1984 Aqua Patio budget rebuild

[autotec]

Re: 1984 Aqua Patio budget rebuild

Now that's boating on a budget! Great work and I think this is the 1st toon I've seen rebuilt in this forum. Looks like you'll be having a lot of fun very soon!

Should put your location in so we know about where you hail from.

Location Updated. It looks like we are from the same area bonz_d.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: 1984 Aqua Patio budget rebuild

So how the toon coming? Going to be able to use it yet this year?

Yeah, pretty close. I'm down in Twin Lakes. There are a few others here in the forum from Wis.

 

[autotec]

Re: 1984 Aqua Patio budget rebuild

So how the toon coming? Going to be able to use it yet this year?

Yeah, pretty close. I'm down in Twin Lakes. There are a few others here in the forum from Wis.

Well, it's coming along. Slowly. I have all of the bigger parts built, so all of the small things are left. When you finish a small part, you really don't get the satifaction of the bigger components. I did have it running this past Sun. It runs and shifts great. I just drained the lower unit and found a little bit of oil in with the water. I typed that right. That has me concerned, but only time will tell. I'm going to refill and drain it after I run it. The lower unit hasn't been drained for years, probably 15. I wish I could attach the video of it running, but my phone said the file is too big to send to my e-mail. But I can post a picture of the motor charging the battery. I know, it's not as cool.

 

[autotec]

Re: 1984 Aqua Patio budget rebuild

Lets see if I can share this video. I don't now if this will work, I couldn't find my 10yr old to help me. LOL.

running_zps109a1483.mp4 Video by autotec2 | Photobucket

 

[bonz_d]

Re: 1984 Aqua Patio budget rebuild

Coming along nicely. Where do you boat?

 

[autotec]

Re: 1984 Aqua Patio budget rebuild

Coming along nicely. Where do you boat?

Thank you. Mine is easy compared to all of the other ones on here. This is my first boat, so I really have never been out anywhere. We do have a place on Little Green, right outside of West Bend, but weve never had a powered boat out there. That's where I'll be on Sat for the shakedown run.

 

[bassmanhb]

Re: 1984 Aqua Patio budget rebuild

auto,

you mean little green lake in Markesan ? I camp there almost every weekend... have a permanent spot for my camper and love it over there.... but its a bit farther from west bend than just outside at least unless there is another little green lake


bass

 

[autotec]

Re: 1984 Aqua Patio budget rebuild

auto,

you mean little green lake in Markesan ? I camp there almost every weekend... have a permanent spot for my camper and love it over there.... but its a bit farther from west bend than just outside at least unless there is another little green lake


bass

No, different Green Lake. There are quite a few in WI. Our place is actually in Farmington, right outside of West Bend. It's a small lake, but that's a good thing when it's the first time the boats been out. Well first time since 2006.

 

[autotec]

Re: 1984 Aqua Patio budget rebuild

http://goo.gl/maps/thvxh

This is where our place is.

Justin

 

[autotec]

Re: 1984 Aqua Patio budget rebuild

Well, trailer was rented for 2 days, tank filled and boat loaded. The first splash of the boat was all set. I figured the seats could wait, we had lawn chairs. Launched the boat, started and it ran great. Pulled away from the launch while someone else launched, and waited for my uncle to part the truck. Went foward and backwards for 5 mins, ran great. My uncle hopped on and it died. He hopped in in chest deep water, pulled it back to shore and the work began. After 3 hrs, we gave up and loaded it back onto the trailer. At first I thought it was the vent I didn't open, but on the second day I found a fuel pump that failed. Below is the picture.



After further inspection, I saw water coming out of where the two pieces of the lower unit comes together. That explained all of the oil in the water, and the water in the lower unit. It's time to build a stand, pull the engine and go through the entire thing. I don't want to go through this again. I'm this far, it's time to make it right.

On a up-note, it ran GREAT for those 5 min. It gives me hope.

Justin

 

[SnapperMassacre]

Re: 1984 Aqua Patio budget rebuild

Thats the best idea...get it right and the motor will be good for a while....then you can enjoy the water.

 

[autotec]

Re: 1984 Aqua Patio budget rebuild

Back onto the project after a few house repairs. I finally got the stand built, engine will be on it tomorrow. I figure I'll see what it will cost to do what I want to do and if the pricer comes close to a re-power, I'll toss a newer engine on it. I've seen a few 60hp on Craigslist, but I don't want to buy one only to find I have to do all of the same things the old Chrysler needs.

I'm over my $500.00 budget now, but doesn't it start over on the 1st of the year?

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 1984 Aqua Patio budget rebuild

If you have to stick to a budget, you can't afford a boat... or you'll spend a lot more time looking at it in the driveway than enjoying it on the water.

Boats and budgets are 2 completely opposite things.

 

[autotec]

Re: 1984 Aqua Patio budget rebuild

If you have to stick to a budget, you can't afford a boat... or you'll spend a lot more time looking at it in the driveway than enjoying it on the water.

Boats and budgets are 2 completely opposite things.

That's not true. I could go out and buy a 50K new boat, but I don't want that. Just like my home, my car or my bike. Where is the fun of buying something when I can make it better than new with a little work? I chose to set a budget, and I'm going to stick to it, well almost. I bet when my boat is done in spring, it'll run just as long as any new boat out there. I might not have fuel injection, a 4 stroke or perfect seats, but I will be having fun for a small investment. You have to know when and where to invest your capital. A new boat is not one of them.

I'm cheap for a reason, I don't want to work for the rest of my life. Thanks for the advice though.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 1984 Aqua Patio budget rebuild

If you buy a couple of paddles you should stay pretty close to your original budget and you won't have to worry about a gasoline budget either... or maybe you could fashion a sail out of an old bed sheet and a broom stick!

Boats cost money to own and operate, and buying an older boat and trying to operate it on a tight budget usually doesn't work too well. There will always be things that need to be fixed, especially in the beginning... like you're finding out now, so you need an elastic budget which might as well not even be a budget. It's going to cost "X" number of $$$ to get the boat operational and probably considerably more than that to make it reliable... but if you don't mind spending a lot of time "dead in the water" a budget might work for you.

I find most budget builds on here kind of ridiculous, people want to scrimp, save, cut corners, and get by as cheaply as possible when trying to fix up an old boat... but then when they think the boat is operational and it comes time to fill up the fuel tanks on the boat and tow vehicle money is no object!

Take the time and spend the money to make your boat reliable/safe and seaworthy... then budget you fuel money for any overspending of the build if you have to.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: 1984 Aqua Patio budget rebuild

If you have to stick to a budget, you can't afford a boat... or you'll spend a lot more time looking at it in the driveway than enjoying it on the water.

Boats and budgets are 2 completely opposite things.

WOW!!!! That's a pretty strong harsh statement and I certainly believe you feel that way though I completely disagree.

My last boat and current boat are on budgets. Both were and are on target and can be done with a realistic budget.. No different than an auto. No one can budget for an unexpected breakdown. Be it a car, boat, airplane or even your home!

Realisticly there are 3 budgets. The build, the maintenance and the operational and if one wants to try and combine the three then they will never stay within budget.

 

[autotec]

Re: 1984 Aqua Patio budget rebuild

If you buy a couple of paddles you should stay pretty close to your original budget and you won't have to worry about a gasoline budget either... or maybe you could fashion a sail out of an old bed sheet and a broom stick!

Boats cost money to own and operate, and buying an older boat and trying to operate it on a tight budget usually doesn't work too well. There will always be things that need to be fixed, especially in the beginning... like you're finding out now, so you need an elastic budget which might as well not even be a budget. It's going to cost "X" number of $$$ to get the boat operational and probably considerably more than that to make it reliable... but if you don't mind spending a lot of time "dead in the water" a budget might work for you.

I find most budget builds on here kind of ridiculous, people want to scrimp, save, cut corners, and get by as cheaply as possible when trying to fix up an old boat... but then when they think the boat is operational and it comes time to fill up the fuel tanks on the boat and tow vehicle money is no object!

Take the time and spend the money to make your boat reliable/safe and seaworthy... then budget you fuel money for any overspending of the build if you have to.

I do like the sail idea since I grew up sailing, but not the paddles. That's just too much work.

Of course I want to scrimp and save, but I don't think I have cut any corners. Just alot of carefull shopping and alot of help from friends and family kept the budget low. If I would add everything up donated to this project, I would be well over $2000. Building on a budget doesn't mean a unsafe or unreliable boat. (in most cases)

Time to pull the motor and start working on it.

 

[autotec]

Re: 1984 Aqua Patio budget rebuild

Well, the motor is on the stand and the transom is out. Time to get to work.

 

[nerys]

Re: 1984 Aqua Patio budget rebuild

Dude. you got a semi running toon for FREE. that is one hell of a budget. and to have only around $500 into it so far and it looking that nice. GOOD job man.

a budget with a boat is not very hard to do with one condition. you can do your own work. if you can do your own work a budget is VERY doable.

if you have to pay labor to someone else forget a budget your screwed. but if you have the skill and the will to do your own work your golden !

I can't want to see this thing on the water running and purring.!

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 1984 Aqua Patio budget rebuild

I do like the sail idea since I grew up sailing, but not the paddles. That's just too much work.

Of course I want to scrimp and save, but I don't think I have cut any corners. Just alot of carefull shopping and alot of help from friends and family kept the budget low. If I would add everything up donated to this project, I would be well over $2000. Building on a budget doesn't mean a unsafe or unreliable boat. (in most cases)

Time to pull the motor and start working on it.

Your boat is a safe build, pontoons are easy like that... but the reliability of that old Chrysler motor is debatable. They don't make those anymore and parts can be hard to come by. If you decide to keep that motor you may want to invest in a small kicker outboard or a good strong electric trolling motor, something to get you back to the dock if the old Chry gives up the ghost. You don't hardly ever see those old Chryslers out on the water anymore, and there's a reason for that.

You've done some really good looking work on that boat and you can be proud of that.