JoeW
Senior Chief Petty Officer
- Joined
- Nov 8, 2003
- Messages
- 664
WARNING: Long spiel ahead. My project boat, the saga continues.<br /><br />The Background: <br />I had been keeping my 1988 16.9' Searay openbow runnabout at my brother-in-law's lake house (Clearlake CA). My wonderful 25 year old nephew borrowed my boat for some wakeboarding with my kids, my niece and a friend. He told my sister-in-law that he knew everything there was to know about boats (problem #1). After an hour or so, he shut the engine down to go swimming, then couldn't get it started again. He was unknowingly pushing the choke while turning the ignition. Hot engine + choke = flooded engine (problem #2). Water started to get choppy. He panicked and let my 13 year old son & my neice to swim 1/2 mile to shore to get help (problem #3). He then paddled the boat over to nearest private dock and ties up to what was then 5 foot swells (problem #4). Then he hitchhiked back to lake house 10 miles without my son & niece(problem #5). Next day my brother-in-law found the boat on top of some rocks, three holes punched in the hull, full of water, missing cleats and a bashed in windshield. Thank God no-one was hurt, but they all get a lecture from me. The fact is the stringers and floor were rotten anyway. I was more mad about him being so irresponsible and letting the other two swim to shore. 
Boating lesson #1: While your boat isn't sinking, stay on it till you get to shore!<br /><br />The replacement:<br />Last August I found a hull at the local marine salvage yard. It was a 1998 Starcraft fishmaster 170 aluminum hull complete with trailer. It was in nice condition even though it had been stolen and stripped of its outboard, pedestal seats, guages, & wiring harness. Believe it or not, they left the stereo. The insurance company totaled it out and the salvage yard sold it to me for $3000.00.<br /><br />I've mounted the 1988 100hp Mercury outboard from the old Searay to the new hull. I used the old wiring harness and pieces from a new harness that I bought on e-bay. I bought a set of used guages on e-bay for $50. I replaced the original cables steering with the hydrolic system from the Searay. I found new seats & pedestal hardware on e-bay. <br /><br />This weekend:<br />Weatherman said this weekend would be sunny and mild so I towed the new boat 3 hrs to brother-in-laws lake house for a tryout. I wanted to launch at state park next door. He insisted that we use his dock (very small launch in back yard). <br /><br />Engine started after a bit of cranking. I had to adjust shift & throttle linkages. Then we got underway on a calm & empty lake. I soon discovered that I had the hydrolic cables connected backwards, so when I turned right the boat went left & visa-versa. Oh well, we took the boat out anyway. I got it up to 45 mph. but I insisted on switching cables before going any further. The good news is there were no leaks, and all of the electrical systems seem to be working fine.<br /><br />Back at the dock:<br />I got the cables switched, then the engine wouldn't start, wouldn't even crank. I figured I must have pulled the ignition wire when switching the cable. But I couldn't find the problem. After searching for a while I discovered that none of the electric systems were working. The circuit breakers were not tripped. Since the boat was in the water I needed to be able to trim the engine up to get it out of the water. Later that night I thought to check the main fuse located near the power head. Sure enough, it had blown. I didn't have another one. I had to wait until Sunday morning when the local autoparts store was open. Saturday night it rained a torrent. Weatherman now says it will rain steady until thursday. <br /><br />Sunday Morning:<br />After replacing the main fuse in the rain, all electrical systems back up. Engine still won't crank, but we can at least get the trim up & get the boat out of the water. <br /><br />Brother-in-law attempts to pull the boat out with his 4x4 Durango. He succeeds in digging some good ruts in his back lawn, but no luck getting the boat out. I hook up my portable trolling motor & decide to take off for the state park launch about 1/3 mile away. Brother-in-laws house is on a channel that connects to the lake. On the way out of the channel we have to pass under a small bridge for one-way car traffic to the state park launch. Because of the rain, water level has gone up 2-3 inches and I can't get the boat under the bridge without hitting the windshield on the bridge structure. <br /><br />What to do:<br />I decide to fill the live well in the bow of the boat. This adds just enough weight to allow the boat to pass under with about 1/4 inch to spare. Whew! We get the boat out without further incident. <br /><br />Packing up:<br />While the kids are getting their stuff packed to go back home, I decide to grab my ciruit tester and try to find out by the engine won't crank. After about 10 minutes of testing I discover an open circuit in the connector which connected the main harness to the engine harness. During the entire project I had never once needed to muck with this connector, so I never suspected it. <br />I wiggle the connector a bit and the engine cranks right over. Go figure!<br /><br />Back home:<br />During the 3 hr drive back home it pours down good until I get within 30 minutes of home when the weather breaks. By the time I get back to the house boat & truck are completly dry. Wife says it didn't rain all weekend. I could have stayed home and gone to the local lake and got some real boating time in. Oh well.<br /><br />What's left:<br />I need a new sending unit for the gas tank. By the way, gas tank is rated at 23 gallons, but it took 31.5 gallons to fill from bone dry empty. I always new there was reserve capacity, just never knew how much. Now I know. Also, my RPM gauge is way off. I'm hoping there's a switch that will let me adjust it for a two stroke. I also need to figure out what's up with that harness connector. <br /><br />All-in-all I thinks it's going to be a great boat, much better than my old Searay. There are a lot of folks on this forum that I've got to thank for that. I haven't yet decided whether to thank my nephew. <br /><br />THANKS ALOT FOLKS! When I get the time, I'll get some picures posted.<br />-Joe
Boating lesson #1: While your boat isn't sinking, stay on it till you get to shore!<br /><br />The replacement:<br />Last August I found a hull at the local marine salvage yard. It was a 1998 Starcraft fishmaster 170 aluminum hull complete with trailer. It was in nice condition even though it had been stolen and stripped of its outboard, pedestal seats, guages, & wiring harness. Believe it or not, they left the stereo. The insurance company totaled it out and the salvage yard sold it to me for $3000.00.<br /><br />I've mounted the 1988 100hp Mercury outboard from the old Searay to the new hull. I used the old wiring harness and pieces from a new harness that I bought on e-bay. I bought a set of used guages on e-bay for $50. I replaced the original cables steering with the hydrolic system from the Searay. I found new seats & pedestal hardware on e-bay. <br /><br />This weekend:<br />Weatherman said this weekend would be sunny and mild so I towed the new boat 3 hrs to brother-in-laws lake house for a tryout. I wanted to launch at state park next door. He insisted that we use his dock (very small launch in back yard). <br /><br />Engine started after a bit of cranking. I had to adjust shift & throttle linkages. Then we got underway on a calm & empty lake. I soon discovered that I had the hydrolic cables connected backwards, so when I turned right the boat went left & visa-versa. Oh well, we took the boat out anyway. I got it up to 45 mph. but I insisted on switching cables before going any further. The good news is there were no leaks, and all of the electrical systems seem to be working fine.<br /><br />Back at the dock:<br />I got the cables switched, then the engine wouldn't start, wouldn't even crank. I figured I must have pulled the ignition wire when switching the cable. But I couldn't find the problem. After searching for a while I discovered that none of the electric systems were working. The circuit breakers were not tripped. Since the boat was in the water I needed to be able to trim the engine up to get it out of the water. Later that night I thought to check the main fuse located near the power head. Sure enough, it had blown. I didn't have another one. I had to wait until Sunday morning when the local autoparts store was open. Saturday night it rained a torrent. Weatherman now says it will rain steady until thursday. <br /><br />Sunday Morning:<br />After replacing the main fuse in the rain, all electrical systems back up. Engine still won't crank, but we can at least get the trim up & get the boat out of the water. <br /><br />Brother-in-law attempts to pull the boat out with his 4x4 Durango. He succeeds in digging some good ruts in his back lawn, but no luck getting the boat out. I hook up my portable trolling motor & decide to take off for the state park launch about 1/3 mile away. Brother-in-laws house is on a channel that connects to the lake. On the way out of the channel we have to pass under a small bridge for one-way car traffic to the state park launch. Because of the rain, water level has gone up 2-3 inches and I can't get the boat under the bridge without hitting the windshield on the bridge structure. <br /><br />What to do:<br />I decide to fill the live well in the bow of the boat. This adds just enough weight to allow the boat to pass under with about 1/4 inch to spare. Whew! We get the boat out without further incident. <br /><br />Packing up:<br />While the kids are getting their stuff packed to go back home, I decide to grab my ciruit tester and try to find out by the engine won't crank. After about 10 minutes of testing I discover an open circuit in the connector which connected the main harness to the engine harness. During the entire project I had never once needed to muck with this connector, so I never suspected it. <br />I wiggle the connector a bit and the engine cranks right over. Go figure!<br /><br />Back home:<br />During the 3 hr drive back home it pours down good until I get within 30 minutes of home when the weather breaks. By the time I get back to the house boat & truck are completly dry. Wife says it didn't rain all weekend. I could have stayed home and gone to the local lake and got some real boating time in. Oh well.<br /><br />What's left:<br />I need a new sending unit for the gas tank. By the way, gas tank is rated at 23 gallons, but it took 31.5 gallons to fill from bone dry empty. I always new there was reserve capacity, just never knew how much. Now I know. Also, my RPM gauge is way off. I'm hoping there's a switch that will let me adjust it for a two stroke. I also need to figure out what's up with that harness connector. <br /><br />All-in-all I thinks it's going to be a great boat, much better than my old Searay. There are a lot of folks on this forum that I've got to thank for that. I haven't yet decided whether to thank my nephew. <br /><br />THANKS ALOT FOLKS! When I get the time, I'll get some picures posted.<br />-Joe