The first XK-19 I chewed away on you can see in the pictures area. In 2002 I found it in Maryland USA and had it shipped to Stockholm. After a first season on Scandinavian waters it was brought into my garage. By this time I had almost everything figured out. First of all, needless to say, came a total strip down. Then ,after extensive body work which included straitening and strengthening different areas, the boat was brought to the paint shop. I opted for a metallic gold paint, custom-mixed for this project only. As for parts I had to search all over the world but still ended up hand making some impossible-to-find parts in my shop. One example of this are the engraved chromed betzels around the switches on the dashboard.

All wood panels are covered with a special veneer 3 times the thickness of any normal veneer. In my boats I use walnut wood and I glue it with a marine grade epoxy. This ensures maximum durability and looks that speak for it self. I have never seen or heard of anyone anywhere working with results like this.

Construction of dashboard

Working with upholstry

Preparing the engine

The engine and out drive.
This engine revs about 5.400 and runs very smooth so I didn´t want to change it a whole lot. It is a Chris Craft 350 FLV-HP delivering about 320 hp´s . When working on the engine I replaced the fuel system as well as moving the tank further back.(for better top speed performance). One notable detail are the original valve covers with the crossed-flags emblem. Apart from over all engine dress-up I had the exhaust system replaced for last season. I went with cast aluminium center risers blowing through the 4 inch custom made through-the-transom fittings.

After looking everywhere and a few more places I finally found the lower unit to the out drive I so desperately wanted. Sometime in the mid 70s a couple of engineers from Chalmers School of Technology invented the E-drive as a racing lower unit to the 280 out drive.

E-drive

And ever since I heard about the E-drive I have wanted one. But people from the racing community warned me claiming there wouldn´t be any spare parts around. So I can tell you I was pretty happy when I found a completely new E-drive. This lower unit had never seen a drop of water when I got my hands on it. What a treasure!

2 minutes after purchase

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Boat builders thumb

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So when the very dedicated Fredrik at Stockholm found me a stainless steel Center-line prop ,specially made for these units ,I was all set.

Boat number 2 to be finished I have a little different plans for. So this boat I will repower with a 2006 new engine and out drive all hooked up to NOS(new old stock) gauges. Instead of paint I will have it regelcoated . At this point it is sandblastered and sitting in a garage ready for body work as soon as it is dry enough. The goals for this boat are, each as important as the other:
NOS bilge switch	The # 1 best looking boat afloat Speed performance Easy handling Great durability(built to last ) A well thought out and easy    maintenance program All contemporary parts are to be    hidden. Anybody should be able to    ride in this boat for hours without    noticing it has any modern parts. No    retro look-alike stuff. When this project is finished I plan to    have it displayed on one of the    occurring boat shows in Stockholm    the same year. I have already made    contacts with a world renown    company who has shown interest in    having one of my boats in  their exhibit    area. Blueprint By Leif Thies This boat needs an early owner who can follow each step as it proceeds, and of course have an input on colour schemes etc. That new owner would pay an agreed upon down payment and receive a business contract in which all details are stated. I will figure out some kind of warranty as well.