What should a Noob not tackle??

[jdlough]

Re: What should a Noob not tackle??

You would think that boat motors would run forever. They don't get used as much as cars so the hrs should be low compared to a vehicle of the same age. I don't know what makes an outboard tick, but it seems like unless you boat year 'round (that must be nice) it would be easy to maintain one for a long time.

You really can't compare boat to car motors. Cars can coast. Cars have gears, so at 55 mph, you are in high gear and the car motor is at about 1500 rpm.

A boat motor has to either lift almost the entire boat out of the water while on plane, or push all that water out of the way. Either way, a boat motor is at higher rpms all the time. Boats don't coast. It's like your car driving up a mountain, towing something, ALL THE TIME.

The plus side is that outboards are built much better and are much better designed than most car motors. Many 40+year old outboards are running just fine. One thing that hurts outboards is idling around too much and driving too slowly. Outboards need to be driven at wide-open-throttle (WOT) often to blow out the soot.

 

[jdlough]

Re: What should a Noob not tackle??

On tinnies dents are character and personality.

That is true. My fiberglass dents look like I just don't know how to dock, and bash into pilings.

 

[aquarices]

Re: What should a Noob not tackle??

You really can't compare boat to car motors. Cars can coast. Cars have gears, so at 55 mph, you are in high gear and the car motor is at about 1500 rpm.

A boat has to either lift the entire boat out of the water while on plane, or push all that water out of the way. Either way, a boat motor is at higher rpms all the time. Boats don't coast. It's like your car driving up a mountain, towing something, ALL THE TIME.

The plus side is that outboards are built much better and are much better designed than most car motors. Many 40+year old outboards are running just fine. One thing that hurts outboards is idling around too much and driving too slowly. Outboards need to be driven at wide-open-throttle (WOT) often to blow out the soot.

That sounds like a reasonable explanation. I've seen youtube videos of boats running at WOT, and it looks and sounds like it's so rough on the motor lol.

 

[Oshkosh1]

Re: What should a Noob not tackle??

My "PanfishSlayer" motor is nearing 40 years old. It starts in one pull and runs like a champ. I just use the correct oil/fuel mix, keep the plugs/carb clean, and wipe it down after use...it'll run another 40 years.

I had a 14' fiberglass with a 1960-something E-rude "Big twin" 40Hp. That thing ran like a champ until I sold it.

 

[5150abf]

Re: What should a Noob not tackle??

All of use were newbies at one point so it kinda depends how brave you are but there are few things you can't do to a boat with a little planning.

I have rebuilt my boat twice from the keel up including rewiring and rebuilt my lower 3 times, none of this is knowledge I was born with, I learned by doing it and figuring it out, wiring is the hardest thing for me but after doing it once or twice I figured it out, you make some mistakes but you learn.

One of the first things I tried to wire was a disconnect switch, pos to one side neg to the other, "ya, that looks good" right before I dissapeared into a cloud of smoke, that was a good lesson.

Last year I wired a 6 place switch for my electric anchor winch so with some experience I hace come a long way so you can do it you just need to.

Oh and I would really reccomend an aluminum boat, the stringers never rot, they are lighter and they are a little more durable when you whack things in the water.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: What should a Noob not tackle??

if a 14-16' boat becomes a multi-year project, you got taken.

for that sized older used boat, you are buying the motor. Get an outboard. get a solid transom and deck by common-sense inspection. avoid carpet and upholstery. Look for something that hasn't had rain water accumulate in it. Be sure it has an outboard, or a place for one. You're done.

Either buy a well-running motor, or plan to replace the one that's on there--if you can fix it, bonus. That motor, by the way, is an outboard.

As for the DIY part: these forums are like any DIY forum, TV show, book or magazine. It all sounds and looks so easy. it isn't. even small jobs on an old boat, like on an old house, expand and expand. There are quirks not apparent to the untrained eye. You can learn, but it's not that easy. Think about something you are good at doing, and recall how you feel when you watch someone do it for the first time. Not saying don't go for it; the reward is great in satisfaction. Just don't underestimate it. That's why you need to buy an outbaord.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: What should a Noob not tackle??

The size boat you are interested in will be powered by a two stroke outboard. These are the simplest of engines and if you are unfamiliar with their design and operation, head to your library and check out a service manual for any Mercury. Evinrude or Johnson and read it. There is also a ton of information on-line you can study. Buying something you are not familiar with is a good way to get in over your head. Research first, then make a more intelligent buy.

 

[Piece715]

Re: What should a Noob not tackle??

if a 14-16' boat becomes a multi-year project, you got taken.

Whelp that explains it! My 16' Sea Nymph is 3-4 years in!! :facepalm: LOL. Unfortunately I chose the long, expensive route with my resto and went completely custom from interior to paint. My boat could have been ready in one season with a sealed plywood deck vinyl or non skid surface, new cushions and a rusto paint job but I wanted my ride to be different. Thats the beauty of being able to pick your project. Find the things you want in your boat or how you want it to look and find the project that best fits those needs. I knew nothing about boats, wood working, electrical (which im in the process of learning), upholstery, etc. but with the help of these guys and many hours of reading I have tackled every step thus far in my resto. After electrical comes motor work for me and I would consider myself well rounded. Despite the years of work I would not change a thing about my project. The knowledge I have learned from these guys and gals on here is incredible and I could never have done it without them. Smooth waters to ya! Good luck with your future project

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: What should a Noob not tackle??

restoration is a different animal than just fixing it up to use it.

 

[Piece715]

Re: What should a Noob not tackle??

restoration is a different animal than just fixing it up to use it.

I agree 100% and that was my point the project should fit what you're looking to do with it. It was meant to be all in good fun Home Cookin; I literally laughed out loud because when i started this project i figured a season or two max to finish... Now im starting season four and no splash

 

[aquarices]

Re: What should a Noob not tackle??

Whelp that explains it! My 16' Sea Nymph is 3-4 years in!! :facepalm: LOL. Unfortunately I chose the long, expensive route with my resto and went completely custom from interior to paint. My boat could have been ready in one season with a sealed plywood deck vinyl or non skid surface, new cushions and a rusto paint job but I wanted my ride to be different. Thats the beauty of being able to pick your project. Find the things you want in your boat or how you want it to look and find the project that best fits those needs. I knew nothing about boats, wood working, electrical (which im in the process of learning), upholstery, etc. but with the help of these guys and many hours of reading I have tackled every step thus far in my resto. After electrical comes motor work for me and I would consider myself well rounded. Despite the years of work I would not change a thing about my project. The knowledge I have learned from these guys and gals on here is incredible and I could never have done it without them. Smooth waters to ya! Good luck with your future project

That's kinda where I want to go with this. I may just pick up something that runs, play on the water with it, then either restore it or sell it for something more turnkey. I would really want to make something classic my own though. Truthfully, I'm the kind of person that sees a 69' Roadrunner or a Triumph Bonneville or a Vintage Shasta trailer go down the street and immediately I start looking up every piece of related porn I can online. A week later I'm over it lol. So far boating and desktop computer building have been the only two to "stick". I haven't pulled the trigger on a boat yet, but I'm still very much interested.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: What should a Noob not tackle??

An aluminum boat with an outboard motor is a great place to start.

+1. Cheap, reliable, readily available, and easy to learn on. You can usually get a good, working aluminum boat (12'-14'), trailer and motor combo for $500, or less. Check out the Starcraft restoration thread to see some similar old aluminum beauties that have been brought back to life. Happy hunting.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: What should a Noob not tackle??

no problem; I have a house and garage full of "multi-year" projects, too.

I agree 100% and that was my point the project should fit what you're looking to do with it. It was meant to be all in good fun Home Cookin; I literally laughed out loud because when i started this project i figured a season or two max to finish... Now im starting season four and no splash

 

[CaptOchs]

Re: What should a Noob not tackle??

I've been lurking on the forums for a while now and I'm close to picking up a little boat for myself. I've never owned a boat, but I'm mechanically inclined. Trouble is, I'm not a carpenter, never did electrical work, never fixed a boat motor either. I'm just your average grease monkey who knows his way around a wrench. I'm not planning on tackling a 30" cruiser project. I'm just looking for a 14"-16" aluminum or glass runabout. Not in a hurry to get it on the water either, I can commit to a multi-year project while I learn and sort things out. Now that I got that backstory out of the way, what do you guys think is too much for a noob? Transom work looks rough, stringers not too bad. Engine work?? Yeah, maybe not. I don't know, I guess I'm just looking for what you think is bearable and what just isn't feasible for a noob to take on. Thanks and happy boating!

My first floor was in my first year of boating. It's similar to a roof tear-off. It's ugly manual hard work. Once you get the old plywood out and replace whatever stringers you need it's fairly easy to install. I've done 4 so far. I have a bad habit of buying fixer uppers with bad floors! I typically spend between $200-$300 in materials. I have not tackled transoms yet. Usually by that time it's time to get a new boat anyway. Basic engine mechanics are not too hard; plugs, fuel lines, starters, etc...

Evaluate your wants before you buy a boat. How many people do you plan to take out? Are you going to tube/ski with it? How important is fuel economy? Higher horsepower 2 cycle outboards burn through gas like crazy. An I/O is more expensive and harder to maintain, but you get better fuel economy. For example, I had a 115hp outboard on a tri-hull and I burned through 6 gallons of gas in an hour of tubing. So 6 x $3.99= $23.94 for 1 hr of fun. My 3.0L I/O uses like maybe a quarter of that fuel for a larger/faster motor. Something to think about.