New Boat: Zodiac Hurricane 733

[Jamesd20]

Hello Ribforum! wanted to post about my new boat and ask some questions.
here is my 1998 Navy Built Zodiac Hurricane 733 with twin 2006 Yamaha 115s. boat was sitting for a while and neglected but the motors are great! never been in saltwater and only 400 hours.

things i plan to do over the next few years:

- new console with top, windshield and shock mitigating seats
- Electronics, autopilot
- some sort of foam teak or hydroturf flooring
- All new aluminum crash bar and rear tower with fold down ladder
- Twin 200s Fly by wire Suzuki or Yamaha
- New fuel tanks
- New tubes

Questions for the forum-
- Fuel Tanks: i found a leak at the fuel sender due to stripped threads on my main tank. looks like everyone gets aluminum tanks built but i looked up the part numbers on the tanks and they are available from the manufacture- they need to be purchased through zodiac or a moeller distributor. is there a reason why people don't go this route of replacing the factory installed polymer tanks?
- Tubes: Boat currently has 2008 Wing tubes on it- I would like to replace with Zodiac Tubes in Black. What do people think of factory Zodiac Tubes vs Wing?
- Twin 200s- ive seen this done on the 733- what are the pros and cons of getting twin 200s vs 150s
- this boat was used by the Navy up until 2017- does anyone know how i can get some history on it? how it was used by the Navy or anything?
- Bow locker- I've seen this on a lot of other 733s. does anyone know where i can buy one? does anyone have any experience with ordering tanks, tubes and parts through Zodiac hurricane?

Thanks all!

[Bigtalljv]

Hmm,

I think aluminum tanks don’t off gas like the plastic so you have less venting concerns. I’m not sure about now but you could probably get a custom aluminum cheaper than the Moeller tanks in the past.

Zodiac factory tubes may or may not be built by Wing? I can’t say anything bad about Wing, they are probably the largest manufacturer for the military and their products are top notch. You know a new set of tubes is like $12k US? That’s a lot for making them black.

If you are repowering you might consider a single? Only half as much to go wrong and if you just have the one fuel tank and electrical system…. I would look at the Suzuki duoprop because the torque twist with a single is pretty noticeable. I’m putting one on my next boat in a year or three.

Finding original parts like the anchor locker is going to take a bit of hunting. I’d guess they aren’t made anymore but they could be out there.

I built my own anchor locker. My next one would be better. I got new tubes from wing. I had a custom aluminum fuel tank because I replaced the original diesel tank so it was in a completely different place than yours.

[cgoing]

Originally Posted by Jamesd20

Hello Ribforum! wanted to post about my new boat and ask some questions.

here is my 1998 Navy Built Zodiac Hurricane 733 with twin 2006 Yamaha 115s. boat was sitting for a while and neglected but the motors are great! never been in saltwater and only 400 hours.



things i plan to do over the next few years:



- new console with top, windshield and shock mitigating seats

- Electronics, autopilot

- some sort of foam teak or hydroturf flooring

- All new aluminum crash bar and rear tower with fold down ladder

- Twin 200s Fly by wire Suzuki or Yamaha

- New fuel tanks

- New tubes



Questions for the forum-

- Fuel Tanks: i found a leak at the fuel sender due to stripped threads on my main tank. looks like everyone gets aluminum tanks built but i looked up the part numbers on the tanks and they are available from the manufacture- they need to be purchased through zodiac or a moeller distributor. is there a reason why people don't go this route of replacing the factory installed polymer tanks?

- Tubes: Boat currently has 2008 Wing tubes on it- I would like to replace with Zodiac Tubes in Black. What do people think of factory Zodiac Tubes vs Wing?

- Twin 200s- ive seen this done on the 733- what are the pros and cons of getting twin 200s vs 150s

- this boat was used by the Navy up until 2017- does anyone know how i can get some history on it? how it was used by the Navy or anything?

- Bow locker- I've seen this on a lot of other 733s. does anyone know where i can buy one? does anyone have any experience with ordering tanks, tubes and parts through Zodiac hurricane?



Thanks all!

Great looking boat. Ordering a new fuel tank from Milpro/Hurricane will be difficult for a boat that old. I am a dealer and tried for a couple hurricanes and they could not provide a tank. I used Luthers welding in Rhode Island. Very pleased with the aluminum tank they built.

Milpro is now building tubes in the US for H 733's. Lead time is usually about 6 months. Have one on order now for a customer and price was basically the same price as Wing.

[Jamesd20]

Thanks all for the replies- I ended up ordering new tanks through Zodiac and they should be here in 4 weeks. Was roughly the same price as getting aluminum tanks built if anyone is curious.

Going to get these tanks in and then focus on a new console build this winter- something with a glass windshield that can get 2-4 people out of the weather.

will post pics of progress along the way! thanks all.

[Jamesd20]

Figured id post an update! new tanks are in and i almost have the whole boat put back together now.

Here are some pictures of the process.

Also- if anyone is interested in my old tanks and oil jug transom mounts- let me know! i will be posting in the for sale listings

[SoCal Hurricane]

Keep charging! It’s looking great!!

Hope the tubes are holding up well now.

[CCMS]

Curious how the bracket is laid out on the 733. We just finished a 7m Otech with a bracket and twin 200 Suzukis

[Iankristy]

What a joy that must be to have that sort of accessibility under deck. ReFitting out a GRP hull a whole different undertaking !

[Bigtalljv]

Originally Posted by CCMS

Curious how the bracket is laid out on the 733. We just finished a 7m Otech with a bracket and twin 200 Suzukis

It looks like this.

[SoCal Hurricane]

Love the dive ladder! How have I not seen your boat on here before.

Where in CA are you located? Super cool rig!

[Bigtalljv]

Originally Posted by SoCal Hurricane

Love the dive ladder! How have I not seen your boat on here before.

Where in CA are you located? Super cool rig!

You must be new :-)

Somewhere on here there is a multi year thread on the rebuild.

[SoCal Hurricane]

Touché!

What I lack on the tech side, I make up for on the tech spec side! Never been known to be the best with social media apps… I’ll figure it out though.

[Bigtalljv]

Originally Posted by SoCal Hurricane

Touché!

What I lack on the tech side, I make up for on the tech spec side! Never been known to be the best with social media apps… I’ll figure it out though.

Here you go:

Zodiac 733 rebuild
https://www.rib.net/forum/f45/zodiac-733-rebuild-50464.html

[Todd Grimley]

Originally Posted by CCMS

Curious how the bracket is laid out on the 733. We just finished a 7m Otech with a bracket and twin 200 Suzukis

Hey man I’ve recently done an Otech with a bracket and 250 . I’d love to check out your build ! Do you have a thread on it ? Or Pm me some photos? Cheers,Todd

Sorry to hijack the thread.

[Bigtalljv]

Originally Posted by Todd Grimley

Hey man I’ve recently done an Otech with a bracket and 250 . I’d love to check out your build ! Do you have a thread on it ? Or Pm me some photos? Cheers,Todd

Sorry to hijack the thread.

My build thread is in the next post up…

[Screaming04]

I had twin 150 two strokes. Honestly can’t see a reason for 200’s. My bow locker was integrated into the hull from what I remember. I bolted a large hd Rubbermaid container to the deck for more storage.

[AKDive]

Could you please let me know where you ordered your fuel tanks from. I'm having a hard time locating some for our 2002 Hurricane 733 we are doing a rebuild of the boat and trying to track down tanks an hardware for the boat. Thanks

[Screaming04]

Originally Posted by AKDive

Could you please let me know where you ordered your fuel tanks from. I'm having a hard time locating some for our 2002 Hurricane 733 we are doing a rebuild of the boat and trying to track down tanks an hardware for the boat. Thanks

I ordered it from West Marine, this was 14 years ago. It was a rotomolded poly tank with a v bottom. Can’t remember the size…? Added it to the original tank that was fitted forward of the original diesel. Just checked they still have them. Moeller, way more expensive now.

[Jamesd20]

Figured i'd post an update on my build. Scored a custom fiberglass console with a sleeping birth off a 733 that was built out and damaged off cape caution. The console required some fiberglass work, a new window and new paint.
New console has a full glass windshield and a double llebroc seat which is extremely comfortable. I did all new electronics with Raymarine Chartplotter, Radar and Autopilot. I am extremely happy with the boat- my wife and I have done multiple overnights on the boat this summer and over 3000 miles in Washington and BC with the new setup. Extremely comfortable and Autopilot is a game changer. The console also has a full canvas setup and plumed for diesel heat which i am excited to use this winter.

Next things to do are some aluminum work- I plan to get the rear crash bar and roof rack built soon. I want the new crash bar to have downrigger mounts and the ability to mount things (bikes, crab pots, etc.) over the motors. The roof rack i want to extend 2-3 feet past the current ttop and have fishing rod holders and plenty of space to mount stuff up top.

after that- Future projects include:
- Seadeck style flooring with Topo pattern
- New hurricane Tubes in Black
- Drum anchor windless with bow mount for anchor and a search light (prewired this in my build out)

[Jamesd20]

also have this radar arch for a hurricane 733 that mounts two downriggers and two scotty rod holders. since i will be adding downrigger mounts to the new rear crash bar- I no longer need this. If anyone is interested- let me know. Could be perfect if you have a 733 in the northwest and looking to setup for fishing.

also posted in the "bits & pieces" section