Well moving along on the project, this winter made a floor and put it in, nice to have all the wires etc hidden under the floor. Finished up wiring the search light and bow light and power point. All I have to do it finish up the floor, put a new impeller in the water pump, mount the motor, rerun the steering cables. Hope to get it into the shop to get the seats made this week and ready for the water Memorial Day weekend.
Well not sure what I was thinking but I found another boat that needed to be returned to it's former glory. A 1958 Starcraft Speed Queen.
Well while it has taken longer than expected the finish line is getting close. I finally finished up the bench seats put 4 coats of varnish on them and then brought them to an apolostry shop to have cushions made.
Well last night was a big night, I finally have the motor reassembled and ready to put on the boat. I bought a 1960 Mercury 400 45 hp motor last summer in New Jersey for $500. It was allegedly restored and then put in storage for 10 years. I got it home and then got to inspecting it last winter had to replace the starter, while I was at it I replaced the wiring that looked less than perfect. In early June I just needed to replace the water pump impeller before I mounted the motor dropped the lower unit and the drive shaft was worn badly so I had to find one in good shape. Since the lower unit is complex with shims etc I had to find somebody to do that work, funny no boat dealers will work on a 56 year old boat motor. Needless to say it was almost a month of jacking around the guy had to send the shaft back to me for straightening and truing up so it took way longer than I wanted. Needless to say the $500 steal of a deal motor is now a $1500 motor but I know top to bottom from the prop to the top is as good as new. Will be mounting the motor tonight.
Thank you hopefully by the end of the week the benches will be back, hope to finally launch the boat next weekend. I still have to fabricate some parts to connect the cable steering and machine a couple pins to connect the control cables. Already making arrangements to get the next project boat in to get the motor running.
Well today was supposed to be the day to put the boat back in the water and put it thru it's paces, weather did not cooperate with 2.5" of rain today but it did give me time to go over and double check all the connections etc. Pretty confident that any adjustments needed will be minor. The seats are supposed to be done this week so it will be 100% complete next weekend.
Basement renovation this winter...just about finished with the top floor deck on my house. 1500 sq ft of deck...
Well I finally have the sweet looking motor running sweet as well, I just have to adjust the idle and put the top cowel back on. I am officially pissed at the apolstry shop, granted I had them make custom cushions but next Monday will be 8 weeks from when I dropped the benches off, far from the "a couple weeks" the guy told me when he took my deposit.
Finally it is done. Took just under a year with on again off again effort. I was livid when I picked up the benches the cushions were supposed to be red with tan piping as you can see they are tan with red piping, they turned out for the better I think.
