1979 Rinker runabout resto (updated 8-10-10)

[tburda]

Hi all,

I've been poking around on here reading mostly for a while (mostly the boat ramp antics trying to not be that guy).

Well I've been shopping for a boat, and happend to take a look on CL and found a guy giving away this 19' rinker rideau on the trailer, first to show up gets it, well I made it first. It was in pretty BAD shape interiorwise, as in..dont think it could have been much worse, but the hull needs a powerwash and wax and it'll gleam, so I hooked her up and brought it home.

This is what it looked like the day I brought it home:

 

[tburda]

Re: 1979 Rinker runabout resto

Re: 1979 Rinker runabout resto

And after a couple afternoons short 2-3 hours each day this is where I'm at:

The entire deck was rotted (expected). I started tearing it up, which alot was coming out by hand, and then I started hitting some more wet wood that was still solid, so out came the saw. Once I got that out, it was time for foam inspection. Soaked, the foam at the very bottom looks like a melted 7-11 slurpee gone very very wrong. Yuck. I started tearing at the foam, but I need to go buy a couple more garbage cans, i already filled 3.

With the floor out, I decided to go ahead and tackle the motor. The LOVELY mercruiser 165 inline 6. Guess what the PO told me he thought was wrong? A blown head gasket Big surprise. So after researching this thing finding out what a huge hunk of junk it is, I off the bat decided out it goes, and in with a small block. Probably a 305.

And thats where I'm at so far.

The basic plans are:

Powerplant: small block probably 305, trans and outdrive not determined, open to suggestions to people with experience with these combos.

Interior, nice swivel captains chair, New sides with some storage incorporated, color not determined yet, but I might go with some yellow to match my jeep . Seating in the bow, basic seating there. The rest I plan on at least one longer bench that a cooler can be stowed under, and some seats along the back infront of the motor, and probably a lay-out style engine cover with storage on the sides of the motor, also upgrading to two batteries.

Electronics:
Depth finder
marine radio with satellite radio, with some good kick so I can hear it outside the boat when hanging around at the local sandbar.
Also plan to replace all gauges/switches at the helm with a custom setup, made by yours truly for an updated look.

Thats about all I have for now, still kind of grey, just stumbled on the boat, once the powerplant is straightend out, I'll start making some more positive decisions on the interior layout.

 

[Bravo]

Re: 1979 Rinker runabout resto

Re: 1979 Rinker runabout resto

Nice find! What is actually wrong with the engine? Those are actually great engines. I'm very much in need of a block like that to replace the one in a wellcraft I drug home the other day. (internal freeze damage)... Anyway, seems to be a great start with the rebuild. Hope it turns out ok!

 

[tburda]

Re: 1979 Rinker runabout resto

Re: 1979 Rinker runabout resto

The engine is missing the exhaust manifold for one, no carb, im sure some other stuff I havent dug into. There was ALREADY no outdrive, and I'd like to have a little more get up to move this thing around, but I'm not about building a big stroker or something, just a tad more juice . I plan to part this motor out so keep an eye out I'll try to drop you a line when I get it apart.

 

[Bravo]

Re: 1979 Rinker runabout resto

Re: 1979 Rinker runabout resto

Ok, I'd appreciate that. I'm planning on using my internals in another block. What would you want for it and where do you live?

 

[tburda]

Re: 1979 Rinker runabout resto

Re: 1979 Rinker runabout resto

I live in Michigan, so it'd be a freight ship, I dont know what I'd want yet, but probably not much. I'm not going to have any use for it rather than to make a few dollars, as long as I find everythings a-ok I'll cut you a deal as a fellow iboats member, as well as because of whatever it costs to ship. Maybe I can cram it in one of those usps "if it fits it ships" boxes LOL.

 

[Bravo]

Re: 1979 Rinker runabout resto

Re: 1979 Rinker runabout resto

Yikes! That is a bit of a drive! I'd love to see it stuffed into one of those boxes and someone try to pick it up! LOL! I'm gonna be scouring the local boneyards around here to see if I can find one with the proper motor mount boss I need to make the front mount work. Maybe I can get lucky....

 

[tburda]

Re: 1979 Rinker runabout resto

Re: 1979 Rinker runabout resto

Does anyone have any suggestions on getting this foam out? I've been picking and scraping at it with small tools and it's exhausting. got 1/3 of it out now...

 

[Isaacm1986]

Re: 1979 Rinker runabout resto

Re: 1979 Rinker runabout resto

Does anyone have any suggestions on getting this foam out? I've been picking and scraping at it with small tools and it's exhausting. got 1/3 of it out now...

I used a flat headed shovel on my buddies boat. Came out in bug chunks. but looking at your pictures, you might be stuck with the small tools.

 

[Bravo]

Re: 1979 Rinker runabout resto

Re: 1979 Rinker runabout resto

Does anyone have any suggestions on getting this foam out? I've been picking and scraping at it with small tools and it's exhausting. got 1/3 of it out now...

You could try a garden hand shovel, or wedge a prybar in there to break off some big chunks. Its a serious PITA, but. Ya just gotta stick with it.

 

[tburda]

Re: 1979 Rinker runabout resto

Re: 1979 Rinker runabout resto

Thanks guys, I did the flat head shovel for a couple parts where it would fit, and I've got this thing thats like a garden hoe, but it's completely straight, that works pretty good for cleaning it up once the majority is gone. I was going to pick up a garden trowel yesterday but didnt think I'd need it. Oh well Prybar seems to be the way to go, it's been working the best and thats what I seem to be seeing/hearing about people using. Just gotta go gung ho and once it's done it's done.

 

[RB78]

Re: 1979 Rinker runabout resto

Re: 1979 Rinker runabout resto

Hey! A Rinker buddy. I came with a 17' 1979 Rinkerbuilt w/ OB last month. I have a Rinkerbuilt Project thread in here somewhere ...

 

[tburda]

Re: 1979 Rinker runabout resto

Re: 1979 Rinker runabout resto

Hey! A Rinker buddy. I came with a 17' 1979 Rinkerbuilt w/ OB last month. I have a Rinkerbuilt Project thread in here somewhere ...

Lol I just responded in your thread

 

[tburda]

Re: 1979 Rinker runabout resto

Re: 1979 Rinker runabout resto

Well, I made a lucky score.

I got ahold of a mercruiser 898 (chev 305) with bellhousing, gimbal housing, power trim pump, power steering, steering cables, shifter, all the wiring, EVERYTHING, complete, for 300 bucks. When I say everything I mean they sawzalled the boat around the helm, transom, and motor mounts, and I shoved it all in the back of a pickup. It's old, but I've gotten the motor torn down, ready to be cleaned and re-assembled. There is no damage on the internals, everything looks great; just as the seller said. But I'm the kind of person whenever I buy stuff in non running condition (which I do OFTEN) I just tear it down and rebuild it, then I know it's new. So here are the pics. I forgot to take a complete before pic, but the first one I just had the exhaust manifold off and valve cover.

I took a wirebrush to the far right piston in this picture to see how the surface looked thats why it's cleaner than the rest.

 

[tburda]

Re: 1979 Rinker runabout resto

Re: 1979 Rinker runabout resto

a quick pic of this sawzalled out setup lol

I'll snap some more pictures of the rest of the stuff I got, any questions comments are welcome! Having a great time with this project.

 

[RB78]

Re: 1979 Rinker runabout resto (updated 8-10-10)

Looking good! I sent my 2nd e-mail off to Rinker last week asking about the hollow stringers. No response. I guess I'm just going to reinforce what's there and move on.

 

[tburda]

Re: 1979 Rinker runabout resto (updated 8-10-10)

Looking good! I sent my 2nd e-mail off to Rinker last week asking about the hollow stringers. No response. I guess I'm just going to reinforce what's there and move on.

Let me know if you hear anything, I'm not up to replacing my floor yet, I've still got to build motor mounts for this motor and I'm going to do the floor after the motor is back in so I can build the interior around it.

 

[RB78]

Re: 1979 Rinker runabout resto (updated 8-10-10)

Let me know if you hear anything, I'm not up to replacing my floor yet, I've still got to build motor mounts for this motor and I'm going to do the floor after the motor is back in so I can build the interior around it.

Sounds like a plan. I won't be touching my motor until Spring.