My budget family boat- 83 Coho 134

[java230]

Well I upgraded my budget boat a little! Coming from a 12' aluminum with a 7.5HP on it, it feels like a big upgrade.

The new boat is a 1983 Coho. Its a 13' Boston whaler knock off. It has a 82 Mercury 40 on it. Its been well used and needs a little love but it fit my budget and we have had it out nearly every evening after work since we bought it.


Overall pic. After i scraped the brown paint off the bottom and water line. Excuse the messy garage...

Trying it on for size.

The original seat tore out of the floor long ago. Also obviously been re-powered. Someone cut a big hole in the storage area in the rear to run the cables through. Unfortunately it wasn't well sealed. And the fiberglass under the gas tank, right where the hole was cut was cracked. Foam is a little damp but i will live with it. Again it fit my budget. You can see the original side rails, well weathered and broken cup holders.

New seat, adds some storage, came withe the boat for no extra charge, and covers the ugly floor! The holes were all filled with sikaflex.

Made new side rails from Ipe, much sturdier, and should weather well.

 

[java230]

Re: My budget family boat- 83 Coho 134

And now we have been out enjoying it!

Dog thinks it fun to sit my Mom on the bow

More to come later.

 

[java230]

Re: My budget family boat- 83 Coho 134

New spar urethane on the wood under the steering wheel.

Added a stereo, water resistant headphone jack for ipod, volume knob by speedo.

cut the speakers in under console seat.

Added a induction tach, to help with propping.

And my new $50 CL prop! Will propably go out tonight to see how it does with it.

 

[java230]

Re: My budget family boat- 83 Coho 134

New prop is a much better fit. Hits 4800 RPMs @ 25.5 MPH with the three of us on board.

Spent a bit of time with my friends compound, polish, wax, and buffer this weekend. Got a little shine out of it, definitely better but not like new by any means. But it shouldn't get stained from the exhaust of the boat not wanting to start in front of me at the dock again...

 

[java230]

Re: My budget family boat- 83 Coho 134

Added a swim ladder last night. hopefully it works well. A bit tight on a little boat. Off to the lake for the weekend to test it out!

 

[Watermann]

Re: My budget family boat- 83 Coho 134

Very nice! She looks like a safe little boat for the family outings.

 

[java230]

Re: My budget family boat- 83 Coho 134

Very nice! She looks like a safe little boat for the family outings.

Thanks! its a lot of fun. Leaving for Chelan in a couple hours.

 

[Watermann]

Re: My budget family boat- 83 Coho 134

I live about 50 miles North of Lake Chelan but I grew up in Chelan and spent many hours there on the water. She's a big lake, watch out for the Lady's wake!

 

[java230]

Re: My budget family boat- 83 Coho 134

I live about 50 miles North of Lake Chelan but I grew up in Chelan and spent many hours there on the water. She's a big lake, watch out for the Lady's wake!

yep been going for years now too. This boat rides the chop way better than my old 12' aluminum one!

 

[java230]

Re: My budget family boat- 83 Coho 134

Had a great time this weekend. Put a almost two full tanks of gas thru the boat. ran about 20 miles up the lake, then hung out at a nice little spot for the rest of the day.

 

[Watermann]

Re: My budget family boat- 83 Coho 134

Awesome lake to spend time. Looking at the way you put the 2 pics together, it looks like someone transplanted some Orca into the lake.

 

[java230]

Re: My budget family boat- 83 Coho 134

Awesome lake to spend time. Looking at the way you put the 2 pics together, it looks like someone transplanted some Orca into the lake.

caught the top half of one of the pups LOL

 

[java230]

Re: My budget family boat- 83 Coho 134

its serious now! In the process of replacing the water jacket gasket that was leaking.....

PH off

Every single one broke....

Drilling out.

 

[surlyjoe]

Re: My budget family boat- 83 Coho 134

ooooo thats not so much fun.... good luck! :shocked:

 

[java230]

Re: My budget family boat- 83 Coho 134

ooooo thats not so much fun.... good luck! :shocked:

Thanks. Got it all drilled, and the mating surfaces cleaned up. Need to get some different sized fasteners tomorrow and bolt the head cover back on tomorrow.

 

[java230]

Re: My budget family boat- 83 Coho 134

Getting cleaned up.

 

[Watermann]

Re: My budget family boat- 83 Coho 134

Good lord, that's a tough break for sure. So does that head cover have torque specs that someone didn't use the last time? Was wondering if you could use some anti-seize compound when doing the reassembly to keep that from happening again down the road.

Edit: I sure hope you had something in those plug holes when doing all that work, would hate to see some foreign crud get inside the holes.

 

[java230]

Re: My budget family boat- 83 Coho 134

Good lord, that's a tough break for sure. So does that head cover have torque specs that someone didn't use the last time? Was wondering if you could use some anti-seize compound when doing the reassembly to keep that from happening again down the road.

Yeah i wasn't really happy when i found it leaking. But i should have waited till winter to try to deal with it!!!


Yes it needed lots of anti seize.... It appeared to be unmolested, so i think it was all factory still. Torque spec is 100 in lbs, so nearly nothing. But stainless fasteners in an aluminum block with no anti seize and a few years of salt use did it in... I will be using through bolts on all but one fastener upon reassembly. So i shouldn't run into this problem again. The fasteners all were threaded into cast block on the water jacket/head. I simply drilled the old fasteners out and ill be going all the way through the blocks with a nut and bolt.

 

[java230]

Re: My budget family boat- 83 Coho 134

Ready for powerhead to lower gaskets. They should be in today or tomorrow.

Head cover back on. hopefully it will hold this time!

Thru bolted instead of using the bolts that seize. Hopefully it will work.

 

[Watermann]

Re: My budget family boat- 83 Coho 134

Ya know, a few cans of phantom black and some re-pop decals sure would make that Merc look new again on the cheap.