Boat for the wife.

[Fender-bender]

Greetings, my first post. I got a 1981 Sun Runner for "the wife". I got this from a fellow that provided a storage service and sold it to me for storage arrears. I brought it home and it sits in my driveway thawing out , for it had a couple of feet of ice in it from the boat sitting for three years on the tongue of the trailer. I am starting on setting the boat up properly on the trailer. I don't think it ever was set up right on this roller trailer, and have already raised it and am moving it forward before I go to weigh it to determine the proper tongue weight. I am converting the serge brakes to electric and doing all the lights to new again. I replaced the winch strap and moved the winch post ahead a foot and put in a new bow roller. The engine is stuck and I pulled the exhaust manifolds to get to the plugs and am soaking the cylinders in wd40 and a kerosene and tranny fluid mix. So far I have been able to move the crank a bit with a crank pulley tool and johnson bar. Today I am going to put new oil in the engine with a new oil filter and pull the distributor to lube the engine with an electric drill and oil pump driving tool. I figure the engine is toast but giving it a go before pulling it and getting another engine. I am going to rebuild the fuel pump and carb. If and when I get this engine to go, I can plan out the rest of my chore list. And to think this only the start of all this fun I am having! I definitely found the hole in the water to put my money in!

 

[Redfred1]

Welcome Aboard! You got a project!

 

[southkogs]

Before sorting the engine out, with all of that ice and sitting around I would check out the hull and make sure you have a good structure. That ice started out as water and if it was sitting in there long enough to freeze, it was sitting in there long enough to rot or waterlog the hull.

:welcome:

 

[444]

I wouldn't even waste my time messing around with the trailer or engine before taking core samples of the transom and stringers. If the foundation is shot you're throwing good money after bad. A near 40 year old fiberglass boat sitting out in the elements full or rain, snow and ice doesn't bode well.

 

[Fender-bender]

Hello all, thank you for the responses. This boat has a double hull design. The water was captured in the inside hull liner and I checked the space in between and found it dry. It has some sort of expanded foam in between the outer hull and inner liner. The hull appears to be in good condition all around. Each place where there was ice there was a drain hole to lead the water into the bilge and out the drain hole thru the transom. It was kind of lucky that the boat was down on the tongue, most of the ice was in the cuddy cabin trapped in the inside hull liner. No cracks or signs of hull damage can be seen anywhere. I was able to move the axles forward to reduce the tongue weight and bought new bearing buddies for one side of the axles. The safety chains were too light so I bought some heavier ones and am welding them to the sides of the draw bar just behind the hitch. I got the engine to turn over while using a drill to drive the oil pump. I am going to work the oil pump till I see oil at all the rockers, then I'll know that oil got to all the bearing surfaces. I am going to put an oil pressure gauge on it to see what kind of oil pressure I am getting with the drill.

 

[Bayou Dave]

I think it is time for you to post some photos so we can see what you see. We are a bunch of photo fanatics around here!

 

[ajgraz]

Yeah, I recently bought a new reel and a new chartplotter for "the wife."

 

[Stingrayaxe]

I didn't know that you could use electric brakes on boat trailers. I've heard of electric over hydraulic. Not straight electric. Good luck with the project.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Electric brakes are fine. I really like ‘em.

 

[Fender-bender]

Hello all, just an update on the boat for the wife.I found the drain plugs set on the intake manifold. Looks like the guy drained it properly! I rebuilt the carb and put in a new fuel filter, starter and alternator. Put a couple of batteries in it and started her up and it ran smooth as silk. Bonus! Had this tinny sound coming from the oil pan area and noticed a big oil leak. I looked down and saw the oil pan got distorted from the ice pressure and ordered a new pan. Oil pressure is good and I am encouraged that I have a good motor now. I got the trailer converted to electric brakes and ran it down the road behind my truck and all runs and works good. I should get the oil pan this week and put everything back together and start on the woodwork. I am trying to find the model of this boat. I think it's a 225cf. I saw an 80's brochure for sale and I think I'll buy it.

 

[kcassells]

TOTAL REHAB... sorry for the news.

I brought it home and it sits in my driveway thawing out , for it had a couple of feet of ice in it from the boat sitting for three years on the tongue of the trailer.
What did the storage place pay you to haul it away?
If you really LOVE this boat then be prepared to dive into some good ole' elbow grease and a little $$.

 

[kpg7121]

Hello all, just an update on the boat for the wife.I found the drain plugs set on the intake manifold. Looks like the guy drained it properly! I rebuilt the carb and put in a new fuel filter, starter and alternator. Put a couple of batteries in it and started her up and it ran smooth as silk. Bonus! Had this tinny sound coming from the oil pan area and noticed a big oil leak. I looked down and saw the oil pan got distorted from the ice pressure and ordered a new pan. Oil pressure is good and I am encouraged that I have a good motor now. I got the trailer converted to electric brakes and ran it down the road behind my truck and all runs and works good. I should get the oil pan this week and put everything back together and start on the woodwork. I am trying to find the model of this boat. I think it's a 225cf. I saw an 80's brochure for sale and I think I'll buy it.

Nice looking rig. Good luck with her. Next spring when i start looking for a boat I'll tell the wife, "I'm buying you a boat". Lol

 

[Fender-bender]

Lol, the reason I call it the boat for the wife is because she loves boating and the small tin boat we have now is a problem for here to get in with her having two knee replacements. This way, with this boat, it will be easier for her to get in and out. Plus, it's a bit move comfy! I don't mind fixing her up. As long as the hull was good, I can handle the other items.

 

[KJM]

i'm thinking my wife needs a new beagle puppy for hunting rabbits, probably should get her a new gun too ......

 

[89 resorter]

I got a boat for my wife a couple years ago ……. great trade!