OldEngineer
New Member
- Oct 3, 2016
- 26
- Boat Info
- 1986 Seville CC, 3L 140 Mercruiser, Alpha I Drive, lovingly towed by "Tater" (2009 GMC Sierra)
- Engines
- 3L 140 Mercruiser w/Alpha I Drive
Yep, I did it. She looked so sad in the Boats.com ad, then I looked at the price ... "a hunnerd dollars! Yikes! A nineteen footer! Boat and trailer, babe!" The Admiral just sighed: "another boat, eh?" (I will petition the Hole In The Water forum for membership). So, 2-1/2 hours on the road, paid the Marina, hooked her up to Big Tater, then 2-1/2 hours back, constantly watching the partially dry-rotted trailer tires wobbling, but holding together for the complete trip. We arrived home, parked her at the edge of our cul-de-sac and the rest of the Tribe came piling out of the house to see the new boat. She will be our family fun-on-the-water boat, but we are all trying to be realists here. Some previous owner had begun a rehab, ripping out all the carpet, and the entire rotted aft end of the cockpit. Only the jump seat bases on either side of the engine remain. Fortunately, the engine and drive are intact but internal condition unknown at this time, and the forward folding seats, transom, deck flooring and stringers seem sound.
My first task on the list will be de-mounting the stern drive and installing a new water pump impeller kit and prop (present one is really chewed up). Once the drive is off, we can back the boat up the rather steep driveway ramp and into our driveway, and get her off of the trailer and up on boat jacks. The trailer needs all new rollers and lights. I already replaced the busted, rusted trailer jack. Then I can start on the transom mounts, engine itself, the power steering, the tilt lift pump hydraulics and electrics, then the boat electrics (lights, horn, bilge pump and bilge blower). If I can get all that squared away, then we can start budgeting for the cockpit interior needs. All in all, this thread will most likely run throughout the winter, with a very tentative splash date late next Spring or early Summer.
I have lurked on this forum for a few days now, and I see so many excellent suggestions and guidance from many folks with the same interests (translation: addiction to fixing up old boats), so I am cautiously optimistic that we can restore this sweet little boat to a safe, reliable fun-producing condition. She won't be spit-shine perfect, but hell, she's a boat!
Fair Winds and Following Seas to all,
Al and Bernadette
My first task on the list will be de-mounting the stern drive and installing a new water pump impeller kit and prop (present one is really chewed up). Once the drive is off, we can back the boat up the rather steep driveway ramp and into our driveway, and get her off of the trailer and up on boat jacks. The trailer needs all new rollers and lights. I already replaced the busted, rusted trailer jack. Then I can start on the transom mounts, engine itself, the power steering, the tilt lift pump hydraulics and electrics, then the boat electrics (lights, horn, bilge pump and bilge blower). If I can get all that squared away, then we can start budgeting for the cockpit interior needs. All in all, this thread will most likely run throughout the winter, with a very tentative splash date late next Spring or early Summer.
I have lurked on this forum for a few days now, and I see so many excellent suggestions and guidance from many folks with the same interests (translation: addiction to fixing up old boats), so I am cautiously optimistic that we can restore this sweet little boat to a safe, reliable fun-producing condition. She won't be spit-shine perfect, but hell, she's a boat!
Fair Winds and Following Seas to all,
Al and Bernadette