|
|
Post by aussieguy on Jan 9, 2019 6:01:54 GMT -5
update...
took the boat out for a run the other day...
Got GREAT GAS MILAGE results on the return trip
and finally worked out how you dock back at the ramp with Seatow
Carburetor took a dump and kept flooding the motor..... that was NOT fun
The carburetor rebuild kit arrived Monday and will have the carb back on the boat in a day or so
While waiting for the kit.. stripped the carb,
just touched one of the bolt flanges where it attaches to the manifold... darn thing broke off!
Called Holley... they don't make a throttle body for that carb anymore ughhh
found an identical parts carb on Ebay... $100.00 contacted seller and negotiated it to 85.00
and ..... Seller was located in New Port Richey . Picked up the carb and swapped out the throttle plate
sighhhhhhhhhh
|
|
|
|
Post by shadowxmas on Jan 9, 2019 9:28:39 GMT -5
Glad you got the new carb and was able to negotiate a reduced price.
Glad you got somtime time on the water.
|
|
|
|
Post by aussieguy on Jan 16, 2019 6:55:30 GMT -5
got plenty of extra time waiting for Seatow to arrive
motor quit after doing a 30mph run
slowed down to go under the Dunedin Causeway drawbridge and the motor got seriously flooded
wind and tide was kind enough to gently push us against the lead-in pylons
tied up them and waited for the tow
most of the other boaters passing by worked out we was in trouble and offered assistance
except on fella read me the riot act and informed us that it was illegal to tie up there !
Mrs AG fired back... "we know richard-head... but if you read the rules you can tie up here if you are in trouble."
anyways the carb got re-installed and trailer adjusted (ie... hard to tell how level the boat on trailer is)
need to put it back in the water and do a final 'float bowl level' check
right now on the trailer, motor cold and throttle set at idle
she starts right up within a second or two and purrs like a kitten
along with the carb kit.. added a half inch phenolic spacer to help insulate the carb from the motor heat
gave the hull a good wash then a good wax/polish to remove salt stains etc
used a cheap orbital polisher/buffer from Walmart cause this boat way too big to do by hand.
she definitely looks much nice and is not showing her age as much
|
|
|
|
Post by shadowxmas on Jan 16, 2019 11:04:58 GMT -5
Good luck with the new carb or carb reinstall.
Weather not supposed to be bad until Sunday when another front comes in.
I am finely back to work after being off for 2 months with a broken fibula.
|
|
|
|
Post by aussieguy on Jan 18, 2019 7:12:15 GMT -5
checked the oil level and it looked very thin and smelled of gas
apparently when the carb flooded the motor the excess gas found it's way past the rings and into the sump
not good....
bought a cheap hand pump from the local auto parts store
pump did a great job of sucking out the oil from the dipstick tube
my dipstick tube is connected to the bottom of sump.
sucked out almost 2 gallons .... specs says 6 quarts for my sump
hoping to put the boat in the water for anothe test run / final carb adjustment today to a void the weekend rush
|
|
sctaz
Rod Polisher
Posts: 114
|
Post by sctaz on Jan 18, 2019 9:39:43 GMT -5
I looked at a membership
didn't want to commit to a monthly payment
plus I enjoy the tinkering
some boat clubs appear OK
but others wouldn't touch with a fishing pole
this boat is all mine no payments just hook her up put gas in and pay 5.00 at the ramp
any day I like
added benefit the neighbors stop by more cause it looks like I'm rich
freedomboatclub.com/locations/117-clearwater-fl/boats/
Sounds looks you have been doing a whole lot of tinkering and spending money.
|
|
|
|
Post by aussieguy on Jan 19, 2019 5:58:55 GMT -5
freedomboatclub.com/locations/117-clearwater-fl/boats/ Sounds looks you have been doing a whole lot of tinkering and spending money. Not really doing all that much tinkering
the cooler/cold windy days ....nothing got done and certainly wasn't inclined to be out on the water
keeping $$$ to a minimum...
50.00 carb rebuild kit and spacer
85.00 parts carb
45.00 oil + filter + extraction pump 9.00 new dock line
could have bought a rebuilt carb for 288.00
but I got all of the above and saved 100.00 rebuilding a carb is very simple and lots of instructions / videos online for those not so sure
spending has been a lot less than membership fees each month
DIY saves a lot and the tinkering is keeping me off the couch I could tinker around the house
Have already painted, replaced the roof (by myself) , tiled some floors etc etc
but now I am tinkering for pleasure... I enjoy it the dollars do add up......... but I will recover most if/when I sell it
biggest +
we are planning over the next few weeks to do some overnight trips (weekend camping out) can't do that in a club boat
Non tinkerers can benefit with a club ....
I just prefer the Freedom to do it by my rules . when I want,
where I want mod the boat to suit my needs
without any monthly commitment
|
|
|
|
Post by alaskaguy on Jan 19, 2019 9:09:43 GMT -5
I have two family members who are snowbirds also, both have many boats in Mich and Alaska, they both belong to freedom here in Fl. but use boats just a few times a year
don't get it myself. I am on the Bay 3/4 times a week,
|
|
cored
Whitebait
Posts: 47
|
Post by cored on Jan 19, 2019 12:27:14 GMT -5
To each his own, wish i hadent sold my boat before i moved down here. But i agree owning would be better for me. I looked into the boat clubs and your talking around 4k a year for starters. For 4k first year and <1k a year there after you could get a purdy nice inshore boat.
|
|
sctaz
Rod Polisher
Posts: 114
|
Post by sctaz on Jan 27, 2019 0:07:48 GMT -5
I have 24' pontoon at home that I rebuilt and use for night fishing or tow it nearby lakes where there are no club locations. When I go to coastal areas especially Florida I use everything from a pontoon to an offshore center console. In May I have a 2019 Cobia 21' bay boat and a 2018 Cobia 220 CC reserved. I used the 220 CC last October twice while we were there and went out twice with a local member twice in the same 2 week period. I agree it is not for everyone but along with our timeshares it really works great for us because there are locations nearly everywhere we go. My friend in Tampa sold his boat and joined the club. He said he has no regrets. The club in Palmetto has started getting their 2019 boats so new boats are available to reserve and use for the membership and cost of the fuel you use. You can't buy and maintain these boats for the cost of the membership. freedomboatclub.com/locations/2-bradenton-fl/boats/ |
|
|
|
Post by aussieguy on Jul 31, 2019 16:37:54 GMT -5
can't believe it has been January since I updated
had the boat out a few times since last post
just cruising around checking things out and learning how to use the Garmin
last time I had her out was middle of May... when the Garmin stopped reading the bottom UGHHHH
and main starting battery was starting to get weak.
Garmin.... checked transponder position made sure it still pointed down
checked transponder cable make sure it wasn't near any wires to cause interference
re-routed it just to be extra sure
then test it by putting a large bucket of water under it .... still no sign of the bottom?
Ohhh GEEEZE.... it was not plugged securely into the head unit cradle
I can see the bottom now !
was gonna do the battery the next week when family stuff interfered,
enough said about the money pit that is called family
maybe I could sell them ?
then I ended up hurting a rib (won't tell you it was while working on the boat)
damnnnn that hurt a lot. But it is gone now.. all better
Then all the heat and nasty wet weather ...
am I ever gonna take her out again It's the end of July for heavens sake?
Last weekend picked up a battery and a used Minkota Dual bank charger 10amp
the boat came with an 30 year old Guest charger.. it appeared to work but I figured charger technology has changed some since the boat was built. If I'm going to replace expensive batteries then getting a new charger made sense.
had been on the lookout on craig's list / offerup for a good modern charger... good used ones are pretty scarce
Had given up and was gooing to pony up the 150.00 for a new one ....
was on the way to get buy a new one and had to make a stop for the Mrs to get something ....
while I waited for her one last look on offerup.
found the minkota posted an hour previously.... 30 minutes later it was in my Tahoe for $45.00
Pulled out the Guest charger ... it fell apart.
installed the Minkota and hooked up the new starting battery
It's alive...all them nice blinking LED's telling me what the charger is doing.
It has separate lights for each battery too.
after it showed fully charged started up the motor...
holly molly it started way easier with a good battery
finished off the weekend by giving her a well deserved scrubbing...
paid particular attention to the bilge because no matter how careful
stuff (mainly leaves) work their way down to the bilge
It was yukky... and the bilge pump was partially clogged
All clean now and pump works much better. (hope I don't ever need it)
next.... renew seatow
|
|
