I have returned... with a Starcraft this time!

[BWR1953]

6 Apr 20

Made significant milestones today! :joyous:

I did indeed have to strip the birdies but got them reprimed and painted again this morning with the tractor paint. If it doesn't turn out nice this time, I'm definitely going to switch to the Mercury Phantom Black, even though it's much glossier.



Second color coat done. All buttoned up in the garage, drying. We'll apply 2 more coats tomorrow morning.

 

[BWR1953]

7 Apr 20

Fourth coat applied!

 

[Watermann]

Oh nice, we're going to have to start calling you the Uni-spray bomber :lol:

 

[Decker83]

She is looking good.. Had to put on the sun glasses..:becky:

 

[BWR1953]

8 Apr 20


The trailer will get a little freshening but the major refurbishment will wait until much later. But I'm planning on replacing the tires and wheels with the white spoke variety before the re-splash. I'll check/repack/replace the bearings at the same time.

I organized the trailer wiring today. We also removed the old tail lights after removing all the paint masking. Tomorrow we'll install all of the new trailer lights.

 

[BWR1953]

Yesterday we spent beating our brains in trying to figure out where to put the new cargo nets I bought several years ago.

Answer: nowhere! :facepalm:

The nets are 42" long and the only open spaces are up at the front of the boat on either side of the casting seat and I don't want them there. I'd hate to be fighting a big fish and get myself tangled up into some storage net item or the net itself.

So for now, we've given up on the nets.

Today we did more trailer work. Started to mount the new LED lights and found that the tie-down "ears" would interfere with visibility of the red side marker lights. Sigh.

Did some cogitating and came up with a solution which did NOT require me to wait for availability of my neighbor to do some welding.

There were a couple of eye bolts mounted in the frame forward of the wheels, mounted there by some previous owner. Presumably for a transverse tie down strap over the hull. We got those out and moved them to the stern part of the trailer. It took us much of the day but I'm pleased with the results.

I had to crawl under the boat (not good for me) and use a big impact wrench, some WD-40 and a sawzall to get everything loose. But I got it done with only minor dizzy spells. :lol:



Those ears had to come off!



The boy got his turn with the grinder. He actually enjoyed this part.

 

[Watermann]

Oh man I hate those ratchet straps, never again, it's boat buckles for me.

 

[BWR1953]

Yup, $20 ratchet straps suck.

$150 boat buckles suck more. :lol:

 

[BWR1953]

My wife put on her Ninja suit and applied the motor stickers today.

 

[Decker83]

That motor looks like it came off the show room floor.. :whoo:

 

[Watermann]

Super nice, love the old Merc made new again!

 

[MNhunter1]

Merc looks brand new again, nice work!

 

[classiccat]

Perfection!

That boat is going to absolutely scream with a 50 on it!!!

 

[FIGMO]

Beautiful work on that motor! I have to do the same, so its a great inspiration. I will be going back and re-reading the post on the paint job.

How long do you figure it took from start to finish?

Cheers

FIGMO

 

[BWR1953]

Beautiful work on that motor! I have to do the same, so its a great inspiration. I will be going back and re-reading the post on the paint job.

How long do you figure it took from start to finish?

Cheers

FIGMO

I figure it took forever plus a week! HAHAHAHA! ound:


We've been working on this restoration for 3 1/2 years. But something SPECTACULAR happened today!

 

[BWR1953]

UPDATE TIME


Trailer cleaned up and painted.


Trailer wiring being installed.


Trailer lights connected and tested. New wheels and tires installed.

 

[BWR1953]

Kingfisher!





Driver's seat slider installed.





Almost done!

 

[BWR1953]

And then yesterday, this happened.

 

[Pcolafisher]

Outstanding!! I was thinking you had to be close to the splash! Congratulations on a job exceedingly well done! Maybe one of these days I’ll get enough projects completed to start on my 34 year old Islander!
Cheers

 

[g0nef1sshn]

I beem g0ne for a bit. Man you and your team are grinding it out! Love the job on the motor! I have to catch up on the last two years whats been going on around these parts of the internet world lol