I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

[chuckndiscs]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

Papa -

Very cool thread here sir. I read from the front again to go through the ups and downs and then to the finally! (If you haven't reread I would suggest it, so cool to see the lows and know in the end it will work out!)!!

I think Sept 23 or 24th for the MN Starmada get together may work out ok. We are expecting our third little one on the 21st so if he/she is born then I will be able to make it with my other two little ones in tow (minus the wife and the new one). If we have not delivered yet than I shall not be attending or I will not have anywhere to go back too.

Chuck

 

[paparoof]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

Hey congrats Chuck! Here's hoping your newest Starmada member arrives happy and healthy! I'm gonna start a new thread for the MN get together - I suspect there are more Twin Cities Starmada members than you and me Losdinspace so we should get the word out.

Now then, let's not call this a finale - I'm FAR from the end of this project!

Yesterday is a prime example. At least 12 hours into staring at the wiring diagrams from the manual and working on connecting up the gauges and ignition switch. Yep, I'm still starting this boat using Alpheus' ground start method.

It'll feel awfully neato the first time I start the motor using a key at the console.

Reading this thread from start to today - wow, that's a pile of work right there. I should do that one of these days.

But right now I have two 100 foot spools of 10 gauge wire to attend to. The squirrels really did a number on the wiring harness - lots of shorts between the various wires. So I'm basically rebuilding the whole thing from scratch.

Anyone know where I can buy just the round harness plug that comes from the console and plugs in at the motor?

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

They don't make that cannon plug anymore to my knowledge. Use one from the machine tool industry or something from radio shack etc... McMaster-Carr.

If you can save the end connector (cannon plug) I would. Just wire from oh say 12-18" from the connector to wherever. In other words save the plug and 12-18" of wire. New wire from there out.

Hopes this helps. I see those plugs on our cnc machines at work. I've seen them in military use too. If your hell bent on replacing it I might have an alternative saved to a file somewhere. Couldn't find anything as good as original so I kept mine.

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

I quite hiding stuff years ago to. Now I'm more milatant in your face. OK more like passive aggressive, I let Mr. UPS guy drop off a package. I don't say anything, most times she won't either.

Hey it keeps me at home and the boy right by my side. She is free everyday after 4:30. She shops and leaves her packages around. I don't say anything. Pretty good marriage eh. She has occasionally told me just to marry the guys on the stupid boat site though.

 

[paparoof]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

If you can save the end connector (cannon plug) I would. Just wire from oh say 12-18" from the connector to wherever. In other words save the plug and 12-18" of wire. New wire from there out.

Guess what I was working on as you were typing those words Don?

I thought about searching McMaster or DigiKey for something similar but holy cow I've spent days looking through their sites for specific kinds of connectors. There's so much stuff there that it just takes forever to wade through it all when you don't know the proper names of these things. Now at least I know this is called a "cannon plug". I wish I could just find those little barrel ended things that Alpheus uses in that video above - know what those are called? I don't.

On Monday while I was staring at wiring diagrams, look what my awesome daughter did with Silly Putty on the front door:

 

[boatnut74]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

Anyone know where I can buy just the round harness plug that comes from the console and plugs in at the motor?

http://www.ebasicpower.com/c/MERWH/Wiring+Harnesses+for+Mercruiser

They have some nice harnesses here. They used to have some with the round cannon plug on both ends? Maybe give them a call and ask. It would sure be easier to go this route. They also have the instrument panel harness. They are actually pretty easy to wire up if you have a good diagram.

 

[Triton II]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

On Monday while I was staring at wiring diagrams, look what my awesome daughter did with Silly Putty on the front door...

Very cool to have a "boatie" daughter PR! An artistic one at that! It was great to watch your splash video, congratulations.

TII

 

[paparoof]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

Thanks TII!

In fact, she's more than just a "boatie". She's an absolute freak about anything having to do with water. Swimming, fishing, boats, she wants nothing more than to be in, on, or around water.

She fits in with with this family just fine.

 

[paparoof]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

Well it's probably either a spun prop or coupler

Examine your prop closely, you should be able to see the rubber part and that should clue you in on where the two parts are separated by it and mark it.

GREAT NEWS FOLKS!!!

You wouldn't think someone would be this happy about having having a spun prop, until you consider the alternative is a bad coupler which requires pulling the motor again right after you just dismantled your only means of pulling the motor.

I did a little dance at the ramp after I pulled the boat out tonight and looked at the line I drew across the prop.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

Congrats! $100 and you're back in business.

 

[paparoof]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

Congrats! $100 and you're back in business.

Actually it may be even better than that!

When I bought the boat, I found a second prop in the cabin. I have to go dig it outta the basement and find some numbers on it that I can google and find out if it'll work for this boat. Who knows, I may be back in business for $0.00 and 5 minutes of labor!!

But hey even if I have to buy a new prop, this is STILL great news and I'm a very happy guy right now.

 

[64osby]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

Glad to see Murphy sent his cousin.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

Spun or you can't draw a straight line - LOL. Cheap fix, thank goodness.

Since your daughter can do that with Silly Putty, wait 'til she gets a paint brush and real artist supplies. She got the outdrive just about perfect.

Wiring isn't hard. Just do one wire at a time and use waterproof solder-less (crimp) connectors. They have shrink tubing with heat activated goop inside that seals the connector quite nicely.

 

[heyyou325]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

Sometimes luck is with a guy.

 

[paparoof]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

Spun or you can't draw a straight line - LOL. Cheap fix, thank goodness.

Since your daughter can do that with Silly Putty, wait 'til she gets a paint brush and real artist supplies. She got the outdrive just about perfect.

Wiring isn't hard. Just do one wire at a time and use waterproof solder-less (crimp) connectors. They have shrink tubing with heat activated goop inside that seals the connector quite nicely.

Now I know why the little voice in my head was telling me to take a picture of the line BEFORE getting the boat wet!

Yeah I was very impressed with the outdrive she put on there! She's actually not bad with a pencil either. A talented girl I have eh?

Let's not talk about the wiring. I got it all wired up this afternoon, EXACTLY according to the diagrams in the manual, turned the key and nothing happened. I still had to hot-wire it for tonight's outing. Man if I ever find myself out of work, I could make a great living stealing Mercruiser-powered boats!

Glad to see Murphy sent his cousin.

You and me both brutha, you and me both. <insert smiley of a guy wiping sweat off his forehead>

Sometimes luck is with a guy.

<re-insert smiley of a guy wiping sweat off his forehead>

 

[boatnut74]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

On your wiring there, I know on my Chieftain (same motor) the solenoid on port side of motor was bad and it wouldn't crank. I just ran a wire from switch to starter and used it that way untill I replaced it.

 

[paparoof]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

Okay, now for tonight's real story.

It was the Admiral's first ride. Talk about someone who just lives for being in, on, or around water, this is the woman. She has spent as many as 16 hours in a boat with me while I'm fishing. As long as she has a big enough stack of magazines to read, and I have an extra pole for her to use when I finally figure out the pattern of the day, she's a happy camper. She's the one who introduced me to the big lake. One time when discussing what we should do for our summer vacation, she suggested "why don't we drive around Lake Superior?" She's the reason I'm gonna ditch the city sometime in the next ten years and move up there permanently. I proposed to her on her parents' pontoon boat. She's the reason I wanted a boat like this in the first place. She's the namesake of this boat. I can't tell you in words how happy this woman makes me. But something tells me you guys understand.


Guys, meet Amy.


Here come Mrs. Paparoof!

She approves!

The Admiral at the wheel (she really is an excellent driver).

I had a chance to crawl around and check out the boat while under way. It's kinda eerie how the the water sounds splashing up against the bow when I'm laying in the cabin with my head right up against it. I love it.

Okay now, this is what it's really all about. The big payoff. I did a hell of a lot of work to get here, it's time someone drives me around in my new boat while I kick back and enjoy an ice cold adult beverage. Cheers everyone!

 

[losdinspace]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

If I could get out of work before 5:00 I would be on the water with you. Looks great and the video is awesome.

How's that launch for you? I know if your closer to the dock it's deeper.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

Let's not talk about the wiring. I got it all wired up this afternoon, EXACTLY according to the diagrams in the manual, turned the key and nothing happened. I still had to hot-wire it for tonight's outing. Man if I ever find myself out of work, I could make a great living stealing Mercruiser-powered boats!

That explains why you drive it like you stole it - LOL. Serious, maybe the mice chewed on the other side of the MerCruiser connector too? Are you jumping the starter or the solenoid?

 

[heyyou325]

Re: I'm an owner! 1975 Islander 22

From the starter to the switch wouldn't it turn over anytime the key was on? I've put in a push button switch before to bypass the solenoid. Then the starter only gets juice when the button is depressed. They had those on old cars, and tractors. We never had new stuff growing up, so I learned about those at an early age. Solenoids are easy to replace. I went back a couple of pages, and must of missed the talk about that. As for the pee solution, a tin coffee can, or plastic works great, then rinse it a couple times. Depending on company in a boat. It usually works good keeping extra company from fishing trips, just by mentioning to the females.