1996 251 Walkaround project and mods

[Aussie 251]

Hi all, just to recap, researched this model for a couple of years, thanks to gurus like Mike C, and this excellent site, got to see one of these great designed fishing boats on a family holiday in US earlier in the year, sold my 21 ft walkaround when I got home and waited for the right 251 to come along, cut a long story short, found one in Georgia on craigslist with a DF300 suzuki, survey, deal, imported. Drawn out process, but thats a whole other story.

So the hull being a 1996 I thought it would be a wise move to replace all sun damaged hull fittings, hoses etc, service/replace pumps, remove 110v AC wiring, replace any dodgy looking wiring and go over everything before I use her.

So project so far, removed all existing electronics, completely remodelled dash to suit own Simrad electronics, added extra digital suzuki gauges, new switch panel, new carling covers for existing switches, new fusion stereo, new icom VHF radio, LED lighting, new Lewmar anchor winch, new live bait pump, serviced bilge pumps and both sealand diaphram macerator pumps( both were seized on the shaft nylon bush and one in bilge area was full of leaves and acorn nuts), new fuel hose and filters etc. Modified layout in bilge area to better utilise area, new hoses to most fittings, temporarily mounted 1kw in hull transducer to test.

Hardtop has new canvas and rewired new LED lights and LED spots, extra rod holders added.

Haven't done too much in the cabin area, was all re-upholstered a couple of years ago, removed old AC stove replaced with portable gas cooker. Fridge was removed and dumped, frame had rusted out don't even think it had been used. New hand/shower fittings to both sinks.

Now for the trailer, frame in pretty good nic all alloy and stainless bolted, new hydrastar electric/hydraulic actuator and override kit fitted, new dacromet rotors and disc brake assemblies new hydraulic hoses, new LED lighting to Aus specs. New 3500kg Aus coupling fitted and safety chains to suit, new tyres, new prodigy P3 in cab controller fitted on the weekend.

I'm getting close now, taken a while with work and all the other distractions, few cosmetic things to tidy up and then try to register the trailer.

Here are some pics.

[Aussie 251]

Reckon I know these boats inside out now.
Graphics have been removed, new design coming soon.
Here some more pics

[Smackhawk]

nice...

are you in the 'ville?

[Aussie 251]

Sorry Smackhawk "Rockvegas" fish out of Yeppoon.
How's your 25 walk going.

[Smackhawk]

Ah, nice down there!

...well, my 25walk hardtop is up, I re-wired / spliced all the electronics up top (VHF, lights, radar, GPS) and even managed to get the data cables spliced so it's all integrated and coupled with the chartplotter and auto-pilot again... which I am mighty impressed with      .

I don't think the fuel was stabilised prior to shipping to Aus, who knows how long it was in there... as it had gummed up in the lines - replaced all that, replaced the fuel, but I am convinced there is a bit of debris that stirs up and blocks the screen, causing the fuel pressure to drop and the engine to die. I'll join the 2 pickups and take the screens off and see how that goes when I get back    ....I've had to deploy again for 6 months... service is seriously getting in the way of my fishing!!!!

[Aussie 251]

Good luck and safe travels on your deployment, and good luck with all of your electronics, I totally rewired all mine after everything was cut to the hardtop, I had my own electronics and gps antennas anyway, trailers booked in for a measure up this week and then I'll take her for a run in the fresh. There's a bloke in T'ville I spoke with a few months ago with two of these 251's I think he has one for sale, I'll have to get in touch again and see how's he's going.

[Smackhawk]

Thanks for that. 3 months down, 3 to go.

Good job on your wiring too.

Yeah I've spoken to him a few times, I think one's still for sale. I think the best way to sell one is to be near Brissy, and be seen using it at boat ramps, with fish in eskies even better!

I had no dramas registering my trailer, hardest part was finding someone up here willing to give me a RWC, but found a good guy in the end. A bit of animosity up here towards the few of us that have sought boats overseas... like we're not supporting local boating business or something. Whatever. I'm not going to spend 100k on something I can get for under 50.

Anyway, sounds like you've got it all covered!
Have fun!

[Aussie 251]

Finally on the water and a beautiful day as well, hulls now acid washed and polished, suzuki went great and bagged a couple of macks.

[Smackhawk]

awesome, very jealous

[a7ewizard]

You have to be loving that Zuke 300! Post some performance specs when you have a chance.

My VP 5.7 I/O has been reliable and efficient power. I like the duo-prop (the handling around the dock between my 251 and outboard 24SS is night and day different)........

But, I would love to have the extra cockpit space. I have toyed with the idea of a conversion to a bracketed OB. During that process, I would re-do the transom by modifying the livewell into a deep circular one that can actually hold a scoop of bait. Probably move the batteries, switches, misc pumps, batt charger to a forward bilge location for better access and weight offset.

Why not just buy a OB 251 you ask??? I would feel like I had abandoned an old friend :'(....I just not ready to do that.

Warren

[Aussie 251]

Hi Warren, its definately a shame the engine box takes up so much room, this is one of my main reasons for going with the 251. As for performance numbers I've only had her out once and the weather was brilliant. Managed 1klm/ltr (2.3ml/g) at cruise 50kph or 27 knots. Hope to improve these figures slightly by removing antifoul and giving it a nice smooth coat of two pac. At the moment its spinning a 16 X 21 3 blade powertech, keen to try a 4 blade 16 X 18 powertech, I have had great results with the 4 blade powertechs in the past. Would like to get efficient cruise down to around 23-25 knots this should be possible with the lift provided by the 4 blade.
It would be a big project to convert over to OB and yes improvements for the live well area are a must.

[Aussie 251]

Righto, here is the latest updates and additions, marine carpet to deck area, no more slipping around on mackerel slime. Simrad radome finally fitted and operational, king starboard baitboard/filleting board fitted above live well. Some antifoul has been removed the rest has been sanded smooth. New 4 blade powertech 16x17 prop fitted, couple of trips in full battle trim has proved maybe the wrong pitch selection, estimated total weight on water of around 4000kg or around 9000+lbs ouch!!! Full fuel 170 gal, 400lb ice and bait, 5 crew 200lb humans, beer, water, gear etc. Anyway 300 Suzuki still working its arse off only managed around 1.6-1.8m/g or around 0.7-0.8 km/l. Bit more work to do there or shed some pounds.
Will attach some latest pics.

[231CALIFORNIA]

Carpet, doesent it fill with slime & mildew and stink or does it rinse out easily.
did you snap or glue it down on the nonskid?
did you leave the deck drains clear i imagine?

That prop- may be a bit too much pitch? but  you are hauling 4.5 tons at 9000#
do you have any other lower pitch prop to try?
how far are you from reaching recommended WOT rpm.?
if you are fishing local, leave about 60gallons of fuel, and make sure you are draining that ice melt,  leave extra  beer in truck, and keeping bilges dry, have one guy ride up front to trim at takeoff and dont keep your fresh water tank full if you dont use it all each trip.    other than Prop...

thanks for pictures in posts , worth a thousand words

[Aussie 251]

Hi 231, weighed up a lot of options for covering deck, definately required something, when wet/slimy the deck was dangerously slippery anchored or trolling in a chop. The short pile marine carpet is quite inexpensive, comfortable underfoot and easy to apply, cleaning requires a good deck wash pressure pump while out at sea, and small pressure cleaner and chemicals when cleaning after trip, deck drains and hatches still operate as normal. It was glued down using a contact adhesive, will post some pics when I get a chance.
Your right about excess fuel /water etc being carted around, last trip we topped off the tank so could accurately compare actual usage against the suzuki smart gauges, normally would not require 170 gals. We drain ice boxes regularly and ensure kill tanks/bilges are not harboring any water. Us humans could no doubt lose a bit of weight and carry less beer of course !!!

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