22-2 inboard

[JimCt]

You able to change the seal yourself?  Is that the type of system that is pressurized with air?  

Yesterday got the port side battery box base fabricated and glassed in.  Talked to my prop guy www.halepropeller.com who said the strut & shaft should be done Friday.  Randy Hale is an old friend who goes back to my old kidhood days sailing out of Essex, CT.  He runs a great shop and has developed a hyper-accurate computerized prop analysis machine.  Video & explanation of the machine are on his site.

[RickK]

After some tinkering to get the support brackets loose, I was able to change the seals and caps myself ($110).  Hardest part was fabricating a way to put ATF in the reservoir (part of steering wheel) and clear the lines of air.  Dave had a tank already made that fit his steering system but the connector had to be changed/mod'd to fit the SeaStar. After an hour or 2 dinking with that, we were able to fill and purge the lines and she's all back to normal now.

[billh1963]

We need more pictures!

Have I mentioned how much I love inboards?

[JimCt]

Pictures???  Well, here's a couple from this afternoon's progress.

Got the other battery box installed and re-routed some wiring to accommodate the new battery locations:



I lucked out with moving the batteries to the bilge... everything just fits.  Location is good too because where they are now is low and symmetrical... also its the sweet spot for minimum motion.

Juice to the engine is routed through the "1,2, both" battery selector switch but for some reason the feed to the console breaker panel isn't.  Will remedy that this weekend.  The bilge pumps are wired directly to the batteries, which is correct.

NOTE:  Some of the things I've done are going to get changed and/or prettied-up some when the restoration on her gets started after the 240 is finally out of the way. Those glassed patches on either side of the deck panel opening look horrible but they are there simply to stiffen up the receiving flange so the panel doesn't collapse into the bilge when you stand on it.  As I mentioned early on, the deck is soft as a marshmallow... everywhere.  The patches and reinforced areas are band-aids only.  For the time being she will be safe and functional but no beauty queen.

With the batteries behind me now I sorted out the nav. light wiring to the transom and got the new 360 deg. stern light mounted and lit:



The light set into the transom is non-reg. nowadays but because it was there... and I like it, I got it going anyway.  If inspection doesn't like it, that's their problem.

[JimCt]

Added an antifreeze overflow tank... just visible ahead of the alternator:





Tight fit getting it in there.  Tank is from a junkyard Jeep.  This will keep overflow out of the bilge.

Installed new plugs, wires & coil today.  Next is to run the engine for a couple of hours & check timing and distributor advance and see if everything is fit for operation.

[RickK]

When is launch day?

[JimCt]

Launch day is soon.  One ugly fact about this whole thing is I have nothing to haul it with.  Am looking for a Ford 250 or 350 4x4, diesel preferably, with a dump body which will also be able to haul the 240.  Also, having a backhoe to load stuff into it, a dump makes unloading fill. logs, brush, etc. a much easier task.  Straight pickups are everywhere but mason's versions in serviceable shape are hard to find.  In the meantime, I have two friends who've offered their trucks to haul it with.  Distance to ramp is only a half mile.

Ran the engine for two hours after work yesterday.  Idled much more smoothly since I did the tune-up.  Water temp was stable at 160* and oil pressure indicated 45#.   IR temperature readings off the manifolds matched.    Once the shaft, strut & prop are back from the shop we'll be ready to go.

[John Jones]

Good to hear  :!:

[JimCt]

Found a tow vehicle:





1996 350 4x4 with a dump body.  Turbo diesel w/5 speed.  As you can see, some rust on the dump body from its life as a sanding truck but fine for my purposes.

[LilRichard]

SWEET!  That thing is cool!

[RickK]

If the boats can't be towed with that truck, then they can't be towed by anything   Definitely multi-purpose - can clear a path to go ice boating too

[JimCt]

Plow will be helpful in clearing the ramp on busy days...

[RickK]

Plow will be helpful in clearing the ramp on busy days...

 

[slim]

nice tow rig. that would be so cool to drive down here in Louisana. these people would freake out.
I would have to paint some big eyes an teeth on it  an add a big train air horn

[JimCt]

Now there's an idea... plow and an air horn.

Actually you see a fair number of trucks this size hauling boats.  Difficulty is finding one someone's willing to part with.