2005 Amberjack 270 project

Southern Pirate

Active Member
Nov 17, 2019
107
Boat Info
2005 sea ray 270 amberjack
Engines
5.7 Mercruiser w/Bravo III Drive
Recently purchased a 270 Amberjack. Started work on making it a great fishing vessel.
1st: resealed the hatches. This fixed the cabin moisture problem. $24
2nd: cleaned the cabin cushions, and inside cabin. $8
3rd: fixed the spotlight. $1
4th: replaced all bulbs to LED. (Not spotlight)$65
5th: replaced gray water tank and pump system. $30
6th: repaired smart craft gauge. $150
7th: replaced old electronics and vhf radio with new 12” and 9” displays, upgraded transducer by Raymarine. $2810
8th: repair scraps on hull. $34

This has all been completed. Next I will be removing and replacing the Bravo 3 stern drive and the 5.7 mpi motor. The stern drive has saltwater damage and leaks oil from the seal. The motor is raw water cooled and the new motor will have a closed cooling system. The Hvac need a new thermostat. Also will be replacing the Bimini top and having the seats redone. The time frame for completion is April 2020 with water trials then offshore.
 
I'd be curious on the Bravo 3 seal replacement. I discovered some water intrusion this year however I see no dripping of oil.
Sounds like a fun project. A friend of mine has a 270. Really nice boat.
 
I am not going to replace the seal on the bravo3, I am going to replace the whole drive.
 
Update on the project. Christmas holiday has taken up a lot of project time. We decided to go on a Disney Christmas Cruise then Christmas, then of course work got in the way. Now that everything is getting back to normal, I am trying to clear a little place to put up a boat barn. The wife suggested this several times and each time just before I started she would say she wanted to down size. So I would stop with the plans. Now she says we might as well stay here because a smaller place will cost just as much, so up goes the boat barn. A new metal building 36x14x12 is on the way and I am cutting trees and leveling ground. The new Bravo 3 arrives today but the alignment tool wont be here until Thursday. I decided to wait on the engine until I see how it preforms in the water. I checked the smart gauge and it only has 416 hours on it. So after swapping the drives and changing the water pump, oil and all the other fluids, I will replace the fuel filter clean out the fuel tank and put about 1/4 tank of gas in it and drop it in the lake. Can anybody think of anything else I should check?
 
I'd be curious on the Bravo 3 seal replacement. I discovered some water intrusion this year however I see no dripping of oil.
Sounds like a fun project. A friend of mine has a 270. Really nice boat.
They are nice looking boats
 
I'd be curious on the Bravo 3 seal replacement. I discovered some water intrusion this year however I see no dripping of oil.
Sounds like a fun project. A friend of mine has a 270. Really nice boat.
OllieC the things that I have read about the Bravo3s say that they are a very good drive as long s they are taken care of. But they can get a little pricey to work on just because of the special tools needed. When I bought my boat, I lowered the drive and oil just poured out of the props. I did not know how long that had gone on or how much water would have been sucked up in the drive. Also the corrosion on the outside was really bad. The guy selling the boat said that the gimbal had just been replaced but did not know why. The Gimbal does look nice and shiny with shiny stainless steel bolts so when I pull the dive off I hoping everything else is new then the outside of the boat will be done.
 
So, the wife tells me that I have to post this story otherwise she will post her version of it. Yesterday I was finishing the wiring on the boat trailer. I had connected everything for the starboard side and was on my back sliding under the boat to make sure I had all the wires secured. while moving from the rear to the front I paused and was looking at the water inlets on the port side. I noticed that the 2 on the port side and plastic strainers covering them then I looked up and noticed one directly inline with my head and it did not have a plastic cover. I was thinking to myself that is kind of strange. Just then a drop of liquid from there fell in my eye. It was at that moment I realized why that one hole had nothing covering it. I do not know if anything is in that holding tank, if it was rinsed out or when it was last used. Now the underside of the boat was covered in condensation so it could have been that or something else. If I come down with pink eye, I guess it was something else.
 
Yuck.....As far as other things to check - what is the status of your CF3 system? Has it been updated to the newer design? Definitely check the fuel pressure - I high reading usually indicates the "paint flake" problem
 
Yuck.....As far as other things to check - what is the status of your CF3 system? Has it been updated to the newer design? Definitely check the fuel pressure - I high reading usually indicates the "paint flake" problem
What is CF3 system? I would guess that with the overall condition of the boat, that would be a no. How would I check this?
 
Cool Fuel 3 - You can search on here, there is a lengthy thread - bottom line, the fuel pump cover is known to flake off its paint - the pumps are AFTER the filter so it ends up clogging the fuel pressure regulator (the one on the housing not the rail) and spiking your fuel pressure - in extreme cases it clogs your rail and injectors......the main housing itself is also faulty where the cooler lines connect (it corrodes and leaks) - a revised housing with a drain and screw in fittings has been developed.......also, there are TWO filters in the unit - a cartridge and a small disc filter that goes under it......
 
Cool Fuel 3 - You can search on here, there is a lengthy thread - bottom line, the fuel pump cover is known to flake off its paint - the pumps are AFTER the filter so it ends up clogging the fuel pressure regulator (the one on the housing not the rail) and spiking your fuel pressure - in extreme cases it clogs your rail and injectors......the main housing itself is also faulty where the cooler lines connect (it corrodes and leaks) - a revised housing with a drain and screw in fittings has been developed.......also, there are TWO filters in the unit - a cartridge and a small disc filter that goes under it......
Thank you for the heads up, I will be checking on this tomorrow. If I read everything correctly, it looks like it would have been replaced under a dealer warranty, so I am hoping it was. If not, it’s all good, just one more thing that I know will be right.
 
Ok, here is the latest update. I ordered an electric over hydraulic system for the trailer. I was not happy with the inertia braking system. It took a little while but got it installed an bled. Taking off the old system, I realized I needed a new trailer coupling. So now the trailer is all set. While cleaning out all the storage areas in the boat, I located the cockpit cover. This was a great find because I am still waiting on my boat barn. Now I can keep all the leaves and other tree junk from falling in. I haven't really had the time to work on the boat because I started school again. Being 55 years old, school is a little more time consuming than when I was younger. I decided that I wanted to volunteer to give back something so I signed up to be an EMT. You would think that with all that is going on, I would still be in school but Our governor decided to close all schools. Not a bad idea but what happens in you run out of EMTs with on others in school. Anyway, it does give me time to work on my boat again when I an off. I still have to work on the windlass, which is next.
 
Some more updates, I was able to get the new electronics installed, The 12" display fit in the dash hole where the original smaller display was. It took a lot of cutting and modifications but it looks good. The 9" display I mounted where the trim tab rocker switch was located. I lost the cup holder but that's ok, I can find a place for another. I found that the engine room bilge pump was not working. At first I thought it was the float switch but then realized it was both the float switch and the pump. After putting the new pump in it still did not work. I then found that several switches on the helm were bad. I placed an order through Amazon for some lighted switches and installed them when they came arrived. I then started tracing wires because even with the new switches, things still did not work. I then started to suspect maybe the problem was not in the wiring but somewhere else. I found out I was right. Out of 8 new Amazon switches, only 1 tested good. Looked online and found that FP had the Sea Ray replacements. Ordered all new switches and fixed that problem. I still have an issue with marker and anchor lights that I am trying to fix but I think most of it is a miss wiring of the two switches. My windlass was not working but just clicking. I went to West Marine and purchased a handle for the windlass. I also took apart and cleaned the relay. After putting everything back together the gypsy turned about a 1/4 turn and then stopped. Now the motor spins freely when either the up or down buttons are pushed but the gypsy does not turn. I think maybe a key is broken. Wife says this will have to wait, she is tired of sitting home. I paid my 16 year old daughter to pressure wash the side of the boat, decals and registration numbers and letters were added and it looks good so now it needs a wax job. The new bimini top came in and I had the old one off and the new one installed in about 30 minutes. Wife says the boat has to hit the water. I replaced all the safety equipment (fire extinguishers, flares, first aid kit whistle). I do have to replace the horn. I have power through the new horn switch but no horn sound. I have a train horn on my truck and was thinking about doing that for the boat. (don't know what type of reaction I would get from DNR or the Coast Guard when doing a safety check) I have a test to take this morning (trying to get my EMT license back) after that I think I can finished the few things left and put the boat in the water to see how she does. This is my last day off again so the rest of the family will have to wait until Thursday or Friday to get on the water. It has been a long road (and a little costly- wife found my record book) but it did give me the opportunity to learn a lot about this boat and how everything works. My next task is going to be to install either a battery isolator or a separator and then add another battery for the house. Does anybody have any experience with these? Which one would be battery, I want the engine to charge both battery banks but not let the cabin discharge the starting battery when the engine is off.
 
Today, I finished with the lights. It would appear that they were miss wired. It was easy enough to figure out once I looked at the switches. I also was able to hang and secure the rest of the cables and get the engine room resealed. I ordered a new horn and started removing all the tools. I should have everything ready for a Friday launch to check out everything.
 
May update, I launched the boat today. At the dock the motor started just fine and idled nicely. We untied and pushed away from the dock. Idled through the no wake zone and then gave her some gas. Everything was fine until about 3000 rpm's. That's when the motor bogged down and died. I was able to restart but only after opening the throttle about a 1/4 way. I still could not get above 3000 rpm's. I think it is either a fuel problem or an exhaust problem. Can anybody give me any knowledge on where I should start.
 
New update for May. I was able to locate the problems and get them fix. Now it is just fresh water cruising until I am comfortable with the boat. After that will be the harbor and then the big water. There are a few things left to repair 1. the windlass, 2. the stereo, 3. the AC, 4. add battery isolator, 5. add radar, 6. add night vision camera.
 
I'm glad you're coming along with this. I wish I had enough room on my property to have a project like that.
 
Sorry for the sporadic updates but here is what I have done since the last update. We have had the boat out quite a few times (social distancing). On one of the outings, it felt like the guardian system kicked in. The boat would only go to 3000 rpms. I noticed that reading the smartcraft rpm gauge in the direct sun is hard. When we got home I was able to see that it had a problem with the MAPT sensor. A check online and around town had me wondering why there was a $200 difference between a Mercruiser part and a GM part. After checking the ranges on both, I could not find a difference, so GM won that battle. Took the boat back out and the smartcraft still showed the same problem. So now I am thinking maybe there is something in the Mercruiser part that is not showing up on the GM part. I spoke to a friend and he said clear the ECM before changing parts. I called my local Mercury/Mercruiser dealer to get an appointment. After not hearing anything from them for 4 days, I purchased a Rinda Techmate scanner. It came in about 3 days. I connected the scanner read all the codes determined the ones I did not have and then cleared them. Took the boat out and ran it for a while with the scanner still attached and didnot find any additional codes, so all is well. Two days later my local Mercury/Mercruiser dealer emailed me and said they are sorry but they do not work on boats older than 10 years. Today I found the time to tackle the windlass. From what I can tell it is original, a Lofrans Marlin. I had taken the switch box off earlier and cleaned it, that is when everything worked for about 1/4 turn. Then the motor would turn forward and backwards but the gypsy would not. I was able to remove the motor from under the deck today. I took it apart on the bench and discovered that it was not a broken key but a broken shaft. The gear box looking like it had not seen gear oil since it was first assembled. What was left inside had almost turned to grease. So what I was hoping to be a cheap easy fix has turned out to be a $700 easy fix. It is July and I have to start watching the spending. Here in South Carolina, deer season starts August 15th and if I am not carefull, I might start cutting into my deer hunting funds. I did order the windlass from Amazon, West Marine had it listed at about the same price but it was out os stock. Also my wife told me that she did not like me winching up the boat onto the trailer. She said it was to big to be doing it by hand and someone should make an electric winch. (I love that woman). The new power winch 712 comes in tomorrow. That pretty much covers everything so far. There are only 4 things left, Stereo only plays in the cabin, TV does not work, The vinyl need to be replaced, and the water heater needs to be replaced but that will not happen until the motor gets replaced with a closed cooling motor.
 
SP, Sounds like you are doing a wonderful job bringing that boat back to its glory days. A few pictures would be nice. Thanks for posting your progress. JC
 
New update, I replaced the anchor rope due to not knowing the age of the old rope. The chain looked good so that stayed. I also upgraded the trim tabs to the Bennett ATP system. With some cutting and splicing, I was able to use the same wires. (they looked and felt good, no corrosion when cut). All connections sealed. Found out that my problematic MAP sensor (after replacing it 2X) was a corroded connector. Now I have 2 spares. The new boat barn that I ordered in December is scheduled to be installed this Monday. That will be a few days short of a full 9 months. Not sure why the delay from Carolina Carports but if you need it fast, maybe ask around instead of going for a cheap internet price. I am now using the boat on days off so when it gets a little cooler, it is off to the boat barn with it for a good cleaning to get ready for next year. Is there an advantage to fogging the motor for the winter or is it ok to just use a bilge heater. The cabin heater will already be set and here in South Carolina on the east coast we don't usually have a lot of freezing days. I plan on using the boat until October and the putting it in the barn until March. (side curtains made a big difference).
 

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