Ready for 2008
 

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/s...m/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/s...m/P1100373.jpg

and Lowrance EP-60 fuel flow meter.

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...m/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/s...m/P1100384.jpg

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

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...m/PICT4585.jpg

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

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...m/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/s...m/P1100371.jpg
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...m/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/s...m/P1100389.jpg

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...m/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/s...m/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/s...m/P1100370.jpg

I repaired the bow eye.....BEFORE

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...m/P1060294.jpg

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

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...m/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/s...m/P1100380.jpg

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

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...m/P1100369.jpg
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...m/P1100385.jpg
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...m/P1100386.jpg

Lookin great, whale!!
 

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).

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:

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

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

Congrats!! :clap:

Lookin real good:clap:

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

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.

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

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:

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Whale, that boat is so Old School. :)

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