73 Sea Ray restoration

[GSPLures]

An update of where I am at,

I decided setting smaller goals to accomplish by a date is a lot more useful than saying splash by this date!

I repaired the underside of the hull, faired, and primed. I am going to blend in a red paint that doesnt really match and hope it does not stick out like a sore thumb (i know it will!). Then compound and wax the underside while its off the trailer with the bunks removed.

I will end up sanding that off in the off season and either re gel the hull or paint the hull not sure yet. I am a better painter so I am leaning that way.

I am also repairing a few bad spots on the trailer. I am going to pick up some metal hopefully tomorrow and patch it in. The PO did a horrible job welding and used a pipe to hold the bow stop.

I placed my interior in there spots for a little motivation! My small goal is to have this done and back on the trailer by next weekend and start putting the motor back in.

 

[todhunter]

Nice! Ain't nothing wrong with setting the interior in place and making boat noises to get motivated!

 

[Reserector_]

Agreed. Thinking too far ahead can be discouraging.
There are exceptions, however. Thinking of the end result, as you are doing, is one.
The other is thinking ahead with regard to parts and supplies that you need to put on your radar for the upcoming steps. Keep throwing those motivators out in front of you to maintain some momentum.

 

[GSPLures]

Well I have the worst part of the trailer repaired. I did not realize it was as bad as it was until I started grinding everything down.

I had to make my own u channel out of flat stock because nobody had the size I needed in stock.

I ended up being able to stitch weld the front and back together, but the bottom was a different story. The bottom was swiss cheese so I ended up cutting the bottom out to good metal and welding the u channel I made into place.

Now its solid! One more thing checked off the list!

 

[GSPLures]

Great news guys! Under all the oxidation my boat is red!

I ended up using a polisher and compound to clean up the boat, I had a early day at work and figured I've put to much work into the boat to open the garage and have it look like crap.

I did a little bit more engine work to prep for the install hopefully coming soon. I also carpeted my bunks and set her back down on the trailer.

Also turns out that rustoleum safety red is a great match to the gel coat on my boat.

 

[Reserector_]

That cleaned up great!

 

[GSPLures]

That cleaned up great!

Yeah I was impressed, I figured it was going to need to be completely redone. There are a few spots that need to be gone over some more and touched up.

 

[GSPLures]

Well I have to motor back in finally!

Taking a .5" off of the motor mount worked fantastic. It aligned perfect.

I still have to install the engine harness after I change all the connections. Hopefully I will have that done tomorrow, but I was in and out of the boat a million times today so that is it for today!

 

[GSPLures]

I have the motor all wired up, I cranked it over to make sure it rolled over good, had a good strong spark coming from each plug with the tester.

Tomorrow I am going to hook up the fuel and use a cut garden hose with a shutoff valve straight into the water port in the bell housing to fingers crossed get it fired up.

Unfortunately I have to order a longer fill and vent hose to sit the tank under the bow because I rotated the way it sits. Until those arrive I am going to sit it the way it was and use the old filler and vent to get it started.

 

[Reserector_]

Bummer. That hose ain't cheap.

 

[GSPLures]

Bummer. That hose ain't cheap.

Yeah I didnt think of that before I made the decision, at least it opened up some more storage options

 

[Reserector_]

Don't just buy the cheapest stuff available. Make sure it is rated for ethanol. I don't recall what the different ratings are, but I was able to google that info.
If you use worm drive clamps, it requires two at each connection per code.

 

[GSPLures]

Don't just buy the cheapest stuff available. Make sure it is rated for ethanol. I don't recall what the different ratings are, but I was able to google that info.
If you use worm drive clamps, it requires two at each connection per code.

No point in getting cheap now the boat is almost done (and expensive)

 

[GSPLures]

Well I got the fuel system all hooked up.

I used the primer bulb from my outboard and hooked it up to the end of the fuel hose and pulled fuel to the end and hooked it into the fuel pump. After that I unhooked the fuel line going to the carb and gave her a quick crank to make sure fuel came through the pump.

Once everything was hooked up and I made sure there was fuel getting to the carb I pumped the throttle twice set it to about 2/3 and it fired up!!!

It ran for about a couple of seconds and then stalled out. After waiting a few minutes I cranked it and same thing.

I know the choke is out of adjustment so I will adjust that tomorrow after work and see if that is the only problem. If that does not solve the problem I am going to rebuild the carb.

 

[GSPLures]

I adjusted the choke and it fired and ran good when throttled up. It stumbles and dies when in neutral but that is just some adjustments. The motor sounded great while running which made the captain happy, she wants the boat in the water now! Nothing like a timeline from someone else, but at least she is on board (pun intended)

 

[todhunter]

We went out on the river a few weeks ago with some friends on their boat and I think that finally set the hook in my wife - now she gets it and is ready for me to be done with the boat...now.

 

[GSPLures]

We went out on the river a few weeks ago with some friends on their boat and I think that finally set the hook in my wife - now she gets it and is ready for me to be done with the boat...now.

At least we have the go ahead! Time to spend money!!!

 

[GSPLures]

I got the navigation lights wired and working.

I installed the tank the way it was originally (For the time being). I bought all the hoses I need but there is no way to plumb the filler hose with out bad angles for filling or kinking the hose. So I am going to have to move the fuel fill over a foot. That is going to be an off season project (still trying for the splash this season).

I bought a new bilge pump and blower which I plan on wiring up tomorrow. Then install the out drive and wiring and plumbing the tilt/trim pump(still hoping that works as it should).

 

[todhunter]

What about some mandrel bent 45-degree SS or aluminum tube? You might be able to use one or two mandrel bends in combination with the flexible hose (double-hose clamp each end) to get what you need.

 

[GSPLures]

What about some mandrel bent 45-degree SS or aluminum tube? You might be able to use one or two mandrel bends in combination with the flexible hose (double-hose clamp each end) to get what you need.

I tried that option unfortunately it wont work for my set up. I had some 1.5" exhaust elbows I was going to plumb in. To get enough hose on the elbow to get 2 clamps on the fill the gas has to run uphill to get to the tank.

I have to 90 it right away then it runs uphill to get to the 90 off the tank. Tried with a combination of 90s and 45s and there wasn't a solution that looked like it would work. The problem comes in because of the sacrificial wood the tank is sitting on makes it slightly to high for the setup.