11 year olds first boat...

[WillandShay]

Hello everyone! My name is Will.

First post here on iboats.com and I wanted to let everyone know of my son's first big project. His name is Shay and he has bought himself a 19ft 1983 Bayliner Capri Bowrider. He found this boat sitting in someone?s yard and after a couple of weeks of talking; he decided that this was a journey he would like to embark on. As I have tried to tell him repeatedly boat stands for, Bust Out Another Thousand, but all in all it was his dirt bike that he sold and he and the owner came to a consensus on a price and two days ago we went and picked it up.

You all can follow the progress at this site: http://shaysboatproject.blogspot.com

And as you all can imagine I will be frequenting this forum quite a bit to find answers to questions and to ask questions as I am new to boats myself.

I have tons of technically ability and know how with rebuilding engines and rewiring electrical systems, but when it comes to hulls, stringers, decks, etc... not so much.

So like I said earlier if you all want to follow the progress and see the pictures they are here: http://shaysboatproject.blogspot.com/

I will be talking with you all very soon, I am sure!

Will and Shay

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 11 year olds first boat...

Welcome. This is the best place on the internet for restoration advice and camaraderie for boat project like your son's. I would encourage you to chronicle his build here in addition to (instead of?) the blog site. We'd love to follow along and help and threads with the most views and posts are hosted here rather than pointing somewhere else. I think a lot of us are lazy clickers.

Before spending dime one on that hull, you need to make sure the motor runs. If it doesn't, then I hate to say it but you've hauled off someone's trash for them and you should probably look for a better project boat. If it does run (or can be made to run fairly cheaply) then you can start working on the hull.

This thread is some of the best documentation on here http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=454460 and your son should enjoy the videos. He'll clearly be able to see how a boat is constructed and how to rebuild it better than new.

Good luck with your project and we look forward to hearing more from you and your son.

 

[WillandShay]

Re: 11 year olds first boat...

ezmobee,

Yes, I agree with you completely. So my first thing to do is to get it running this weekend. At least running for a minute or two. I am looking into the cooling system at the moment as it appears to be a closed system.

My first thoughts are, change the oil, turn it over my hand, about 30-50 revolutions, pour a bit of gas in the carb, get it fire off, then start working on the other components around the engine.

Any idea where I can get an engine manual, for all the components in the entire engine bay area? If that is what it is called...LOL!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 11 year olds first boat...

I'd recommend posting any of your engine/drive questions in the Volvo I/O repair section. We've got a lot of I/O GURUS on this site but they don't hang out in the resto section. I would imagine your biggest concern would be a cracked block due to improper winterization at some point.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 11 year olds first boat...

I would be VERY interested in hearing the THOUGHT process that your boy had in going from a Dirt bike to Boat Restoration. I find it quite intruiqing in todays social climate that an 11 year old kid would sell a "FUN" thing for a "WORK" thing. I would say you have quite an admirable and industrious young man on your hands. I WILL be following this thread with a LOT of interest. I will definetly help in ANY way I can.

 

[Dabbler_E]

Re: 11 year olds first boat...

Holy Cow do you two have your work cut out! You must have a pretty amazing kid to take on such a project, but he will come out with a huge set of skills, the knowledge of how to go about things the right (and especially -- safe!) way, and enormous confidence. When it all comes together, I'd love to sit in on the show-and-tell!

Looking forward to following this project

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: 11 year olds first boat...

ezmobee,

Yes, I agree with you completely. So my first thing to do is to get it running this weekend. At least running for a minute or two. I am looking into the cooling system at the moment as it appears to be a closed system.

My first thoughts are, change the oil, turn it over my hand, about 30-50 revolutions, pour a bit of gas in the carb, get it fire off, then start working on the other components around the engine.

Any idea where I can get an engine manual, for all the components in the entire engine bay area? If that is what it is called...LOL!

Welcome to Iboats Will!

Looks like you and Shay really have your work cut out for you. As long as you have the time and cash anythings possible, and it will be a fun project for the two of you.

You ask where you can get a manual for your engine. Best and cheapest places is on ebay, or possibly amazon. Stay away from the Clymer and Seloc manuals, they can be vague and sometimes misinforming. I recommend you look for a real Volvo Penta service manual. If you are bust finding one, you can get one from Volvo Penta for $66 ;http://wolf.elanders.com/Product/Product.aspx?id=328969
One of the guys in the Volvo penta I/O repair forum may be able to provide you with a link to your engines manual in PDF form.

This is a link to the owners manual for the 125A/145 from Volvo;
http://vppneuapps.volvo.com/ww/PIE/...T403&d=OwnersPublication&s=5258293&lang=en-US
It gives you the basics of what you're looking at.

This is the link to the Volvo penta store; http://www.volvopentastore.com/Mari...*****.006665377--store_id.366--view_id.765162

It has exploded diagrams of your engine. Don't feel as though you need to buy all Volvo Penta replacement parts either. Simple tune-up and cooling system parts can be purchased from the aftermarket, and they work fine.

I'm pretty sure the 125A is closed cooling, so as long as nobody has added just strait water to the cooling system (in other words there is coolant in there or completely empty) you probably shouldn't have any issues with freeze damage.

When you get ready to dive into the engine, post over at the Volvo I/O section with any questions you have.

Good luck, I'll be following your progress!

P.S. The engine bay area is called a bilge.

 

[Fisherball]

Re: 11 year olds first boat...

He is gonna be one busy 11 year old!! Good Luck!

 

[WillandShay]

Re: 11 year olds first boat...

Good morning everyone!

So last night once I got home from work he was ready to work on the boat some more. We started by taking everything bow related off. Padding, pulling carpet up and of course we found rotting wood, as expected. One thing I forgot to mention is this boat is going to be a simple Ski/Fish boat. Nothing fancy, couple of seats, place for gear, so making it look like it once did is out. He wants a mechanically sound fishing boat that he can ski off of every once in a while. He wanted a boat small enough for the lakes, but big enough for the Cape Fear River, and maybe a bit the ocean, on a calm day. So my thoughts are to get rid of all the rotting deck wood and go back completly simple and custom. Any ideas? Example being, the bilge area, LOL, will be a box made from wood, covered in marine carpet, the width of the boat, but strong enough to stand on, instead of the three pieces that it is now. I hope that makes sense. So send your ideas and pictures my way please.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 11 year olds first boat...

Your ideas sound do-able to me. I'd get it stripped out to the bare hull, put in new stringers and deck then just install two pedestal seats for the driver and passenger and build a casting deck in the bow with a pedestal base in it (check out this thread http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=292511&page=8) and your casting deck in the rear. I built the rear of mine like this http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w200/ezmobee/New Boat/IMG_0487.jpg I have an outboard so that box is just storage but it could easily be your engine box.

 

[produceguy]

Re: 11 year olds first boat...

W-a-S, UP

Sorry , I had too

Great thread, I will be following your guys progress.
The father, son project is awsome.

 

[WillandShay]

Re: 11 year olds first boat...

Good Afternoon everyone!

So the plan is just as ezmobee said. Now comes the part of taking more pictures and asking tons of questions. The boat is so dirty so we will be cleaning this thing for a while. Small steps and doing things right for sure.

Couple other notes so that everyone is aware:

There was antifreeze in the "heat exchanger" and it was an awesome find for sure! I was kind of sweating that one but it was a nice surprise, I guess.

On the other hand all the "bellows" need to be replaced so two things for "Dad" to do this weekend are, change oil, remove outdrive, get the engine running for just a bit and then see what happens from there. Shay is very excited about all you guys being excited about his boat. Thank you all for that!

I will be posting pictures on his site of the engine in just a little while.

Will

 

[WillandShay]

Re: 11 year olds first boat...

OK everyone. I have posted a few pictures of the engine. Questions to come in the other sections of this forum for sure. Some of the components I have no clue what they are called or what they do, so research is necessary at this point.

Will

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 11 year olds first boat...

Where did you post the pics???
Never Mind, I gotcha on the Blog!!!! DUH!!!!

 

[sqbtr]

Re: 11 year olds first boat...

Be sure to post your penta questions in the penta forum. No need to pull the whole drive for bellows replacement.

I'd get her running before putting any money in her just yet. Be sure to feed it water before starting.

Good luck on the project, looks like a lot of quality time to be spent.

 

[WillandShay]

Re: 11 year olds first boat...

sqbtr -

Feeding it water was actually my next question. I am wondering how to do that actually. I am thinking I need a book for sure. Maybe time to go onto you tube and look for some videos and what not. Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[sqbtr]

Re: 11 year olds first boat...

Here is a pdf of the 280 drive service manual. http://www.marinemechanic.com/volvo/Volvo Penta Workshop Manual.pdf

You may have a 270 or 275 they are similar to the 280. It should show you how to hook up the hose and pull the transmission.

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: 11 year olds first boat...

sqbtr -

Feeding it water was actually my next question. I am wondering how to do that actually. I am thinking I need a book for sure. Maybe time to go onto you tube and look for some videos and what not. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Leave the drive in tact for the moment until you know its a runner. What you need to do is get a set of "Muffs" ; http://www.iboats.com/Motor-Flusher/dm/*******.511522362--**********.101950550--view_id.271219. You connect a garden hose to them, then put them over the intake ports on your outdrive. You could either get them here at Iboats, or any local marine store should have them. You should also consider getting a new impeller while your at it; http://www.iboats.com/Water-Pump-Im...1522362--**********.101950550--view_id.173300
The impeller is what pulls water through the outdrive up into the engine. They wear out after only a few years.

 

[WillandShay]

Re: 11 year olds first boat...

OK. So I need "muffs" and a impeller before I try to get this thing running correct?

My thoughts were to get it running for just a minute and listen to it before buying anything else.

The other thought I was having was a battery. Do I really need a marine battery just to crank this thing, or just any cheap car battery for the moment. Hmmmm...

I have so many questions about so many different things and I want to be able to teach Shay the correct way and not the jerry rig way of working on his boat.

Ideas?

Will

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: 11 year olds first boat...

OK. So I need "muffs" and a impeller before I try to get this thing running correct?

My thoughts were to get it running for just a minute and listen to it before buying anything else.

The other thought I was having was a battery. Do I really need a marine battery just to crank this thing, or just any cheap car battery for the moment. Hmmmm...

I have so many questions about so many different things and I want to be able to teach Shay the correct way and not the jerry rig way of working on his boat.

Ideas?

Will

If you want to run it for a minute or two then just get the muffs for now. As long as everything goes well the impeller is a must later on.

No you don't need a marine battery to just get it running. Just as long as you have a battery with ample CA to get it running for the moment, thats fine. If I remember past discussions on batteries, some of the members are using regular automotive starting batteries in their boats.