1977 Cruise Boats Restore

[Greg Mrozinski]

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore (SPLASHED)

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore (SPLASHED)

We have splash down!!! Dropped the boat in the water today and took it for a spin. The tide was way out due to the wind so launching was tough. Next time I'll wait for a higher tide for sure. Motor wouldn't start. Flargh!!! I suspected the ignition safety switch to be suspect before so I quick tore open the remote control and snipped the wire. Varooom the engine fired right up. Put everything back together and cast off. I puttered out to the river and started the video recorder for the maiden run. Here is the
video of the first run. Warning! I suck at video recording. It was a fun run.

[video]http://s796.photobucket.com/albums/yy249/gpmrozinski/?action=view&current=100_0039.mp4[/video]

The boat ran great! Took a little while for the engine to clear out some but then ran strong. The boat itself was very solid and handled great. A few minor things need to be corrected. I need to move the remote control back about two inches. The throttle lever hits the dash at about 3/4 throttle. The tach doesn't work. Probably a bad wire or a misconnection on my part. I need to recheck that. Enjoy!

 

[djpeters]

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore (SPLASHED)

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore (SPLASHED)

Very Nice. Good Job! I can't wait for that day with mine. I can now go to bed. Thanks for the video.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore (SPLASHED)

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore (SPLASHED)

Nice job on the video Greg. They are tough to do by yourself and keep the camera out of the wind. You did fine and we could still hear all your commentary. I admit to laughing a bit at your expense for mounting the controls too far foward. Easy fix though. My neutral switch was dodgy on my '73 also and I had to bypass it. I hope the tach fix is easy. I just got mine and hope to get it install this week. When working, they will register even just when you're cranking it (if that helps with your troubleshooting).

 

[Greg Mrozinski]

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore (SPLASHED)

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore (SPLASHED)

Very Nice. Good Job! I can't wait for that day with mine. I can now go to bed. Thanks for the video.

Thanks for the compliments DJ. I have been following the resto of your Starcraft. Great work there. It is difinitely a great feeling when you are finished.

 

[sasto]

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore (SPLASHED)

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore (SPLASHED)

Thanks for the ride, Greg! She looked to be moving along at a good clip.

 

[Greg Mrozinski]

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore (SPLASHED)

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore (SPLASHED)

Nice job on the video Greg. They are tough to do by yourself and keep the camera out of the wind. You did fine and we could still hear all your commentary. I admit to laughing a bit at your expense for mounting the controls too far foward. Easy fix though. My neutral switch was dodgy on my '73 also and I had to bypass it. I hope the tach fix is easy. I just got mine and hope to get it install this week. When working, they will register even just when you're cranking it (if that helps with your troubleshooting).

Thanks EZ. Glad to be a source of entertainment for the folks here. I even laughed at my self when I realized what I had done. I am out there driving the boat pushing on the throttle and trying to figure out why the engine won't run up to top speed. Then I look down and see the throttle jammed against the curvature of the dash. I said to myself "Really!" Yeah, you know when you tear everything out and you go back and start filling the millions of holes in the fiberglass I forgot to mark the two I wanted to keep open for the remote. So I guessed at what I thought were the holes. Wouldn't you know I guessed wrong (of course). As far as the tach goes just sitting here I realized that I didn't set it to 6P mode after I installed it. :redface: So that is probably it. Duuuhhh! (Insert your laughter here.) If not, then I don't think the tach is getting power from the ignition. The ground is fine I know because the tach light works.

Oh well, if that is the only thing wrong after all this work then I am okay with that.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore (SPLASHED)

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore (SPLASHED)

Not to bum you out, but I think they are set to 6P by default.....

 

[Greg Mrozinski]

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore (SPLASHED)

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore (SPLASHED)

Thanks for the ride, Greg! She looked to be moving along at a good clip.

No problem. With that 115 Hp Johnson on there and a couple hundred pounds lighter she will definitely scoot along.

 

[Greg Mrozinski]

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore (SPLASHED)

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore (SPLASHED)

Not to bum you out, but I think they are set to 6P by default.....

I hope you are wrong...for my sake. :facepalm:

 

[drewpster]

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore (SPLASHED)

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore (SPLASHED)

Greg, So happy for you man! Looks like its going to be tons of fun and I bet you already have other boaters in the club wanting to know where you got such a cool vintage boat. Great video too, I'm starting my engine today hopefully and you just got me off my duff and out to work. Outstanding man, really good day.

 

[Greg Mrozinski]

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore (SPLASHED)

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore (SPLASHED)

Greg, So happy for you man! Looks like its going to be tons of fun and I bet you already have other boaters in the club wanting to know where you got such a cool vintage boat. Great video too, I'm starting my engine today hopefully and you just got me off my duff and out to work. Outstanding man, really good day.

Thanks Drew. Yeah a few heads were turning when I was going to the ramp. Folks are out working on their boats now.
You are so close to being finished your trihull. You just have to get in there and finish it up. Keep plugging away at it.

 

[swire]

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore (SPLASHED)

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore (SPLASHED)

I bet it feels awesome to finally have the project finished and your boat back in the water. It looks great.

 

[Greg Mrozinski]

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore (SPLASHED)

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore (SPLASHED)

I bet it feels awesome to finally have the project finished and your boat back in the water. It looks great.

Thanks for the compliment Swire. Yes it does. I still have a few small things like a fishfinder to install but everything else is good to go.

 

[Greg Mrozinski]

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore (SPLASHED)

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore (SPLASHED)

Okay, so yesterday I went down and tried to correct a few things that I mentioned above regarding the maiden run. The first was an easy fix...reposition the remote about 2" back and away from the forward dash. Done.

The next thing I tackled (hopefully) was the tachometer. EZ was right in that the tach setting was already set to 6P. So that wasn't the problem. When installed the tach I ran a separate switch for the gauge light. The light worked fine. After my initial run the light didn't work. Checked the bulb and it look fine. So now I needed to trace down any problems with wiring. I checked the voltage between the ground and the ignition power and got about 6.8V. Puzzling...then I did continuity checks on all wires from the gauge to the point of origin at the motor. Ignition power was fine (.1 Ohms). The signal wire was fine (.1 Ohms). The ground however was giving me about 60 Ohms resistance. So I checked again between the gauge and the battery and again I was getting about 60 Ohms of resistance. If this was indeed true then that would explain why I was only getting the 6.8 V at the gauge and why the light and gauge didn't work. So I by passed the ground wire from the remote and ran a ground wire directly from the gauge to the ground buss bar at the switch panel just below it. Did that and I had a full 12+ volts at the gauge and the light was working again. So let's hope that it works the next time when I take it out. If not then it has to be a problem with the stator. I will also check the charging circuit the next time I run the motor.

 

[boat restoration master]

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore

wow i discovered this thread about 2 hours ago and read every post very very very cool i also live in md down in belair i call myself the boat restoration master but i have to tip my hat to you that was an outstanding job and if i would have read all of this a year ago i could have saved alot of trouble on my 72 chrysler sport satellite tri hull first of all i didnt take the tub out like you did i also didnt paint mine i just sanded polished and waxed up until about 15 minutes ago i was satisfied with the finishing product of my boat but now im disappointed in myself... my boat will be used more for catching those md blue crab and going for my record catfish this year so itll do that job but like i said my hats off to you. you did the perfect restoration and cut no corners as i did.... congrats buddy and if you happen to be in the Susquehanna this year look for a little red tri hull boat with a bow light shaped like an old chrysler emblem name RED TIDE because id like to shake your hand...

 

[Damifudo]

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore

Nice job. Glad to see your project has hit the final stages right during spring. That thing is going to turn some heads thats for sure. What a classic look too! I have a small issue with my Tach also which has all the warrning lights and alarms built in to it. I get a low sound from it at times. Sounds slightly like a wonded duck comming from my Pezo alarm from Radio shack. I suspect a ground also or maybe a slight blead through. I hope to see you down at Pier 6 this spring. So how worried where you about scratching it getting it back on the trailer? I have a few scratches in mine now. That first one sure does hurt! I got pulled over by the Marine Police one day and his bumpers where not too kind to my boat. At least I didnt get a ticket but I think I rather had a ticket and no scraches. Great Project and fun to follow!

 

[Greg Mrozinski]

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore

wow i discovered this thread about 2 hours ago and read every post very very very cool i also live in md down in belair i call myself the boat restoration master but i have to tip my hat to you that was an outstanding job and if i would have read all of this a year ago i could have saved alot of trouble on my 72 chrysler sport satellite tri hull first of all i didnt take the tub out like you did i also didnt paint mine i just sanded polished and waxed up until about 15 minutes ago i was satisfied with the finishing product of my boat but now im disappointed in myself... my boat will be used more for catching those md blue crab and going for my record catfish this year so itll do that job but like i said my hats off to you. you did the perfect restoration and cut no corners as i did.... congrats buddy and if you happen to be in the Susquehanna this year look for a little red tri hull boat with a bow light shaped like an old chrysler emblem name RED TIDE because id like to shake your hand...

BRM,

Hey there and welcome to iBoats. Thanks for reading my thread and for the compliments. Every boat has it's unique conditions and removing the splash well seemed to be the most direct way to access the transom. Sometimes that won't work. I am sure your boat looks great and much better than you think it does. Post some pics and share with the others here.

I will try to make up to the Susquehanna and look for you. I boat out of the Bush River and frequent Still Pond and Fairlee Creek. Swing by there sometime or PM me one weekend.

 

[Greg Mrozinski]

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore

Nice job. Glad to see your project has hit the final stages right during spring. That thing is going to turn some heads thats for sure. What a classic look too! I have a small issue with my Tach also which has all the warrning lights and alarms built in to it. I get a low sound from it at times. Sounds slightly like a wonded duck comming from my Pezo alarm from Radio shack. I suspect a ground also or maybe a slight blead through. I hope to see you down at Pier 6 this spring. So how worried where you about scratching it getting it back on the trailer? I have a few scratches in mine now. That first one sure does hurt! I got pulled over by the Marine Police one day and his bumpers where not too kind to my boat. At least I didnt get a ticket but I think I rather had a ticket and no scraches. Great Project and fun to follow!

Dami,

Long time no hear. How are you doing? Thanks for the compliments. I am really happy with how it turned out. Oh yeah, I scratched it good. When I went to launch it on Sunday the tide was WAY out. Low tide coupled with a strong westerly wind means no water in our marina. The water was out beyond the bottom of the boat ramp. So trying to get the boat off the trailer was very tough and of course because of the steep angle of the launch the bow eye got caught to the nose roller of the trailer. First scratch down and slightly crunched front rub rail. GRRRRRRR!!! But getting it back on the trailer straight was a nightmare. Anyway, I am going to make a few minor adjustment to the trailer bunks to get it to sit better and center easier. We will see. All in all nothing major and all minor stuff. So that's good.

 

[Greg Mrozinski]

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore

Just for completeness her are a few pics of the boat jst after pulling her from the warehouse for the first time.

 

[Greg Mrozinski]

Re: 1977 Cruise Boats Restore

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