Recent content by OldEngineer

All y'all, we're back! Heat abated enough for me to work outside, and hands and arms healed enough to put them to use (long story short, my 800 lb motorcycle pounced on my arms and hands last month). Also, First and Second Mates (Daisy and Kane) are back from Summer vacations. Put them to...

@ dvx216, good catch! I will remove that cover and see what's what inside that engine. @ Sublimetime, I didn't see one, but I will try to look closer for an inspection hole. @ Big Island Lifer and JVM225, your posts reminded me that I have an equivalent product, Kroil (creeping oil) that I use...

Hoo boy! Six hours working on Ohana's engine today. Install charged battery Check outdrive tilt, good movement full up, full down. Check engine oil: full, nice clear amber color Check power steering pump: Yikes, empty! Now filled, spins freely, belt good, correct tension. Check...

Quick update, This past month's budget allowed a purchase of enough rollers to refit the stern-most 8 on the trailer. Here they are: Will update again tomorrow after install on the trailer.

All y'all, We did it! Me, First Mate and Second Mate (Daisy and Kane). With Dennis' procedure and a little patience, the trailer came out from under Ohana without a "hitch" *heh-heh* Apologies for only taking pictures after the fact, but in the heat of battle I was more concerned about young...

Dennis, I share your concern for those two forward jackstands. They scare me too. I am wondering, perhaps I could pull the trailer forward enough to be able to put temporary supports under the boat, but behind the trailer axle. I think the trailer would be far forward enough that those...

All y'all, it was finally warm enough this weekend to put a little effort into fixing up Ohana. Couldn't do much with the boat herself, but got her up off of the trailer, and on boat jacks, and yes, the forward tarp is new, since the old one ripped during a windstorm we had last week. Oh, and...

Many apologies to all for the long hiatus, but Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years, plus family issues (happily resolved) all intervened, preventing any meaningful work done on Ohana. However, here she is, all decked out in her tactical stealth outfit, secure in our driveway. Scrungy old...

RH1, welcome to the <$1k boat owners' support group, a sub-section in the Hole In The Water Club! I promised myself I would not keep track of the money spent to restore our hundred-dollar basket-case, to maintain some sense of sanity. I just keep my eye on the (very distant) finish line, and...

Quick update: nav lights came in the mail last Friday, installed bow and stern Saturday morning, all lit up when First Mate Daisy (13-year old grand-niece) hit the console switch. Yay!

Part of the Admiral's Hawaiian name is Pualani (Heavenly Flower), so our first boat (Catalina Capri 16.5 daysailer) is so named. Sailed it one time (mid-size chop, winds gusting to 15 kts) with the Admiral hanging on to the boom for dear life. She said (between screams) "We need a bigger...

Quick Update redux: got out my handy-dandy freebie Harbor Freight Multimeter and troubleshot the running lights: voltage is good to bow and stern lights. The bow light fixture is shot, so new one on order. The aft light pole is AWOL, so new one is also on order. After putting a full charge...

All y'all, quick update, pics to follow. 'Ohana is now parked all snuggy in our driveway. We solved the half-lowered sterndrive by unbolting the trim pistons, and strapping the unit up as high as it could go with a ratcheting cargo strap. Hooked her up to Big Tater, and backed her into the...

Aaron, I apologize! I did not read your original post completely. You are a Master Auto Mech! I had a thought ... (they still happen occasionally *grin*) if you have one of those new-fangled infrared heat sensors, try aiming it at each side of the engine. From what you described about the...

blaster, ok, we just concluded a highly-calibrated diagnostic on the transom. Admiral was stationed on the trailer tongue, and I gingerly placed my suddenly increasing 210 pounds of enormousness on the outdrive, stepping with both feet on the splash plate, then vigorously jumping up and down...