Excel SD290 restoration.

Lee1 · 14 September 2017, 21:51

New Excel SD290 purchased

I don't need the launching wheels so they have been removed, the wooden air deck retention strip that was screwed to the transom came off as the screws were rusted and one screw punctured the air deck floor on the boats maiden test out voyage lol I was planning to do the restoration over the winter but now it has to be done, I am replacing the wooden air deck retention strip with a thicker one as the original did not really keep the floor down at the transom, adding fishing rod holders, new transom outboards plates, eye plates and strengthens the transom for a larger outboard (current ratting is 10hp but wish to use a 15hp)

I'm still unable to load pics from ipad, image load failed continues to appear in the image upload window!! Help please.

beamishken · 14 September 2017, 23:41

We bought one of the very first excel 290s that they imported and guess what the only problem we had in the last 13 years was? Within a few weeks of getting the boat the floor retaining strip came off and punctured the air floor! We got it replaced under warranty and fitted longer screws and it's been fine since
I guess they never fitted longer screws to subsequent boats after our fail

Lee1 · 15 September 2017, 00:22

The restoration includes a wider wood rail secured with nuts and bolts through the transom, with the bolts counter sunk in the rail, I'm not taking a second chance lol When the air deck is secured flat at the stern they are an excellent boat, I'm going to pad the stern area each side of the keel with foam matting to fill the open space between the inside of the boats floor and underside of the airdeck thus keeping the floor flat and solid and preventing it being able to move freely until it touches the underside of the air deck when on the plane, hopefully it should make a difference on overall performance, planing and speed, I do like the quality of the Excel, the over pressure release valve and equal pressure system that balances the pressure between the 3 tube chambers is a must have feature for all heavy and full users of SIB's as primary boats as it allows safe maximum pressure inflation without the risk of over inflation thus giving maximum inflated performance without constantly measuring tube pressure

Lee1 · 19 September 2017, 17:52

The Excel is finished and ready for use this weekend

I fitted a new wider wood rail that keeps the air deck in place better this is bolted through the transom to prevent it getting kicked off like the old original one did, I've re-roped the boat, the transom and seats were repainted and lacquered (colour: Audi Decota grey) then a new outboard plate, tread plate for the rear transom outboard plate, fishing rod holders with rod retention clips, eye plates and davit eyes fitted, all fitting including bots, screws etc are m4 marine stainless (davit eyes fitted on the outside to tow from the excel) I strengthened the transom for a larger outboard use, I used m6 nuts and bolts for that and by using the large washers the transom mount if tight to the transom so there should be no water able to get between the wood and the transom mount thus preventing future ungluing, I filled the bolts holes with epoxy after I drilled each hole out and pushed the bolts through the epoxy so this will set for watertight bolts through the transom (standard outboard rating for the Excel SD90 is 10hp) I will probably go 20hp

Lee1 · 19 September 2017, 18:06

Can anyone help with how to get videos to work, plus I still can not upload images

Lee1 · 21 September 2017, 01:09

Worked out how to post pics at last however only low pixel ones . these pics are pics of images on an
iPad screen do not so good. Project is finished so final pics tomo