SigSaurP229
Commander
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2008
- Messages
- 2,123
For the past two years I have been running a 1968 model fish n ski. She has been dead start reliable until this season.
I bought the boat for $150 trailer and locked up mercury included. The upholstery was dry rotten but everything else was cherry good solid floor (with the original gel coat still on the floor). Transom is original and solid as a rock. I powered it with a 1972 Evinrude 65 hp (unfortunately electric shift) with a bad lower unit. I picked up a new lower unit on ebay for $125 and have been running it for a year and a half. At the start of this season I broke a fuel fitting while on the lake it was the T fitting that links the carbs. I had to run it home like that the evinrude hasn't run properly since, no gas on one cylinder, I am afraid I may have scored a cylinder. (No compression test run yet). The boat had sat for 6 weeks before I could even attempt to run it again and now it will rev up in neutral but not in gear. So I am assuming at this point a full powerhead rebuild. I have done a new water pump every year I have owned it and have not had to clean the carbs because she has always run perfectly.
My family however is getting bigger, and I really want to upgrade, 15 feet is just not big enough. I am thinking a 17 footer is about right and I really want to go aluminum v hull bow rider. As opposed to a fiberglass trihull which has been known to beat us to death but has always gotten us home. I like the idea of lower maintenance and smoother ride and bigger but I absolutely will not have a boat payment.
So what say you all is time for an upgrade?
My Fish N Ski hull is immaculate with all new upholstery, and original everything, has never spent a day in 3 years uncovered. Is washed and waxed regularly. So should I look for a project to rebuild I think my season is done anyways so do I start tearing into the motor or do I start looking for a project.
I bought the boat for $150 trailer and locked up mercury included. The upholstery was dry rotten but everything else was cherry good solid floor (with the original gel coat still on the floor). Transom is original and solid as a rock. I powered it with a 1972 Evinrude 65 hp (unfortunately electric shift) with a bad lower unit. I picked up a new lower unit on ebay for $125 and have been running it for a year and a half. At the start of this season I broke a fuel fitting while on the lake it was the T fitting that links the carbs. I had to run it home like that the evinrude hasn't run properly since, no gas on one cylinder, I am afraid I may have scored a cylinder. (No compression test run yet). The boat had sat for 6 weeks before I could even attempt to run it again and now it will rev up in neutral but not in gear. So I am assuming at this point a full powerhead rebuild. I have done a new water pump every year I have owned it and have not had to clean the carbs because she has always run perfectly.
My family however is getting bigger, and I really want to upgrade, 15 feet is just not big enough. I am thinking a 17 footer is about right and I really want to go aluminum v hull bow rider. As opposed to a fiberglass trihull which has been known to beat us to death but has always gotten us home. I like the idea of lower maintenance and smoother ride and bigger but I absolutely will not have a boat payment.
So what say you all is time for an upgrade?
My Fish N Ski hull is immaculate with all new upholstery, and original everything, has never spent a day in 3 years uncovered. Is washed and waxed regularly. So should I look for a project to rebuild I think my season is done anyways so do I start tearing into the motor or do I start looking for a project.
