Page 48 - Poker Runs America 17-1

In the fIx 1992cigarettetopgun...

SandIng and Re-fIbeRglaSSIng...

The boat was then placed on blocks
and the first step for Potter and his team

was gutting the cabin and cockpit, pulling
up all the upholstery, taking out the dash,
plus all the electronics, and every piece

of hardware. Potter explained that many
older boats are not perfectly straight, so

priority was to sand down the sides and
re-fiberglass the low spots in the hull. The
next step was to fair the hull with five-foot

long file boards, making a true, straight
line. Next, the deck and hull were epoxy-

primed, then hand-boarded to a very The cockpit was completely redesigned with
smooth finish. The hull bottom was also varying density of foams, creating a comfort-
sanded and buffed to perfection. Now with able seating layout. The aft three-man seating

a perfect platform to work with, Potter was also raised by eight inches.
took on the interior, taking out all the ply-

wood in the cockpit, cabin, the dash, and
engine compartment.The entire forward area of the cockpit was
“The entire interior was backed with RedeSIgnIng the cockpIt...
also completely redesigned. Old gauges
plywood,” says Potter. “We removed more “We completely redesigned the cockpit,” and wiring were removed and replaced with
than 400 pounds of the stuff, as well as Livorsi products.
said Potter. “The original aft bench was a stan-
fasteners and other materials. We also dard sit-down bench seat that was very low.
removed the cockpit floor, which took out You couldn’t even see over the dash. So
probably 100 to 125 pounds of weight. We wheel, gauges, and shift and throttle controls.
we redesigned a whole new back seat, and
then replaced it with modern foam core PPI took my idea and turned it around to Even the drink holders throughout are Livorsi.”
material. It took six guys to take the cockpit Remote stereo controls to the port side were
make it work. We then went with varying
floor out. It only took two to put it back in.”density of foams, creating a comfortable, safe added, along with a set of 5200 series Garmin
three-man sit down aft bolster. We also raised GPS systems for the driver and passenger.
ReplacIng wIth pVc MateRIalS...Potter’s electrical technician designed the
the seat back head rest eight inches. When
Utilizing the expertise of PPI Interiors, we did that, we incorporated tapered wedges dash panels to plug into the main boat wiring
as modules, so each dash is separately wired
the plywood was replaced with modern onto the upholstered engine hatch cover, so
PVC materials for the seat bases in the people sunbathing are provided with head with a sixteen pin Deutsch connector, provid-
rests.”ing easy installation and to simplify upgrades.
cabin, aft bench in the cockpit and dash.
Rather than using conventional screws, The entire dash was also completely rede-
the PVC material was inserted with mod- signed, removing old gauges and wiring that Solo paIntIng addS StRIkIng

ern, hidden fasteners, which Potter calls was a “gobbled mess.” Potter worked with The gRaphIcS...
a suspended ceiling system. This system Pacer Group to design the new dashes with
aircraft aluminum alloy and a modern graphic To complement the cabin, the exterior was
pulls the material taunt into concealed custom designed. The striking graphics on
tracks for a tight, secure fit. The cabin was material called Hydro-Graphics to resemble the hull, which was painted to the waterline
adorned with a charcoal carbon fiber head- carbon fiber.
using PPG urethane paints and completed by
liner, white carbon fiber high-grade marine Solo Painting, included black hull sides with
upholstery on the lounges, red snap-in addIng lIVoRSI pRoductS...
silver and red accent striping running from
carpeting and red and white LED light- “Carbon fiber is strong, but becomes the bow to the stern with the same paint
ing. Further ambience was provided by brittle and chips over time where screws or scheme up along the engine hatch.
nine-foot LED strip lighting underneath the
fasteners are applied,” said Potter. “We went The original Cigarette swim platform was
ledges of the lounge bases.with all new Livorsi products including thepreserved starting with extensive sand blast-

ing, and incorporating eight layers of powder
When it came to sea trials, the Top Gun hit coats, sanding in between the coats. All of the

80 mph – six miles per hour faster than the original factory cleats were restored by blast-
original model.ing them and refinishing with a three-step
powder coating, complete with a silver metal-
ge
lic clear coat.ma
The Cigarette and Top Gun logos through- si
le
out the model came from Potter’s own color ap
concepts, and they even designed a version s/N
of the Lip-Ship edition logo (located just out- ol
ch
side of the faring), indicating that it’s a KevlarNi
ay
J