The not so dirty Formula 27pc

[bigdirty]

Hey folks, decided to start a new thread for this boat.. I have a feeling I wont be able to leave it alone for long anyway :lol: She is actually quite clean, and for 20 years old has held up very well. A few things will need attention asap, but there are no show stoppers at this point. Picked her up friday, in the pouring rain.. oh well, I'm not made of sugar and its a boat so...

One battery was dead, but the p/o wired me some $$$ the day before, and I can replace it myself (He was not at all a mechanical or diy guy, had the marina do EVERYTHING and always just paid the bill no questions asked) So I threw in a spare battery I had here from the Crownline for now. Before we left, they hooked the hose up and ran both motors up to temp. No leaks, both start easily and run well, although the port side seams to be running a little rich, and the shifting is quite stiff.
Couldnt haul it with covers or top on, so my friend and I got pretty much soaked right through in the 10 mins it took to launch and run around to my dock.. which i pretty much ran into, with the wind and not knowing the boat yet.. No damage, thanks to a rubber bumper strip along the end.. I dont always take 'selfies' but when I do... its usually with a boat in the background.. :laugh:

The interior is in very good shape, a few marks and cracks but I'll run it for a few years anyway. Storage everywhere in this thing, and its all very well thought out and engineered.

I think the center walk through with the railing is the coolest thing I've ever seen too.. and although its only 9ft 6" beam, with no walkarounds, this is WIDE on the back deck area. Had 6 people on it last night and everyone was pretty comfortable.. I'm sure the adult beverages helped a bit there though.. :wink:

 

[GA_Boater]

What is the word behind your port ear in the selfie?

BTW - She's too clean for you.

 

[bigdirty]

Funny thing.. the guy had the new moring cover and biminy top made last year, but he just couldnt afford the sides. My buddy with the 31pc just replaced all of his top/canvas last summer, but still had all of his original plastics/side curtains. Its green, and not a perfect fit, but suprisingly it does sort of work with a few overlaping pieces here and there.. :lol: and its better than... well, nothing..

Took it out yesterday as the rain stopped ...and wow... this thing goes good! Its gona take some practice to drive it at speed, and honestly I was a little freaked out once it got on plane (which takes about 10 seconds..) cause it just wants to GO.. I hit 40mph or so and its got more jam, but I didnt want to push it... I dont know it yet, and it was a bit rough out in the open water. I need to adjust the drive tie-bar as well... She starts 'tail sliding' at speed, and its a little unnerving.. The slow cruise back to the dock was cool though.. pretty hard to wipe the grin off my face

I'm getting a list together of what NEEDS to be done, and what can wait for later. First might be removing the original hot water heater cause its not looking to happy... and with water system full and operational now, it appears to be leaking... But hey, now at least I know the automatic bilge pump is working.. :facepalm: Also, the ac/heat will not come on, I think the capacitor(s) have burned out for the compressor motor... This is going to be a bit of an adventure I can tell..
?@

 

[zool]

I like you, every time I see you, you have a new boat! Good luck with it!

 

[bigdirty]

Boat name.. :lol: "IBoat" (the guy was an IT/computer type dude..)

 

[bigdirty]

...every time I see you, you have a new boat! Good luck with it!

:laugh: That's exactly what the girl in the office at the marina said to me... Every year now, 4 years in a row...

 

[zool]

Having the twin engines is gonna prove to be a handy thing, well, except at the gas dock lol...Ive never had my 28 towed, was always able to limp back on one, even on its worst days.....spinning her should be a lot easier too!

 

[GA_Boater]

Boat name.. :lol: "IBoat" (the guy was an IT/computer type dude..)

I thought the "s" fell off. :laugh:

 

[Speak]

Nice boat big d. !!!!

 

[bigdirty]

went down to the boat tonite and did some cleaning/scrubbing.. she still looks good all shined up, got a few compliments from folks walking by on the dock..

Climbed into the engin bay and assesed the.. issues as well.

I discovered this the day I picked her up.. the engine hatch power lift has been ripped out of its home on the center stringer. likely by one of the donkeys at the p/o's marina, as it had one dead flat battery. So with no power to raise it, and being locked in place at the top with a bolt, they pulled it until it let go. A word of advice to anyone with a similar system; Take that bolt out, in case of flat batterys.. cause if not, you wont have any choice! Would have been nice of them to mention it tho..

Also, the water heater definatly has to come out, there is standing water all around it, and its either the heater or a line I cant acsess without removal. water pump seams weak to, and turns on randomly so I assume there is a leak somewhere in the system bleeding down preasure.. so.. yup, thats my project this week.. :lol: shes dirty enough for me in the engine bay anyway..

 

[Brian 26]

Thanks for posting, I've followed all your threads and certainly will on this one too.

 

[Mark72233]

BD, I just found your new post. I am loving the new ride and looks good on you.

 

[muskyfins]

Daaaaaaaammmmmnnn. Thats a nice boat. My next one will be a Formula. (I hope)

 

[bigdirty]

Thanks guys Didn't get the tank out last week, to much going on with work/life.. I did get her out for another run on Friday tho, ran it around to another marina about 10 miles away, parked there beside my buddys boat for the night and carried on till the wee hours of the morning arty: She runs well, got the drive tie bar dialed in and its not skidding around as much now, but the port engine/shift cable needs an adjustment.. wont rev past 4000rpm, with the throttle all the way down. (starboard motor happily revs to 4500 or better..) Another interesting thing to me.. you don't need trim tabs to level it while running.. simply trimming one drive up works wonders.. Still a bit frightening to run it above 40 mph, she is a fair size boat, but handles very quick and nimble as if it was a lot smaller..

Hoping I can pull batteries and water tank out this week, then its on to the ac/heat system..gota get that working.. Stayed on it the last two nights and it was a wee bit chilly the first night.. :laugh:

 

[bigdirty]

forgot the pic.. they probly came out of the factory the same month.. Same year, color scheme, and very similar layout... was kinda cool to see them side by side..

 

[kcassells]

Lots of sweat equity and $$ there! Boat looks great. Been watching from a distance of the build!

 

[Tail_Gunner]

AllDodge has a cult going on now....gezz. Nice boat

http://forums.iboats.com/forum/engi...129-formula-27pc-complete-power-plant-rebuild

 

[Mikeopsycho]

Nice ride BD! I can't wait to see what you find when you pull the water heater.........we all know there'll be something you'll need to fix or modify. :lol: Happy boating!

 

[muskyfins]

forgot the pic.. they probly came out of the factory the same month.. Same year, color scheme, and very similar layout... was kinda cool to see them side by side..

How close in sequence are the HIN's?

 

[tpenfield]

Not sure how I missed this thread with pictures of the new ride, BD. I recall you announcing the 27PC, but had not seen the pic until now . . . sweet !!! Twin engines . . . gotta love the ride you get, right? I don't use the trim tabs either, just trim with the outdrives.

Looks like there is lots of stuff in the engine compartment to keep you busy. AllDodge will be right up there to help with any structural moisture issues that come your way