Building a '93 Caravelle 1750 Classic Bowrider

Reserector_ · Oct 20, 2023

Chris51280 said:
View attachment 390670

Boat Propeller Calculator - Good Calculators

You can use this boat propeller calculator to determine one of five variables: boat speed, propeller slip, propeller pitch, engine gear ratio, or engine revs

goodcalculators.com

According to that calculator, the engine is turning around 4750 RPMs. Either that, or the final drive ratio is 1.28:1 LOL

Earlier in the build I turned the input shaft and counted the revolutions of the output shaft and estimated 1.88:1 That was based on a 17 spline output shaft rotating one full revolution, plus 15 of the 17 splines. Therefore, I think that 1.85:1 is likely correct.

I'm going to verify my tach before I go any further.

Scott Danforth · Oct 20, 2023

Turn the input shaft 5 or 10 times. Really easy to confuse 1.84 and 1.97 with only 1 turn

Reserector_ · Oct 23, 2023

I hooked up my inductive tach on the boat Saturday and I could not get it to give me a proper reading. Maybe it was the short spark plug wires in close proximity, but it was indicating 6500 when it should have been around 1100. I tried it on my truck and the meter was fine.
So, I went to the store and bought an optical tack. Stuck a piece of reflective tape on the water pump pulley and I was in business.
The Faria tach in the dash is clearly way off. at 740 rpm the Faria is reading 1150. I ran it up as high as 3000 on the Faria (on muffs) and the optical tach showed 3800!!

Naturally, I crawled under the dash to check the setting. Also naturally I found a spider web and a large wasp nest. I was happy the spider web was there, because it blocked the wasps from making a direct path to my face.

With the misplaced nature removed, I found that the setting was on 2 while the label indicated that it should be on 1. Of course I tried that when I first installed it, but it was way off. 2 was the closest setting to actual.
For good measure, I tried the other settings, but came back to 2 (I think) It was getting dark and I was planning to run the boat Sunday as-is.

Now that our family outing is done, I can pull the gauge and adjust it at my leisure. There is supposedly a fine tuning 000 philips screw that I ca try as well. We shall see.

In the meantime, the boat is dong great. We had a good time Sunday,
after church.

My Tilt/Trim sender is hit and miss, so I ordered a new one. Same with my fuel sender. I will get those things freshened up and hopefully get to run it a couple more times this fall.

Scott Danforth · Oct 23, 2023

spin the selector switch back and forth to clean the contacts. however it should be set to 1

Reserector_ · Nov 13, 2023

I have a new fuel gauge and a new tilt/trim sensor to install. I was going to get started on those Saturday afternoon, but I am glad I got lazy, because my niece drove 15 hours for a surprise visit.
Since I hadn't torn anything apart, the boat was ready for action! We were able to hit the lake for a little while. It was her son's first time in a boat, and her first ride in mine that she read so much about on facebook. They were all smiles, and I was a proud uncle. THIS is one of the reasons why I built the boat.
My oldest boy was also up for a ride.
It was a chilly day. somewhere in the mid 60s, but with a strong breeze. Light jackets and now Bimini kind of day.

Reserector_ · Jun 24, 2024

Getting her ready for a trip to Wilson Lake, AL as soon as July gets here. I have that week off.
Getting caught up on maintenance. I replaced the tilt/trim sender and the 42 year old fuel sender.
The tank is only 5 1/2" deep, which made it difficult to use a universal sender. (Faria, to match the gauges.) The new one had such a long stroke that I ended up rotating it 40° so that it goes up and down on an angle.

Only thing left to do is put my tools away and give it a bath. It stays covered, but it gets dusty rather quickly.

Reserector_ · Jul 8, 2024

I finally weighed the boat and trailer.
__________________Truck and trailer____________Truck only

Steer axle_________ 3340____________________ 3400
Drive axle_________2900_____________________2600
Trailer axle________2780____________________ - - -
Gross weight_____ 9020_____________________6000

Based on that information, the boat and trailer (together) weighs 3,020 lbs
240 lbs is tongue weight.
I know from early in teh project that the trailer weighed 600 lbs, but I have since added hydraulic disc brakes. I am going to estimate the trailer weight to me around 750 lbs, now. That means the boat alone weighs 2,270 lbs.

This is good information if I go back and consider how much flotation is in the boat compared to its weight.
I'm not likely to do that. I put back almost all that the factory originally installed, which I am sure is not quite enough to keep it afloat in the real world should the worst happen. If we are being honest, I think most boats would go to the bottom if allowed. Well, maybe not a Boston Whaler, but most ski boats, at least.

I'm just a number nerd and have been curious. So, now I know.

Reserector_ · Jul 8, 2024

.......

Reserector_ · Jul 8, 2024

My wife and I took the boat to Wilson Lake on the Tennessee River in northern Alabama last week. We rented a property that was fenced and gated, and had a private dock and private ramp. Pretty awesome.
It was on Big Nance Creek with easy access to the lake.
Here are some pics.

kcassells · Jul 8, 2024

Cool, Having fun is Guuuudd

Drivewayboater2 · Jul 8, 2024

Nothing beats being on the water!

kcassells · Jul 8, 2024

I need a saline injection!!!

1985 Century Mustang · Jul 9, 2024

Reserector_ said:
I built a cooler, since the factory part was missing.

I used a foam that is not compatible with poly resin, so I covered it with masking tape and made the best of what I had.

A piece of stainless tube for the drain.

The photos are out of sequence, and I don't have a pc to work on, so scan through them, and ask any questions you may have.
Basically, I built a foam box to fit the opening and to become the outside of the cooler. It is both the form and the insulation.
Because the box is bigger than the opening under the seat, it had to slide in under the helm. The drain will exit through the factory location in the hull, which you can see in some of the pics. That hole is the only thing that led me to understand that this boat had a cooler chest built in.
I plan to have the seat bottom act as the cooler lid, including a seal of some sort.

Thanks for clarifying what this storage box is, and if I may,,, what an awesome job restoring this boat.

I had no idea this was a built in cooler. I also have one on my 1985 Bowrider. I basically use it for storage, I was wondering why there was an outside drain hole on the front port side of my boat, I since sealed that outside drain hole. Interestingly enough, I should reactivate it again.

Reserector_ · Jul 9, 2024

1985 Century Mustang said:
Thanks for clarifying what this storage box is, and if I may,,, what an awesome job restoring this boat.

I had no idea this was a built in cooler. I also have one on my 1985 Bowrider. I basically use it for storage, I was wondering why there was an outside drain hole on the front port side of my boat, I since sealed that outside drain hole. Interestingly enough, I should reactivate it again.

Mine is working quite well. It holds ice well because it is out of the sun AND under a cushion. I keep it stocked with bottled water at all times. I can always drink a water, even without ice. They are never 'hot'.
What's more, I don't give the cooler a second thought after dumping some ice in because it drains itself.

1985 Century Mustang · Jul 9, 2024

Reserector_ said:
Mine is working quite well. It holds ice well because it is out of the sun AND under a cushion. I keep it stocked with bottled water at all times. I can always drink a water, even without ice. They are never 'hot'.
What's more, I don't give the cooler a second thought after dumping some ice in because it drains itself.

I'm definitely going to utilize mine now. I'll take all the spare parts, tools etc out of it and surely give it a try. Thanks again.

Scott06 · Jul 9, 2024

1985 Century Mustang said:
I'm definitely going to utilize mine now. I'll take all the spare parts, tools etc out of it and surely give it a try. Thanks again.

its the best thing invented for boating since the bikini ... My sea ray has it in the passenger console so no one is sitting on it. drains out side of hull.

Scott Danforth · Jul 9, 2024

Scott06 said:
its the best thing invented for boating since the bikini ... My sea ray has it in the passenger console so no one is sitting on it. drains out side of hull.

You don't need bikinis on boats

But you do need beverages

kcassells · Jul 9, 2024

Some of my favorite lines from the Professionals when this thread started;