Hello from the Pacific Northwest

[Ike]

Glad to find this forum. Actually I was referred to it by a friend who works at Brunswick and used to work at Sea Ray. I just bought a very vintage 1972 18 foot Sea Ray with a Mercruiser sterndrive. I downloaded the 1972 brochure and I think it is a 190. It needs a lot of restoring. I will probably need a lot of help with getting it right. I have spent that last few days looking for photos, manuals and other info on this model, and have found some, but I'm sure I will need more.

My background in boating started as a young boy, in fact so far back I don't remember my first time on a boat. I was probably 7 or 8. In my Coast Guard career I have been out on everything from canoes and dinghies to ships. I have done both power and sail and have always been more of a sailboat guy but I couldn't pass this boat up. I also have a 12 foot rowboat and 8 foot sailing dinghy. In the past I owned a 17 foot thistle sailboat. In my younger days the family had four boats all in the 13-14 foot range both power and sail. I spent 25 years working in boating safety, most of that in standards working with boat manufacturers to meet the Federal standards. I am also a member of a lot of boating forums. So boats are in my blood or as we sailors say, I have salt in my veins. I hope I can contribute but I also hope I can learn a lot that will help me with this boat.

 

[D-Sill-D]

Welcome, I think you will find this site very helpful......good luck with your project......post some before photos....everyone likes photos.....

 

[Pyrojodge]

Welcome Peter... I hope you do find the info you're looking for here... as previously stated we love pictures... and keep us posted on your project...

 

[Banagy]

Welcome aboard.

 

[Ike]

Thanks to all. You want pics, I got pics.

There are more on my Photobucket album at http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/spinners1/Sea Ray/?albumview=slideshow

 

[Nehalennia]

Welcome aboard Ike. Where are you?

 

[Summer Fun II]

Welcome to CSR. :smt001

 

[Go Aweigh2452]

Welcome and enjoy the ride... We've boated up here since 1996 and love it... lots of info here...

Your new to you boat looks great in the photo you posted...

 

[Ike]

Todd, south of Tacoma, on American lake.

Doug, did you look at the interiors on Photobucket? She looks great from the outside, but the interior needs a lot of work. It'll keep me busy and out of my wife's hair for years.

 

[Gofirstclass]

Welcome Peter. Looks like you've gotten yourself into a good project.

I have done both power and sail and have always been more of a sailboat guy but I couldn't pass this boat up.

We'll forgive you for your sins if you keep us supplied with pics of your restoration project. :grin:

 

[Nehalennia]

Gotta love the look of the older SeaRays.

 

[Bob & Sue]

Welcome American lake's a great spot for your new boat, after all the work is done.

Edit:
Just looked at photobucket looks like you'll be doing some serious detailing.

 

[Ike]

Well I may have been a rag bagger, but I'm no stranger to stink pots.....ooops, gotta watch my language.

Yeah, It's going to be a long project, but in my career I managed a lot of very complex projects, so I learned that to keep from being overwhelmed just take it one step at a time. I'll keep the pics coming. I will eventually post all of this on my web site at newboatbuilders.org as lessons learned.

 

[The Bill Collector]

Welcome aboard Ike !! It's great to get more PNW boaters on CSR.....

 

[Gofirstclass]

Amen to Mark's comment!

 

[Chris R]

Welcome Ike!

 

[WazzuCMGrad]

Welcome to CSR, Ike! Thought I'd better give you a shout-out since I'm one of the few PNW guys here with a "sport boat" closer in size to yours. Enjoy your time here; it's a great bunch of knowledgeable folks.

 

[D-Sill-D]

I am finishing a project near American Lake, at JBLM. An electrical power upgrade for Greenwood Housing, and, a few other areas in that general area.

Good photos, thanks for posting those. Looks like fun if you have the inclination.

 

[Ike]

I spend a lot of time at JBLM. I'm at Camp Murray Beach. It is just plain beautiful here. Anyway, I have the inclination. I've built a few small wood boats, and worked on fiberglass boats. I like this stuff. But it's been a long time since I did any engine work. In the 70's I rebuilt an Opel engine. I had several Mercedes diesels and a gas one, and did all the engine work on them except a cylinder head rebuild on the gas engine, and a transmission replacement. I prefer to let professionals do that kind of work. They have the correct tools. I'm a manual in one hand, tool in the other mechanic. I can do it but hey, I'm getting old. Let the young guys do the heavy work.

Latest update: Tried turning the engine by hand. It turns. Belt needs replacing. Took out the #2 plug. It has black carbon on it but nothing unusual. I took all the seats out of the boat and got everything out of the way. Finally got a look at the tank. It's a rotomolded PE tank. So no more worries about corrosion. Turned wheel and observed Outdrive. It moves. Stiff but moves. The floor needs replacing. it's stiff in some places, soft in others. But that's a project for later. Now I just want to clean it up, repair the seats and get it running.

 

[bbielinski]

Welcome Ike. I am sure you will find a lot of useful information here as I did. I just saw your post on the old thread I started when I first got my SRV190. As far as your interior everything looks like mine did when I first got it The anchor box, rear seats and engine cover appear to be original as does the gunwale trim. The back to back seats are replacements as are mine. If you search images for SRV190 or SRV180 you should be able to find what the original seats and bases look like. They are somewhat more angular on the sides. I am hoping to find a junk set just for the patterns and have them recovered in the white/green combo I redid the rest of the interior in. The original green on mine was actually under two layers of gray vinyl and I salvaged what I could. I am going to try to match the original green over this winter hopefully.

I took some liberties while redoing the insde of mine. The engine cover is the original but modified with a lift up lid and the drink/storage holder. The rear seat bases and backs are completely new. The anchor box is also new and built from scratch to house my stereo and depth finder and still protect the wiring. I may still have the photos of when I first got the boat showing how these were originally. If you are interested I can send them to you.

Good luck with your project.
Brian