Ready for 2008

[whale]

Old School is ready for the 2008 season. She should be splashing down today or tomorrow. Here is a summary of the changes and updates I made.

First off was the new 40 gallon INCA tank from Ebay, same one that fishingwithblue and randleman also have.

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s106/whalenkm/P1100376.jpg

Along with the new tank I ran new fuel lines and installed my new Racor filter ($28 shipped from Ebay)
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s106/whalenkm/P1100373.jpg

and Lowrance EP-60 fuel flow meter.

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s106/whalenkm/P1100375.jpg

Here is my LowranceNET backbone with EP-60 fuel flow meter and EP-15 fluid level sensor connected. The sender on my new tank is attached to the EP-15. I am in the process of doing the 5 point calibration. Just need to calibrate at full.

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s106/whalenkm/P1100384.jpg

I tried to clean up the wiring a bit. Here is the BEFORE:

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s106/whalenkm/PICT4585.jpg

and AFTER....still a bit of a nest but pretty well organized.

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s106/whalenkm/P1100381.jpg

I also installed a couple of busbars down by the batteries so I didn't have 7 wires connected to the negative post of the battery.

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s106/whalenkm/P1100371.jpg
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s106/whalenkm/P1100372.jpg

Previously none of the 4 small gauges I had worked. I replaced the voltage gauge and water pressure gauge and fixed the trim sender so now 3 of the 4 work. The gas level is shown on my GPS unit along with fuel flow so no need to fix the gas gauge.

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s106/whalenkm/P1100389.jpg

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s106/whalenkm/P1100390.jpg

I built a contraption out of PVC to hold the canvas front and sides for my bimini so they could be stored rolled up nice and neat like.

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s106/whalenkm/P1100378.jpg

New anchor tensioner installed....not sure I am using it correctly since it won't lock down properly.

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s106/whalenkm/P1100370.jpg

I repaired the bow eye.....BEFORE

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s106/whalenkm/P1060294.jpg

and AFTER....I used a scrap of black starboard since it has good compression qualities.

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s106/whalenkm/P1100379.jpg

Also, due to an unfortunate incident that involves me having to cut my anchor line last year, I got to master my braiding skills to reattach my anchor chain.

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s106/whalenkm/P1100380.jpg

A little bottom paint, wax, and elbow grease and she's all cleaned up and ready now!!!

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s106/whalenkm/P1100369.jpg
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s106/whalenkm/P1100385.jpg
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s106/whalenkm/P1100386.jpg

[tsubaki]

Seeing what you've got is giving me some ideas (would do something about the hole in the tank though, use it for an umbrella stand or something).

[willy]

I knew she went to the right guy, you added some rod holders too. Good job my friend.
She is a good one, I miss her severly.
Have a great season with her and your family Kev:clap:

[randlemanboater]

Nice work Whale.

[lumberslinger178]

:clap:nice work there whale , good luck with her this season:clap:

[Mac_Attack]

Very nice job on everything you have done. Willy you did sell to the right guy! Have a Good season! Billy Mac :beer:

[macojoe]

Congrats!! :clap:

[Sean]

Lookin real good:clap:

[chumbucket]

Old School's looking ready and able for the 2008 season. Looking goo Kev.

[bradford]

Good job! What model Lowrance is that?

[whale]

Good job! What model Lowrance is that?

Lowrance GlobalMap 3500....it uses the old style blue connectors so I had to buy some of the stuff on Ebay as it is no longer manufactured. Fuel flow meter is tough to find so I got the new red connector (EP-60) at Cabela's and bough a converter cable.

[charlie_the_tuna]

dam whale, shes lookin pretty dam good.
i hope to be ready for 2008 by early 09.

[willy]

all right now that you got everything corrected I will buy it back, I will give treefitty for it:sun:

[chumbucket]

all right now that you got everything corrected I will buy it back, I will give treefitty for it:sun:
Ahhhh. The plan is coming to fruition. :clap::beer:
Willy, check your downrigger thread on THT. :zip::hi:

[whale]

all right now that you got everything corrected I will buy it back, I will give treefitty for it:sun:

LOL...all is not perfect though. I had her running in the driveway this morning and headed off to my marina at 2 pm. Backed down the ramp and went to start her on the trailer and the flywheel would not engage. This happened last week also and turned out to be a ground issue....hence the new busbars in the transom by the battery. Well, I was pissed and confused but then I checked the battery and the wingnut had come loose on the negative post on the drive to the marina. Tightened it down and she started up fine. I then proceeded to go for a shakedown cruise......after a slow crawl out my shallow cove at low tide (2 feet deep) I hit open water and all was fine until after about a minute at WOT there was a heavy vibration from the motor and I had to limp back to my slip at low speed to avoid the vibration. This has happened to me before once when I had a ding in the prop. I am thinking the prop is loose as I might have had it off a few weeks ago and not tightened it down fully with a wrench?? Can't remember. Anyway, I am going to reinstall the prop and see how it goes. It is just tricky as I have to do it at a dock unless I want to haul my trailer back there and pull her out again.

[willy]

All right then, twofitty

In all sincerity, I would be surprised at that engine having any problems, it had power and torque way beyond it's displacement. It always started first time and every time.
I truly believe they were the best two stroke for reliability on the market, people I know that have had the different horsepower version of the same motor tell me the same thing.

[whale]

Well, I removed the prop today and filed the edges and cleaned and greased everything and now the vibration is gone.

My new fuel flow setup says I am getting about 3.2 mpg at about 4000-4200 rpm. I was hoping it would be closer to 4 mpg but maybe after some tuning it could be a bit better. Love the LowranceNET setup. Simple plug and play and my gps now shows fuel level, gallons per hour, miles per gallon.....very nice.

[lumberslinger178]

congrats whale, glad to hear alls well , I think I am splashing down next weekend

[Sean]

Nice head start on the fishing season... Hope to run into you and a few others this year

[Blue_Runner]

Whale, that boat is so Old School. :)

Nice work on box eye, GPS, and working the gremlins outta your prop. Shes looking good!