Boat has me paranoid.. can't even enjoy it

[Thalasso]

Re: Boat has me paranoid.. can't even enjoy it

Heres a list of some of the things I've replaced. I've done a ton of other little things as well.

NEW TRIM PUMP, NEW BELLOWS, NEW IMPELLER, NEW SHIFT CABLE, NEW starter, new Carpet, new seats (front & rear totally custom), new floor around ski locker(little soft everywhere else very strong), new pedestals, new boat cover, new window supports, NEW Battery, NEW trailer tires, smart tabs installed, new stereo, new cig lighter, 2nd bilge pump installed, New LED nav. lights, new fishing pedestal up front, new custom steering wheel, new bilge fan and led switch, new horn button, new trim switch in new location, new folding rear seats which can be placed higher and used as sun pads. blue padding installed on swim deck, new bilge vent covers (others were broken), fixed a broken starter mount with a proven method holding 5 years strong on other boats (bought it broken without knowing, did this fix and its been stronger then when it came off the line), Storage net on side wall, vinyls all cleaned and painted, new spark plugs (also checked for signs of water in cylinders, they look good)

I just know I'm going to put this thing in the water and my gimble bearing is going to go, my engine is going to hydrolock somehow, or one of my bellows is going to pop off and sink me before I can even get her out of the water. Thats all I can think about happening.

It appears you have all the major and expensive items repaired. Go out and enjoy the boat. You/yourself is the only thing making you crazy. Not the boat.If you put the bellows on right it wont pop off.Start feeling good about yourself and the things you have accomplised with your repairs. That alone will give you a differant perspective.You will know that you will be able to handle any more repairs

 

[BonairII]

Re: Boat has me paranoid.. can't even enjoy it

You/yourself is the only thing making you crazy. Not the boat.

I agree. Pessimism happens to all of us from time to time.

The worry will go away after you've had a few successful outings on the boat.

 

[Andy'sDelight]

Re: Boat has me paranoid.. can't even enjoy it

Seems to me you got a "deal" for a reason. It also sounds like you can't afford to make that "deal" water-worthy by paying someone, so you have to put the time in. Now you're wondering if the time is worth it. Sound about right?

All is not lost. Once you fix everything correctly your boat will be enjoyable. There has to be a base point though. Does the engine have good compression? Is the transom and stringers on the boat is good shape with no rot? If your answer is yes then from there you can work your way back to being water ready. First and foremost, fix the things that can sink you. Bellows, risers and manifolds are paramount. Make sure your automatic bilge pump works or install a new one. Now you're not going to sink if your engine fails. Also get a good tow service as well, seatow, TowboatUS, etc. That should relieve your paranoia. It sounds like you've done alot of engine work so also let that put your mind at ease they they are addressed.

 

[gtochris]

Re: Boat has me paranoid.. can't even enjoy it

Are you on Lake Hopatcong?

Your boat sounds similar to mine, had to do everything that came along with 10 years of a previous owner doing minimal maintenance, Shift cable, bellows, waterpump are all similar to doing a timing belt and spark plugs on a 100,000 mile car, once completed you are good to go!

I had plenty of small corroded parts to replace, an intermitant starting issue, battery connection issues, bottom line, if it doesnt start- immediately drop anchor and wave someone down. It's not that big of a lake. as long as the lake is staying outside the boat your OK.

Have you taken a safe boating class/ received your certification? that and time go a long way in building confidence in boat ownership / handling.

Last: Any of your friends that own boats willing to go for a ride with you to help build your confidence? It's like a new car driver, it can be a valuable asset! If you are on Lake Hopatcong I might be available....

 

[ericp501]

Re: Boat has me paranoid.. can't even enjoy it

yes I am on Lake Hopatcong.. I ordered a new shift bellow, Once its in I'm going to take my boat down to the delaware and just let it float on the trailer moving the trim up and down and the wheel side to side to make sure I have no leaks coming in before I take it all the way back to my marina. As far as being stuck on the water, I have a 101 thrust trolling motor and Tow insurance with 3 tow numbers saved in my phone. Its really not about the money, but I just can't give someone $400 to do a job I can do myself in 2 hours for $20 in parts.

 

[gtochris]

Re: Boat has me paranoid.. can't even enjoy it

yes I am on Lake Hopatcong.. I ordered a new shift bellow, Once its in I'm going to take my boat down to the delaware and just let it float on the trailer moving the trim up and down and the wheel side to side to make sure I have no leaks coming in before I take it all the way back to my marina. As far as being stuck on the water, I have a 101 thrust trolling motor and Tow insurance with 3 tow numbers saved in my phone. Its really not about the money, but I just can't give someone $400 to do a job I can do myself in 2 hours for $20 in parts.

I'm rather mechanical, but bellows and shift cables are best left to a pro. I did mine with the help of a friend who is a marine mechanic and wouldnt have been able to pull it off alone (or do it again for that matter), just too many tricks involved and proper tools for seating the parts. For longevity, their are reasons some things cost $400. It's cheep in the long run if it means reliability. FYI: If you pull the drive to do a shift cable you will need to purchase another rebuild kit/ reseal kit.

 

[ericp501]

Re: Boat has me paranoid.. can't even enjoy it

I'm rather mechanical, but bellows and shift cables are best left to a pro. I did mine with the help of a friend who is a marine mechanic and wouldnt have been able to pull it off alone (or do it again for that matter), just too many tricks involved and proper tools for seating the parts. For longevity, their are reasons some things cost $400. It's cheep in the long run if it means reliability. FYI: If you pull the drive to do a shift cable you will need to purchase another rebuild kit/ reseal kit.

I didn't think the shift cable was that bad at all when I did it. What do you mean by rebuild kit/reseal kit? Do you mean the outdrive gasket thats like $8? If so I knew that.. I'll actually prob buy 3 of them so I always have a few lol.

 

[ericp501]

Re: Boat has me paranoid.. can't even enjoy it

Little update.. I just went and pulled the shift bellow off and sure enough I had some drips of water spill out when I undid the clip on the transom end, so water was def getting into the shift bellow. Based on how slow the little trickle was, I'm pretty sure that was the only problem. We'll see once the new bellow goes on.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Boat has me paranoid.. can't even enjoy it

Little update.. I just went and pulled the shift bellow off and sure enough I had some drips of water spill out when I undid the clip on the transom end, so water was def getting into the shift bellow. Based on how slow the little trickle was, I'm pretty sure that was the only problem. We'll see once the new bellow goes on.

eric.
If you go to the merc i/o forum you will get plenty of help in how to do the jobs along with pdf's. All you will need over there is engine and outdrive serial numbers to get you on your way.Alot of good guys over there.

 

[ericp501]

Re: Boat has me paranoid.. can't even enjoy it

eric.
If you go to the merc i/o forum you will get plenty of help in how to do the jobs along with pdf's. All you will need over there is engine and outdrive serial numbers to get you on your way.Alot of good guys over there.

Thanks, I've been over there a lot. I only asked that tech question because the other poster had mentioned needing a part. I wanted to see if it was the same thing I had in mind.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Boat has me paranoid.. can't even enjoy it

Thanks, I've been over there a lot. I only asked that tech question because the other poster had mentioned needing a part. I wanted to see if it was the same thing I had in mind.

No problem. Go out and enjoy yourself

 

[ErikF]

Re: Boat has me paranoid.. can't even enjoy it

I feel your pain; my first boat likely would have also been my last boat if not for my sense of adventure and generally uncaring attitude towards throwing money into a hole in the water...

My first boat was a 15' aluminum Starcraft. Sometimes it seemed there was more water inside the boat than outside ...it really, really leaked. The little Evinrude ran when it wanted to but rarely when it needed to, the PO had wired the boat in such a way that it would shock you if you touched the hull from the water, the wiring caught on fire one afternoon on the lake ...later that Summer the engine caught on fire.

Five years, three boats, and many thousands of dollars later I finally have boat(s) that are reliable, economical, and don't worry me constantly with everything that WILL go wrong.

It sounds like you're doing things right, spend the money now to address ALL of the problems (both major & minor) and you should be in pretty good shape.

 

[cribber]

Re: Boat has me paranoid.. can't even enjoy it

Buy some peace of mind and sign up for Sea Tow or BoatUS recovery to haul you back to the ramp if something goes wrong. I destroyed my prop and Sea Tow got me back to the ramp and helped me get the boat on the trailer.

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: Boat has me paranoid.. can't even enjoy it

Did I ever have a boat like this... Yes
Did I ever get over it. Yes, they day I finished parting it out. I didn't dare sell it to anyone else. The final straw was when brand new stuff started failing. That was when I knew it was jinxed.

 

[MikePNJ]

Re: Boat has me paranoid.. can't even enjoy it

Eric,

Sorry to hear you're still having some problems. I was looking forward to meeting up on the lake with our Excel's! I had some issues when I first got mine in the water also. I worked through the issues with a great mechanic who knows my Yamaha engine. I had to have both carbs completely rebuilt costing me over a grand just for that to be fixed. After that issue I had to replace the CDI unit that cost over $800 but I was able to do it myself for $400. I also had to replace the battery because the AGM battery I think caused the CDI to fail because Yamaha states not to use them with this engine. Then fuel lines and bulb to the outboard. Not to mention the wood was shot on all my seat bases and the vinyl needed to be replaced. Doing that work myself also. I found a bunch of cover up issues with the new floor and drains and wood replaced by the PO. So I started fixing them also.

The carb issue and CDI problem happened with my wife and kids on it. Luckily it happened near the marina and I was able to idle my way back to the dock. Even after all that I feel confident the boat will be fine on Lake Hopatcong. Keeping it at the marina in a slip has made it very enjoyable. I usually stop down for an hour or 2 before the day is over and go out for a little cruise by myself. If the weather is nice I take the family out during the week and we go for dinner or pack one and spend some time checking out the houses on the lake.

It gets more enjoyable once the kinks are worked out. I contemplated selling mine for a cuddy or a deck boat but I haven't been able to find anything I liked unless I went new which isn't an option currently. I saw one cuddy I liked but felt some remorse thinking about what I put into this boat and how much I've learned about the whole process. I don't want to pick up someone else's headache or have to start the full list of must replace parts on another boat again.

I'm finishing the upholstery on mine later this week and plan to drop her in next week sometime.

Once you get the bellows issue straightened out you will feel much better. Let me know once things are back together, maybe we can get together one night on the lake.

Mike

 

[killerjeep01]

Re: Boat has me paranoid.. can't even enjoy it

Its a boat, the hole in the water, with money pouring in rings true. There is no such thing as a reliable boat, even new ones have problems. The best advise is to get a manual, and read, read, read. I bought a franken boat 2 years ago, 1989 baretta with a 1968 chevy 327, fist I/O, bought it cheap for a reason, none of the components on the motor were marine rated, found out on this site, I was floating on a potintial bomb. With alot of time and reading everything I could on this site, we got it water ready, oh yea, I failed to mention the stuck shifter cable, and the hole in the bellows, lots of fun launching your boat, hearing water, and finding out the hard way it will only run in reverse. After much work,(done in my garage with the help of friends, and this site.) It turned out to be a great boat, 63mph on gps, lets see a 4.3 do that. The cool thing was when I decided to sell it, I had no shortage of people who wanted, after all was said and done, I made 2200 on, money aside, I actually had fun working on it, and learned ALOT! If I forgot to mention it, thanks to the people on this site.

 

[jmarty10]

Re: Boat has me paranoid.. can't even enjoy it

Ok - this thread is bad luck. I went to pick my boat up last night and my boat buckle that is bolted on to the trailer frame was damaged (really no biggie to replace) now I'm patiently waiting for marina to call me back to see how the summerizing/startup routine went. Hopefully no major issues.

 

[ericp501]

Re: Boat has me paranoid.. can't even enjoy it

Eric,

Sorry to hear you're still having some problems. I was looking forward to meeting up on the lake with our Excel's! I had some issues when I first got mine in the water also. I worked through the issues with a great mechanic who knows my Yamaha engine. I had to have both carbs completely rebuilt costing me over a grand just for that to be fixed. After that issue I had to replace the CDI unit that cost over $800 but I was able to do it myself for $400. I also had to replace the battery because the AGM battery I think caused the CDI to fail because Yamaha states not to use them with this engine. Then fuel lines and bulb to the outboard. Not to mention the wood was shot on all my seat bases and the vinyl needed to be replaced. Doing that work myself also. I found a bunch of cover up issues with the new floor and drains and wood replaced by the PO. So I started fixing them also.

The carb issue and CDI problem happened with my wife and kids on it. Luckily it happened near the marina and I was able to idle my way back to the dock. Even after all that I feel confident the boat will be fine on Lake Hopatcong. Keeping it at the marina in a slip has made it very enjoyable. I usually stop down for an hour or 2 before the day is over and go out for a little cruise by myself. If the weather is nice I take the family out during the week and we go for dinner or pack one and spend some time checking out the houses on the lake.

It gets more enjoyable once the kinks are worked out. I contemplated selling mine for a cuddy or a deck boat but I haven't been able to find anything I liked unless I went new which isn't an option currently. I saw one cuddy I liked but felt some remorse thinking about what I put into this boat and how much I've learned about the whole process. I don't want to pick up someone else's headache or have to start the full list of must replace parts on another boat again.

I'm finishing the upholstery on mine later this week and plan to drop her in next week sometime.

Once you get the bellows issue straightened out you will feel much better. Let me know once things are back together, maybe we can get together one night on the lake.

Mike

I've been talking to a lot of people and the more I talk/read the better I've been feeling. The only time my boat wont have eyes on it is pretty much from 10pm-8am when the marina isn't open. I figure as long as I check everything after each outting I'll be fine. I have a new automatic bilge connected to my main battery and a manual bilge I may hookup to a small secondary battery and also make automatic just to make me feel better lol! I'm pulling the outdrive next weekend to redo the shift bellow. That'll let me take another look at the drive bellow to make sure nothing budged which will also make me feel better. I'm thinking I'm probably going to replace my gimble bearing while the drive is off. I checked it before, it moved smooth, but wasn't like butter. I was going to wait to replace it next season, but I figure just do it now since I'll be back there anyway. Other then that i don't think there is anything more I could do besides putting on new exhaust manifolds and risers since I don't know their age or condition.

I'll def keep you posted Mike, I'd love to have a friend on the lake!

 

[ericp501]

Re: Boat has me paranoid.. can't even enjoy it

Maybe I'll just greese the bearing first since the mechanic guy said it was fine lol.. I NEED TO STOP!

 

[ericp501]

Re: Boat has me paranoid.. can't even enjoy it

SOLAR BATTERY CHARGER!!! That's it.. That's the answer! Atleast that's what's gonna make me feel better when I'm away for 2 weeks. Just something to stop the bilge from draining the battery if I start taking on water.. No nay Sayers! That's my peace of mind