just thought i would share my new project

[ONERCBOATER]

it is a 1988 tracker 20ft pontoon, I couldnt pass it up for $750.00 complete, going in I knew she needed a new deck, and that aside from the console and the captains chair the other furniture was to be replaced.

So far she has new deck, new carpet and I have moved things about, when i get time to download pics I will share them as well so you can either applaud my efforts or poke sticks in my spokes before i really have an issue

anyhow only pics i have now is as i found her when i purchased her. I found the cabin an interesting angle almost like a mini houseboat, except in AZ here it will likely turn into an oven in the summer.

sean

 

[vergil]

Re: just thought i would share my new project

for 750.00 did it come with a trailer or a motor? it will be fun i am undertaking a redeck/restore job on a 1968 riveria cruiser now, good luck

 

[EGlideRider]

Re: just thought i would share my new project

Great deal. Do keep us informed on your progress.

 

[lncoop]

Re: just thought i would share my new project

Cool little rig. Looks like a lot of fun. Looking forward to watching your progress.

 

[texasabil]

Re: just thought i would share my new project

Wow sounds like a great find good luck on your boat!!!! I love to watch the restores people amaze me with the talents they have on here ill be watching for updates!!!!

 

[ONERCBOATER]

Re: just thought i would share my new project

well bad news lol, the rebuild is going just fine, however i put the engine in a bucket of water, and found i have a blown head gasket

Now comes the debate, do I repair the blown head gasket on the 9.8 or do I resurrect the 1975 20hp that i have sitting around. figure it will cost me time and money either way. Already have the mercury teleflex system installed so it looks like mercury or mariner lol.

Anyhow the build will go on while i wait for an answer on 1975-1978 merc 20hp parts in the merc forum.

What would you guys do?

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: just thought i would share my new project

I'd opt for the 20hp Merc...it should do a nice job of pushing the toon around.

In case you get 4-5 folks on board you will want the horses I'm sure.

Good luck to ya!

 

[vergil]

Re: just thought i would share my new project

maybe resurrectint the ol motor wont be bad, there is a cool thread on waking 1 up, that might buy you enough time to rebuild the other motor, or maybe sell them both and get a bigger motor for your boat? but i believe for 750 you did good,

 

[texasabil]

Re: just thought i would share my new project

I wood go with the 20 hp also and gool luck!!!

 

[vergil]

Re: just thought i would share my new project

i would choose the 20 hp for the extra power, but i know you wont be running acrossed a lake like a runabout. i walked into a marina and talked to a boat machinic before i bought my boat (mom went to school with him) but anyway he said the best advice he could give on buying a pontoon was try to get 1 with at least 50 hp. as you will work anything smaller to death pretty quick, now you said it had a 9.8 hp on it right, still for pontoon prices here you did really good, i believe you could scrap it and get your money back, then sell your trailer (if it has 1) and put a little in the boat. though i am against scraping any good set of logs. there is no one that could convince me that its not worth fixin up a pontoon. and you come out a little ahead. (unless you had to pay some rediculas price)

 

[ONERCBOATER]

Re: just thought i would share my new project

work came to an abrupt halt on pontoon,
not due to unfixable situation but due to new (to me) engine being put on her. This evening the power cable / connector for the engine should be here... by tomorrow i should have finished rewiring the engine as i found rotted insulation/jackets on a good portion of the wires on the engine, other than that I believe the new 1978 20hp will run right fine. So the date is pretty well set, by sundown tomorrow I should have the engine fired up and purring away in a 55gal drum...... then sunday back to fabricating the new bench seats to go with the doghouse in the back of the cabin. then installing the panels where I wish to eliminate glass, and on with wiring and insulating the cabin. When it gets too cold outside to work on the engine or wiring I am going to start modifying a small 5k BTU window AC unit by removing its condensing coils and fan and setting it up for direct water cooling instead. I believe i can get the power requirements down to 350 to 450watts this way, then all I shall need is a small generator.

 

[fisherguy123]

Re: just thought i would share my new project

When it gets too cold outside to work on the engine or wiring

Don`t you live in Arizona? What do you consider too cold? Not to be insulting , just curious .

 

[lncoop]

Re: just thought i would share my new project

I can't wait to see the "finished" product. (I think we all know why the word finished is in quotes.) You're taking a really innovative approach to your project.

 

[ONERCBOATER]

Re: just thought i would share my new project

"Don`t you live in Arizona? What do you consider too cold? Not to be insulting , just curious . " :facepalm:

I have lived in AZ for 12 or 13yrs.... ever since CA got really stupid, anyhow when i got here I thought peeps was strange cause at 65*F they had a jacket on and I thought it was shorts weather well as I became accustomed to 115*F or better summers i found that anything below 65*F needs a jacket so now at about 55*F i run inside and sit next to the fireplace....or break out in a heavy jacket and get the portable heater out

Anyhow I have turned to a desert rat to say the least.

Back on track with the boat, I just finished cutting into the 5 pin plug on the engine side of the wiring harness and ran new wires, heat shrinked them and waiting for the silicone to finish setting to hold the wires in the correct position. Then will come the easy part of soldering on connectors on their ends as I weave the wiring harness around the engine again. Then I will be removing the stator (alternator) and replacing the wires only to where the windings begin as the windings appear fine but the wires going to it are toast.

I would really appreciate if everyone would keep my CDI unit in their thoughts and perhaps utter a few prayers for it, as one wire feeding it is burnt all the way to the unit :facepalm: and I am n
ot sure if it is burnt inside the unit or not....for that matter I am unsure if the unit survived the apparent short circuiting that happened before I got the engine. I am going to start hunting EBAY for a used or old stock one, and am starting to consider the donor motors CDI though it is a lil different I am fairly certian that i can make it work as it fired before i dissassembled that engine. once again please keep my CDI in your thoughts :redface:

Sean

 

[ONERCBOATER]

Re: just thought i would share my new project

it worked now i just have to get the timing fine tuned and the link and synch done....
Back to working on the pontoon boat it's self, specifically the cabin and seating, I am rather behind my end of month project finish deadline but for a good reason, and construction is now underway again as it should be. There will be another pause as soon as I get pics of some 1970s 20hp engine remote linkages so I can see how they designed them since they seem to be unavailable.....looks like my milling machine and lathe will come in handy again cause if i cant get them for a reasonable price or at all, I will have to make them

hopefully you all are having a better time of it than me.

Sean

 

[ONERCBOATER]

Re: just thought i would share my new project

very happy engine purring like a kitten at idle and snarling when revved. Happiness and joy.
now onward with the pontoon build. 1st issue being addressed tomorrow will be seating, then he he he enclosing the cabin, then the railing.... oh this is joyous day

Sean

 

[ONERCBOATER]

Re: just thought i would share my new project

still working on the pontoon project, taking my time to do things as best as I am able. Waiting for some very bright component LEDs to arrive....so that I can incorporate them into the ceiling of the cabin.... like lil recessed lights. Still trying to figure out the best material to make the wall sections where i am closing off windows... original idea was ply (afraid of it warping and deteriorating in the summer heat even with a good prine and paint til it shines.) other ideas are not working out so far.... I really wanted Aluminum composite panel (aluminum sheet on ea side with foam in middle) but i cant source it and it costs a mint to ship.
Any thoughts on this would be appreciated...has to cover approx 44"x48" area and will be subjected to 70mph+ winds from time to time... and be only 1/2" thick and preferably light.

Sean

 

[ONERCBOATER]

Re: just thought i would share my new project

ok well gave up on the fancy walls and used good quality 1/2" exterior grade finish sanded ply.... not as neat but did the job nicely. It fits the channel for the windows it is replacing like a glove, and then trimmed the free edge of it with 1/2"x 1/2" aluminum channel. looks pretty good going to start sealing it and priming it with automotive primer.... everything above the water that won't be carpeted or left as bare aluminum will be painted with automotive paint. Also got further on the drive system, now down to 35lbs of pull needed to initiate the lifting process for the twin trolling motors. Fabrication of the mounts is 90% complete, going to use an off the shelf power in power out electric winch to raise and lower them... likely a $30 harbor freight special. Will have more work done on it this weekend, and will try to post a few pics... as this is rather different from most peoples designs. Still stripping the paint off the pontoons where it is loose, the areas where it refuses to budge I am just roughing up for the primer and the future paint that will go there. once I finish the drives and the walls, then will come the railings, which should give me a usable boat at that point. Then I will start work on insulating the cabin a bit more, and adding a marinized 110vac window unit..(read that as water cooled coils)

hoping everyone elses projects are going well.

 

[potter83]

Re: just thought i would share my new project

More pictures! I love the little cab on that thing.

 

[ONERCBOATER]

Re: just thought i would share my new project

ok got pics to share.... please remember this is a project in a state of flux and by no means done.