iT'S A BIRD...IT'S A PLANE...
 

It's a FORKLIFT!!
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90...n/DSCN1019.jpg
Withe Ridge at the controls!!!

Actually right now I'm thinkin' he's more like Superman!!...between Vic and Pete, looks loike old REELAPEELIN gonna be back on the water much sooner than ever expected

Rolled out of Spartanburg yesterday 3 am...was in Lakeland FL gettin loaded (the motor was anyway), had some lunch and back on the road by 4 pm...tru some HEAVY rain and back in Sptbg before 2 am...absolutely worth the long drive as got to spend some quality time w/ Vic and bring back his contribution to gettin this 84's belly wet...more to come later, but home w/the Merc safe and sound...

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90...n/DSCN1043.jpg

No way will I ever be able to thank these guys for what they've done...:clap:

Nice! Very Nice! Glad all is going well with the project Reel. Can't wait to see more pics of the progress you're making on getting that boat wet.

Snaggers Rule:clap:

at the rate you are going, yours will be in the water before mine. Sad part is mine is ready to go, just no way to get her to the water.

Dang reel, when you start somethin', you show do come out kickin'!
Good goin'!
:clap:

No words needed.......:clap::clap::clap::clap::clap:

Congrats!!!

You got that right!!...no truer words ever spoken!!...:beer:

You should name it "Four Corners" because this boat is coming together from the four corners of the globe...(or US anyway). Lets find some seats in CA.....gittyup REEL

Looks great! I love seeing this V come together:clap:

I'm thinking about naming it "Collusion"...that's a secret agreement to perpetuate treachery...or maybe "Conspira-Sea"...

The day we loaded it up, I told Pete I was thinkin' about namin' it "Sunken Treasure"...but I might be pushin' my luck w/that one...:zip:

One more "gittyup" to go...gotta run boat and motor down to Goose Creek to Spareparts...he gonna do a little majic trick w/the Merc...

I don't know...... I kinda like "Gittyup". It seems to fit ever so well :beer:

If I was gonna have the 250 on it that Vic's CC is about to have, then yeah...THAT'S some freakin' GITTY-UP!!...He'll post it up when he get's it done...if he ain't havin' too much fun out HAMMERIN' the throttle!!...:sun:

Been Hammering but not the throttle. Still no camera. No harness, no gauges. Purchased a 2003 250XS Optimax 20" for the V, supposed to have 249 hours. Decided to just switch out the driveshaft housing to make it a 25" leg instead of buying the extention kit. Looks like it will go back together nicely when I get a few gaskets and make up a longer water tube. Bass boat motors, I love the fact that they are nearly corrosion free but they still get beat on.
Hadn't been online much this weekend. Been working on the new to me motor and cleaning on the V. Told Reel I wanted it "Slinger Clean" so he takes one look at it and says, "You Got Your Work Cut Out For You !".
Thanks good buddy.:beer: :beer::nut::beer::beer:

And then I left!!...LOL!!...:sand:

wow Ozzie that is one sweet Merc you have there. And wow Vic! 250 xs opti....sweeeeeeet!. The only drawback if I remember correctly is that you have to run it on premium gas. But it is well worth it.

Vic had to go big HP, could not have an upstart like me in my Etec cruising up on him at the next get together!

Vic...the no camera just hit me like a brick!!..I woulda been glad to take some shots of the Opti for you to post!!...I should have thought to do it, but wish you had asked...Pete's right...SWEET best describes it!!...once it's hangin' off the bracket on that beautiful CC, I think it'll go from SWEET to SUMANUMBABEEYATCH!!...:love:

Speechless in NC!! Way to back a brother up! :clap:

91 minumum octane or Poof! Capt. Pete you know your stuff. Fortunately, I always run 90 non-ethanol or 93 high test with ethanol. Perhaps I can nearly double my mileage, it is an Optimax after all.
Just need to figure out the rigging. Smartcraft? Vessel view? or NMEA to the Lowrance? Still looking at the options and the $$$.

I may have a smartcraft tach and speedo for you, I've got a complete set for a twin, I think i have one tach sold, If I break up the set, I'll make you a deal


BTW, after all of ya'll have read thru Reel's project, now you know why my screen name is spareparts, its how I build boats :sun:

It's like an old Harley buildin' buddy of mine said long ago...Parts is parts!!...:clap:

vessel view would really be nice if it's within your budget. Lots more information than you know what to do with. NMEA would also be cool. Keep your dash cleaner looking. How big is the display?

6.4" - It is the HDS-7 Lowrance. I think Vessel View is a sweet setup but $1100 and a lot of dash space, they make a stand alone gauge that will allow me to link the Merc output to the Lowrance, I think. The trouble is I am unfamiliar with the Optimax, I am not sure if the 2003 is even compatible with the new Vessel View. Service manual is on the way. I won't be in the dark for long but in the meantime,
CAN SOMEBODY CLUE ME IN ?
I got to looking at the engine harness. Looks the same as the harness on the boat that dates back to the days of carburetors. Is this a plug and play with my current harness and have all my manual gauges work? Obviously limited information for now, until I install a secondary harness to parallel the engine harness and connect some sort of Smatcraft Gauge. Is this right?

AND Spareparts, if you got the Tach and Speedo gauges, we need to talk.
:sun:
BTW, I ordered a few missing items, gaskets and a shop manual from Merc, and the Merc man brought out his defribulator upon giving me the bill. My wallet thought I was at the Yamaha shop.:nut::cen::you:

you need to run a CAN harness from the motor to the dash. Usually to a Junction box then to the guages. There has to be a resister on each end of the harness. Or at least in one end and in the j-box. I could print out some rigging diagrams and maybe send them to you for some different rigging combos.

No need Capt. Pete but I appreciate your offer. I found it all online, just took some time surfing. I also took a good look at the goins ons at my local dealership, along with the same info you just gave me from Spareparts. Thanks to all of you. A couple wiring diagrams later, I got a good handle on it. BTW- If anyone buys a motor that is not a complete rig, do yourself a favor and price out everything you will need to make it run, preferably in advance of the purchase. I got a good deal on the motor and my dealer always discounts parts BUT be prepared, it adds up fast. Reminds me of a bulkhead plackard on my step-uncle-in-laws 40' Hatteras Sedan
"A boat is like a woman, the rigging cost more than the hull."
The captains name was Buck Johnson. Buck had a passion for boats and weapons and one would not suffice. I recall a 30 cal. carbine hanging on the bulkhead in the V-berth. One of the few people that led me down the path I am on with respect to my boating sickness. May he RIP.

I like your uncle...when the jet-skiers and bass-holes in their a$$-boats start buzzin' too close, I long for a 50 cal mounted on the bow...:bat:...oh and when fish are schoolin and birds are divin right in front of our set and some wonderful person comes haulin bootie into the middle of 'em and starts throwin his bass blades and runs 'em all down...:cen::bat::cen::bat:...pass the grenade launcher please...:cen::cen::cen: