1974 170 CC- refurbishing project

[RickK]

Welcome back Ron,
Are you talking about the helm seat, not the seat in front of the console?  The thing that looks like a cooler? Post some pics.  
I have the seat base that came with my boat but I am missing the track that it sat in and the swing backrest.  Mine has a drain in one end in the bottom.

[Redfish Ron]

Yeah, Rick, the swing back helm seat.  Under the cushion, Mine has a oval deep bucket shaped bait tank but it was never hooked up with a drain or pump to circulated water. My seat is in really good shape, no tears, no cracks...the wood that holds the backrest needs to be stripped and varnished with a good quality varathane finish-Todd is the brand name...it is a pretty big tank...I am going to hook it up on the rebuild.

[Redfish Ron]

Today was nice enough weatherwise, so I got out and started the diassembly process- boat was filthy so I took the helm seat/livewell out of the boat- the screws were mostly turning in rotten core- took all the screws out of the console footing.  I got out a dust pan and a foxtail to get all the dirt and debris out- then I scrubbed the deck with soapy water so I wouldn't look like a coal miner laying down under the console taking the controls out- that is tomorrow's tasks-

[gran398]

Ron, good deal.

With regard to the spinning screws...great discussion lately on clearing the rot, treating the holes, then filling.

Glad you're back

[Redfish Ron]

Looks like I have a completely full tank of gas...old gas...thoughts on how to dispose of it?

[seabob4]

Looks like I have a completely full tank of gas...old gas...thoughts on how to dispose of it?

Betcha you can run it through your vehicles with no probs...

[Redfish Ron]

Not sure when the gas was put in the tank- Last MD registration I can find is 2006- that is a long time for fuel to be in a tank- varnish, chemical separation, etc. might ruin my vehicles- and my wife would skin me alive if I messed up her Chevy Impala...took all the screws out of the teak spacer under the console and pulled the console today- turning cold again- windy- I messed up my back screwing around with lifting the console with the darn cables still hooked up- so two ibuprofen and deep heat are working on it- but it is ready to pull the cover off the tank coffin- still got to figure out how to get the gas out of the tank- 27 gallons is too heavy to move by hand-

[fishinonthebrain]

Not sure when the gas was put in the tank- Last MD registration I can find is 2006- that is a long time for fuel to be in a tank- varnish, chemical separation, etc. might ruin my vehicles- and my wife would skin me alive if I messed up her Chevy Impala...took all the screws out of the teak spacer under the console and pulled the console today- turning cold again- windy- I messed up my back screwing around with lifting the console with the darn cables still hooked up- so two ibuprofen and deep heat are working on it- but it is ready to pull the cover off the tank coffin- still got to figure out how to get the gas out of the tank- 27 gallons is too heavy to move by hand-

I purchased one of those hand pump siphons took awhile but it worked. You just need to find a bunch of 5-7 gallon gas cans and a place to dispose of the old gas.

[Aquasport Commodore]

You could go to a local autoparts store, get one of the electric 12vlt fuel pumps, hook it up just after the primer bulb, pump/prime till gas gets to it, then switch it on and begin the filling process into the container of your choice. Much easier than manual and the pump is about 20 bucks.

[Capt. Bob]

I siphon mine out the stern.
You could use the existing fuel line, reverse the bulb and add cheap, clear plastic hose for the remainder to the can (EZ to see gas flow).
I use two 30 gal. drums I purchased from a Nestle employee east of Tallahassee (they make flavored water). The drums cleaned up very easily (some form of colored sweetener).

Anyway, my original WAC tank had almost 100 gals. on board when I purchased her. I drained it all out (to replace the tank) using the existing fuel line and raising the front of the boat. I drain my tank once a year over the winter(I have a seperate fuel pickup on the tank for this purpose) and start fresh in the spring. Yes the tank fills with water from condensation,then mixes with the ethanol and the boat usually only makes it ten to fifteen feet from the dock the first time I go out.  So.............................

This idea is just for draining fuel. Takes a day or so but I'm in no rush.

Good luck and please be careful.

[Redfish Ron]

10-4 on being careful- my back is still acting up with painful spasms- dumb stunt lifting console without completely disconnecting everything- anyway- I am making mental notes on what I want to do with my 170-

1- no rigging trough- that is going to be gone so that will require some thought and planning on mods to the stringer- and
2-my sole is soft to the edge on the port side so that may be a difficult repair if there is no good lip to support the new sole- have to see what happens when I cut it out- and
3-I have decided to plumb a full functioning live well in the seat live well, so that will require a thru hull seacock and wash down/live well pump system install- and
4-I have decided to completely re-wire my boat with new wiring and new Yamaha 704 binnacle control- the old Morse control is OK but the chrome is pitted and I just don't trust it-  The engine control harness that came with 75 HP 2 stroke Yamaha I bought to re power is fine so I will use that and the control cables are good so I will use them- the Teleflex steering looks and works fine so I plan to use that--
5- I plan to install a bilge pump with auto float valve that will require some plumbing and a discharge port cut into the port side near the Aquasport 170 logo- that will require me to cut a pie plate for access in the inner liner-
6- I have bought Hummingbird 798 CI combo unit and a Horizon VHF marine radio with an 8' Shakespeare fiberglas antenna to install- that's it so far and that is things I know I need to do before I even have cut the sole out, so I have a pretty ambitious project on my hands- and first thing is to get my back healed up so I can get cracking on the rebuild-

[RickK]

One day at a time  

[Redfish Ron]

One day at a time  

So right, Rick- I am impatient and want this done yesterday...but I have to come to grips with the fact that this isn't a project you can rush and half-a$$...it has to be done properly and it has to be right- I totalled up my expenses so far and figured it would have been cheaper to have bought a good used boat...I bought a new (in the box) Yamaha 704 Premium Binnacle control off EBay last night $233 with shipping...I have six gallons of 635 thin resin epoxy and 10 yards of 1208 bixal cloth, 10 yards of 6 oz. cloth, three sheets of 1/2 marine plywood, a gallon of cabosil, 2 pounds of 1/4 chopped fiber, 50 yards of 1208 bixal tape, 4 gallons of pour in 2# expanding closed cell foam, rollers, mixing cups, 50 1/2 inch brushes, box of large latex disposable gloves, box of dust respirators, portable 30 gallon 7.8 cu.ft/min air compressor, shop vacuum, 6 inch air grinders, air chisel, air wrenches, air buffer/polisher, 50 ft. roll of clear plastic, and all kinds of sanding disc, cut off wheels, sanding sheets, etc.  I am not figuring the cost of building the 24X21 enclosed on three sides metal carport- that is an investment for my property, even though I did it to have the boat under cover- so this project is something else...not just a boat to fish out of, but a see if you can do it yourself personal pride project...and giving a second life to an old classic that would otherwise be junked-

[RickK]

- so this project is something else...not just a boat to fish out of, but a see if you can do it yourself personal pride project...and giving a second life to an old classic that would otherwise be junked-

 

[Redfish Ron]

I ordered a new in the box Yamaha binnacle 704 premium control off EBay that is supposed to be delivered this week- and two new Aquasport 170 plastic emblems to replace the old cracked ones- I bought a re-conditioned 30 gallon plastic barrel to drain the fuel out of my boat and a siphon barrel pump- so I am making some progress, but not killing myself...update- got everything I need for installing and operating my 75 hp Yamaha...Great Lakes Skipper had an ignition switch(push to choke) wiring harness and keys...the 704 Binnacle control is here and it is brand new in the factory box-