1981 Bayliner Victoria 2750 - Restore or Bust

[GWPSR]

Installed a brand new LED all-around light last night on a folding base just ahead of the windscreen. I tried to take a pic but it didn't turn out. You'll just have to take my word for it that it looks great. We swapped out the 24" pole that the light came with for a 36" pole that I had from the old stern-mounted light. That puts it at 40" higher than the sidelights, so we're legal.

Got both trim tabs mounted up last night too, and the high-pressure hydraulic tubing from iBoats arrived, so we'll be plumbing tonight.

The shipping list from iBoats mentioned that they had included an iBoats sticker, but it was missing It's not nice to tease us iBoats!

 

[1981fiberform]

No Title

Been lurking and admiring this impressive task. I am the caretaker of the family boat dad bought new in 81. Fiberform 18' open bow with same motor as your bayliner I believe (AQ200D - Chevy small block with 280 out drive).
In case you didn't already know this that out drive comes with a trailering bracket to prevent it lowering while on the road. The original bracket is a total PITA to put in and remove. Found this much more clever design on eBay 5 years ago. It works fabulously and takes 10 seconds to install or remove. Not selling anything just passing along a good find to protect that new out drive.
Looking forward to your report from the lake!

 

[GWPSR]

Been lurking and admiring this impressive task. I am the caretaker of the family boat dad bought new in 81. Fiberform 18' open bow with same motor as your bayliner I believe (AQ200D - Chevy small block with 280 out drive).
In case you didn't already know this that out drive comes with a trailering bracket to prevent it lowering while on the road. The original bracket is a total PITA to put in and remove. Found this much more clever design on eBay 5 years ago. It works fabulously and takes 10 seconds to install or remove. Not selling anything just passing along a good find to protect that new out drive.
Looking forward to your report from the lake!

On the virgin splash I will use a ratchet strap under the outdrive to either the tow rings or ski rope ring. The PO used that method since the tilt motor wasn't working when he had it. We have a transom saver still in the package on the shelf too that I'll evaluate for suitability. I'll have to see if I can find a reference explaining how that trailering bracket works. I ought to have enough scrap rod and pipe hanging around to be able to weld one up if I can figure out the dimensions.

 

[Tboner7864]

Hey GW havent heard from you guys in a while well over a month I thought you would have her in the water by now. everything is looking good so far anxious to see that old girl in the water running under her own power last I heard you were going to try her out in about a week you guys alright

 

[GWPSR]

Life and weather interfered with our plans. I finally accepted the inevitable and drained the engine water jacket and popped the cover off the water pump this week, and erected the winter frame. It'll be wrapped this weekend. Making it accessible however so we can continue to work on wiring, plumbing and interior finish over the off-season.

 

[PatinIdaho]

BUMMER!!! Been waiting and looking for this every day but alas mine is put up for winter also so i totally understand.

 

[GWPSR]

My thread sank!!! I found it on page 26. Seems the world keeps moving while we hibernate for the winter

I've unwrapped my boat, and gwpjr has unwrapped his Starcraft (and he even took it out on Irondequoit Bay once already)

I've done some early spring shopping and picked up:

- A new fuel gauge sender - Installed and working. Yay!
- A 3nm LED transom light - Installed, but wiring not terminated on dash yet
- A clamshell for my depth sounder cable - Not yet installed
- A roll of 110mm sound/heat aluminum clad rubber foam insulation - Not yet installed.

And Santa brought me a Lowrance Elite - 5HDI chartplotter! (He's sooo good to me!)

Found one section of bow rail separated when I uncovered, probably due to wind against the cover. Drilled and added a screw to that joint on both sides. Hate to have it come apart while leaning on it someday.

The inside of the boat was bone dry after the winter nap. That makes me feel really good about our prep this year.

I've put the drain plugs back in the engine, reconnected the one water hose I removed to blow out water, and tightened the screws on the from of the raw water pump. We're ready to fire her up soon.

All the unwrapping and gwpjr starting his motor on muffs caused the neighbors across the street to have to scramble to catch up. They dragged a bass boat out of the garage and started it, and dragged a 26' and 21' boat out to the driveway but haven't torn into the wrap yet.

Still chilly here, and the magnolia and lilacs haven't yet bloomed, but the chances of a hard freeze are greatly reduced, and we're all jonesing to get busy on the boats again.

 

[GWPSR]

- A roll of 110mm sound/heat aluminum clad rubber foam insulation - Not yet installed.

Forum won't let you edit a post anymore. Hmmm.

Should have said 110 mil, not mm.

 

[zool]

Welcome back GW....looking forward to the progress.....and yea, the edit feature goes away after an hour now.

 

[Hoosmatroos]

Ahhhh finally more progress

 

[PatinIdaho]

Welcome back! Now whats going on? Been waiting all winter for this to get going again

 

[GWPSR]

So, about a week ago, I made a 'transom bracket' for the outdrive. Not identical to Bayliner OEM, but plenty functional:

The peg ends go into holes in the transom shield, and the other side locks into the tilt lock on the leg. Welded a pair of washers on for a bungee cord.

What good is road safety without a little road? Took it for a spin:

Found myself at the boat launch at the Port of Rochester, so I let it swim:

We headed out onto Lake Ontario for a bit:

No, there's no furniture on deck except for the helm seat.

Dammit. Still no images. I give up. Guess you'll just need to imagine it.

 

[GWPSR]

Let's see if it still allows YouTube links:

The section in the middle looks odd because the damned iPhone went into 'Time Lapse' mode...

 

[PatinIdaho]

Congrats on the splash! How was it all ok?

 

[sheboyganjohn]

Don't recall where you hail from, What body of water are you headed out on?

 

[GWPSR]

Congrats on the splash! How was it all ok?

Beautiful! Engine's not fully broken in yet, so 3,000 RPM is the current sustained limit, but we got it up to 30 MPH for a brief stretch just to see if we could. Smooth and quieter than I expected. The interior is still mainly bare, so we took turns looking for hull flex when cruising through swells, and it's rock solid.

Don't recall where you hail from, What body of water are you headed out on?

We launched from the Port of Rochester (NY) on the Genesee River, then cruised a couple of miles offshore on Lake Ontario.

 

[Tboner7864]

Whoo Who!!!!!!!!!!! Look Great guys cant wait to see the inside

 

[Jimmy H.]

Congrats for hanging in there and getting it done. Cool video!!

 

[sheboyganjohn]

We launched from the Port of Rochester (NY) on the Genesee River, then cruised a couple of miles offshore on Lake Ontario.

Thought that looked like one of the great lakes. Congrats.

 

[Mikeopsycho]

It floats! Well done. :thumb: