Taking the plunge!

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by ludacrous999b

I hear what your saying about the goggles, I'm blind as a bat and have to wear my glasses to see any real detail which could be the difference between grinding the fiberglass or putting a hole in the boat, damned depth perception! The glasses hold the edge of the goggles open just ever so slightly, maybe painters tape over the edge...

I've been wearing glasses since I was 4 years old. Found out long ago that a full face shield is usually way better than goggles.... Surprisingly, the dust that I was afraid would get into my eyes usually doesn't ... but for glass grinding the goggles really are necessary. You don't want that crap anywhere on you if possible.

[ludacrous999b]

Welp, slow day on the construction site I would say, OLD OLD OLD cordless drill is having some issues climbing the "stay charged" stairs. Got two with legs, charged for an hour, got legs on another, charging now. Cut out the rest of the pieces. Going to frame them out around the bottoms so that I can nest one inside of another. Cant really tell but one is two inches shorter in width than the other to allow it to sit inside the 49in one.





And I never added this one, makes me long for the day when this is a trip to the lake, not just a move to a new location!

[ludacrous999b]

Todays work consisted mostly of incrating tools, getting last second things like thread tape, and getting all organized and rigging the hoist.

Toward the end of the day I started working on the boat. I removed all the screws that held the cap in place and began working on the console. Well great, the screws just spin, in finding out why I have discovered just how hollow the walls are between the deck and the cuddy. That may just get cleared out and filled, I dont believe its structural. ***opinions?***

So I abandonded the console for the time being and decided to work with the hoist and try to free the engine. I got many adapters and extensions and flex heads, etc. just to see if I could get the bell housing loose. No dice. So I removed the Stern Drive. GREAT! Well I cut the transom gasket to let it free, and began hoisting. There was one engine mounting bolt that would NOT come free the other day and I got it loose and up about 4 inches and it just span, I assumed it was rotten underneeth and it would just come out... Boy howdy did that sucker hold on, and on, and on.... *CRACK* There goes my hoisting branch. So I let the hoist out and inspected the damage. Mother nature isn't happy with me today. I'll have to cut that limb down soon. The good news on this side is.... If the hoist had not broken the tree limb I'm sure I could have gotten that engine out. It was hanging on by a thread, but I wanted to really tug on it before I let it loose to crowbar that motor mount (starboard rear). Glad I didnt just jump in and start prying, that tree limb was weak...

I shot pictures all through the day on my phone, plugged it into the computer and POOF! The phone restarted and all the pictures from today are gone :( Will have to recreate tomorrow. As far as all the tools from harbor freight are concerned I'm very pleased so far.

I'll get back out tomorrow and take pictures of the progress. It's dinner time right now though.

[ludacrous999b]

Went out to one of my Co-Workers houses today and used his big beefy branch to pull the engine out! There was one half rotted bolt that just spun in the hole so we just hoisted and pried with a good old fashioned crowbar! After that was free it was just a matter of disconnecting the steering and the throttle cables and BAM! Floating engine! Now, to get this thing out of my truck, LOL!

[ludacrous999b]

Images after getting her home. Got her off the truck (shocks sighed about 4in lol!) and lowered onto the ground. Now I need to figure out what to strip before I put her up for sale.

[ludacrous999b]

Well its been a sad week in rebuild land. I am without my truck. The warranty ran out 200 miles and 12 days before the overdrive gear completely went out, 1/2 shifts hard and some kind of water leak. But hey! That's what a warranty's for. So I've been in a rental since last Monday and cant move the boat back into my work space. Looking forward to getting back on her, grinder discs and sandpaper en route.