1974 Ebbtide Restoration - SPLASHED

[Woodonglass]

Well MM, I guess you're Official now...

Congrats!!!!​

​

 

[mercurymang]

Thanks Wood. Wouldn't have been able to do it without you and many others. Really appreciate all the help over the past months.

 

[Tnstratofam]

Great job! Sorry for the starting gremlin. Awesome splash though.

 

[GA_Boater]

MM - Before you get a new solenoid, check the key switch and wiring with a meter. These old Merc wiring harnesses, boat side and internal, like to fall apart over time. And the key switches can fail after a few decades.

The old Ebbtide is looking good!

 

[Trooper82]

Looks and sounds awesome!

Congrats on a safe succesful splash...

 

[mercurymang]

MM - Before you get a new solenoid, check the key switch and wiring with a meter. These old Merc wiring harnesses, boat side and internal, like to fall apart over time. And the key switches can fail after a few decades.

The old Ebbtide is looking good!

Will do. I have a spare parts motor so I pulled one off it. I'll give it a shot in the next few days and see what happens. So is it possible to obtain a new key switch if it is bad?

 

[mercurymang]

Looks and sounds awesome!

Congrats on a safe succesful splash...

Thank you sir.

 

[GA_Boater]

Will do. I have a spare parts motor so I pulled one off it. I'll give it a shot in the next few days and see what happens. So is it possible to obtain a new key switch if it is bad?

Sure can. Just have to match what's in the control if the switch is control mounted. I don't remember what control you have.

 

[mercurymang]

I have a 74-75 blue label mercontrol.

 

[tpenfield]

I have been following along throughout your project. Congrats on the splash :thumb:

 

[mercurymang]

I have been following along throughout your project. Congrats on the splash :thumb:

And I thank you for your encouragement along the way.

 

[mercurymang]

Ok, I'm looking for some opinions on whether I should restore the ski ladder that came with the boat or try to find a new one. I'm really into keeping things original (except for electronic stuff) but not sure on this one. As you can see all the paint is chipping off. I could strip it and polish it or repaint it. One benefit to keeping it is I have already drilled oversized holes and pb'd them for this ladder when I installed the transom.
Let me know what you guys think.

 

[Woodonglass]

I'd keep it, Paint it with the Tractor Paint w/Hardener and this one I WOULD Clear Coat. Tractor Paint makes a Clear Coat in a Spray can. 2-3 coats of it and she'll last a LOOOOONNNGGGG time!!! Bleach that teak and then put some Tung oil on it and let it dry for a week. Then two coats of epoxy and 4 coats of Marine Varnish with some non-skid in the last coat and She'll look BETTER than new!!!!

 

[mercurymang]

I'd keep it, Paint it with the Tractor Paint w/Hardener and this one I WOULD Clear Coat. Tractor Paint makes a Clear Coat in a Spray can. 2-3 coats of it and she'll last a LOOOOONNNGGGG time!!! Bleach that teak and then put some Tung oil on it and let it dry for a week. Then two coats of epoxy and 4 coats of Marine Varnish with some non-skid in the last coat and She'll look BETTER than new!!!!

1. I assume I should sand it before painting it.

2. When you say bleach it do you mean mix up some bleach and spray it on?

 

[Woodonglass]

Yes, use stripper to remove the paint and sand to bare metal Use self etching primer then regular primer then Paint.

How to clean and prep Teak...

Mix 3/4 cups liquid laundry detergent with 1/4 cup chlorine bleach and 2 teaspoons of trisodium phosphate. Soak well and Scrub with stiff bristle Brush. If it's still blotchy after it dries try cleaning it with some SnoBowl Toilet Bowl Cleaner. It has a lot of oxyalic acid in it. Wear rubber gloves and a mask cuz it's nasty stuff!!!

 

[mercurymang]

Yes, use stripper to remove the paint and sand to bare metal Use self etching primer then regular primer then Paint.

How to clean and prep Teak...

Mix 3/4 cups liquid laundry detergent with 1/4 cup chlorine bleach and 2 teaspoons of trisodium phosphate. Soak well and Scrub with stiff bristle Brush. If it's still blotchy after it dries try cleaning it with some SnoBowl Toilet Bowl Cleaner. It has a lot of oxyalic acid in it. Wear rubber gloves and a mask cuz it's nasty stuff!!!

Could you suggest a source for the epoxy resin? Since I don't need very much, is it possible to find it locally. Not sure where you can pick that up.

 

[Woodonglass]

You can get two of these @ Lowes...

. That would Give you 16oz and I think that would do the job. The Cabot's Marine Varnish is pretty good stuff too!!!

You should find this very informative...

 

[mercurymang]

You can get two of these @ Lowes...

. That would Give you 16oz and I think that would do the job. The Cabot's Marine Varnish is pretty good stuff too!!!

You should find this very informative...

Thanks wood. Ya, I've watched several of this guys videos. Cool stuff. I got to looking at my teak and not not sure how salvagable it is. It has some cracking. I suppose i'll give it a shot though and see. Hard to believe how strong it is.

I went out today and robbed the solenoid off my parts motor. So far I haven't had any more starting problems. Time will tell.

 

[Woodonglass]

Sand your teak with R/O Sander and capture the dust in the bag. Mix the dust with some of this spackling thinned with just a bit of water so it's like catsup...

and then fill the cracks with the putty. When it dries the next day sand it smooth and stain it with Natural teak oil. You won't be able to tell the cracks were there!! Then apply the Epoxy and Marine varnish.

 

[GA_Boater]

I have a 74-75 blue label mercontrol.

Do you have the choke button or a push to choke starter switch? I see the switches on Ebay all the time - push to choke and the plain switches.