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Boat Fixun' on the cheap
Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2004 1:23 pm
by Scott
Just spent all day rebuilding the (3) Carbs on a friends new (to him) Boat.
Its a neat little 16' modified tri-hull with a walk through windshield called a "Sea-Sprite".
I went with him to check it out before he bought it, Looked like some old man babied it for 30 years. Near mint.
I underestimated, or he misrepresented his mechanical ability. I told him that as soon as he got it home he should rebuild the carbs. Yesterday he told me he was frustrated and was thinking of selling it. I had to step up.
4-5 hours later it started 1st crank without choke and idles like a new motor.
What have we learned from this little adventure?
When Scotty says "bring it by the house and well work on it" Bring it by the house!!!
Now hull have to tow me around the lake on my wakeboard for the rest of his natural life. Or pay me the $2000 the boat shop quoted him.
Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2004 2:08 pm
by Frank C
whadda Prince!
. . . or did you just feel guilty after recommending the boat
and then hearing the shop estimate ??? (Guess you coulda just
bought it, but this way, you avoid the maintenance, and ya don't
need to find a driver)!

Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2004 2:16 pm
by Scott
I wouldnt mind owning a small motor boat to wakeboard behind and tow the kids about but I have too many toys says the wifee.
As far as feeling guilty, my burden in life is fixun' other peoples stuff. I have a full machine shop in the basement and I am an EX mechanic-military, foreign car and motorcycle.
Everyone I know brings their broken stuff over as I work a lot cheaper than any shop around here.
Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2004 3:57 pm
by Frank C
Scott wrote: ... my burden in life is fixun' other peoples stuff. I have a full machine shop in the basement and I am an EX mechanic-military, foreign car and motorcycle. ...
Well then . . . have I got a LIST for you!!
'70 TR-6
'70 Jaguar XKE (fhc-2)
'80 TR-8
'85 Honda Interceptor 700 (second thought, skip the Honda - it's just fine)
So how'dya feel about Lucas?
OFF TOPIC - apologies to thread police 
Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2004 6:37 pm
by Scott
Look on our website, youd see the mini cooper and the MG midget.
I am a master of lucas electronics
PLus this thread was started loosely about boating in general
Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2004 7:00 pm
by Frank C
Scott wrote: . . . I am a master of lucas electronics . . .
Now
there's a counter-intuitive phrase!
UK'ers, all in good fun, eh? 
Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2004 7:16 pm
by Scott
OK OK OK I am a master at repairing lucas.
Remember "all of the parts falling off of my cars are of quality british manufacture"
Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2004 7:25 pm
by Captain Steve
Didnt Lucas invent the short circuit??
Sea Sprite
Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2004 7:04 am
by Newell
I owned a Sea Raider but it sounds like this boat. 16' tri-hull with a Chrysler 75. Fast and stable but hard on the back when running in chop.
Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2004 7:43 am
by Scott
I hopefully get to see it in action this afternoon.
A misbegotten soul had obviously tinkered with the motor. Lots of new parts but the timing belt was about 90 deg out(It was new too). carbs were all out of adjustment. Once we got everything pointed in the right direction and all of the sh*t out of the carbs it was running sweet. Put it in drive and did some heavy quick throttle ups with no lag, "RRRRRAAAAPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!
Suhweeeeet!
At 16' and about 12.5 # I personally think its a little overmotored
Ammendment: Forgot to mention, it has a 115 pony Kicker
Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 9:19 am
by Don B
Scott,
Have you ever cut a finger while working on a Engine ? I was reading a Moter Boat Mag the other day and they had this check list flowchart. There where all these paths that proved if you were a mechanic or not. One of the paths was "If you have cut a finger while working on an engine than you are not a mechanic"
This was news to me as I thought that cut fingers went with the territory.
-Don B
Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 1:55 pm
by Scott
Cut my finger, scraped my knuckles, drilled a hole in my left hand (with a drill driver) ran a sliver of sheet metal into my elbow joint, (that one was pretty cool, it locked my elbow up. Had to pull it out myself while looking in the mirror. All my girls ran away squeeling.) And many more injuries. Im not accident prone, Ive just worked on a lot of stuffs.
Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2004 8:45 am
by Don B
That is what I thought. You don't have to be accident prone to get hurt working on things as only the great one knows when that stuck bolt is going to break loose.
I still think Sears should sell 3 fingered gloves in their Table Saw department.
-Don B