Restoring a Race Boat for CHEAP! $500 Sleekcraft SST MODVP Tunnel Hull!

I picked up a crazy rare ultra high performance twin tunnel hull ModVP Raceboat for $500!
It's a 1986 Sleekcraft SST. This was one of sleek's fastest hulls ever, and was famous for racing in the ModVP series in 70s/80s/90s before it was banned for being too dangerous! This thing is going to need EVERYTHING, but I'll show you how you can tackle all these major repairs without spending a lot of cash.
This is my second Sleekcraft Tunnel, I also restored a 78 Sleekcraft Aristocrat Tunnel, except that one is a rowdy V8 with a mercruiser sterndrive. This SST is much closer to the actual ModVP race boats used in circuit racing, and with the right outboard, should be WAY faster than my other sleek.
Be sure to join the Sleekcraft Owners Group on FB:
groups/sleekcraft/
Stay tuned for more updates!
#sleekcraftboats.com #sleekcraft #sleekcraftboats
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[@joshkeller1540]

I've been looking to rebuild/refurbish a boat and wasn't sure if I wanted a pontoon or speed boat like yours ( I love the red one ""amazing"") so I started looking at videos on boat restoration and rebuilds. I realized something really fast 90% of the people doing this owns a boat restoration business or boat business of some kind. That's not me I'm a driveway mechanic that knows a little bit of everything. Then I came across your videos and hats off you do it in your driveway no fork lift or big machines to flip boat over and your attention to detail and discrimination of the process that your doing comes across great. Needless to say I've chosen to do a speed boat and downloaded your videos to use like a visual dictionary when going through my adventure. Thanks so much keep putting out the great work and I hope to upload my own build and I'll tag you in it as reference guide help 101.

[@ADDvanced]

AWESOME! And good idea, pontoons are horrible boats, they don't ride well, they don't go very fast, they are just a sign you've completely given up on being remotely cool, imho, and whenever I see them, I think they must know what time to get off the lake so they don't miss an episode of Matlock. But yeah man, just make sure you get something actually cool, and it'll be worth it. Not sort of cool.... half cool.... get something FULL COOL, because financially it's the right move. Restoring a 'sort of cool' boat means you can quickly wind up underwater in costs. Feel free to ping me if you have any questions! Cheers!

[@user-mp8er1ds9x]

HOW to do the work is intuitive and info is readily available. WHAT to do is not. A LOT of experience is needed to restore, correct, setup, and dial-in a vintage go fast boat. And evolutionary experience with the subject boat is almost always necessary. There are plenty of mistakes to be made in the go-fast world and a top drawer boat reengineer has made most of them. To simply restore one to original as shipped condition simply makes for an obsolete original go-fast boat. When that boat was new it ran 80 with a 235 OMC. When corrected it will run 100 with the same old 235 OMC.

[@tractioncontroloff9796]

Love this era of speed boats! My Dad and I restored a late 70’s Marlin jet boat about 25 years ago. Such a good experience! Your channel is so cool and relatable!

[@ADDvanced]

Me too, it's a shame boating has become out of reach and out of touch for a huge chunk of the population. It seemed like fun/fast stuff was way more affordable back then.

[@tractioncontroloff9796]

@@ADDvanced agree, you didn’t need 30 year loans for a nice boat

[@G.Bear89]

These are the vids I need to stay fired up for my own ski boat restoration. 70's vintage Switzer Craft. Let's go baby!

[@ADDvanced]

Baby steps man, a few hours here, a few hours there, it adds up!

[@stevenmerhige9285]

Wow, very cool. I am in the process of restoring a 1971 tunnel hull outboard that is much like a Magnum Missile. It’s a boat that I worked through junior high to buy, and it was built specifically for me. I started hunting it down a couple of years ago and found it last year, buried by a jungle. Still, the hull seems absolutely seaworthy, and there appears to be no sections of rot at all. Now that we’ve cleaned it up, I need to get the remaining gelcoat stripped and replaced. After that, we’ll need seats much like the ones you’ve got on this SST, and then I intend to put a 250 four-stroke on it. This boat is what I drove to high school, on Biscayne Bay in Miami. An entire youth of memories are tied up in it, and as an old man now, the last years of my life will be tied up in it, too. So, I’ll be watching what you’re doing with your SST project!

[@ADDvanced]

Those are cool boats, sort of a flat front on the bow, right? If you're putting a 250 on it I would htink you'd need to reinforce the heck out of the transom. Post some videos! Old speed boats are cool!

[@BabyCharlotteschannel]

The heck with ANY 4 stroke outboard motor!! Put a light weight, V6 Merc or Mariner outboard motor on the back, with low water pick-ups and adjustable jackplate and a good, prob 3 blade Yamaha style drag prop for that thing, or even a Merc ET style prop, or some Merc chopper prop maybe cut down to give really good holeshot. That 4 stroke is a mistake on that old, not technically advanced hull mainly because the weight is literally double what a little 200hp Merc would weigh.. even an old 150 or late '70's 175hp(same as the newer 150ho motors) would get that thing up and running..be careful, they trap a lot of air, so keep your trim button on the low end of trim, like neutral trim at speed till you get to know the boat!

[@ADDvanced]

@@BabyCharlotteschannel That's the plan. Just trying to find a deal on a merc 2.4 or 2.5. Haven't found any deals yet. :(. Boat already has adjustable jackplate, so that's awesome! It had an Evinrude 235 hanging off from it when I bought it, but the owners wanted to keep the outboard. Can't wait to get it on the water but it depends on finding a motor....

[@nickbaddorf2673]

The interior looks a lot like our friends 86 mastercraft ski boat. Love it!

[@screwflow478]

4:39 the driver seat is on some voodoo stuff 😂 nice boat tho

[@SPLavey7751]

Can’t believe someone would let a boat sit with water in it that long. Shame. Glad to see you’re restoring it. Love the color scheme. Reminds me of my 84 Laveycraft ski pro. I could tell by the gages it had an Evinrude, same gages my boat has. I even have the same engine as the pic. 225 HO Ficht. Mine used to have a 235 Crossflow. Looking forward to seeing more of this one

[@ADDvanced]

Want to buy any of the evinrude stuff? It's definitely getting a merc.... :P.

[@SPLavey7751]

@@ADDvanced Thank you but my gages are all functional. Would be concerned about all the moisture these have been exposed to. Merc is a good choice, at least they are still in business 😉

[@steveanderson9718]

Hey: Very Kool Stuff.... I brought a 1989 Zuto back to life that had been disregarded ..... A jet boat is very thirsty, with a 454 in It........ 7 gal. Imp. every 20 minutes. Your video inspires me to do up another one ..... a 1972 Hawaiian 460 Ford with a Berkley Jet..... Stay Tuned !!

[@johnmedina5399]

Try an outboard once you do you’ll love them. So much more room inside and quieter. My 200 hp Mercury surprises lots of big blocks.

[@unoefxz]

The original floor is long gone, they never bonded the new floor down and that is why the tunnels are so smooth, the new floor was floating on it and rubbed it smooth. Shoddy work, might want to fill it with water to see if you have any longitudinal cracks in the hull. I have seen this in many boats that rotted out. Best stringer and floor I ever redid was using "Trex" plastic deck boards. It wasn't that heavy and it never flexed or rotted out again. Got another 7 years of an uncovered boat out of it before I sold it. Also redid the interior using plywood but painted it all with oil-base before covering it and used a hole saw in various places to allow the wood to breathe.

[@ADDvanced]

Did you bond polyester to the Trex stuff or use epoxy?

[@JasonM69]

Just found this series and am gonna have to watch it through. I have a similar boat and have a bit of an issue with the rear.

[@unoefxz]

The transom bracing is not a warning at all, that is awesome. Used them in my Team Shadow and my Velocity to ensure the 2.5 stayed on in rought water. I highly suggest a SeaStar Pro hydraulic steering system, Those dual cables wear you out and can kill you if your wheel slips in your hand... suntan lotion makes it tough to hang on sometimes...

[@ADDvanced]

Thanks, I will look into those!

[@sugardove6075]

How can I buy your Dad’s old race boat ?

[@unoefxz]

@@sugardove6075 his 390 Stinger caught fire and was totaled

[@jackpatteeuw9244]

Dude, get a shop vac ! To check the transom, drill some 1/4" hole from the inside of the transom to about the middle. About a 5-10 holes in various places, but more down low. If the wood is dry, fill the holes with thickened epoxy and tape some wax paper over the filled hole to prevent the epoxy from oozing out. Cross your finger. Replacing a transom is a lot more work !

[@ADDvanced]

That was my plan, I’ve done that on other boats. I’m just worried about it flexing since it has that massive brace. If it’s dry It could still be bad, no?

[@jackpatteeuw9244]

@@ADDvanced If it flexes, is likely rotten. A lot depends on what size engine you plan on installing. Remember 4 strokes weight more that 2 strokes.

[@ADDvanced]

Doesn’t flex by hand, but I’m questioning it because of that giant ass brace. We will see!

[@BabyCharlotteschannel]

@@ADDvanced those braces were all the rage years ago on any boat that was gonna get a big outboard motor bolted on Esp if it was with some setback by way of jackplate! Doesn't mean it's rotted, just gotta check.. The quickest way to fix that hull would be stripping it, running the single stringer down the center, bonded to the hull bottom well, few layers of good strong glass weaves, like 1708 or similar, staggering where they start and end. Then after roughing up the tunnel tops real good, put a layer of Matt down saturated really good with resin, along with putty on top of the stringer, and lay your floor down on it. Get adjustable jackplate, solid V6 Merc outboard, preferably 245++hp with low water pick-ups on the lower unit. And a decent bow lifting, surfacing prop, like a 4 blade Yamaha style drag prop in about 26 or 28 inches of pitch. And you should be flying, soon as you learn how to drive the thing!

[@mmanut]

BEAUTIFUL LINES, ALWAYS HAD A THING FOR THAT STYLE‼️👍👍 DO IT RIGHT, FROM THE STRINGERS ON UP‼️‼️. GOOD LUCK, Vinny 🇺🇸

[@Gukerl]

Thanks for sharing this adventure :)

[@ADDvanced]

Glad you enjoyed it, the build has come pretty far since this episode.

[@Sel10heit]

Someone was in there before trying to save a rotten floor and stringer. I had a Cheetah that had the same thing. That wood up front does not look original either, would have been glassed over. Looking forward to the progress. Love seeing classic hot boats get restored.

[@ADDvanced]

It's just weird because some the glass on the floor section looks original. I guess it isn't.... but ... yeah still confusing. It's getting an entirely new stringer.

[@cowboygonzalez7824]

Awesome video! I'm having the same issue on the transom. Hopefully u can do a video on it. Good luck brotha

[@maryfithen5006]

Where did you get your seats

[@ADDvanced]

They're original to the boat.

[@Qyy0]

Always see these low price boats and I’m like 🥴🥴🥴where but I’m glad to see the boating community thriving

[@jkunz27]

Nice video, but that music makes me want to buy ice cream from a sketchy dude in a white van! 🤣

[@ADDvanced]

Choco taco or firecrackers?

[@RuhRohRaggie069]

The clear coat over the gel coat kinda reminds me of folks that try n coat teak wood with a varnish , It may initially look good but Mother Nature will make quick work of that then it will looking like shit flaking everywhere, love to find me sweet ride like to get killed in great video

[@ADDvanced]

You have to strip and recoat teak every few years.... but... worth it.

[@turbskibrz6594]

Spring is here new video should be soon!

[@ADDvanced]

It's coming! Need to get to a good stopping point

[@ADDvanced]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rmWkZZSBqalpr68

[@smily14]

Is there more videos on this?

[@ADDvanced]

There will be soon, have a lot of footage shot, just need to finish editing; probably next weekend

[@ADDvanced]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rmWkZZSBqalpr68. Hot off the Mac Pro!

[@seangreene64]

Remove the cap change transom and add knees to get rid of those braces

[@ADDvanced]

Keep watching :P

[@robertsylvis4915]

Nice project I have a 26 foot Ambassador project

[@ADDvanced]

Join the sleekcraft owners group on FB!

[@robertsylvis4915]

@@ADDvanced I deleted my F.B. but I'm in the sleekcraft owners group.

[@DerekIwasiuk]

i wish speed boats would make a real comeback. Nothing but wake everywhere i go

[@ADDvanced]

Uses more gas, causes more land erosion, annoys everyone, booooo

[@DerekIwasiuk]

@@ADDvanced and that's just the wife

[@jordanlevitt6639]

Love those boats! You could just sand off that clear coat. Then wetsand and polish the gel!

[@ADDvanced]

That's the plan!

[@bigharrykochenbauls4567]

A sharpened flexible 6" putty knife and a skilled hand gliding between the layers will remove the paint from the gel coat. Just make sure not to gouge the Gelcoat, you might also be able to use aircraft paint stripper, but sometimes that will damage the gelcoat... Buff when done

[@ADDvanced]

Maybe plan B. Right now I'm thinking a pressure washer might remove most of it... stay tuned!

[@kolepenrod1286]

how come the seats look like there sideways

[@ADDvanced]

Just shoved them in there to stack boxes on top so the cover would not collect with water.

[@kolepenrod1286]

@@ADDvanced o ok it jus looked weird

[@artlife6210]

cool video well done....the music is a bit distracting but hey its all good

[@ADDvanced]

Thanks and thanks for the feedback! Yeah, the audio was total garbage in this video; I was standing too far from the camera and the birds were way to loud so I ran it through an audio filter, which helped, but then it sounded odd so I bumped up the music a bit to cover it. Will try to improve the audio in the future, cheers and stay tuned, update next weekend!

[@BackyardBeeKeepingNuevo]

This was built during a time of just a strap on as big of an engine as you could afford and go like hell. Nothing else mattered then except good times and a big set of balls to push it to the limit of the engine and the hull and beyond.

[@ADDvanced]

And it was actually affordable. Today's high performance marine is a gated community for the 1%. They don't make anything like these boats today, because corporations are too chicken shit scared of liability.

[@BackyardBeeKeepingNuevo]

@@ADDvanced Great point! I hadn’t thought of it like that. 😊

[@SirrBassius]

Looking forward to the latest updates on it. Since you bought it for the trailer, what are your plans for the boat after you're finished with it? Thought about selling it?

[@ADDvanced]

Just ordered mixing cups and resin for it a few days ago. Have the seats sitting on my workbench right now :) I will sell it if I can't find an engine for it... if I find an engine, I want to drive it and then make a decision on it.

[@SirrBassius]

@@ADDvanced I gotcha, sweet. I've been looking for a Sleek for a bit now. Recently found an Aristocrat with a 200 Evinrude for $4k and only an hour away from me. But it sold before I could pick it up. There's a 3.0 for sale locally but I am also keeping my eyes open for a 2.4 or 2.5. if you end up deciding to sell it, gimme a holler. I've got a spare Johnson just hanging out in my garage

[@ADDvanced]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rmWkZZSBqalpr68

[@rwg7303]

Cool boat just started my own project of an swedish kombination boat built of an smuggler 21ft an top of something like tintorera Google submarin 21 :p gonna race in k2000 that is a swedish race class of offshore :)

[@ADDvanced]

Sounds awesome dude! Make a build video!

[@markcollins3732]

Had one of these back 35 years ago. Beautiful boat but had the omc stern drive. Kept it loaded with girls everytime I put it in the water.

[@ADDvanced]

2 mistakes: OMC sterndrive and not keeping it! :)

[@drexelmathews7312]

Awesome boat! Any update on the project?

[@ADDvanced]

Yeah, have half a video done but it's winter so I'm focusing on sleds right now. Interior is all torn apart in the garage, will likely be rebuilding it in early spring. Also purchased a ton of lumber for this project! Hope to get it in the water next year!

[@drexelmathews7312]

@@ADDvanced Nice! I have a couple jet boat projects going on right now - one will be done before summer and the other I'm hoping to have done mid summer. That one I have to replace the floors and interior on.

[@ADDvanced]

@@drexelmathews7312 Biggest challenge for me is finding a decent outboard. I can piece together sterndrive/v8 stuff for cheap, or maybe even a jet, but everyone wants $$$$ for any outboard over 150hp. This thing really needs a 225.

[@woosh073]

@@ADDvanced v8 two stroke or a mercury 2.4

[@ADDvanced]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rmWkZZSBqalpr68

[@derekfetzer6294]

I want that boat so bsd

[@ronniegibson3235]

Nice

[@ADDvanced]

69

[@tedschmitt178]

This boat is quite similar to Hydrostreams.

[@karlomarkovic3278]

Maybe I’m wrong but mainly jet boats only are steering on the left

[@ADDvanced]

You're wrong, lol.

[@phoenixarizona8441]

These boats would give jet boats a run for their money

[@ADDvanced]

Most jet boats top out at 60ish, unless it has a crazy high HP build

[@levicleland8714]

Jets won't touch a outboard. That's why I'm changing my sst tunnel from BBC/ Slow panther jet to a 250-300xs

[@ADDvanced]

@@levicleland8714 Yup. I mean they will... but you need gobs and gobs of HP

[@jbaker8871]

The wood floor not glassed doesn’t mean it’s original. Just means they didn’t glass it when replaced. Obviously crap job. used nails also lol

[@ADDvanced]

It was honestly so bad it was confusing....

[@procatprocat9647]

Someone lifted the floor, added the stringers and put the floor back. Simples.

[@ADDvanced]

But that would mean the floor was never ever bonded to the tunnels, by the factory or the guy who did that. That's insane.

[@waitemc]

I'd love to find an ol'cobra and chuck a yellow strip 2.5 liter Merc on the girl and let'er rip

[@craigbielsky115]

At this age any old boat that had any wood will need replacement .....most of that foam will be water logged also dig it all out completely and start with a fresh clean hull.... cant stress enough to dig any and all foam out it holds water after years of neglect .....talking 20 30 lbs bro.....

[@ADDvanced]

There is no foam in this boat.

[@craigbielsky115]

@@ADDvanced yes there is i can see it in the video your hand literally touches it at 6:38 between the tunnel and hull is a void filled with foam i can see the foam clear as day....

[@ADDvanced]

@@craigbielsky115 Not sure what you are referencing. There is no foam here. The yellow stuff is a thick layer of polyster resin. The main stringer is wood.

[@craigbielsky115]

@@ADDvanced the resin is over the foam .....on the outside of the tunnel wall there is a void between the tunnel and the hull side its filled with foam start digging ....lol

[@user-mp8er1ds9x]

@@craigbielsky115 The boat has no foam. That's the top of the tunnel. There is no foam in the sponsons either. I know it looks like foam, but it's not.

[@shellbackracing3999]

Where the duce did you find a boat for 500??!!

[@ADDvanced]

Did you see how bad it was?

[@Doubleespresso36]

KZbin gettin annoying with the double adds

[@redrummaster5076]

I have one of these same model color in much better shape been trying to sell it for a while. $4000

[@ADDvanced]

Location? Join the sleekcraft owners group on FB, you will get $1000+ for it if it's in nice shape!

[@KyleC0430]

Where are you located

[@KyleC0430]

Like state wise

[@redrummaster5076]

@@KyleC0430 Washington state

[@KyleC0430]

@@redrummaster5076 gotcha I’m in GA never mind

[@hswing11]

kind a sucks

[@ADDvanced]

Your channel?