My $500 270DA.

[collier341]

Awesome thread man!:grin: I have almost the exact same setup I am currently redoing. Same motors/outdrive. Good luck to you. I've currently got my motors and drives out so if you have any questions feel free to ask.

Subscribed!

 

[Ck111484]

Alright, so I've decided to re-preoritize and get to work on the most important parts, the motors and outdrives.

First of all, I'm going to call around and see if I can get a partial marine survey - I don't need documentation or anything like that, I ust want to know that the stringers and transom or solid; otherwise there's really no point in continuing the project.

Anywa, I was able to turn the port side motor with a wrench quite easily, and got it cranking really well with key last fall (though I disconnected the ignition coil because I didn't want it to start), so I'm pretty confident in that motor.
The starboard motor has me a little sketched out; it was much more difficult to turn by hand, and would not crank with the key. Of course, this could be something to do with the drive, a stuck starter, or even something as simple as a fuse or solenoid - who knows, so I haven't written it off yet. I plan on pulling the starter/drive tomorrow and service it and see what I can figure out.

Once I've got them both cranking I will perform a compression test to make sure they're worth working on.

If they pass the compression test, the next step will be new impeller kits for both drives, as after for sitting for so long there's no way they're good anymore.
Recommendations on impeller kits? Do the Sierra ones work just fine or should I stick with OEM?

Then, if I can get them running, I'll drop the necessary money on the parts I need to service the drives. It will cost me about $600 (from Amazon), but it simply has to be done.
Once that's completed, and I polish the hell out of it and make it look pretty ( I am an auto/marine detailer), then the boat could theoretically go in the water and I could continue all the rest of the work with the boat in the water (alternator/electronic ignition upgrades, etc).
I'm just really anxious to see if she'll run smoothly, as I really to want to make this thing my boat; I've really begun to fall for it.

Does this sound like a good plan? Obviously I'll have to pull the drives again to service them if I end up doing so, but I just want to see if I can get her running.

I just want to restore this 'gal to her former glory!

Any input is greatly appreciated,
Thanks!

P.S. I've got some really great plans for the topside (if I get there); I'm going to rip out the entire helm, as the wood is rotten and it would pretty much need to be completely rebuilt, and replace it with an flip/flop bench and a captain's chair. This way it's actually much cheaper and will be much cleaner looking; plus I just want my own Captain's chair

 

[collier341]

The Sierra brand impeller will be totally fine. All I've used on my previous boat with no issues and what I will be putting in my 2 current drives.

Remember, you will also need some special tools to work on the outdrives as well.. Special socket, bellows install tool, and puller for the gimbal. I believe there is also something to install it but I just made something out of some plate steel and an old socket.

What area in Metro Detroit are you?? I'm in Clinton Township.

 

[Ck111484]

So, some interesting things have happened lately; first off, I had a survey done, and she passed with flying colors! There was a little moisture in the transom, but well within spec and completely normal for this age of boat, according to the surveyor. I was SO excited to hear that news :grin::smt038
Also discovered that the refrigerator still works, which was quite a surprise, as does the forward bilge pump, and I had thought that both were inoperable. Things are looking good

I also ripped/cut out all of the carpet on the floor in the cabin, as I don't believe it was salvageable. I'm planning on having a carpet installer come out and laser measure everything and give me a quote on installing new carpet; I haven't decided yet whether or not I'll have new carpet installed just on the floor, or on the vertical surfaces as well. Obviously I'd like to do it all, but I have the feeling that creating a template and installing new carpet just for the floor area would be a lot cheaper than doing all the vertical surfaces as well.
I'm a little embarrassed to even show this picture, because the cabin is in shambles in the middle of "deconstruction" mode, but here's how she sits right now:

(I had been hacking away at the bow padding in order to find the screws, and although I did, I didn't have a screwdriver bit large enough to remove them; that's why they're still there, all torn up. I will be recovering them in tan vinyl).

Lastly; I'm getting evicted! I've been storing her next to my buddy's detail shop on blocks, and the city somehow found about it and sent a letter giving me a week to get it out of there :wow:
With it being so early in the season, I had trouble finding someone to transport it, but luckily, I did. However, if I can talk to the city and buy myself some more time, I found a company that will do it cheaper, so I'm going to give the city a call in the morning and see what I can do.
Either way, it will be transported to a marina where it will be blocked and I'll have access to water and electricity, and they'l let me work on her until she's water-ready, and launch her for me when the time comes.
I hope to have things mostly sorted, one way or another, in about a month. Stay tuned!

 

[bahamabreisus]

Great news on the survey. Cool project, will keep following

 

[trflgrl]

Posting the real pictures lets all of us appreciate your restoration efforts that much more!! Really glad she surveyed well, but sorry to hear the city ordinance is putting a hiccup in your flow!

Something to think about for re-upholstering: vinyl in seating and sleeping areas is helpful for keeping things clean, but can feel clammy/sticky if you sweat, even with AC going. You described using vinyl only for the bow padding, not the cushions, but I end up leaning against the sides of the v-berth reading, etc. so am glad ours is fabric. In visiting others' boats I've have the same sweaty experience, but I know everybody's preferences vary. YMMV!!

 

[Ck111484]

I got an extension from the city! The boat is now set to be transported next Saturday, April 2nd :smt038

Posting the real pictures lets all of us appreciate your restoration efforts that much more!! Really glad she surveyed well, but sorry to hear the city ordinance is putting a hiccup in your flow!

Something to think about for re-upholstering: vinyl in seating and sleeping areas is helpful for keeping things clean, but can feel clammy/sticky if you sweat, even with AC going. You described using vinyl only for the bow padding, not the cushions, but I end up leaning against the sides of the v-berth reading, etc. so am glad ours is fabric. In visiting others' boats I've have the same sweaty experience, but I know everybody's preferences vary. YMMV!!

Hmm, interesting. I was thinking vinyl just because I have some in a nice color, but it makes sense that if you lean against them, fabric would be more comfortable.
Maybe I'll use the vinyl on the small bow padding (already removed in the picture above), and some sort of fabric on the larger ones in the picture.
And yeah, I figure posting pictures is the best way to show what I'm doing, and is a good way to keep a kind of "diary" on the restoration.

This carpet and fabric stuff is fun and all, but what I really need to do is concentrate on the motors, then the drives.

Can anyone point me in the right direction for the Pertronix Ignition upgrade for these Merc 470's? Do I need a specific part #, or are they pretty much universal?
Also, same question with the carburetor rebuild kits; I plan on going and just pulling the carbs off the motors and using the part #'s to get the correct rebuild kits; or would any generic Holley 4 barrel carb kit work?

And here's some pics for giggles:
Sanding down the swim platform inserts before cleaning/oiling:

Polished up her fog bell. Now she'l sound like a proper yacht

And a question: what the heck are these things?? I found probably 6-8 of them in one of the cabinets of the boat.

Lots more updates to come!

 

[bahamabreisus]

They might have been straps to hold cockpit cushions in place.

 

[Ck111484]

Ah, that could make sense.
While we're at it, what's this?
It stores in a slot right on your left as you enter the cabin. I thought it was a table, but it doesn't have a table mount.

 

[roberteb]

V-berth 'cover' mid section? So you have access to storage area?

 

[trflgrl]

The vinyl pieces look to me like wraps--the snaps are oriented so they can close onto themselves if you roll the fabric into a cylinder. Can't think of what they'd wrap, though....





What's on the flip side of the hinged piece? And what shape is the other half?

 

[1956olds]

they probably are for the bimini tubes to keep the eisen glass from rubbing and baking on the tubes.

 

[Ck111484]

they probably are for the bimini tubes to keep the eisen glass from rubbing and baking on the tubes.

Ah, not a bad idea! I will try and see if they work for that next time I go see her.

Pics from today.

More carpet rippy outty:

Am thinking I'll replace both cabin pumps (and the bilge). They sound like they're tying to work, but nothing's happening.

Giving her some fresh air.

Kinda sad looking now... but it'll be nice and cozy once I'm done with it

The cushions I picked up from another boat after washing them came out pretty nice. Passable, at least, until I can afford to have them reupholstered.

Starting to kinda look like a cabin

Turns out a Ford Focus can hold quite a bit of boat. Taking wooden stuff home to refinish/rebuild

Question: How hard is it, really, to redo the carpet yourself? I have no experience installing carpet whatsoever, but I'm a quick learner.
DIY, or one of those things (like reupholstering) best left to professionals?
I'm thinking I should just rip all of the coral colored carpet out, not just the floor; it might cost more and be more difficult, but I don't know if anything is going to look good with that crappy carpet in there.

 

[trflgrl]

Ah, that could make sense.
While we're at it, what's this?
It stores in a slot right on your left as you enter the cabin. I thought it was a table, but it doesn't have a table mount.

The shape definitely says "table" to me, too, but the fact it doesn't have any pedestal hardware or evidence of having any in the past seems odd.

Any chance it's an overlay for the existing table? I can't tell if it's the same size, but if you put it with this bracketed side down, does it fit snugly over it to cover the cupholders, etc.? Even if it's larger than the existing, if the brackets are spaced to sit around/in between the contours of the other one, it would stay where you put it.

 

[SCORPIO]

Never changed carpet myself so can't answer that but I agree with you, rip out all the old carpet, now is the time to do it. It will look better when finished and smell better too. It won't take that much more material and it won't take that much longer to install. If it were my boat, I'd see how much a carpet guy would charge to put it down. He will probably get a better job and be done in a few hours. JMHO

 

[SCORPIO]

OH, is that an old LORAN unit on the dash? Looks like an old Shakespeare Apelco unit. If so, you may as well use it as a paper weight, since our fearless leader killed LORAN many years ago.

 

[kevin27]

The shape definitely says "table" to me, too, but the fact it doesn't have any pedestal hardware or evidence of having any in the past seems odd.

Any chance it's an overlay for the existing table? I can't tell if it's the same size, but if you put it with this bracketed side down, does it fit snugly over it to cover the cupholders, etc.? Even if it's larger than the existing, if the brackets are spaced to sit around/in between the contours of the other one, it would stay where you put it.

That is your table.

 

[Ck111484]

The shape definitely says "table" to me, too, but the fact it doesn't have any pedestal hardware or evidence of having any in the past seems odd.

Any chance it's an overlay for the existing table? I can't tell if it's the same size, but if you put it with this bracketed side down, does it fit snugly over it to cover the cupholders, etc.? Even if it's larger than the existing, if the brackets are spaced to sit around/in between the contours of the other one, it would stay where you put it.

That would actually make a lot of sense! The other side is just blank, so I bet it's a table biggifier!

Never changed carpet myself so can't answer that but I agree with you, rip out all the old carpet, now is the time to do it. It will look better when finished and smell better too. It won't take that much more material and it won't take that much longer to install. If it were my boat, I'd see how much a carpet guy would charge to put it down. He will probably get a better job and be done in a few hours. JMHO

Exactly, that's what I'm thinking.

OH, is that an old LORAN unit on the dash? Looks like an old Shakespeare Apelco unit. If so, you may as well use it as a paper weight, since our fearless leader killed LORAN many years ago.

Haha, yep. It was in one of the cabinets. I put it on the mount just for giggles. Planning on getting a Garmin, and/or eventually radar, if I can find an arch.
I was SO close, there's someone close to me selling the arch off of a 1996 29' Sundancer, but it's about a foot too narrow. Where it mounts on the gunwales, this boat has windshield; the factory arch attached outside the windshield.

 

[trflgrl]

That is your table.

Where/how does it mount? With no plate to accept the existing pedestal (some of the other photos show the one-piece, non-hinged table with built in cup holders installed w/pedestal in the cockpit), no screw holes, etc., it seems it would have to slide onto rails/into slots somewhere. The metal and wood bracketing looks very much like what's on the underside of removable salon seat cushions to keep them locked in position, so it makes me think it's factory or a good DIY replica.

Or are you saying a 2-part table top was standard issue? Bottom part for holding cups, overlay for when you want totally flat space?

I love seeing all the variations!!!

 

[SCORPIO]

That would actually make a lot of sense! The other side is just blank, so I bet it's a table biggifier!


Exactly, that's what I'm thinking.


Haha, yep. It was in one of the cabinets. I put it on the mount just for giggles. Planning on getting a Garmin, and/or eventually radar, if I can find an arch.
I was SO close, there's someone close to me selling the arch off of a 1996 29' Sundancer, but it's about a foot too narrow. Where it mounts on the gunwales, this boat has windshield; the factory arch attached outside the windshield.

If you know a bodyshop guy, he could maybe cut and expand that arch for you. You would have to get the other arch cheap to make it worth your while. A good quality aluminum arch would be easier to find than looking for a factory one from the late 80's. Unless you have a boat bone yard around, that will be a tall order to fill.