Great Cornholio
Recruit
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2014
- Messages
- 5
Hey everyone how are you doing? As the title says I just bought a 75/76 Kings Craft 55ft houseboat. I figure a little back story will help. Believe it or not this is my first boat. I know crazy to jump into something this big, but I work 150 miles from my house so I need a place to crash (hopefully not sink) while I'm at work so I figured houseboat was the way to go. I say a 75/76 because the previous owner has always said it was a 75, however when I got the in water survey (no haul out facility at this marina) the surveyor said the HID indicates its a 76.
The survey uncovered some things that really need fixed so I'm here to ask questions. Since this is my first post I'll just ask a few then ask some more as time goes on.
1. Electric system seems to be a mess. Switches don't work, some aren't labeled, loose unconnected wires under helm, etc. It seems like rewiring the boat is probably a must. Should I use marine wire? Is it possible to rewire most of the boat without taking the wall and ceiling panels off? Any other gotchas you guys can think of with the electrical system?
2. Potable water plumbing. There is a leak in the fresh water supply line to the sink in forward head. I figure all of the plumbing is the same age so other leaks are bound to show up so I might as well replace all of the pipes/tubing. Can I use PEX sharkbite from Home Depot? If not what should I use?
3. Left engine starter went out (inboard with v drives) The engines are Marine Power Corp. The left engine is apparently left hand rotating. The previous owner had the same starter rebuilt twice within a month of me buying the boat. First time the mechanic basically just cleaned it and charged him for a rebuild. Second time a different mechanic rebuilt the bendix. The starter is weak and got to the point where it would only turn the engine over at full throttle, then eventually got weak enough it couldn't even turn the engine over at all. I'm under the impression that the starter is basically shot at this point. Is it possible for that part of the starter to be rebuilt? Does anyone have any idea where I can find a new starter for a Marine Power Corp 350? I've looked but so far have been striking out...
4. Finally the worst one (I think). The survey revealed some corrosion and pitting on the hull under the access panels in the floor. No haul out facility here so I have not had a chance to see how the bottom of the boat looks. Lets say worst case the hull is pitted enough it needs capped. Does anyone have a ball park price of how much that'd set me back?
That is all for now. The survey did reveal some other issues, but I'll save those for another day. Right now the boat needs more work than I was hoping, but as of now I'm not to the point of regretting going this route so hopefully it stays that way. Sorry kind of long winded and thanks for you help and time.
The survey uncovered some things that really need fixed so I'm here to ask questions. Since this is my first post I'll just ask a few then ask some more as time goes on.
1. Electric system seems to be a mess. Switches don't work, some aren't labeled, loose unconnected wires under helm, etc. It seems like rewiring the boat is probably a must. Should I use marine wire? Is it possible to rewire most of the boat without taking the wall and ceiling panels off? Any other gotchas you guys can think of with the electrical system?
2. Potable water plumbing. There is a leak in the fresh water supply line to the sink in forward head. I figure all of the plumbing is the same age so other leaks are bound to show up so I might as well replace all of the pipes/tubing. Can I use PEX sharkbite from Home Depot? If not what should I use?
3. Left engine starter went out (inboard with v drives) The engines are Marine Power Corp. The left engine is apparently left hand rotating. The previous owner had the same starter rebuilt twice within a month of me buying the boat. First time the mechanic basically just cleaned it and charged him for a rebuild. Second time a different mechanic rebuilt the bendix. The starter is weak and got to the point where it would only turn the engine over at full throttle, then eventually got weak enough it couldn't even turn the engine over at all. I'm under the impression that the starter is basically shot at this point. Is it possible for that part of the starter to be rebuilt? Does anyone have any idea where I can find a new starter for a Marine Power Corp 350? I've looked but so far have been striking out...
4. Finally the worst one (I think). The survey revealed some corrosion and pitting on the hull under the access panels in the floor. No haul out facility here so I have not had a chance to see how the bottom of the boat looks. Lets say worst case the hull is pitted enough it needs capped. Does anyone have a ball park price of how much that'd set me back?
That is all for now. The survey did reveal some other issues, but I'll save those for another day. Right now the boat needs more work than I was hoping, but as of now I'm not to the point of regretting going this route so hopefully it stays that way. Sorry kind of long winded and thanks for you help and time.