Haines Formula 233 Custom Center Console Rebuild

[Master4Med2]

G'day all,


I'm not sure if anyone would be interested in watching a tired looking Haines Formula 233 being transformed into a twin outboard, center console sport fisher.

I bought the boat just before the new year, off a fellow Ausfish member that changed his mind to rebuild it himself.

As you can see from the pictures, there's a lot of work to be done, so stay tuned.

Cheers

[OPTI]

looks like a late 70,s twin fuel tank model ,are you cutting the stringers and sub floor out?they are a great hull looking foward to your progress

[Master4Med2]

Good guess Opti, it's a 1978 model.

The fuel tanks were mounted under the gunwales, made out of stainless steel and roughly 200 liters each.

As to what you see, the floor and stringers will be removed and replaced with solid glass stringers such as yours and everything else will be either Coosa bluewater or divinycell.

First thing is to build a rolling cradle, need to support the hull properly before removing certain sections of the floor and stringers

[FisHard]

How about a centre cabin walkaround? I've got a centre console, and they are great for hardcore fishing day trips, but a real compromise for anything else. Just a suggestion, and I can't wait to see your progress like all the other boat porn addicts on here!
What power have you got in mind?
Cheers

[OPTI]

i actually have a spare cradle,if you know of some cheap freight

[captain rednut]

hi master i hope you up for a challenge and a lot of coin as Ive just completed my 233 1972 model restoration and i believe it was all worth it in the end, but the work in the structural frame work under the floor and the fairing and painting were huge.
good luck and ill keep watching.
cheers Jim

[wirlybird]

Holy crap your going the whole hog there. i didn't think the center console was that popular. (i need to call the bank)

good luck mate best time to start when the weather isn't holding you up

[Master4Med2]

Fish Hard,

I'm only looking to do day trips with this boat, that's why I've chosen a center console.
I want a fast reliable seaworthy boat with maximum fishing space. I have other boats available to me, that I can use for serious offshore work.
I haven't chosen the outboard brand yet, but it will be twin outboards near the hulls maximum horsepower rating.

Opti,

Can you describe roughly where the cradle supports the hull, and the dimensions and weight of the cradle. ( so I can some ring some freight companies )
Also how much $$ are you looking for ?

Captain Rednut,

I know what I'm in for, this won't be my first restoration.
As for money, well you can't take it with you.
The only real problem I do have is that I'm a very fussy person, It's got to be done right or not at all.

Wirlybird,

I've never really owned a small rec / fishing boat until I bought the first 233 in October last year, But what I really wanted was a center console so I bought the project 233 in December. I'll sell the first when the center console is done.
I just love the simplicity of using the 233 and not having the dramas and the $1500 fuel bill with taking out the larger vessels for a fish.
Yes the weather has been crap up here, it's either pouring rain or blowing 30 plus.
cheers

[wirlybird]

hey mate just an FYI there is a site for 233's also called. "formula 233 registry" most of the above guys are on there

[FisHard]

Fish Hard,

I'm only looking to do day trips with this boat, that's why I've chosen a center console.
I want a fast reliable seaworthy boat with maximum fishing space. I have other boats available to me, that I can use for serious offshore work.
I haven't chosen the outboard brand yet, but it will be twin outboards near the hulls maximum horsepower rating


Cool mate, sounds like you've got it all covered. Again, can't wait to see how it goes :)

[OPTI]

ok i actually hace two cradles ,the bottom one in the pic is the one i had made for my boat,it has a tow bar etc super heavy duty ,id sell it for 2k
the one on top [upside down ]owes me 500 ,some one took the casters off it but i might be able to get another set .i guess freight cost will tell you if its economical or not.
the bottom one measures 6m by 1.65.the top one is 2.2 by 3.1 .it will sit the boat a lot lower than the bottom cradle,cheers dave

[Jarrah Jack]

I'll be looking forward to the progress pics. Nothing like an old classic being given a new life. In theory I'd like to do something the same but in practise I'm not too sure.LOL. Looking forward to the paint job as well.

[deckie]

mmmmm yeah this will be good to watch. Big load of work but sounds like in very good hands.
plz remember, we dont read boat porn for the articles. Pix are our fix.
She's gonna be a beaut.
I vote for a light lemon yellow hull/white topside combo. $10 says you've already decided on colour/s.
Good luck tx for posting it.

[Vromme]

Good luck with the project, keep the updates/photos etc coming. Its great to have another of these legandary boats restored.

Are you doing most of the work yourself or contracting it out?

Looking forward to seeing the progress.

[Master4Med2]

OPTI



Re: Haines Formula 233 Custom Center Console
Rebuild
ok i actually hace two cradles ,the bottom one in the pic is
the one i had made for my boat,it has a tow bar etc super heavy duty ,id sell it
for 2k
the one on top [upside down ]owes me 500 ,some one took the casters
off it but i might be able to get another set .i guess freight cost will tell
you if its economical or not.
the bottom one measures 6m by 1.65.the top one
is 2.2 by 3.1 .it will sit the boat a lot lower than the bottom cradle,cheers
dave






Opti ,

I got in touch with the freight companies today, and the best quote I got was $1600 to get the large trailer to Cairns.
Looking at the total price it's not economical enough to proceed with the purchase.
Thank you, for all your help, You need to move closer to Cairns. :D

[wirlybird]

Opti ,

I got onto the freight companies, and the best quote I got was $1600 to get the large trailer to Cairns.
Looking at the total price it's not economical enough to proceed with the purchase.
Thank you, for all your help, You need to move closer to Cairns. :D



i will see if my contacts can do this at a better rate

[Master4Med2]

deckie



Re: Haines Formula 233 Custom Center Console
Rebuild
mmmmm yeah this will be good to watch. Big load of work but
sounds like in very good hands.
plz remember, we dont read boat porn for the
articles. Pix are our fix.
She's gonna be a beaut.
I vote for a light
lemon yellow hull/white topside combo. $10 says you've already decided on
colour/s.
Good luck tx for posting it.

Deckie,
You must have good taste, because the colours I have chosen are Matterhorn White for the bottom and interior and Fighting Lady Yellow for the top sides.

The 233 will also have a teak deck, although a mate of mine wants me to put a synthetic deck ( MarineDeck 2000 )

Who do I make the $10 cheque out to ?

[Master4Med2]

Wirlybird,

Thanks for the offer, but I've already ordered the steel this afternoon.

[wirlybird]

no probs mate

[deckie]

Deckie,
You must have good taste, because the colours I have chosen are Matterhorn White for the bottom and interior and Fighting Lady Yellow for the top sides.

The 233 will also have a teak deck, although a mate of mine wants me to put a synthetic deck ( MarineDeck 2000 )

Who do I make the $10 cheque out to ?
Its sounding better and better all the time. That fighting lady yellow with white is just stunning to my eye, everyone has their own taste i guess but you;ve got me drooling already. Years ago i saw a Carolina Classic about 28' that had the yellow combined with a v thin accent of a dark navy type blue you could hardly even make out from a distance, with the white topsides..made me remember it. Interesting you;re kind of going for a reverse to the norm, yellow top/white hull. She's gonna look sensational.
The teak will top it off, opti's deck looks fantastic.
All the best, huge amount of work mate. Envy.
Steve

[Jarrah Jack]

When I look at the early H H's yellow stands out as the best colour followed closely by the blue and the red.

[myusernam]

are you going to keep the bow spot lights? You can get some kickass cheap beams from china that are IP68 that would go well...

[Master4Med2]

Deckie and Jarrah Jack.

The boat below has the same colour scheme I'm looking for.

Myusernam,

The bow light's will be removed and the holes filled in.

[Pazz01]

Master

I'll have to keep an eye out for the rig when she's finished here in Cairns. Are you doing all the glass work yourself or do you have someone in mind?

We went to lifestyle marine in Cairns just recently and had a few items down to our 635L and we were very happy with his work. I'd highly recommend the under seat eskies, they are fantastic. Very good and there is plenty of room in the boat. http://www.lifestylemarinecairns.com.au/a/Accessories/Seat-Combo-Double

Will be watching the threat with interest, love the formula's just can't afford one.

Pazz

[Master4Med2]

Pazz01

Re: Haines Formula 233 Custom Center Console

Rebuild

Are you doing all the glass work yourself or do you have someone in mind?


Yes, I will do all the glass and metal work for the boat myself. The only thing, I'll try and get out of doing, is the spray painting ( I'll try and sucker my brother for that )




We went to lifestyle marine in Cairns just recently and had a few items down
to our 635L and we were very happy with his work. I'd highly recommend the
under seat eskies, they are fantastic. Very good and there is plenty of room in
the boat.


I had a look at there website, they had a 233 photo gallery showing a full rebuild, nice job the did.

Cheers

[scuttlebutt]

bloody hell you don't mind taking on a bit. What sort of time frame have you set yourself? I don't know anything about this sort of stuff but it is interesting to watch. Look forward to seeing it out there when it's finished

[wirlybird]

hows the build going?

[Snapperscott]

Any updates? I'm in cairns and would be interested in the outcome

[captain rednut]

yeah we are all waiting.