Taking the plunge!

[ludacrous999b]

Also an update on a previous post. I stated the boat had sat for four years. Yea more like 12. Considering this I'd say we're doing well. This was also a salt water boat. *whew* gonna be a challenge.

[ludacrous999b]

Well the boat is on the back burner until I get back from Jamiaca, I'll continue cleaning and working on the engine, as long as its low cost stuff. The wife reminds me all inclusive resorts are great but if we leave the resort we have to pay for things .

Will be back on it hard core after the 18th of April. Will continue to post pictures of the progress.

Spoke with a guy from SEI Marine. They do outdrive conversion kits for many brands of outdrives. He informed me outright that I was basically screwed if I wanted a different outdrive. They make the holes too big so I'd have to refill the transom, cut a new hole and remake the hole for the outdrive... Well that confirms what you all have said. I'm going to try to get this all in working order, survive for a season or two then get ready for a transom rebuild project and do the outboard bracket. I love the idea of the outboard, more room on the deck, big live well :).

This break before the Jamiaca trip will give me time to research all the projects I wanna work on before getting it on the water (minus the outboard conversion) so I'm ready to hit the ground running when I return.


Current planned projects:

1. Check all wiring for continuity, replace worn or damaged cables.

2. Replace the Cuddy Cabins wood.

3. Clean the Cuddy cushions.

4. Continue cleaning the exterior hull to try to get down to gel coat.

5. Construct new seat bases for passengers, get a new captains chair (temporary, may construct our own)

6. Replace the ignition (no key with boat).

7. Replace Nav light and anchor lights, replace horn.

8. All the little things that randomly come up in the process of fixing all the other things you want to fix.

[RWilson2526]

Oh for God's sake!!!! Right in the early stages of a what looks to be a real decent restoration thread you go on vacation! Thanks alot....Have a good time I guess....

[ludacrous999b]

LOL, there will be more before i leave, this was the heads up post!

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by RWilson2526

Oh for God's sake!!!! Right in the early stages of a what looks to be a real decent restoration thread you go on vacation! Thanks alot....Have a good time I guess....

You know RW, some people have absolutely no concept of "priorities"...

[Blue_Runner]

Eh Mon, ya be sef oer der and herry bek!

p.s. nice work on the boat/motor so far.

[ludacrous999b]

Ya know blue I used to work at catawba college, built sets and ran the road shows through their theatre dept. Lived in charlotte up until two years ago. Thanks for the encouragment.

[Blue_Runner]

Oh cool! Right around the corner from here. I lived in Charlotte while attending UNCC. Couldn't wait to get away! I'm a country boy at heart, thankfully!

[ludacrous999b]

No boat porn today, I spent about three hours cleaning out the bilges. They are still not clean all the way. The bow, live well, and most of the engine bilges are clean, I'll have to spray a ton of degreaser in there. That thing is filthy. The after region where the deck drains into the rear by the transom, then filters down to the sides of the engine stringers then is supposed to filter into the live well, then engine bilges. Stupid. Anyone object to drilling new drains through the engine stringers straight into the engine bilge if I waterproof them?

[ludacrous999b]

Trying out a product to remove oxidation. Seasense cleaner wax, sold at my local wally world. Turning out to get a shine (which I was able to do) Apply seasense, buff, turtle wax rubbing and polishing compound, buff, then turtlewax polish, buff. 2' x 2' sections work. Tried just the rubbing compound and polish, no luck. Had to get all the oxidation off with the Seasense. Finding I'm having to do it all by hand except the final buff. Still not a quick process. But it does shine.