Arabian180
Banned
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2009
- Messages
- 122
Hello everybody, I thought I would share my Century Arabian 180 project with you. It's mostly reading and a few pics to get started but here's the story on the old girl.
I have had more boats than I care to count but have never had a V drive ski boat. At the time I was looking for a Correct Craft Ski Nautique, Mustang, ect but ran across this Arabian and thought I would at least make a short 180 Mi. round trip to look at.
The Trip.
Thursday 4-2 I took a ride to Morganton NC to look at a ski boat, a 76 Century Arabian 180.
This wasn't my first dog and pony show as I have had probably 15 or 20 different boats none of which were new so I am pretty much on the ball as to what to look for in a sucker deal.
I made the guy a lowball offer expecting him NOT to to take it. I offered over $1,000.00 less than he was asking just to make an offer.
If I knew he was going to say yes I would have offered less.
We spent several hours running around Morganton getting the titles transfered on both, registering the boat for 3 years and the tag for the trailer.. Glad all that is done and legal.
I came home Via. Hwy 64w/74 through Rutherdfordton & Lake Lure had a beautiful ride and a lot less worrisome than making a maiden tow with an unfamiliar trailer on the interstate up black mountain grade.
The GMC did an excellent job with the load behind it. The trailer/boat handled like a dream with no sway at all.
It is a heavy bastard and I could tell it was back there especially when trying to stop.
The boat & trailer both seem to be in good shape for what I gave for it, but I still have some work ahead of me to get it sea worthy.
The guy stated the engine (360 ci Chrysler with a Paragov V- Drive) had just been gone through with new everything and had about 50 hrs run time on it when it was stored under cover in a shed a few years ago.
I haven't heard it run yet but the engine and drive train appear to have very, very few hours.
With the exception of a few rust stains on various pieces it is Very clean under the hatch.
Not a speck of oil or dirt anywhere.
It appeared to have been properly stored.
All block and exhaust water drains were open and no visible cracks in anything.
The engine and drive train appear to have very few hours.
Valve covers /valve train clean no gook no water.
Oil looked used with no signs of water. Which I prefer to see used oil in an engine as to new.
There's a reason for that I'm sure you know why or at least can understand my logic. If it's used oil you know the engine has been running and if there's no milky oil in with the used oil things are probably ok.
If it's new oil you don't know. has it run? has it had water in there and it was changed to disguise it? see?
anyhoo.
I'm expecting the engine to be fine but I wont know till it fires off. cross your fingers for me.
The transmission dip stick is missing the stick.
It has the stem that plugs the hole but the wire that measures the fluid level is missing. I may stick a magnetized screwdriver down the tube and see if it's in there. If I don't find it I will take the transmission out and take it apart just to make sure the damn thing isn't in there. That would be a disaster for it to get chewed up inside the transmission.
Anyhow that's the only major mechanical thing I can see maybe having to do at this point.
The guy doesn't remember it ever being there. I want to make damn sure it isn't.
The Stringers, Transom and all the wood, floor, seats, appear to be solid.
The interior is in good enough shape to play with but one piece of upholstery in the back is in need of some attention.
I'm hoping for the best and expecting the worst. If you know anything about boats you know that there's nothing cheap about parts for them.
Home First Order of the Project. Get it running.
Sat. 4-4
I thought I would take a few before pics of "A`hab-it"
I spent a better part of the day dumping money into it. New $120.00 deep cycle battery. Jeeezus I can remember them being about half that much.
Spent a couple of hours chasing electrical malfunctions. ( Cigarette lighter works! Yay) Still no lights and gauges are reading weird. Maybe ground related. I don't want to waste too much time with the little crap until I hear the b1tch run and see it spin the prop without knocking & smoking.
Disassembled the Raw water pump and inspected the impeller and it was okay with little to no wear and looked new.
I gave it a healthy shot of dish washing soap and spun it a few times to give it some lube so it wouldnt burn up while dry starting .
The soap will make some pretty bubbles at the launch!
Bought 5 gal of gas to try and get it running and it did fire off after pouring gas in the carb but I couldn't get fuel to the fuel pump. I took the line loose from the pump and blew through it and got no bubbles or back pressure. So after taking the front pannel out to gain access to the fuel tank I discovered the fuel line had rotted and split away from the nipple/check valve.
I'm hoping the pickup line inside the tank is ok I don't want to have to pull the fuel tank out.
I took all the old fuel line out and on my way home this evening I stopped at the parts store,,, again.....
Let me tell ya I have bought fuel line in the past but this was the first time I have ever bought 14 feet of it all at the same time, Another hit in the wallet.
The filler hose will also need replacing it's a little leaky and that's a fire waiting to happen. I've been in a boat fire before and I don't care much for the thrill of it.
Here's a few before pics. It's just as I got it and I haven't cleaned a thing at this point.
To Be Continued....
T.
I have had more boats than I care to count but have never had a V drive ski boat. At the time I was looking for a Correct Craft Ski Nautique, Mustang, ect but ran across this Arabian and thought I would at least make a short 180 Mi. round trip to look at.
The Trip.
Thursday 4-2 I took a ride to Morganton NC to look at a ski boat, a 76 Century Arabian 180.
This wasn't my first dog and pony show as I have had probably 15 or 20 different boats none of which were new so I am pretty much on the ball as to what to look for in a sucker deal.
I made the guy a lowball offer expecting him NOT to to take it. I offered over $1,000.00 less than he was asking just to make an offer.
If I knew he was going to say yes I would have offered less.
We spent several hours running around Morganton getting the titles transfered on both, registering the boat for 3 years and the tag for the trailer.. Glad all that is done and legal.
I came home Via. Hwy 64w/74 through Rutherdfordton & Lake Lure had a beautiful ride and a lot less worrisome than making a maiden tow with an unfamiliar trailer on the interstate up black mountain grade.
The GMC did an excellent job with the load behind it. The trailer/boat handled like a dream with no sway at all.
It is a heavy bastard and I could tell it was back there especially when trying to stop.
The boat & trailer both seem to be in good shape for what I gave for it, but I still have some work ahead of me to get it sea worthy.
The guy stated the engine (360 ci Chrysler with a Paragov V- Drive) had just been gone through with new everything and had about 50 hrs run time on it when it was stored under cover in a shed a few years ago.
I haven't heard it run yet but the engine and drive train appear to have very, very few hours.
With the exception of a few rust stains on various pieces it is Very clean under the hatch.
Not a speck of oil or dirt anywhere.
It appeared to have been properly stored.
All block and exhaust water drains were open and no visible cracks in anything.
The engine and drive train appear to have very few hours.
Valve covers /valve train clean no gook no water.
Oil looked used with no signs of water. Which I prefer to see used oil in an engine as to new.
There's a reason for that I'm sure you know why or at least can understand my logic. If it's used oil you know the engine has been running and if there's no milky oil in with the used oil things are probably ok.
If it's new oil you don't know. has it run? has it had water in there and it was changed to disguise it? see?
anyhoo.
I'm expecting the engine to be fine but I wont know till it fires off. cross your fingers for me.
The transmission dip stick is missing the stick.
It has the stem that plugs the hole but the wire that measures the fluid level is missing. I may stick a magnetized screwdriver down the tube and see if it's in there. If I don't find it I will take the transmission out and take it apart just to make sure the damn thing isn't in there. That would be a disaster for it to get chewed up inside the transmission.
Anyhow that's the only major mechanical thing I can see maybe having to do at this point.
The guy doesn't remember it ever being there. I want to make damn sure it isn't.
The Stringers, Transom and all the wood, floor, seats, appear to be solid.
The interior is in good enough shape to play with but one piece of upholstery in the back is in need of some attention.
I'm hoping for the best and expecting the worst. If you know anything about boats you know that there's nothing cheap about parts for them.
Home First Order of the Project. Get it running.
Sat. 4-4
I thought I would take a few before pics of "A`hab-it"
I spent a better part of the day dumping money into it. New $120.00 deep cycle battery. Jeeezus I can remember them being about half that much.
Spent a couple of hours chasing electrical malfunctions. ( Cigarette lighter works! Yay) Still no lights and gauges are reading weird. Maybe ground related. I don't want to waste too much time with the little crap until I hear the b1tch run and see it spin the prop without knocking & smoking.
Disassembled the Raw water pump and inspected the impeller and it was okay with little to no wear and looked new.
I gave it a healthy shot of dish washing soap and spun it a few times to give it some lube so it wouldnt burn up while dry starting .
The soap will make some pretty bubbles at the launch!
Bought 5 gal of gas to try and get it running and it did fire off after pouring gas in the carb but I couldn't get fuel to the fuel pump. I took the line loose from the pump and blew through it and got no bubbles or back pressure. So after taking the front pannel out to gain access to the fuel tank I discovered the fuel line had rotted and split away from the nipple/check valve.
I'm hoping the pickup line inside the tank is ok I don't want to have to pull the fuel tank out.
I took all the old fuel line out and on my way home this evening I stopped at the parts store,,, again.....
Let me tell ya I have bought fuel line in the past but this was the first time I have ever bought 14 feet of it all at the same time, Another hit in the wallet.
The filler hose will also need replacing it's a little leaky and that's a fire waiting to happen. I've been in a boat fire before and I don't care much for the thrill of it.
Here's a few before pics. It's just as I got it and I haven't cleaned a thing at this point.
To Be Continued....
T.
