Odyssey to NC!

[seabob4]

She's a beaut, Bruce!  And fear not, the same exact model as the later 250 Explorer...Outriggers, sweet boat...


Not to nit pick, but it looks like somebody "overheated" the rubrail insert where it makes the bend into the pulpit, port side...

[wingtime]

She's a beaut, Bruce!  And fear not, the same exact model as the later 250 Explorer...Outriggers, sweet boat...


Not to nit pick, but it looks like somebody "overheated" the rubrail insert where it makes the bend into the pulpit, port side...

Thanks Bob!  Good eye on the insert.  Actually Fred Van Wagoner spotted that on the boat that was sold out from under me.  He said the insert shrinks with time and pulls out of the rubrail on the inside corner of the pulpit and people try to put screws there to stop it.  Same deal here on both sides of the pulpit.. but someone used a drywall screw on the port side.  Its rusty and broke off.  The rest of the insert is fine but I will have to cut it and replace that section or the whole insert.  (Fred said he may of had some)  The fuel gauge problem is a... um confirmed problem with the boat.  Should be no big deal to narrow it down to the sender or the gauge.   The biggest problem with the boat is some spider cracking of the gel in weird spots..  not the usual stress points or flex points...  But I can live with those.

[Circle Hooked]

I don't know if you ever get down to Bradenton but if it's the gauge marine surplus has them for 15 bucks.

If you can, post some pics of the spider cracks, I'm curious to see where they are, compared to some of mine.

[seabob4]

She's a beaut, Bruce!  And fear not, the same exact model as the later 250 Explorer...Outriggers, sweet boat...


Not to nit pick, but it looks like somebody "overheated" the rubrail insert where it makes the bend into the pulpit, port side...

Thanks Bob!  Good eye on the insert.  Actually Fred Van Wagoner spotted that on the boat that was sold out from under me.  He said the insert shrinks with time and pulls out of the rubrail on the inside corner of the pulpit and people try to put screws there to stop it.  Same deal here on both sides of the pulpit.. but someone used a drywall screw on the port side.  Its rusty and broke off.  The rest of the insert is fine but I will have to cut it and replace that section or the whole insert.  (Fred said he may of had some)  The fuel gauge problem is a... um confirmed problem with the boat.  Should be no big deal to narrow it down to the sender or the gauge.   The biggest problem with the boat is some spider cracking of the gel in weird spots..  not the usual stress points or flex points...  But I can live with those.

Bruce, there's a little trick to keeping that insert in the bend, but piecing it...you're not going to like.  You need about 65' of insert to do a 245, if Fred doesn't have a roll, I can contact my buddy at Taco...

Would love to see the spider-cracks, especially in relation to their surroundings, not just close ups.  The surroundings can give an idea as to what is causing them...

[gran398]

Bruce, the slideshow was great....what a fun day  Thank you for including my rebuild pics too.

Bob, the spiders are in the same place, both sides....pretty much amidships to slightly forward. That cap is high...may have something to do with the entry. That is pretty much the area where she would land in a seaway.

[seabob4]

Bruce, the slideshow was great....what a fun day  Thank you for including my rebuild pics too.

Bob, the spiders are in the same place, both sides....pretty much amidships to slightly forward. That cap is high...may have something to do with the entry. That is pretty much the area where she would land in a seaway.

And Scott, I can never see you working with an air file...

If those gel cracks are on the hull, both sides, that says there are "hard spots" where a b/head is glassed to the hullside with no room to flex...hence the cracking in the same areas, both port and starboard.

Gel cracks are indicative a laminate (including the gel) that is not given the room to "move".  Boats need to be able to flex, or move, given the forces applied to them.  If that laminate is not given that opportunity, then the physical properties of said laminate will take over...stress has to be relieved...and it shows up in cracks.

So, given that a lot of us know Explorers, and their construction, we can probably come up with the root cause of the problem(s), and, hopefully, the solution...

[gran398]

Gotcha...makes good sense.

 The spiders are on the tall deck cap....above the rubrail.

[seabob4]

Gotcha...makes good sense.

 The spiders are on the tall deck cap....above the rubrail.

So, cracking on the deck.  Just forward of the dash top?  About where the windshield land is, maybe a bit aft?

[RickK]

Looking good Wing - welcome to the ever-growing Explorer club  
So where are the cracks - by the fuel fill on the cap? In that area?

[flounderpounder225]

Congrats Bruce on getting your new boat back home.  It sounds like a typical adventure, with a few curve balls thrown in, but you were prepared for them, and now back home.  I'm sure you will have her looking like new in short order  

[gran398]

Gotcha...makes good sense.

 The spiders are on the tall deck cap....above the rubrail.

So, cracking on the deck.  Just forward of the dash top?  About where the windshield land is, maybe a bit aft?

Exactly Bob. Same area, and then aft. Maybe a two foot run from there towards the stern. But as Bruce says...nothing heavy.

[wingtime]

Well I slept like a log last night!

Bob your right I don't want to piece the insert.  I'll live with it for now until I check with Fred to see if he has 65' of it.

There are NO cracks in the hull itself whatsoever,  The transom is like a slab of freaking granite.  I rapped on it all over it hurts to hit it!  There is NO cracking in the swim platform area of the euro transom.  There are a couple of cracks on top of the live well.  The majority of the cracks are in the cap sort of amidships in the vertical areas between the rub rail and the molded in line just below the gunwale top.  There are also cracks around the two inspection plates for the fuel tank.  They are in the recessed smooth area where there is no non skid.  They are not radial cracks like you would see around a screw or damage.  Ed, who was a master fiberglass man that used to build boats, plugs and molds felt those are from the gel being to thick in those areas.  I believe Ed may have joined the site using his handle Roadasprin, so we can look forward to his expert comments.  There are no cracks where the hardtop mounts to the cabin or anything like that.  I'll get some pics today.  

I'm going to clean the junk out of her, then start power washing.  Then I'm going to start off the maintenance with a new Racor filter, fuel line and primer bulb.

[gran398]

Glad you got a good night's sleep..Welcome Ed!!

Every used boat will have some superficial stuff. Bottom line, you got a lot of boat there, and IMHO well worth the trip. It will make a fantastic dive boat.

[seabob4]

Glad you got a good night's sleep..Welcome Ed!!

Every used boat will have some superficial stuff. Bottom line, you got a lot of boat there, and IMHO well worth the trip. It will make a fantastic dive boat.

Good point there on the dive boat aspect.  Tank racks were an option on her, installed on the upper portion of the rod rack area, 4 per side...

[wingtime]

Scuba tank racks are part of my plans for her.  Spent the afternoon cleaning her up.  My girlfriend Amy (Roadasprins daughter) did a great job power washing her.  I can't believe the dealer didn't clean her up.  They could have gotten more for her!  Pics to follow Superbowl.  Go Pats!