New Member, Mount Olive, Alabama

R

rdalepeak

New Member
Jun 17, 2008
14
Alabama/Tenneessee
Boat Info
270 DA
Engines
twin 350 Mercruisers
Greetings to all...

I am now the proud owner of a "project boat". She is a 1987 270 DA (270DA1849), mechanically sound, but in dire need of TLC, currently sitting in my back yard on her trailer.

Just a few things are in immediate need of attention. The power steering pump leaks a little fluid, the trim pump doesn't work at all (the previous owner has disconnected the trim cylinders from the outdrive)... then there is the exterior upholstery (bad shape). All canvas must be replaced as well... rips and broken zippers galore.

The upholstered trim around the helm gages and wheel is totally GONE... is there a template available to start over from scratch, or is this available for purchase? Most all the other panels are there, but they will have to be replaced from the backerboard out.

The hull has a couple of bad gel coat gouges from "close encounters" with a dock (or several of them) but otherwise is sound. The bottom paint is worn so thin the gel coat is showing through... so there will be a LOT of sweat equity invested in her there. After reading some of the threads here on hull finishing/restoring, I have invested in the Porter Cable polisher everyone raves about.

Below decks is in really good shape except for the port quarter berth. The foam pieces are there but the covering is gone.

All in all, I feel I got a good deal on a solid boat and am anxious to get started in bringing her "back" to her former self.

Once we are "there" with the restoration, we will be cruising the Warrior River, Mobile Bay, Lake Guntersville, and the Tenn. River. Ultimately, we will want to do the Great Circle... but that is not in the immediate future (maybe when I retire).

Any and all comments, hints, harrassment, and just plain good natured ribbing will be graciously taken in good spirit.

Good evening to all...

Dale Peak
"Cherokee Dancer"
270DA1849 - 1987
 
Welcome aboard Dale, Thanks for putting your info in your signature sections. Make sure you take plenty of before and after pictures. Keep us posted on the restoration.
 
chuck1 said:
Welcome aboard Dale, Thanks for putting your info in your signature sections. Make sure you take plenty of before and after pictures. Keep us posted on the restoration.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply Chuck1. I read a lot of threads here before I wrote my own, and noticed how much flack people take by not adding their vessel info to their signature. The picture taking has just begun, but rest assured... there will be plenty for the ship's log.

Have a great evening,

Dale
 
jwfoster4 said:
Welcome...look us up when you make it to the coast.
Click to expand...

You can count on it! We plan to either cruise down the Warrior to Mobile Bay or trailer her down to one of the Marina's on Dolphin Island Parkway... that is, unless you can recommend a better place to put in.

Have a great evening,

Dale
 
Much better places to put in over on the Florida side. Water is much cleaner. Most of the water that flows out of Mobile Bay hangs a right and goes west. It is dark and has suspended silt and therefore darkens the water a bit. All the beaches to the east are white sand and the water is great.

If you look on this site there are some posts linking to folks doing the "Great Loop". Not to many people turn west. They talk of taking the Intercoastal waterway from Mobile Bay east through the panhandle; Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Perdido Key, Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, etc. The ICW on the Miss. side is in fairly open water until you get to LA.

On the east side, there are lots of incredible protected places to anchor up and spend the night along the way. One of the favorites of the cruise magazines and ours is Ft. McRae just to the west of the Pensacola Pass.

Get on Google Earth and find the ICW starting at Mobile Bay and follow it as long as you like.

Let me know when you are coming and will meet up.
 
Thanks for the advice. I helped a friend move his new Hunter from Lake Ponchatrain to Lake Charles and we took the ICW to Vermillion Bay then went "outside". The ICW in La. was kinda tight. We love the beaches from Fort Morgan and further east, so your advice will be invaluable. We will be towing down I-65 south then hitting I-10... were would you recommend putting her in the water? I will be doing the "google thing" for sure.

The latest on restoration... after a good bath, she is looking much better than anticipated. Above the waterline only has a couple of small places that show some slight gel coat cracking (stress cracks), but I think she will buff out really well. The outdrives are in HORRIBLE shape cosmetically (Mercruiser Alpha 1's) and the props are literally eaten away to the point they are totally unusable. Once I get her off the trailer and up on blocks we will see how it goes with the bottom painting. After some reading, seems like I should put a couple of coats of inter-coat to prevent blistering before putting on the bottom paint... but that is still a few weeks away. I want the bottom to be the last part of the restoration prior to putting her back in the water.

jwfoster4 said:
Much better places to put in over on the Florida side. Water is much cleaner. Most of the water that flows out of Mobile Bay hangs a right and goes west. It is dark and has suspended silt and therefore darkens the water a bit. All the beaches to the east are white sand and the water is great.

If you look on this site there are some posts linking to folks doing the "Great Loop". Not to many people turn west. They talk of taking the Intercoastal waterway from Mobile Bay east through the panhandle; Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Perdido Key, Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, etc. The ICW on the Miss. side is in fairly open water until you get to LA.

On the east side, there are lots of incredible protected places to anchor up and spend the night along the way. One of the favorites of the cruise magazines and ours is Ft. McRae just to the west of the Pensacola Pass.

Get on Google Earth and find the ICW starting at Mobile Bay and follow it as long as you like.

Let me know when you are coming and will meet up.
Click to expand...
 
I use to put in at Sherman Cove on board NAS Pensacola when I was in the Navy Reserves. Best ramp on the coast and right on the ICW and pass. But you have to have military ID to put in there. So now I put in at Navy point. It is only about 7 miles to the pass from there. We swim at the sand bars and island just west of the pass. Big Lagoon is nice to anchor up and have a sunset dinner. Plenty of transient slips on the coast too if you want. We just spent 3 days at Shalimar Yacht Basin in the Destin area.

Navy point is at 30 22 50.9 N 87 16 55.00 W

Orange Beach has 2 nice ramps too.

http://www.orangebeach.ws/boatlaunches.html
 
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