After 7 years ....I finally got her wet!

imported_rick

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 12, 2006
Messages
113
Paid 700.00 for a 1978 18 ft boat with a rotted floor, stringers and bulkheads. The 1980 115hp Chrysler was seized and the ignition was fried. The tilt trailer had bald tires busted lights, split dry-rotted rollers and a rusted winch with a frayed cable.

It was a good thing I didn't know anything about boats when I bought her seven years ago. If I knew anything back then I would not have bought It.

So...after seven years of taking up space in my garage, replacing the windows, floor (and stringers), instruments, wiring, carpeting, fuel tanks, powerhead, ignition module, rectifier, water pump, trailer tires, wheels, hub assemblies, rollers, chains, winch, spare tire bracket and lights. Purchasing everything else to make her legal and safe like life jackets, pfd, paddle, boat hook, fire extinguisher, dock lines, anchor, signal kit, fenders, spare lines, Bimini top and deck hardware etc, I finally introduced her to some big water this past Sunday afternoon. :)

My brother-in-law and I launched her down a ramp in the Salem River in South Jersey, across the Delaware River from the C&D Canal. The old (new) 1980 Chrysler fired up on the first turn of the key. I let her warm up while BIL parked the truck and trailer.

We idled out of the creek until we left the no-wake zone and I gave it some throttle. She went up on plane beautifully! Once we got past the sandbar at the mouth of the creek, had to go south for a bit, we headed west then north to the C&D Canal. Since it was a new powerhead, I didn't want to push it too hard so we only brought it up to 20 mph. When we got to the canal we turned around to go back across the river and return to the ramp.

Everything worked just fine for our maiden splash. That is until we were about a half mile from the ramp. We lost our steering. Apparently the cable broke. So I just steered the boat by sitting on the gunwale back by the splash well and move the motor by hand. We docked perfectly! Naturally the one thing I did not replace is the one thing that failed.

Overall I'd say the maiden splash was a success! A very large part of our success is due to the incredible amount of knowledge I found in this forum. From Franks motor advice (Chrysler forum) to oops fiberglass instruction I never had to go anywhere else for information. Thanks to all of you and your posts of advice, experience AND mistakes.

Here are a couple of pics for ya.

2012-07-15 16.40.18.jpg2012-07-15 16.40.39.jpg2012-07-15 16.10.26.jpg2012-07-15 16.10.49.jpg
 
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colding

Seaman
Joined
Apr 22, 2012
Messages
64
Re: After 7 years ....I finally got her wet!

That is awesome! I was hoping for porn for the eyes by looking at the title and I still got it, just not the kind I was expecting.
 

tinkeringwackyone

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
May 2, 2008
Messages
415
Re: After 7 years ....I finally got her wet!

congrats on the splashdown, I know it feels great. Enjoy it now. Big Conrgats again, way to be persistant and not give up.
 

64osby

Admiral
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Messages
6,799
Re: After 7 years ....I finally got her wet!

Rick - WAY TO GO! Bet there were huge:D:D:D the whole trip.

Steering cable should be a snap for ya.
 
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