'76 Holiday i/o 18' Fishing Rebuild (pic heavy!)

[oldrem]

That looks great

 

[Woodonglass]

Really looking nice!!! I think it's time for one of these...

 

[italianstal27]

Well we had an awesome time on the Columbia yesterday! We're starting to realize a couple things though
1) Even though merc 120s "sip" fuel, we still probably went through 7-8 gallons in an hour, granted we were really ripping through the water.
2) Max speed seems to be 28mph
3) We should have done a bigger gas tank. 13 gallons is going to suck for multi-day trips, especially if our final destination is a decent ways away. We didn't really save money because now we'll need to buy more gas tanks.
4) Weight distribution. It's a real thing. I'm 184 lbs and when I sit in the front of the boat it has NO problem cutting through small waves. It's like riding on glass. But if I sit closer to the engine while Wyatt's driving, every little wave causes us to porpoise. We're now thinking about putting the dual batteries in the bow.
5) Remember to raise your trim before you pull the boat out of the water!!!!!!!!!
6) It's probably not a bad idea to have a "pre-launch" checklist. Might help us remember to bring some key items and prevent the skeg from dragging

 

[Watermann]

Even with a trim gauge you'd drag her up the ramp at least once. :lol:

 

[Woodonglass]

5) Remember to raise your trim before you pull the boat out of the water!!!!!!!!!
6) It's probably not a bad idea to have a "pre-launch" checklist. Might help us remember to bring some key items and prevent the skeg from dragging

Uhmm and DON'T forget to Check and Make sure the PLUG is in before launching!!!

 

[italianstal27]

Looks like we've started to develop some very small "stress fractures" in the epoxy covering the deck... has anyone else had this happen?

they're maybe 1/64" wide and 2" long. Have 8 or 9 of them in various spots. Hopefully the picture I've attached comes through!

-John

 

[Watermann]

I would have to say that the cracks are due to the weight of occupants on the deck, without more deck support than what SC provides there will be some flex and glass can not take that without cracking. Most guys would never see cracks like that if they used a vinyl or carpet deck covering. One of the pitfalls of using something that will not take kindly to repeated flexing without reinforcement.

 

[italianstal27]

Hard to say how this will affect the longevity of the deck?
My thought is keep these cracks painted well and hopefully the epoxy soaked into the surface of the wood enough to semi-seal these cracks?

 

[Watermann]

That's what I would do, fill them in with the same deck paint.

 

[italianstal27]

Added our "custom made" trim in the bow section. 3/4" angled aluminum. We found the best way to do it was clamp it down and then start bending it every 4" to get the next rivet installed.

Now that we're almost completely done with the trim, we're contemplating painting the aluminum with zinc chromate, or masking it and leaving it as shiny metal. Haven't decided...

Next on the list is adding the windshield supports, neatly wrapping up the electrical under the steering wheel, and installing the engine bay doors.

 

[italianstal27]

Sound deadening insulation is in and it made a tremendous difference. Was too excited to remember to grab pictures and video. However, we can now talk to each other, in the boat, without raising our voices. Just normal conversation is now possible. Running the boat on the water at 3000rpm was almost unbearably loud. Earplugs were certainly needed.

We also have the cabinet doors in and speakers permanently wired up!

Next is adding the battery trickle charger, fans for keeping air circulating while the boat is tarped, and fixing the tachometer.

Engine is doing well. We have a little bit of black in the oil (could be running rich?) but this is really the first oil change since we replaced the head gasket and lapped the valves so maybe it's all the crap finally settling to the pan?

Maxing out at 29mph on the gps.

-John

 

[Watermann]

What did you use to sound proof the dog house?

Could be running rich if the choke is stuck or if it's not getting up to operating temp.

 

[italianstal27]

Noico 80 mil Butyl sound deadening mat.

Will keep everyone posted on how well it holds up.

 

[italianstal27]

Got pics

 

[italianstal27]

Ahhh I figured out how to get the pictures embeded again... neat

 

[strokendiesel002]

Looking good!

 

[italianstal27]

Well the inexperience continues.

We went sturgeon fishing today but had problems executing launching the boat. We unhooked the safety chain and left 4" of slack in the winch line. Somehow as we were backing the boat in, the line came off the hook and the boat slid halfway off the trailer coming to rest in gravel on the skeg. We reattached the winch line, weighted the bow, and got her back in the trailer.

So... Second time we've landed the boat on the skeg.

Lesson: not sure. Just take your time making sure you're making good choices launching and trailering the boat.

All is well though she runs no problems! Thankful she didn't fall completely off the trailer

 

[italianstal27]

Also what are people's minimum forward speeds? On GPS at 600 rpm we're moving 5mph

 

[Watermann]

Dang those boat launches are a skeg killer. :lol:

There's a bunch variables for speed at idle but that's about right, not sure I've even taken or noticed a GPS of my idle speed before

 

[mickyryan]

Really depends on prop weight ect. I would personally prefer 2mph at idle for trolling but then some boats cant handle idling for hours , havent found that to be true but have had folks tell me that