Old boat fans?

[gm280]

Chad, please don't take what we all are saying in anyway "negativism" of statements or gloom and doom. It is just that we have seen so many "good" boats that turned into total rebuilds so many times that we are just telling you what we've seen from others posting about their "rare diamond find" over the years. I like your go get them attitude and you have to have that to be a good boat refurbisher (sic) in my opinion. So please don't think we are trying to talk you out of anything, but merely preparing you for what could be a serious issue with older boats. But with your enthusiasms, even if you did find rotted issues, you seem like you could handle that and rebuilt it back to "better then new" condition. If you start reading the huge number of boat projects on these forums you will quickly see what we all are talking about. Old boats and rot are the norm, and not the exception. That's all we are saying. But on the positive side, as you do read these project boat stories, realize others are taking on their challenges and building their boat to perfection and bringing new life to their old finds... Those IS the best story anybody could post! And that IS what these boating forums are really all about, helping everybody with their rebuild efforts without reinventing things over all by themselves. Please post a ton of pictures for everybody to see what you have. We always love pictures. They can say so much more then words so many times... And again welcome aboard. We look forward to your project(s) and especially your upholstery efforts for sure... I'll be watching! :thumb:

 

[Watermann]

Hey I love old boats, in fact I have 2 of them! Although they were both a garbage scow and needed completely rebuilt. :lol:

So ahem, Chad we can't even be sure you actually have a boat... pics would be a good way to show us what we're actually talking about. So how about forking over some photos of the ole beast?

 

[Woodonglass]

Marine Engines are different than Car engines. All the systems are different. Hook ups etc. Connections to the Outdrive, Seals, The keyhole in the Transom is Specific to that outdrive. If the outdrive goes bad and you can't find a replacement ( and this is a distinct possibility) then going to a different outdrive would require replacing the entire transom and cutting a new keyhole. This can be done but requires a lot of work. On a glass boat anything is repairable!!! Just takes time, effort and money!! Again, not being negative, just information to make you aware

 

[Chad Flaugher]

[No message]

 

[jbcurt00]

?? ^^^ ?? Not sure what you were trying to link, but its a dead end.....

 

[Chad Flaugher]

Hmmmm... I seem to be having a very hard time uploading any summer photo's of us on the lake. :-/ I will get it figured out.

 

[Chad Flaugher]

Hey Waterman. I watched your video on your Cheiftain. Sweet boat man! That build looked like a lot of fun!

 

[Watermann]

Thanks Chad, see how everyone loves pics and vids!

Yeah the upload feature has been whacked for awhile. Photobucket works best. Heres the tutorial. PHOTO Posting Instructions

 

[Chad Flaugher]

I have some video where I escorted a black bear cub swim across Horsetooth reservoir with another boat. Still learning this site, but I'll get the hang of it.

Woodonglass: In the construction world, you can always go bigger, going smaller is the hard part. Would a 5.7L paired with a more modern outdrive call for a slightly larger opening? Is so, making the keyhole larger shouldn't be that big of a deal, right? If not, I could deal with a mild build on a new 5.0 block, and that stringer outdrive is still all over Ebay.

 

[jbcurt00]

The opening thru your transom now is sort of a squarish shape w rounded off corners

The Mercuiser keyhole is taller but much narrower, and is sort of urn shaped...

To swap, you should remove the existing transom ply w square thru hole and replace it. To do that requires some demo and fiberglass grinding, plus re-doing all the fiberglass.

Not impossible, but also not a small amount of work.

And as mentioned, you would be in an exceptionally small group if the deck, transom, stringers and motor mounts in a 40yr old boat, from the 70s, doesnt have some (most have a LOT) of water intrusion below decks.

Some do get lucky, and dont have COMPLETE teardowns, but many more do, and very very few have no water intrusion at all.

 

[jbcurt00]

Ebay isnt really parts support for older motors, more like an online salvage yard.

Its not like comparing Ford to Chevy, or vice versa, its that OMC hasnt been in the outdrive and motor business for a long time, and Mercuiser still is.

 

[Chad Flaugher]

Nope, still failing at photos.

 

[Chad Flaugher]

Did this work?

 

[Chad Flaugher]

did this work?

 

[Chad Flaugher]

jbcurt: I understand that. I would love to shoehorn a 5.7L mated to a Merc into this thing. I love that motor! The only water intrusion I've noticed was through the thru transom steering ball. I'm replacing that as we speak. The bilge pump kicks on once every 24hrs for a minute because of it. I own a Landscape and home maintenance business. I have a bit of time on my hands in the winter if ya know what I mean. I went threw your re-build pictures.... Nice job man!

 

[Scott Danforth]

to put anything in the boat will require replacing the transom. OMC used a hole big enough to pass a full sized adult thru

 

[redneck joe]

for your pics, photobucket or similar is best.

 

[JaCrispy]

Get a photobucket account, it's free and easy to post pics that way.

Looking for an old tri hull myself.

 

[Watermann]

Here is the link again PHOTO Posting Instructions option #4 is the one you want.

 

[Chad Flaugher]

So I'm cleaning and prepping the thru-transom steering cable hole for the updated cable system. It appears that the previous owner sealed the assembly to the transom with white silicone. I see evidence of a black silicone (RTV?) as well, both in between the "clam shells" and the transom. I would assume the black is factory. Would a black RTV Silicone suffice, or is there something Y'all would recommend?

Finally broke 40 degrees here, so the cover is off, and the water damage hunt is on! I can't really find easy access to the decking to see if it was overlaid. Ski lockers are all top mounted under seats. I'm looking at everything with a different eye after talking to you guys! LOL