A Day in the Life of.....

[Shlbyntro]

acetone!

Lay some rags over the tape and soak the rags for a couple mins in the acetone

Oh I could do it, I just didn't want to be married to it after potentially spending several more hours to clean it to a non satisfactory result. Sometimes you have to pick and choose your battles.

 

[Shlbyntro]

remember that beautiful ChrisCraft. well I'm back and its tight. ive already removed some access panel to get to where I'm at. Im having a hard timing laying down and getting both my hands under the engine to get the hoses back on. had to take a brake to stretch while I posted this

so for those of you out there with brass housing bravo pumps who service your own impellers. When you see the ridge of this circle thats worn into the housing touch the hole, it is time to replace the housing or find an aftermarket stainless wear plate kit. I like to use the ball point pen test. if you run a ball point pen around the outside of the ring and it falls in, thats how you know.

 

[Shlbyntro]

I found me some west coast on a prepurchase inspection today. you know those days when work doesn't feel like work?? yep she's been sitting 5 years and I got her going with nothing more than a fresh battery. Ya, I was surprised too! but I was probably holding back a shit eating grin as I stomped the pedal a couple times.

I'm told she can do 100mph

 

[4Waters]

I found me some west coast on a prepurchase inspection today. you know those days when work doesn't feel like work?? yep she's been sitting 5 years and I got her going with nothing more than a fresh battery. Ya, I was surprised too! but I was probably holding back a shit eating grin as I stomped the pedal a couple times.

I'm told she can do 100mph View attachment 1105240 View attachment 1105243 View attachment 1105241 View attachment 1105242

At least 100, it's a jet

 

[Shlbyntro]

Helping a friend out with his Air Condirioning today. Somebody did a number on this truck and needs to be beaten with their own tools

 

[braindead]

I found me some west coast on a prepurchase inspection today. you know those days when work doesn't feel like work?? yep she's been sitting 5 years and I got her going with nothing more than a fresh battery. Ya, I was surprised too! but I was probably holding back a shit eating grin as I stomped the pedal a couple times.

I'm told she can do 100mph View attachment 1105240 View attachment 1105243 View attachment 1105241 View attachment 1105242

that things been sitting a long time, any idea who made it, I’ve never seen the small gutter going around the deck before?

 

[Shlbyntro]

that things been sitting a long time, any idea who made it, I’ve never seen the small gutter going around the deck before?

it appears to be a 1990 Rogers. When ibpulled the cover off initially, I was thinking "if not for the jet, this almost feels like an old Omega" It couldve just been the shape of the bow tho

 

[Shlbyntro]

Happy Easter all! Im working today, a calculated sacrifice to be able to spend the next week in havasu with all you fine gentleman (and ladies)

todays patient is a 70s Trojan Sedan Bridge. The generator started making water in the oil and todays work was a tear down inspection of the generator to see if it could be saved. Sadly there wont be any saving of this generator as the chrome lining in the #1 cylinder is coming apart . Cant get lucky on all of them I guess

however i did find this beauty in the bilge. im pretty sure its one of mine from years and years ago. pretty ecstatic as its about $100 socket lol. its no 10mm but it is a compact snapon wobbly 5/16

 

[poncho]

I was a hard chrome plater at one time, great stuff until it isn't.

 

[HNL2LHC]

Happy Easter all! Im working today, a calculated sacrifice to be able to spend the next week in havasu with all you fine gentleman (and ladies)

todays patient is a 70s Trojan Sedan Bridge. The generator started making water in the oil and todays work was a tear down inspection of the generator to see if it could be saved. Sadly there wont be any saving of this generator as the chrome lining in the #1 cylinder is coming apart . Cant get lucky on all of them I guess View attachment 1107343 View attachment 1107344 View attachment 1107345 View attachment 1107346 View attachment 1107347 View attachment 1107348 View attachment 1107350 View attachment 1107351

however i did find this beauty in the bilge. im pretty sure its one of mine from years and years ago. pretty ecstatic as its about $100 socket lol. its no 10mm but it is a compact snapon wobbly 5/16 View attachment 1107356

Looking forward to you being in town. Hope that our paths cross once again. and don’t worry it will not be in the Docktagon. You’ll pummel my old fat ass!!!

 

[Shlbyntro]

Its a carby carby day in a carby carb world

 

[DRYHEAT]

Yes it is.

 

[Shlbyntro]

plumbing a trim system for a friend today.

.....ok, well sort of

 

[Shlbyntro]

Saw this really pretty dock line swimming around the docks down at one of the marinas this morning

 

[monkeyswrench]

Saw this really pretty dock line swimming around the docks down at one of the marinas this morning View attachment 1113419 View attachment 1113420

Damn, can't even kill it with fire!

 

[jetboatperformance]

Happy the only "Toilets" on the boats I work on are the carburetors

 

[Riverryder]

nope!!! hell no! i know rattlers swim but not under water from what i have seen. ill stick to the colorado river.

 

[Shlbyntro]

nope!!! hell no! i know rattlers swim but not under water from what i have seen. ill stick to the colorado river.

this is the colorado river

 

[4Waters]

this is the colorado river

Not very many people know that. Is that a water moccasin?

 

[JUSTWANNARACE]

Happy Easter all! Im working today, a calculated sacrifice to be able to spend the next week in havasu with all you fine gentleman (and ladies)

todays patient is a 70s Trojan Sedan Bridge. The generator started making water in the oil and todays work was a tear down inspection of the generator to see if it could be saved. Sadly there wont be any saving of this generator as the chrome lining in the #1 cylinder is coming apart . Cant get lucky on all of them I guess View attachment 1107343 View attachment 1107344 View attachment 1107345 View attachment 1107346 View attachment 1107347 View attachment 1107348 View attachment 1107350 View attachment 1107351

however i did find this beauty in the bilge. im pretty sure its one of mine from years and years ago. pretty ecstatic as its about $100 socket lol. its no 10mm but it is a compact snapon wobbly 5/16 View attachment 1107356

Why not just have it replated? Instead of buying a whole new generator?

 

[Riverryder]

this is the colorado river

you know what i meant....

texas has a straw too?


or unless you mean the texas colorado river?

 

[clarence]

I'm going to need a bigger boat.

 

[Shlbyntro]

Not very many people know that. Is that a water moccasin?

you know what i meant....

texas has a straw too?


or unless you mean the texas colorado river?

Its the Colorado River in TX

Why not just have it replated? Instead of buying a whole new generator?

its a lot of work and high risk on my part for not much reward. It takes me about twice as long to break down/reassemble one of these generators vs a Mercruiser V8. Theres a lot of little parts and separating the "back end" from the engine is precarious to say the least with a high likelihood of damaging the windings when you get the magnetic field to let go. Its a moot point on this one anyway. While I was in Arizona for DS, that boat hit some kind of underwater obstruction and punched the entire strut through the bottom of the boat and he had to run it aground it to keep from sinking. my customer says his insurance is planning to total it.

 

[Shlbyntro]

finished. just gotta clean up some zip ties. the pump is going to stay unmounted until the electrical and insulation is done.

 

[MK1MOD0]

Is this your workshop? Looks like a nice space !!!!

 

[Shlbyntro]

Is this your workshop? Looks like a nice space !!!!

oh i wish! My spot is on the other end of the building and is about half the size.

I can bring anything I want to work on up there so long his toys get priority. im getting insulation and air condotioning this month and am going to be installing a lift for my... err i mean his cars.

 

[Shlbyntro]

saw this on a houseboat 2 slips over from one im working on. gave me a giggle

 

[Shlbyntro]

oh joy. just found this guy in the engine bay of the houseboat Im working on and it was not here a few weeks ago. its a solid 7ft long. theres only one species of snake out here that get to this size. time to call somebody

 

[MK1MOD0]

That’s hilarious!

 

[4Waters]

oh joy. just found this guy in the engine bay of the houseboat Im working on and it was not here a few weeks ago. its a solid 7ft long. theres only one species of snake out here that get to this size. time to call somebody View attachment 1113885

What species

 

[HST4ME]

Its a carby carby day in a carby carb world

View attachment 1112280

Raunchy Westerbeke carbs are the funnest.

 

[Shlbyntro]

Raunchy Westerbeke carbs are the funnest.

the westerbeke carb was actually pretty descent, but the main engine carbs were nasty. both of the counterweight butterflies in the secondaries were frozen shut and the port engine had a cracked float that was flooding rhe engine and was watering down the oil

 

[SBMech]

How the fuck do those rams generate enough force to lift that door? Are they on a gear mechanism? Like they push and turn at the same time?

 

[Shlbyntro]

How the fuck do those rams generate enough force to lift that door? Are they on a gear mechanism? Like they push and turn at the same time?

nope. just really big fuckin hydraulics. Its 220v but essentially it plumbed just like a set of trim rams on an outdrive except on a way larger scale.

 

[Shlbyntro]

What species

ok, not what i thought it was . one of the dock hands at the marina saw it swimming around and its just a very big "Texas" Rat snake. apparently hes been pigging out on duck eggs and freshly hatched duckings and turtles. I was thinking it was a Western Diamondback

 

[4Waters]

ok, not what i thought it was . one of the dock hands at the marina saw it swimming around and its just a very big "Texas" Rat snake. apparently hes been pigging out on duck eggs and freshly hatched duckings and turtles. I was thinking it was a Western Diamondback

That's what I thought you meant but the tail didn't look right

 

[Shlbyntro]

damn if i do, damned if i dont.

I opened up the A Pilar on this Hummer to find/fix a simple power mirror issue. good news is I found the issue and repaired it within 10 minutes.

Bad news is over 2 hours later and I havent closed it back up yet because Im still repairing rodent damage...

I also got a phone call today from my "Toilet Formula" guy that started this thread. said he couldnt figure out how to get the stereo working in his boat [again]. the battery switches were off [again] lol

 

[Shlbyntro]

Back on the snake boat today. now dealing with the microcommander issue. i think ive got in pinned down to poor mechanicing but am basically fully uninstalling and reinstalling this brand new control module. This should br myblast day but is the part i have been dreading the most on this job.

wiring color code is jacked up, was laying in the bilge not mounted to anything, main power wire just draped over the engine. this is not the first time ive been behind this particular mechanic but he the type that gives mechanics a bad name and im getting to the point i can tell when he has wrenched on a boat before me. this guy straight pisses me off and needs to find a new career. word on the lake is he used to be an aircraft mechanic too

 

[shunter2005]

Hmmmm.......Looks familiar!!!!!

 

[MK1MOD0]

Back on the snake boat today. now dealing with the microcommander issue. i think ive got in pinned down to poor mechanicing but am basically fully uninstalling and reinstalling this brand new control module. This should br myblast day but is the part i have been dreading the most on this job.

wiring color code is jacked up, was laying in the bilge not mounted to anything, main power wire just draped over the engine. this is not the first time ive been behind this particular mechanic but he the type that gives mechanics a bad name and im getting to the point i can tell when he has wrenched on a boat before me. this guy straight pisses me off and needs to find a new career. word on the lake is he used to be an aircraft mechanic too View attachment 1115606 View attachment 1115607

A mechanic with no attention to detail, is a disaster waiting to happen !

 

[hman442]

Ms

Back on the snake boat today. now dealing with the microcommander issue. i think ive got in pinned down to poor mechanicing but am basically fully uninstalling and reinstalling this brand new control module. This should br myblast day but is the part i have been dreading the most on this job.

wiring color code is jacked up, was laying in the bilge not mounted to anything, main power wire just draped over the engine. this is not the first time ive been behind this particular mechanic but he the type that gives mechanics a bad name and im getting to the point i can tell when he has wrenched on a boat before me. this guy straight pisses me off and needs to find a new career. word on the lake is he used to be an aircraft mechanic too View attachment 1115606 View attachment 1115607

Man, He has no pride in his work at all, does he

 

[2Driver]

How does the Sea Ray with twin 4.3 run?

I bet that would be a great Powell boat. Easy on fuel but twins for security.

 

[Shlbyntro]

How does the Sea Ray with twin 4.3 run?

I bet that would be a great Powell boat. Easy on fuel but twins for security.

Gets on plane with relative ease, The tabs only have to be used minimally. She will run about 30mph WOT and is surprisingly nimble. This particular boat is fitted with twin alphas and I propped it with 17p 4b alum props from Turning Point. (originally had 19p 3b SS QS props when it came to me and performed like dog shit)

I have seen them optioned with twin bravo3s as well which I think I would prefer but all in all it is a good boat

 

[Shlbyntro]

Down in Galvaston for a Sea Trial on a customers perspective new boat today, a Carver 380 Santego. I gotta say, easiest day of work ever! some money in my pocket, a boat ride, and a nice meal at a fresh seafood restaurant. and all i had to do was listen for any noises, pull a couple stick, and lift a couple hatches

 

[Shlbyntro]

A couple updates from over the weekend. The houseboat is finally up and running and my approved work is done. both engines and the generator are up and running for the first time in over 7 years. it was A LOT of work. next on thw docket for the 100 ft behemoth is to be driven up the lake and get hauled out for a survey and the drive work. who knows what I will find as this boat hasnt been out of the water in over a decade, but I think itll be safe to say its gonna need the whole smash on both sides.

A new job thats come my way is to get this cool gal up and running. It is a vintage late 70s era Formula. same deal, same deal as the houseboat, it has been sitting a while and Im just in the early stages of putting a game plan together but be on the lookout for some content involving this gem!

next up is a very very 90s baja, its so ugly its cute. the owner came to me with an issue of the boat repeatedly throwing belts. After close inspection, the pulleys were shot from years of salt water use and the rust in the grooves was eating the belts like sandpaper. So all new pulleys and belts and not much room to do it in. I had to bring the alternator home for my big air impact to get the pulley off (my 20v wasnt cutting it) and also the water pump to press the new pulley on. no threads in the end of the shaft on this early model. Also, I had to buy a new press lol. but ive been wanting one for a while anyway.

 

[MK1MOD0]

A couple updates from over the weekend. The houseboat is finally up and running and my approved work is done. both engines and the generator are up and running for the first time in over 7 years. it was A LOT of work. next on thw docket for the 100 ft behemoth is to be driven up the lake and get hauled out for a survey and the drive work. who knows what I will find as this boat hasnt been out of the water in over a decade, but I think itll be safe to say its gonna need the whole smash on both sides.

A new job thats come my way is to get this cool gal up and running. It is a vintage late 70s era Formula. same deal, same deal as the houseboat, it has been sitting a while and Im just in the early stages of putting a game plan together but be on the lookout for some content involving this gem! View attachment 1118666 View attachment 1118667

next up is a very very 90s baja, its so ugly its cute. the owner came to me with an issue of the boat repeatedly throwing belts. After close inspection, the pulleys were shot from years of salt water use and the rust in the grooves was eating the belts like sandpaper. So all new pulleys and belts and not much room to do it in. I had to bring the alternator home for my big air impact to get the pulley off (my 20v wasnt cutting it) and also the water pump to press the new pulley on. no threads in the end of the shaft on this early model. Also, I had to buy a new press lol. but ive been wanting one fo

That formula is just too cool. I have always loved the style of that era performance boat. What motors is it running ?

 

[Duramax]

@Shlbyntro this is a great thread! Please keep in going with updates.

 

[Shlbyntro]

That formula is just too cool. I have always loved the style of that era performance boat. What motors is it running ?

they twin straight 6s that are in the following picture. with what I think are early MR drives or perhaps even predecessors to that

Today I am moving back into what is unofficially my space after it getting insulated in the latter parts of last week. Supposedly, Ill have climate control in the near future too. I do not have the typical arrangement with my "landlord" as there isnt really any money changing hands, but I am excited none the less! Also, I set up my press and am going to start arranging my tools and shop equipment in a more permanent manner

 

[Shlbyntro]

Still have some odds and ends but hey LAM! All professional looking and shit

 

[SBMech]

Still have some odds and ends but hey LAM! All professional looking and shit View attachment 1118777 View attachment 1118778

Sweet !

A couple of work benches will make your life heaven, having room to tear stuff down is critical to any shop....

Of course a hoist is hopefully in your future, working on your back sucks!