1989 Winner Bass Boat Project started..

[beagle9]

Had the motor repaired recently, and it is a 150 Black Max, but I am working with the electrical at the moment (going through it) to see what is raw wired or cob webbed or shorted out maybe in the harness system within the boat itself, because it currently is draining my battery when the connections are connected. I was standing at the dash board gauges at the console, and I was looking at the fuel gauge and saw it jumping slightly. I next reached and turned a switch off that went to the gauge I guess, because it stopped jumping when I did this or the needle quit moving as it was moving, and this as soon as I turned this switch off or placed it into the center position.

Not sure why this gauge would be jumping or moving like this with that switch on at all, I mean with that switch being in the position that it was on in, it made the gauge sit there and slightly jump.

Could this be where to maybe start looking for the short that is killing the battery? I would like to look at all the wiring to see if it is ok as I work with the rstoring of this boat, but how hard is it to begin dealing with the wiring system in this boat maybe?

I am in the back of the boat currently, and I am looking at the bildge pumps and around in the battery and transom area, so does anyone know if the tanks come out of this boat (they look like they will), but I am not so sure. Loosened some aluminum brackets that secures the tanks, and one of them moved a bit (empty), but not sure what could be holding the tank from just coming to the center as I am trying to get it to. I want to take them out, as so I can clean them out, and redo the hoses and clamps, and also look aound where they are sitting better, in order to see if there is any damage or problems in this area where the tanks are as well?

Thanks yall.... Look forward for your help from time to time...

 

[bbodin]

Re: 1989 Winner Bass Boat Project started..

The proper way to do this is check/find the draw (the thing draining the battery). Not to be picky but it' not a short just a draw. A short is something that would blow a fuse. This is called a parasitic draw. First connect a volt/ampmeter in line with the positive terminal of the battery. Disconnect each circuit/device until you see the draw go away.
Remember that you have to check the system with the tester in line and not parallel like you would just checking the voltage of a battery. Any circuit has a slight draw, if I remember correctly like +/- 5 mA.
It's been awhile since i've done this type of work.
You can do a simple google search for checking a draw.
As far as you fuel tank. Most tanks are removable in one way or another either by removing a deck or cap. I'm just not sure on your boat. Maybe do a search on this site.

 

[rrumba]

Re: 1989 Winner Bass Boat Project started..

you would probably get faster and more results either in the electrical forum or specific engine forum for your manufacturer.


for the gas tanks or other items, how about some pics so we can see what your dealing with.......

 

[beagle9]

Re: 1989 Winner Bass Boat Project started..

Thanks, this is what I will do when attack the problem again, ummm actually it is what I thought needed done, but I just havn't attempted it yet.. Sounds easy enough though, and I am hoping to find it in your suggested way of doing it (the only way of doing it).. I layed down under the dash or console today, and looked up at the harness under there, and ummm it didn't look to good (i.e. cut up wires and a small mangled mess).. I may end up getting a new harness for it.. I think I saw one on line for $159.00 bucks or something like that..

 

[beagle9]

Re: 1989 Winner Bass Boat Project started..

Glad you asked about some pic's, because I am definitely going to take some pics and put them on here, and this so we can do the before and after thing.. I will have to locate my camera that allows me to upload the pics after I take them.

Thanks

 

[beagle9]

Re: 1989 Winner Bass Boat Project started..

Man, I am not sure if I am up to a restore boat project or not.. Went out to work on it a bit today, but quickly got depressed or something about it, not sure what is going on really, other than when I do something, it seems to be fighting me at every turn, and I mean some of the simplest of things it seems are fighting me this day.

Even with something as far as taking a screw loose, where as the screw just turns without coming out, thus making me want to remove the cap bad when these things keep happening to me (sort of like a frame off restoration of a vehicle or hotrod) seems to keep calling out to me, but not sure where that will take me.

I have the gas tanks that need to be taken out, and then there is a broken plastic fish live well, in which sits under the cap that cannot just be removed for repairs because of the cap, I mean not unless remove the cap to do this removal and repair I think. It looks as if someone stuck their foot and weight down into this live well, in which broke it or cracked it. I see some small cracks in the floor around one of the streamers fiberglass, and this is where the gas tanks are located down around the transom area or close to it, but they are very small cracks that are not a part of the transom itself. There is a plate on the transom that says Kevlar Transom, in which I guess is a real good thing. I also took notice of some black (I guess) tiny plugs or something, that have been placed at the top of one of the streamers in the fiberglass right before the transom at the end of one of the streamers. These small black plugs are side by side as if someone drilled holes at this location, and inserted these small black in apearence plugs afterwards, but not sure what they would be for or why this was done.

My problem is that I am a stickler for doing something right, and this project is steering me towards attempting to do a complete restore by removing the cap and starting at the foundation and moving upwards, but I am not sure how much problem this would get me into if I tried to do this?

How hard is it to remove the cap maybe, and would I need to be concerned about the integrity of the boats structure, if I were to remove this cap?

Sincerely: Your newbie wanna be boat restore guy, who doesn't know squat, but is willing to learn.

My skills are working on race cars in the past (restoring or building them), but never a boat. I am mechanically inclined, and have some decent tools to work with, and I do want to try this, but as I said, it is easy to get depressed when things go wrong, and this when trying to get at it somedays, as the boat wants to fight back seemingly at every turn so far.

I'm no quitter, but a boat is something different for sure.. B )

Have a camera now, so picks are coming next, and maybe this will help in evaluating the entire project. Thanks

 

[rrumba]

Re: 1989 Winner Bass Boat Project started..

dude, don't let it get to you. it's not that hard to do really. if the bolt fights you, kick it's butt and cut it off with the grinder, the one you will become VERY VERY familiar with......

with pics we can provide more help as we will be able to see what you will need to do from a distance. The guys on here are a great resource, rah rah section, task masters, jinxters and great folks. we are here to help you so hang in and let us see with pics how we can help you.

for the cap removal, most, are held on right under the rub rail. if you remove the rubber insert you should find some screws to be removed that will then let the rub rail itself come off and then you just need to figure out how if it will just lift off, remove more screws or in my case under the rub rail it was screwed to a piece of wood that was then glassed over from the cap to the hull over the wood the screws were in.

Get us some pics and enjoy the learning, itching, bunny suit, grinding and overall experience you are about to undertake. If you have done race cars you can handle this. fiberglass is a lot easier to fix than a cut in the sheet metal or straightening out a frame.

Come on in the water is fine, just stay away from the kool aid.......

 

[beagle9]

Re: 1989 Winner Bass Boat Project started..

I do appreciate your pep talk, so yes it is definetly my next step to get those pics on here.. The weather is becoming a problem now for outdoor work here, but as soon as it clears, well it's off with the cover and picture taking time on any good days we may have coming during the weekends. I am even considering building a quick shop for this project, and maybe for some future projects as well if this one goes ok, otherwise I am just that fired up to get back into fixing things again, ummm and even the wifes car I'll fix to, and this before she slays me for not fixing it. LOL

Thanks again for the pep talk.. It was needed..

 

[rrumba]

Re: 1989 Winner Bass Boat Project started..

bud, you gotta get the admirals car fixed, keep her happy, and she might not remember that boat thingy in the yard as much.... you could also park the car in or around it and then just say you are working on the car while you are working on the boat, just set up some soda cans on a fishing line to let you know when she gets close so you can jump back to the car in time before she sees you on the boat.....

 

[GT1000000]

Re: 1989 Winner Bass Boat Project started..

Welcome aboard beagle9,

You are in the best place on the net for anything boat related...

Like rrumba said, don't let it get ya down, the guys here are real good at helping you out...

Get those pics up, and let's get started...we're all itchin to see...

Oh yeah, and get the boss's car fixed so she'll leave you alone to play with your new toy...

Best Regards,
GT1M

 

[Cadwelder]

Re: 1989 Winner Bass Boat Project started..

Well, I won't bore you with the need pictures thing since it's been made obivious, but let me tell you removing the cap is a rather major job if it's not needed. Certainly not needed just for some wiring repairs, for sure. How's the deck and transom seem on it. Any soft spots anywhere??

If your transom and deck are sound (check them throughly) we'll concentrate on fixing up the wiring and the cosmetic stuff for you. The wiring is a breeze, just take your time and don't get frustrated. As far as a new harness...heck you can make one yourself, run us down a list of what you have in the dash and front console (you know front, trim switch, curtousy lights, livewell control, battery switch, navigation lights, etc) and then the same for the dash including what instruments are there. There is NOTHING we can't overcome and get working.

We're here to help in any way we can... Hang in there and we'll get her all fixed up.

CW

 

[beagle9]

Re: 1989 Winner Bass Boat Project started..

Great come back LOL....A sense of humor is always a good thing to have, especially when working on a boat. Thanks for the laugh..

The "cans on a line" in the set up you described, would make a great super Bowl commercial (I could picture it all now), just add Budweiser as the sponsor into the mix, and wa-la millions into the bank soon there after.....cool

 

[beagle9]

Re: 1989 Winner Bass Boat Project started..

At the top of the transom, there is an aluminum plate just above the motor where it is bolted to the transom, and just below that on either end there are some cracks in the fiberglass. They apear to be stress cracks I'm guessing from motor flex in the past or sheer motor weight over a period of usage and time. The transom has the words "Kevlar Transom" on a plate that is attached to it, and I am thinking that this is a good thing.

The floor so far, and this just beyond the walk through area toward the front (upon inspection for soft spots by walking the boat over), has one soft spot I am recognizing in an area in which is found in the floor when standing or placing my weight on it, and this is right before stepping up on the front deck from the floor in this area in the middle of the boat (otherwise if I got up from driving the boat, and were to make my way to the front of the boat, as soon as I make my walk toward the front within a coulple of steps from the driver seat, and toward the middle of the boat, then there it is . I think it's a soft spot, but I havn't torn the carpet back yet to really find out what is going on there.

This weekened I am going to attempt to piddle with it some (pull the tarps off, if weather permits), and I will access some of the areas we are wondering about, and this in order to do a further assessment and evaluation of the overall project, and I will get back to you all with a more indebt report and pics hopefully. Stay Tunned!

Thanks for the wiring info or comforting, I will defintely be working with you all on that note.

Thanks

 

[beagle9]

Well if anyone is still living that I talked to before, hey I am back... LOL If you think the boat was a mess before, well it is worse now. Had to stop on the project for quite some time now, and it has sat in the yard without being cared for or messed with in a long, long time. Sad situation really. I finally pulled what is left of it up to the area where I work on things, and it's rough. Can't even get the hood off... LOL. Put my engine hoist together, and will attempt to remove the outboard from the boat, and this so I can make an over all assessment of the rest of the situation that the boat itself will need. She's slam full of leaves and pecans, so will begin to clean all that out. The motor off, will give me a little more ease at dealing with getting the boat transom checked out. I have a smart phone now, so I should be able to take pictures, and up load them now right ? The boat has to get off the trailer so I can get the runners redone on the trailer. Here we go again, but hopefully I will somehow jump start this project better this time. I will head out and take some sad pics of a bad situation now.