I've grown up on boats my whole life. Was dragged to the lake by my folks for as long as I can remember. Hated almost every minute of it. Then, I grew up. I missed all those times on the water that I thought I hated so much. Time for me to get a boat.....classifieds board , craigslist I looked everywhere. Nothing in my price range until the infamous craigslist add. Oh here's one that's cheap. Not pretty at all. In fact, down right ugly. But it floated and "ran good". Little did I know, I was about to find out why my father cussed so much......Nothing could kill my new boat high... Went to pick her up in Abilene. Looked her over. Didn't have the foggiest clue on the how's and what's or the do's and the donts. Flash forward a few years and I am a freaking master at all 4!! I have also come to the realization that boat most mechanics are the spawn of satan. I did say most not all.
Got my girl home for the first time. Felt good. I own a damned boat. I'm going to the lake........ Put her in the water. Started right up. Why is it not going into gear? What's that clicking noise when it's in reverse? Clicking noise in forward gear too? WTF? Oh goody the trim quit working. Flat trailer tire....... Are you F$&@ing kidding me??? It's ok.... I owned a boat. Still somewhat happy. Until.........My first experience with a boat shop.... Good times. (Enter sarcastic font here)
Throttle cable, shift cable... That's your problem. 37 days it took to get my "problem" taken care of. 38th day, well into summer, I go straight to the lake..... There's that clicking sound again....... Engine dies putting into gear........ At least the trim ...... Crap.Straight back to ole mr boat mechanic. 25 days later........ We can't fix it. Sorry. I may have shed a tear. Ok, on to the next referral of awesome boat mechanics.
I was told by this guy after a good 30 second walk around, you should cut your losses and donate it. Tax write off. But then I wouldn't have a boat. Obviously Mr Snobby Pants would only work on something easy. Not me. I'm a tinkerer. I like to tinker. It's what I do....... And I did.I am fairly certain that I've watched every how to boat video on YouTube. Like I said, I did it all. It started with Mr Snobby telling me the transom was rotted. No worries I thought. I can fix that. And I did. Not only the transom, but I leaned how to replace the stringers as well. In fact, from the gas tank aft..... All freaking new wood and gel coat. Ever play with fiberglass after it's hardened? Bet you have scars too. Next was carpet... Easy. Interior..... Wood was rotted..... Like most of it. I cut, shaped and assembled every damned piece. The swim platform will survive the apocalypse. I may have over engineered that sucker. The foam and vinyl actually done by professionals. The handles, steering wheel, dash etc etc was sanded down then re dyed. All instruments work except for that damned trim. Wires just aren't hooked up. Light bulbs only on tach and speedoNow to learn engine stuff...... Realized that the clicking sound was the lower unit gears sheering themselves chunk by chunk. Maybe I can fix that ..... If you've ever wondered if it's easy to do this on your own. It's. NOT. Needless to say, I found a good used one. It's on there now.
Oh and it has the RIGHT shift and throttle cable. Apparently my first boat mechanic thought a gen1 shift cable could be rigged to fit. After learning which one I needed, took me all of 30 minutes to install and adjust. Then i noticed the remote was old and nasty. I decided to go with a really bad ass mercury remote.Stereo isn't out of this world but you can hear and feel it. Sony Bluetooth, 4/6.5 with a 10" powered sub. I used a blue top optima battery. Went with that after the first 2 decided to leave me and the family stranded on the lake. Lots of lessons. Lots and lots.Prop was redone last summer. Looked gorgeous. Better than new. Until the first time putting in the water after it being done I decided to see if I could stand up to something on the bottom..... Looks worse than it is. Doesn't vibrate. Just not pretty anymore.Now, I paint cars for a living. Been doing it for 17 years now. I thought that gel coat painting would be fairly simple. Again.... Like so many other things. I. Was. Wrong. My little boy is type1 diabetic. For him, I wanted to do a blue boat. ( the juvenile diabetic symbol is a blue circle )
Let's learn how to gel coat. WOOOOW!!! It's not horrible by any means but I need more practice. The cream color still has some spot repair that I never finished.The list would be too long to even try and remember all that I've replaced on that boat... Does have fresh oil change and lower unit oil. Spark plugs and rotor I replaced 2 months ago. The only thing I never could grasp is the carb. It's like pig Latin to me.Last time I was out I hit 55 mph. It was calm and I was by myself but still.... I was happy.The trailer..... Tires and rims are new. Well... A year old. I live 2 miles from the lake. Master cylinder is new. I'll never do that again!!! Bunk wood and carpet is new. ALL. NEW. LED. LIGHTS!!! And yes, it used to be red.Folks, I've poured so much time, money and effort into this girl. She's a good boat. Still needs some work but she's solid. It's time for me to get into another project and I need the room. Someone give her a good home. Please feel free to ask as many questions as you can.Thank you and happy biddingNothing could kill my new boat high... Went to pick her up in Abilene. Looked her over. Didn't have the foggiest clue on the how's and what's or the do's and the donts. Flash forward a few years and I am a freaking master at all 4!! I have also come to the realization that boat most mechanics are the spawn of satan. I did say most not all.Got my girl home for the first time. Felt good. I own a damned boat. I'm going to the lake........ Put her in the water. Started right up. Why is it not going into gear? What's that clicking noise when it's in reverse? Clicking noise in forward gear too? WTF? Oh goody the trim quit working. Flat trailer tire....... Are you F$&@ing kidding me??? It's ok.... I owned a boat. Still somewhat happy. Until.........My first experience with a boat shop.... Good times. (Enter sarcastic font here)Throttle cable, shift cable... That's your problem. 37 days it took to get my "problem" taken care of. 38th day, well into summer, I go straight to the lake..... There's that clicking sound again....... Engine dies putting into gear........ At least the trim ...... Crap.Straight back to ole mr boat mechanic. 25 days later........ We can't fix it. Sorry. I may have shed a tear. Ok, on to the next referral of awesome boat mechanics.I was told by this guy after a good 30 second walk around, you should cut your losses and donate it. Tax write off. But then I wouldn't have a boat. Obviously Mr Snobby Pants would only work on something easy. Not me. I'm a tinkerer. I like to tinker. It's what I do....... And I did.I am fairly certain that I've watched every how to boat video on YouTube. Like I said, I did it all. It started with Mr Snobby telling me the transom was rotted. No worries I thought. I can fix that. And I did. Not only the transom, but I leaned how to replace the stringers as well. In fact, from the gas tank aft..... All freaking new wood and gel coat. Ever play with fiberglass after it's hardened? Bet you have scars too. Next was carpet... Easy. Interior..... Wood was rotted..... Like most of it. I cut, shaped and assembled every damned piece. The swim platform will survive the apocalypse. I may have over engineered that sucker. The foam and vinyl actually done by professionals. The handles, steering wheel, dash etc etc was sanded down then re dyed. All instruments work except for that damned trim. Wires just aren't hooked up. Light bulbs only on tach and speedoNow to learn engine stuff...... Realized that the clicking sound was the lower unit gears sheering themselves chunk by chunk. Maybe I can fix that ..... If you've ever wondered if it's easy to do this on your own. It's. NOT. Needless to say, I found a good used one. It's on there now.Oh ad it has the RIGHT shift and throttle cable. Apparently my first boat mechanic thought a gen1 shift cable could be rigged to fit. After learning which one I needed, took me all of 30 minutes to install and adjust. Then i noticed the remote was old and nasty. I decided to go with a really bad ass mercury remote.Stereo isn't out of this world but you can hear and feel it. Sony Bluetooth, 4/6.5 with a 10" powered sub. I used a blue top optima battery. Went with that after the first 2 decided to leave me and the family stranded on the lake. Lots of lessons. Lots and lots.Prop was redone last summer. Looked gorgeous. Better than new. Until the first time putting in the water after it being done I decided to see if I could stand up to something on the bottom..... Looks worse than it is. Doesn't vibrate. Just not pretty anymore.Now, I paint cars for a living. Been doing it for 17 years now. I thought that gel coat painting would be fairly simple. Again.... Like so many other things. I. Was. Wrong. My little boy is type1 diabetic. For him, I wanted to do a blue boat. ( the juvenile diabetic symbol is a blue circle )Let's learn how to gel coat. WOOOOW!!! It's not horrible by any means but I need more practice. The cream color still has some spot repair that I never finished.The list would be too long to even try and remember all that I've replaced on that boat... Does have fresh oil change and lower unit oil. Spark plugs and rotor I replaced 2 months ago. The only thing I never could grasp is the carb. It's like pig Latin to me.Last time I was out I hit 55 mph. It was calm and I was by myself but still.... I was happy.The trailer..... Tires and rims are new. Well... A year old. I live 2 miles from the lake. Master cylinder is new. I'll never do that again!!! Bunk wood and carpet is new. ALL. NEW. LED. LIGHTS!!! And yes, it used to be red.Folks, I've poured so much time, money and effort into this girl. She's a good boat. Still needs some work but she's solid. It's time for me to get into another project and I need the room. Someone give her a good home. Please feel free to ask as many questions as you can.Thank you and happy bidding
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