The official "Stray Current II" thread. '07 260DA

[Stray Current]

I’ve been out of the water about three weeks, after doing a little sanding I’ve realized three things:

1: finding a boat detailer who understands what a “full detail” I s including buffing the top deck above the bond flange is damn near impossible. 0 for 3 in Florida so far

2:the paint is bubbling where minor pitting had occurred previously and the primer didn’t adhere properly. A full strip, etch, and prime is the only way paint will adhere and stay on the drive

3: I no longer have any desire to work on this boat and I don’t care how long it sits

 

[OllieC]

I’ve been out of the water about three weeks, after doing a little sanding I’ve realized three things:

1: finding a boat detailer who understands what a “full detail” I s including buffing the top deck above the bond flange is damn near impossible. 0 for 3 in Florida so far

2:the paint is bubbling where minor pitting had occurred previously and the primer didn’t adhere properly. A full strip, etch, and prime is the only way paint will adhere and stay on the drive

3: I no longer have any desire to work on this boat and I don’t care how long it sits

Don’t quit on us now, you’ve done a phenomenal job! Step back until after the holidays. The best time of year IMO is coming up down there and will be great for boating.

 

[Stray Current]

Don’t quit on us now, you’ve done a phenomenal job! Step back until after the holidays. The best time of year IMO is coming up down there and will be great for boating.

im not necessarily quitting but I’m seriously nostalgic for my Yamahas lately!

I think I’m going to talk to a yard in pine island that has a great reputation about a full detail, sandblasting and painting the drive, and a full drive service

I have also sprung a small coolant leak at the water pump bolt (gm common issue, Ford is better ) that I’ll need to fix.

after that I’m likely going to list it. I think a 27-30 foot twin Yamaha center console comes next

 

[Nater Potater]

Well, I can't say that I blame you. I know I've seen the "center console" phrase pop up quite a few times over the last thirteen pages, so it would seem to be that that's where your heart lies. Get your boat saleable so you at least have a viable trade-in.

 

[aerobat77]

3: I no longer have any desire to work on this boat and I don’t care how long it sits

I hear you . I had a 06 240 sundancer for many years and took best care of her.

First i was euphoric what a sexy design it is until i found out more and more it is a bad design for me .

It offered less space than any bayliner , crownline or maxxum out of the same footprint . The beds are too short , the midcabin useless for an adult at all , cabin height and space is inferior to competitors . Storage space is also less , cockpit shines with no convertibility at all . I learned to live with it

The worst was the handling , never in history i saw a more tippy , unstable boat than this . I learned to handle it like a pro with drivetrim and tabs but you always and ever have to be fully concentrated , it was never a "relax and let it ride" boat .

I think a 260 is a bit better in space but handling seems to be also very bad .

My final decision to sell was after one thing after another started to fail . I could bring a ton of items which i had to fix .

It was my only boat i sold with a pleasure and never looked back.

 

[Stray Current]

It’s been a crazy few weeks. I pulled the boat 11/14 and had a recommended “detailer” come do what was supposed to be a full detail a day later. They never even took the cover off and they were gone in 2 hours. Sold me a bunch of bullshit about a 9+hour day. The results and the surveillance cameras said otherwise ...

My company I was working for was apparently having financial issues and officially went bankrupt November 17th and I found myself unemployed. Wound up signing on with a different shop a grand total of 4 hours later with a significant increase in compensation and benefits. It’s been going pretty well

I’ve been more or less letting the boat sit with the exception of emptying the dehumidifier and occasionally checking the coolant leak. Turns out it wasn’t the pump bolt but a drip from the nipple for the hydronic hose on the circulator pump. Fixed that but there’s still a tiny drip. I’m thinking that perhaps it’s the front cover. 2 small drops in the past week. Gonna let it ride for now... I have had zero desire to sand the drive, tabs, shower or props.

Despite my concern with the real estate market we decided to go ahead and go under contract on a house. Sadly it’s the same price a home with a pool on the water with a boat lift would have been 12 months ago and has neither pool nor canal access. at least it’s a beautiful ‘21 build that needs nothing and conforms to the newest hurricane codes for minimal insurance premiums. Going minimum down instead of the 50% I originally intended to do for waterfront.

Going to invest the difference. Provided the dollar doesn’t totally collapse and the real estate market doesn’t head any further to the moon I hope to revisit that waterfront idea for a move-in ready as a cash buyer or with a small mortgage in 5-7 years. We shall see...

The boat is going off to a yard in Bonita tomorrow to have the tabs, drive, shower and props stripped, etched primed and coated with trilux. I’m going to have them pull the drive and lube the splines and inspect the bellows while it’s there, as well as new anodes.

I found a detailer from Jersey in Fort Myers that actually knows my guy from NJ, and they seem to think highly of each other. He rolled up in a wrapped van and gave me a written estimate through quickbooks with a painfully detailed explanation of the method and scope of work. He’ll be doing from the rubrail up and the cockpit once it comes back from the boatyard. Hopefully he meets or exceeds my expectations, but I have a good feeling after meeting for the estimate. Pricy but if the quality is right it’s worth it

After that she’s going back in the water. We’re going to hang on to her for awhile due to pricing in the used center console market. It’s crazier than real estate. 20 year old boats with big hours are selling just shy of what I paid for a custom ordered loaded out 2015 sea hunt

Who knows what 2022 holds for a story about a man and a boat?

 

[Nater Potater]

A lot can change in a month, eh? I'm glad to hear you've decided to stay out of New Jersczystan! If we ever take the plunge to run the Great Loop, we'll have to look you up.

 

[Stray Current]

A lot can change in a month, eh? I'm glad to hear you've decided to stay out of New Jersczystan! If we ever take the plunge to run the Great Loop, we'll have to look you up.

Going back to New Jersczystaan was never a thought. I'll never step foot in that horrid place again!

Lee County is a great place to visit, it's really nice here. Let me know if you're ever down this way

 

[Stray Current]

.

 

[Nater Potater]

View attachment 120112 View attachment 120113 View attachment 120114 View attachment 120115 View attachment 120116 View attachment 120117 View attachment 120118 View attachment 120119 View attachment 120120 .

Coming along nicely!

 

[Stray Current]

A little more of the same. Long wait times for garbage work. After waiting 6 weeks to drop my boat off and another four for work that was promised in two this is the job I got. Apparently no matter what I'm on my own if I want to get it done, regardless of my schedule. Vendors are unreliable

Incomplete coverage on the drive and the shower and props not even touched. They didn't even bother taking the props off to paint the drive. The inner and bottom sides of the trim rims were not coated either.

I bought myself a little spot blaster and got the props and the shower glass bead blasted to a satin finish and coated in primocon and trilux. Touched up the outdrive a bit and I'll be giving that a final once-over once everything is installed, taping where needed

Going to try to get it detailed in the next 2 weeks by the guy from New Jersey I mentioned a few posts ago. Unfortunately I missed my original appointment for last week.

I may not even put it back in the water until April with the closing on the house coming up and all of the pre-move-in projects I would like to complete.

I may as well have winterized and shrink wrapped the damn thing...

 

[Stray Current]

Coming along nicely!

It is now. It was certainly less than desired after I picked it up from the marina that was supposed to complete the job.

I'm starting to wonder if I have unrealistic expectations. I know I would be embarrassed to bill my customers for some of the things I've had people try to pass off as complete jobs

 

[Nater Potater]

It is now. It was certainly less than desired after I picked it up from the marina that was supposed to complete the job.
I'm starting to wonder if I have unrealistic expectations. I know I would be embarrassed to bill my customers for some of the things I've had people try to pass off as complete jobs

I guess that's what drives a lot of what I do. Too many times have repair shops of all ilk screwed-over me and mine, at least in my eyes. There's only as many repair shops as I can count on one finger that I'll take my cars to, and that's only after I've determined that the problem is beyond me.

 

[Stray Current]

I guess that's what drives a lot of what I do. Too many times have repair shops of all ilk screwed-over me and mine, at least in my eyes. There's only as many repair shops as I can count on one finger that I'll take my cars to, and that's only after I've determined that the problem is beyond me.

Detailers have been by far the worst. The guy that I used for years back home was awesome. He wasn't cheap and at that price he was a bargain for the service he provided.
I think I may have found a suitable replacement but time will tell. Also not cheap but if he delivers what he promised it will be a great value.

I've come to the conclusion that if I have any Mercruiser issues beyond my capability I'm towing the boat back to New Jersey and having Brennan boatworks handle them. They are who replaced my transom assembly and a few other things in the beginning. Total trust. I just gave them carte blanche and let them run

I think a big part of my frustration with the boat this year has been my schedule. Not a lot of free time for boat work. It's miserable having to do the job anyway after you've waited for someone to do it. I'm also not a fan of having to renegotiate quoted and agreed prices for substandard work. It's hard to remain cool at times

 

[Stray Current]

I think my drive might be ready now after two additional cans of trilux. It is amazing how that stuff discolors after one rain storm.

I think I may have finally found the detailer to use in Lee county. They spent a solid six and a half hours on the boat today with three guys and they'll be back tomorrow to button up the fine details.

The boat has not looked this good since my guy in Jersey did it initially in 2019. If it comes out the way I hope it does I'll be more than happy to share their name and contact info.

Theoretically it could be in the water late Saturday or first thing Sunday. Hoping...

Since they took all the snaps out to compound, I figured it was a perfect time to replace them all and reseal.

Sadly I think I've realized this boat has some micro porosity issues in the gel coat, and I've also somewhat suspected it may have broken loose at one point in a storm and been battered around. Now that it's been well compounded I believe I can confirm there have been gel coat repairs.

She'll never be perfect...

 

[Stray Current]

https://flboatpolishing.com/


If you need a boat/car/plane/rv detailed in or around Lee county, Florida these are the guys. I’m impressed. They did a great job

 

[Stray Current]

Someone is very happy to have his boat back, and I'm not talking about Rüger the boat dog.

But he is too!

 

[Nater Potater]

I dunno; Rüger looks pretty happy to me!

 

[Stray Current]

Some good usage today!

Had to throw it on the trailer and change the new anodes yesterday because the yard who did the drive put four zinc anodes and one aluminum anode on and the single aluminum anode was taking the brunt of everything...

 

[businessjett]

View attachment 77914 View attachment 77915 Unfortunately, we found out that the cabin was less than watertight in the first particularly nasty rainstorm after we bought it. 2 of the cabin portlights needed to be re-bedded, as well as the drain fitting for the cabin door well.

Resealed all 4 portholes. All watertight now.

Don't use 5200 for this! EVER!

i just bought a 260 seems one porthole leaks .do they just unscrew and come out ?