Started my 170 Project today

[gw204]

The plan for today was to get my basement cleaned up so I have a place to store the console and the Todd swingback chair once I finally get a chance to remove them.  Well, one thing led to another and before I knew it, I was outside tinkering with the boat.  :)

I don't have any plans to keep the 60 Evinrude that's on there now, so I figured why not try to start it up to see how it runs.  :)  So, I hooked the battery back up, pumped the bulb, hit the key and nothing.  The battery was too weak to turn it.  So, I went back in the basement and got another battery.  After hooking that one up, I could get it to turn, but just barely.  I then turned the flywheel by hand to see if it was locked up, and it's not.  Even with the plugs in it seemed to turn pretty easily, except for about every third turn it would get much harder.  Maybe it has two cylinders with low compression.  Who knows.  So, I removed all the plugs and turned it again.  Same thing.  Oh well.  :)

Shot a bunch of fogging oil into the cylinders to lube things a bit and then put the plugs back in.  This time when I hit the key it caught and shot out a huge puff of smoke, but that was it.  I couldn't get it to do anything else after that.  So, I gave up and moved on.  I'm going to change the oil in the foot and get some fresh gas treated with Stabil and Seafoam before I try again.  :)  The word from the seller is that it needs the carbs rebuilt though.  Maybe I'll do that before I winterize and put it in storage or try to sell it.

I did manage to get the prop pulled and removed about 20 yards of fishing line from the shaft.  I'm not sure if the seal is compromised or not, but the line had definitely gotten under it.  I did my best to get it all out with a dental pick.  Somebody has been monkeying with this before as the two bolts that hold the seal housing on are missing...



Then I figured I would move it down into the backyard where the demo will take place.  While I had it pointing uphill, I decided to clean it out a bit.  I took all the stuff out of the front wells (3 descent PFDs, new bow and stern lights (in the pacakges), a throwable cushion and a Fortress-type AL anchor) and gathered a bunch of loose screws from inside the console.  After pulling up a panel that provided access to the rigging going from the CC to the engine, I started hosing it out.  Once that was complete, curiosity got the best of me and I opened up the inspection plate over the gas tank.  This revealed that the entire compartment was full of water.  You can't really see it here, but the water was probably 3" deep on top of the tank.  I suspect there's a drain somewhere down there...



Lastly, I removed that Todd seat and stuffed it in my shed.  It is actually in very good shape, just a little dirty.  I was told it's less than a year old.  It'll eventually get stored indoors once I clean the scum out of the livewell portion so it doens't drive my wife's allergies crazy.  Once I get it cleaned up, I'll decide whether or not I want to keep it, but at this point I'm leaning towards selling it in favor of a traditional leaning post.  



Not much progress to report, but I guess I can say I'm officially started now.  

The next step (once the basement is cleaned up) is to pull the console so I can then pull the tank cover, drain the water and tank contents, and remove the tank.

[JimCt]

From the looks of the prop splines it's been a while since the prop's been off.  That line has surely ripped the seal.  If there's still oil in the L/U you may likely find water too.

Maybe the tank well doubles as a livewell???  Not sure but there may be a limber hole in the tank compartment.  If there is, you may have to pull the tank to get at it to drain the water.  Unless there's a hole punched in the deck above the tank that plastic inspection plate is a leaker.  If water has been in the boat for any length of time you may also have some wet foam to deal with.  On the bright side, the tank is well secured.  If it wasn't, with all that water in there, it would have torn loose.

[Deck Daddy]

You did it now. Once you start you will not be able to stop. You think you will but not. Next comes a few hatches and inspection plates then the center console. Before you know it she is at parade rest. Good luck with her.

[gw204]

The inspection plate it definitely an issue. It's actually elevated from the deck and someone tried to squish caulking under it to seal it up...

The plan is to pull that tank either this or next weekend.  I suspect it's trash and I"ll be ordering a new one at some point.

The prop actually came off easily.  I was surprised when I saw the condition of the splines.  I'm gonna check/change the lower unit oil this weekend just to see what I've got.  I'm not really that worried about it though since I plan to repower anyway.

As for not being able to stop, I bought this with the intention of doing a full restoration/customization.  So, I'm ready to do a bit more that those "few hatches and inspection plates".  

[Tim/GA]

I will be interested to see what is under the deck of a 17ft.  Mine is a 19' 6"and most of the full rebuilds I have seen on here have been 22' with one like mine thrown in time to time.  Am interested to see how different yours is (if it is) and what wierd things you find.  Is this the first rebuild yours has had done, original deck ,etc?  

On mine there were 2 pretty wierd things found.  First was due to some kucklehead who decided to squeeze an fuel tank in that was to large, must have just had it on hand.  They actually cut half way through each of the inner stringers to fit the tank in.  If that was not bad enough, the did not even bother to seal up the stringers again!

Later in the rebuild I found  2 lead bars inside the stern portion of each inner stringer.  These were factory original stringers so the lead had been there from the start.  Have not weighed them yet but each will be 50+ pounds, maybe a good bit  more.
Look forward to pics and run down as you go.

[gw204]

As far as I know, it's never been torn into before.  There's no obvious evidence of major surgery.

This is my first big project so I'm very anxious to dig in!  

[JimCt]

Have a ball!