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  1. matt167

    disposing of a hull/ what's worth saving?

    I just picked up a free boat from a customer today. It's not really worth bringing back and I don't have the title anyway. It's about a 1999ish Smokercraft Allante 196. At one time was a nice boat last stickered in 2012. But someone has scavanged quite a bit. the leg is gone, exhaust manifolds...
  2. matt167

    What trailer will I need?

    I'm building a boat, which has a hull that resembles a Jon boat, except it's wider and built into a cabin cruiser. It will have a 65" beam at the water line and a 16' OAL. Someone I worked with asked how I'm going to transport it, which is easy. Trailer it. I looked for trailers and found it...
  3. matt167

    "Marine" vs "Deck" stainless steel screws?

    I need some screws for my boat build. I know I need brass/ bronze, Monel or stainless fasteners.. I've chosen screws because they will be easiest. 90% of holding will be construction adhesive ( PL Premium or Titebond III depending on area/ holding power needed ).. I can get 1lb boxes of #8 605...
  4. matt167

    Chugger boat finally starting construction

    I had to delay getting plywood for my boat due to selling my truck and daily driving my MGB. House needs a roof as well but I figured kill 2 birds with one stone and ordered 10 extra sheets of 1/2" CDX, and picked honey sheets out of the 70 sheets. I know it's not Meranti, Ockume or other "BS"...
  5. matt167

    Johnson 20-35hp cowl differences through the years?

    I've got this Johnson 20hp, think it's an '88 but might be '87. cosmetically identical. Runs great and cosmetics are good but I want brand new looking since it will be going on a brand new hand built plywood boat ( planning stages atm ) I really want to put 1995-1996 decals on it but I'm pretty...
  6. matt167

    johnson serial tag washed off?

    I just bought an at least '85 Johnson 20hp. I noticed the serial tag is blank. Not mechanically scraped but washed/ faded away. Is there any other way to check model number? I'd like to 25hp convert it if it can be done cheap enough. It has the 100:1 ratio decal if that makes a difference
  7. matt167

    Johnnyrude 25 2 strokes?

    I've been thinking hard about putting a brand new ~$5k motor on my little boat I'm building ( Suzuki DF30A is on my wishlist ). Being the boat is going to cost a bit to construct and I'd like to get it under power. I'm looking at used outboards to start it off and work kinks out of. Are the...
  8. matt167

    plywood species?

    I'm building a small outboard powered cabin cruiser. Flat bottom, curved bow, very simple ( roughly a Lewis boat works chugger design) in a 60" beam x 16' variation. I'm trying to source 3/8" doug fir plywood that is ACX or better without having to order it in from a website or get something...
  9. matt167

    Outboard HP requirement?

    I'm building a lengthened, widened, and 'cosmetically and structurally altered' version of the Lewis boat works Chugger. The flat bow is going away for a more traditional type bow found on a jon boat. It is also going to have a laminated transom with knees and stringers. 16' long, 60" beam I...
  10. matt167

    Building a tribute boat to my grandfathers 1963 Custom Craft Sea Ray

    I was in the process of restoring my grandfathers 1963 Custom Craft Sea Ray ( cap off, total rebuild ) when the building it was in collapsed last winter. My grandfather bought it new and gave it to me thinking it was ok, but he did not realize/ understand it needed a transom/ stringers/ floor (...
  11. matt167

    Solar small canal boat possible?

    My Custom Craft Sea ray, which was in the process of restoration was destroyed last year when the tent garage collapsed in a heavy snowfall while I was away. Sucks, but all that is savable is the engine and the rear fin section of the cap, which I will graft onto a T bucket when I build one at...
  12. matt167

    How to select correct SEI drive?

    My dad has a 1970 ( I think ) Starcraft Offshore V 18 with Mercruiser 125hp I/O. The out drive went bad 2 years ago. Last year he bought a rotted parts boat and swapped the out drive onto it. The outdrive lasted 2 outings before filling itself full of water. I don't know if he just replaced the...
  13. matt167

    Buying boat sight unseen?

    Well, MBS kicking in again, and I've been scanning Ebay and CL for inexpensive boats that won't take much to get running.. Found what I know is a Wellcraft V20 bowrider of an unknown year. It has a 165 Mercruiser 6cyl and has the old Mercruiser trim switches so it's mid-late 70's at best...
  14. matt167

    buying abandoned land?

    Have a good friend that wants to buy some land. 5-10 acres of anything that can be built on but she has very short money for it ( $1-2k per acre ) I know that nothing is going to be 'for sale' in her price range around here and have found some abandoned looking properties with fallen down...
  15. matt167

    New tow vehicle

    My '95 K1500 had some driveline issues. Binding in reverse, possibly trans, or other. Also had a frame that was getting bad and it was all pretty rusty.. Was eyeballing a 2003 1500 4x4 with the 5.3L with 110k and was a RCLB but it also had some rust showing that was waiting to come through and...
  16. matt167

    '64 650 shift shaft screw up

    I was changing the shift shaft bushing on my '64 650 earlier. Got a brand new bushing, brand new OEM bushing tool all so I wouldn't screw up. Well, I had to pull off the tilt interlock peices, and wasn't thinking and turned them while I was pulling them up, and it turned all the way over and...
  17. matt167

    how to remove paint on lower unit?

    My '64 650 lower unit had what I thought was a scratch but it does catch on a fingernail, does not weep oil or anything like that, but I want to remove the paint around it to see if it is a crack or not as the lower did have a bit of water in it so freeze crack would have been a possibility tho...
  18. matt167

    How to keep shift shaft from falling out during shift bushing swap?

    I pressure tested my old Merc 650 lower unit and only the shift shaft seals are leaking. Now I plan on getting the correct tool and a new bushing assembly with a new seal and oring right on it, rather than just a new seal and oring because it will be quicker with less chance of bad things...
  19. matt167

    Is the Hudson considered brackish?

    I was reading something on old Mercury's saying that it's not good to run them in brackish water and I understand why because of the plain steel driveshaft ect... That got me thinking, the closest body of water to my house is the Hudson river and I was planning on being able to use my boat there...
  20. matt167

    Lower unit screw, opposite side of vent/drain, above cav plate. What is it? '64 650

    Not really thinking too much about it, I pulled the screw on the opposite side of the drain/ vent screws that is above the cav plate, it's a barrel screw ( no head ). Oil did come out of it, but obviously knew it wasn't right when I found the screw marked 'vent'.. Is the LU going to fall apart...
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