1981 Aquasport 170 rebuild in Sweden

[larsli68]

I'm working on the electrical system tonight. Hopefully I'm getting close to have all the wires fed through the conduit to the center console.
I think all is fed through, but the trim sender kit remains to be installed. It looks like it plugs in to the motor, but the pictures suck, and will take a while to figure out...

Has anyone installed a trim sender kit on the OptiMax?

I'm having a beer too. It has been a challenging week at work. 

[larsli68]

I have been working on the electrical system all day today... It is very time consuming and a bit hard...
I can report beautiful weather here in Sweden. 75 degrees and clear blue sky.
 

I drilled a too big hole for the starter key assembly... I had to thicken epoxy and fill the hole back up...
The nut on the key assembly will cover up the epoxy repair... 
Don't tell anyone...
I cut a 3/4" plywood, routed the edges (thanks brother) painted it white. Installed it inside the console to give me somewhere to fix the electrical stuff.
Tomorrow I will try to bring order to the mess. Right now I'm focused on getting everything hooked up correct...

Beer and  time here now.

I wish everyone a nice Saturday!

[tyson87]

How did you attach the plywood to the console?

[Callyb]

Lars, I just went back and looked at your work. VERY, VERY NICE! You did a fantastic job!

[larsli68]

Tyson 87,

I just took some adhesive stuff, it's called Sikaflex over here and four screws.
The screws just to hold it until the adhesive has hardened.


Thanks Callyb,

It has been a lot of work. I did install the start button this morning, but spent the day outside mowing grass, and enjoyed the sun.
I will be back at it tomorrow night after work.

//Lars

[larsli68]

This is where I spent my Sunday afternoon.

[RickK]

Looks like a nice place to hang out - water is really blue 
Nice pics.

[larsli68]

Thanks Rick!
We are looking forward to some nicer weather finally. May and June was colder than normal.
Today was nice, 77 degrees and sunny.
To hot in my tent. I have the tilt sensor, fuel sensor left to install, and then I need to clean up the installation...
I don't want it to look like a rats nest...

I'm kind of playing with the idea to take a day off on Friday, and do the maiden voyage... Time will tell...

//Lars

[RickK]

You're soooo close to being done too - where is my envy emoticon.
I have a kinda science project going on back on the transom of my 170 so that the hydraulic steering clears the transom. I need 7- 7 1/2" clearance. I have a 5.5" setback jackplate plus bought a 2" additional spacer plus I just bought a standoff bracket for my power pole that is 1/2" thick, so I should be good now.

Is there a break-in period on the new motor?

[larsli68]

Hi Rick,

Yes, 10 hours when the motor gets extra oil. You are supposed to alter the revs every 10 minutes.
I will read the manual again before start up. There is also a way to prime the oil pump, that has to be done before you start the motor.
It purges the air out of the oil pump.

//Lars

[larsli68]

Hooked up the battery today and tilted the Merc up and down for the first time!
Really cool.
I installed the new tilt sensor and basically have the engine install done.
I made a frame of plywood for the battery, and added a strap over the battery. Tomorrow I will continue with the electrical install and finish up a few things
on the list. If everything keeps progressing like this, I might do a test run on Friday!
I will have the bilge pump and nav lights installed, but try the boat before I finish up the electrical system.
I need to paint the bottom, wax and polish the sides one more time. Should be plenty of time to do that before Friday...

[larsli68]

Tomorrow will be an exiting day. Tonight I finished the electrical and gas system. At least mark I of it. I will buy a chart plotter for the boat still.
I will get an insurance on the boat tomorrow. There are also a couple of smaller jobs to do and the bottom to paint... I still have not given up a test drive on Friday.
If not Friday, Saturday should be it.
Tomorrow I will calibrate the fuel sensor, prime the oil pump and finish up the smaller tasks that needs to be done.
Friday morning, before it gets too warm I will paint the bottom.
I got the new job!
I agreed on the contract today, it will get official in two weeks. 
The reason is that there are laws over here that they have to put the job out for grabs... But I already got it...

Nav lights, bilge pump, side lights, compass back light, GPS and horn to come...

[CLM65]

Looks great, Lars!  And congratulations on the job !

[RickK]

That's super on the Job news

Boats looking great.  Are you buying a multi function device - chartplotter and fishfinder?  If you buy one with internal antenna that'll save you a wire pull (possibly) and a mounting conundrum, but you'll have to mount the transducer on the transom, so a wire pull for that.  Did you pull an extra pull string to the aft?

[larsli68]

Thanks guys!

I signed today, and start my new job on September 1st. Feels really good. I'm taking a day of vacation.
My boat is insured now. Ready for launch... I just need to do a couple of things first...
The insurance company did not find Aquasport 170 in their database...
I had pictures and hull+ motor number and everything went fine.

The weather is beautiful here with temps at 85 deg F!
Like Florida in the winter... 

//Lars