injected, way efficient motors but w/a $10K budget it will be a crap shoot at best.
I have a buddy that owns a pair of OMCs I had on my last Sonic for a while and will sell them back to me.
They are '1998 250 V-6 Ocean Pros. Same as their 225 HO's.
These in tact, are very, very rare.
They have under 250 hrs on them and are perfect.
If I go that direction, I will paint them silver to match the stripes on the boats and add graphics to them in either white or black.
Should look really slick.
Heres the pix's I have so far.
Hope you enjoy.
A short bio for those that done know me:
I've owned two 24' Sonic twin O/B's. An '84 and a '85, both for 7 yrs each.
Ive owned little boats (<20') and big (>25'), slow and fast and those two Sonics were my favorite boats of all.
We raced anything/everything willing w/them, explored, traveled, cruised, camped etc.
We had the 2nd one while in Fla and I wrote and posted a story on OSO.com about a 5 day trip w/it in the Keys.
Thinking that was all big/expensive/rich stuff I figured the story would flop.
Called it "5 days and 4 night on a 24' cuddy in the Keys" and the story exploded.
That really changed my previous view of no one boating like this anymore.
So theres me and now back to the project.
I know they built twin O/B 25's (and larger) but they had splash wells which eliminated the sun lounge and the area underneath.
I added a lounge to our last Sonic and loved it.
So the plan was, find as clean of 251 I/O as I could, ideally w/a blown motor (making it affordable) and bonus points for an aluminum trailer to take it to salt water.
Just found/bought a '86 w/a stroker 454 w/a dropped valve, hooked to a Bravo drive.
I figure if all goes well, I will recoup 1/2 my initial investment by unloading all the car motor funk.
We just moved and I lost my shop so the boat is stuffed under a carport till spring while my new shop is built.
Plan is to fill all the holes in the transom left from the I/O stuff then screw on a integral platform/bracket for the twin O/B's.
This will give me a HUGE storage space under the lounge where the car moter used to be.
That will hold our two fold up bicycles,$40 Walmart inflatable dinghy, beach chairs, table, grill, etc, etc.
We do a lot of weekends on Lake Erie where we get on the boat Friday afternoon, head to the islands, anchor out (saving $1.75 per ft dockage), dinghy in, bon fire, dinner on the grill etc.
Then bikes to shore via dinghy to explore the islands (Keys).
An issue delaying this project has been fuel capacity. I sold Mates in '89/90 and remember that being an issue.
My Sonics both had 89 gl tanks and I ran them out of gas many times.
The new project has a 67 gl tank!
I called and talked to Kip and Dean at the factory (now 45 mins from me
) about the project. Based on age of boat they were both scetchy on details.
Dean remembered that center floor panel over tank stopped at a bulkhead at forward edge of tank.
Mine goes all the way to cabin entry but was replaced by previous owner so doesnt tell me much.
He expected it to stop a couple feet short of cabin. Meaning, room for a larger tank.
Based on not wanting to affect balance, I will verify existing space to expand tank before doing anything else on that end.
I got a quote for a custom bracket from Armstrong in Fla and it was $5K!
Being the skin flint that I am, that means either A., I draw up prints for a fab shop to build me one or B., I build one myself out of fiberglass.
My second Sonic had a glass bracket.
I am also brainstorming on motors.
Unfortunately I don't have $50K for a new pair of 300's.
So they will be used.
I have established a $10K budget for ready to run units and they will be 2 strokes.
As in used/good condition, or rebuilt/newer motors.
Im an OMC guy but Ive looked at everything.
I'd really like to have a pair of the newer direct injected, way efficient motors but w/a $10K budget it will be a crap shoot at best.
I have a buddy that owns a pair of OMCs I had on my last Sonic for a while and will sell them back to me.
They are '1998 250 V-6 Ocean Pros. Same as their 225 HO's.
These in tact, are very, very rare.
They have under 250 hrs on them and are perfect.
If I go that direction, I will paint them silver to match the stripes on the boats and add graphics to them in either white or black.
Should look really slick.
Heres the pix's I have so far.
Hope you enjoy.
Is the colors, in the original gel or is it a repaint??? Looks great, just a little odd?? Good luck.
