New Boat For Christmas

[wooky30014]

She does good work, can't wait for the launch. Finally got mine off the lift and onto the trailer so I can start getting things done, port engine shut down on the way to the ramp, docked at the ramp then went to start it to load it but the starboard engine wouldn't go into N but thankfully the port engine decided to start. Anyway single handed retrieval(getting off the lift doesn't count )went smooth and now it's on the trailer and ready to be started on. New to me DP-sm 1.95 drives I already started on, Deck upholstery done and waiting, Interior is in the rafters waiting

Yes she does, she worked her azz off out there, I helped when asked and I did set out the brick pavers

 

[wooky30014]

I do not miss that Georgia red clay.

Yeah it grows on ya and no, it ain't the easiest stuff to dig in, it was even a challenge for my little digger that goes on my weedeater motor

I've got the transom plate bolted down good and proper now with new bolts and regular nuts with a lock washer. I slathered some more 4200 on the bolts and ran a bead around the bolt holes on the backing bar so no water can get in. Also hung (or izzit hanged) the motor plate with the pivot bolts and nylon washers. Tomorrow I'll set the motor in its proper place and drill the lower mounting holes, I've already got the bolts for them (regular nuts with lock washers along with fender washers where needed). The harness for this will be connected directly to the battery and I have two switches for it, one at the helm and the other will be there at the engine so it can be raised or lowered from the ground. Oh boy oh boy I'm itching to get this thing wet, I crossed the lake the other day and saw boats out there . . . . . . . . . . . .

 

[wooky30014]

I've got the plates installed and the motor bolted to and screws cinched down, it ain'ta goin' anywhere. now to install the lift gizmo and the harness. I do hope that the motor being less than 1/16th of an inch off center won't matter.

I also had to use an extra backing bar to take up some slack on the upper mount screws, I slathered some never-seize so they would be a little easier to turn. The port side screw head showed some rounding off which I worked around, they are good and snug now.
Oh, that cable in the center of this pic is hooked to the reverse lock, I'll have to rig something to keep it unlocked while cruising

Memorial Day weekend is coming up, hoping to have the hull wet before that and adjustments done so we can enjoy a day or two of cruising and fishing that weekend

 

[Willyclay]

All you lack now is finishing. Hang in there!

 

[wooky30014]

All you lack now is finishing. Hang in there!

Hangin' like a one-armed monkey here, I can see the tunnel at the end of the light. Last night I even saw stars (no not them) whilst driving in the spring pin into the top of the pump, and at an awkward angle (I needed another hand) me thumb got in the way, a few choice words later it was in and the moon was on the rise

Something else I'm gonna toss out here again, not gonna do this til later but what kind of paint to put on the bottom of the hull, black in color presently and my thinking (yeah, a dangerous activity here) since she'll only be in the water for 72 hours at a time (a weekend) at most it wouldn't need to be any anti-fouling concoction, or would it ? I have no idea what's on it now

 

[cptbill]

I think your thinking is correct! A nice smooth epoxy on the bottom won't be bothered by 3-4 days in the water at a time, got to clean it anyway

 

[wooky30014]

I think your thinking is correct! A nice smooth epoxy on the bottom won't be bothered by 3-4 days in the water at a time, got to clean it anyway

Epoxy paint hmm, whatever type I use will be applied with a roller and one side done at a time (propped up off the bunk) Either way it will be done off-season and not right now

Oh and I can remember a friend's Grandmother had a lake house she lived in full time with the given dock and boat, even a boat house. Her boat was in the water most of the time and not used much. It had a thick layer of brown crud (looked like had been thrown at it) and I'm betting that the motor was all plugged up as well

 

[cptbill]

Many moons ago when we lived in PA and boated in the rivers the boats where in the water from April to October and they would get a scum line at the water line ( a little above & a little below) we would always get in the water and scrub it off while we where out but at the end of the year when it got it's winterizing wash and wax I don't remember it being hard to clean the botton

 

[wooky30014]

Many moons ago when we lived in PA and boated in the rivers the boats where in the water from April to October and they would get a scum line at the water line ( a little above & a little below) we would always get in the water and scrub it off while we where out but at the end of the year when it got it's winterizing wash and wax I don't remember it being hard to clean the botton

The marina just down the road has quite a few year round boats in their covered docks and those likely have bottom crud. Another lake about an hours drive away, the home owners have covered docks with lifts. I don't know if that is required or not but those boats I'm sure are clean enough to eat off of

 

[wooky30014]

We are ready, just bear with me on the exact day and time (it will be videoed) I'm done with all I can and have planned to do on Riff Raft. I got all the tools out, trash and junk picked up (no matter how neat you are these projects always generate junk), floor inside and out vacuumed.

Here is a short video showing the Tilto-Matic working as it should WOOO HOOO, short but OHH so sweet
View attachment Tilto Matic.mp4

 

[cptbill]

You kept the belly dancer right?

 

[wooky30014]

You kept the belly dancer right?

LMAO, yeah she still resides in the cabin LOL although I requested her to don a because it can get rather warm inside there

Oh and the cruising will be just up on plane so's I can look at all the andthat are notoriously found on docks as well as other vessels passing by

 

[wooky30014]

Well boys and girls and children of all ages, the day has finally come . . . . . . sorta. Riff Raft has SPLASHED, yes you heard it right from the horse's . . . . . mouth, we got the hull, motor, and my feet wet today.

I had to do this alone today as the Admiral is under the weather a bit. The dock here I was run off of since I wasn't needing gas. I went for a short ride (the no wake zone was about a mile but with a narrow channel, no worries). When able to open her up She didn't have any giddy-yap, I'll work on that. This shot is back in the Idle Only Zone

I was planning to take her out several days ago but I went and got a new starting battery when she was struggling to spin over and then my "storage lot" opened back up, my son the Doctor brought his trailer with the 54 Caddy tucked inside to me while he's in Indianna for the next year or so. Anyway, back to the drawing board of tinkering to get the motor "right", I went through similar with the boat I bought from my Uncle some 35 years or so ago, we'll get it right.

Oh, I also noticed just the other day that the wood on the outside of the windshields will need to be scraped, sanded, or . . . . . . and I plan to stain, varnish, and seal that wood instead of paint. I got a few compliments on her

 

[cptbill]

Well, congratulations are in order

 

[Willyclay]

Well done!

 

[southkogs]

Contrats! It's turned out to be a good lookin' boat.

 

[briangcc]

Congrats on the splash.

You might be asking an awful lot of that 85HP outboard pushing a 20' boat with hardtop. Might be a wise move to look for a bigger used motor.

 

[wooky30014]

Thanks guys, as yall have been reading here, a LOT of work has gone into Riff Raft. I'll just have to get a tub of some sort to dunk the foot and tinker a bit more. I know the 85 might be a little shy hp wise but Bayliner was putting them on their 20 footers and they screamed right along (I'm not looking to win any boat races, juss get up on plane and ride when not drowning worms). I think something is out of adjustment because I ran out of throttle lever travel just as the rpms were starting to climb, again, very similar to another motor years ago

 

[Willyclay]

It's usually the simple stuff. Hang in there, I know you can whip it!

 

[wooky30014]

Pondering a problem / issue with adjusting the fuel mix at idle and in gear, tried with a Tote tub and didn't end well for the tub not being stout or deep enough, 55 gal drum not wide enough until the Admiral found this pic on the Inter-webs So I got a barrel and am about to fashion one like on here. Standard barrel width is about 24 inches, my motor foot's exhaust snout reaches 27 inches so you see my dilemma

make a test tank for large outboards cheap!

was tired of having to drive to the lake to test repairs or to set timing or anything that requires throttle speeds you don't dare run on the muffs. of course my 125 horse evinrude wont fit in a 55 gallon drum. i bought a used plastic storage barrel from a local hardware store for 15 dollars...

forums.iboats.com

I'll cut it tighter of a fit to potentially keep the water from splashing out as fast, again only need idle speed. WOT I believe I can get close by a not running engine, will check it later as I can't open my rickety gate at the moment, a new metal farm gate is due to be delivered tomorrow. Pics of all this later