1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

[chriscraft254]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

Ok man, I will try and catch up here, been a little busy to read everyones threads. the led lights you bought I believe are not water proof but silocone sleave incased, is that right? If you take an end cap off, can you slide the outer silocone sleeve off of the strip?

If so, I would sell them and get the lights that you really need for the application. I will be putting a thread together shortly on the specifics of different types of led strips and what is what and how to wire up. Probably start it tonight or tomarrow. I have been collecting info!

I know you want to get them done, so go ahead and replace them later. just seal up the ends real well and make sure wiring is water proofed and go boating. The seperate fuse block will make your life much easier for these lights and any add on things you want to do in the future.

I wired mine to the fuse block with no switch in between. No need for a switch with the remote unless you are worried about a little led light on the control box or something running down the battery. A switch on the dash is just one more thing to have to turn on before you turn your leds on. Mine is wired to my battery on off switch, so when I leave the boat, all power is off to everything except my bilge pump. When I get on the boat, the battery switch is turned on and my boat is how including the leds. now I can just use the remote.

By the way, I will be replacing all the strips on my boat eventually. You will see why when I do the led thread.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

Ohh and I have heard the heller glanz stuff works well. Your hull is proof,looks great!

 

[BSnB]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

Ok man, I will try and catch up here, been a little busy to read everyones threads. the led lights you bought I believe are not water proof but silocone sleave incased, is that right? If you take an end cap off, can you slide the outer silocone sleeve off of the strip?

By the way, I will be replacing all the strips on my boat eventually. You will see why when I do the led thread.

Now you're doing an LED thread...sheesh!!! LOL

In any case, in answer to your question, yes, mine are inside what appears to be a silicone sleave. The end cap where the wires come out appears to be a silicone cap too which is securely attached. These light were advertised as waterproof. I'll be disappointed to find out that they are not.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

Now you're doing an LED thread...sheesh!!! LOL

In any case, in answer to your question, yes, mine are inside what appears to be a silicone sleave. The end cap where the wires come out appears to be a silicone cap too which is securely attached. These light were advertised as waterproof. I'll be disappointed to find out that they are not.

Your strips are just fine, just not the best,lol The silocone sleeve is the water proofing, just make sure all connections and ends are secure with injected silicone. The IP68 are the best for underwater but are also more mula.

 

[BSnB]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

Your strips are just fine, just not the best,lol The silocone sleeve is the water proofing, just make sure all connections and ends are secure with injected silicone. The IP68 are the best for underwater but are also more mula.

Just to be clear I am not putting these underwater. I took your advice and will mount them up under the swim step and as close to the stern as I am able. My swim step sits about 12 inches above the water line, and extends out 18 inches or so. The idea here is to give me the ability to throw a little color on the water surface. Next season, I hope to add the true underwater lights. These may get wet, from time to time in heavy water, but if they stay submerged, I've got MUCH bigger problems.


The rest of the LED strip I hope to use inside, stealing an idea from you.


Thanks for the advice CC.

 

[lil buggy]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

hows the soldering goin?
cant wait to see the results

 

[BSnB]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

Well, I'm finally in the water and at the slip. The Admiral and I got up there over the weekend and put the cabin back in order...bedding, the new table, cushions...wiped everything down so it's clean again. It's amazing how much dirt can accumulate over the winter in am enclosed cabin.

I'm missing my water hose so I can't test the fresh water supply or the pumps until next weekend and it seems that my VHF radio bit the dust over the winter so there's another expense that I didn't expect.

I brought one of the new-to-me downriggers up with me to try to get started on that. Last year I drilled out a couple of holes and installed 2 flush mount rod holders. I'd positioned them on the gunnel just aft of the radar arch which put them about 3 feet forward of the stern on each side. In order to mount the downriggers I bought Cannon Gimbal Mounts and attached those to the swivel base of the downrigger so that I could slide the mounting tube in and out of the rod holders for easy removal. That part worked like a charm, however, the downriggers have two rod holders mounted at the back of them and when I swivel the downrigger outboard they bump against the radar arch. I've got 2 more of the flush mount rod holders and I'm going to try to fit them at the corner of the gunnel where it turns into the stern. It'll be tight because on the gunnel side I've got a cleat and along the stern I've got a rail. Things just never work out like I hope the first time.

It rained a little bit while we were there and I've got a few leaks in my canvas top. I guess it's time to look into replacing that too.

Oh well...SHE"S IN THE WATER AND I"M THRILLED!!!

 

[r.j.dawg]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

It rained a little bit while we were there and I've got a few leaks in my canvas top. I guess it's time to look into replacing that too.

Try some 303 Fabric Guard. We had a few small leaks on our old canvas and this stuff completely waterproofed it. It lasted a full season. It will probably get you through a couple of seasons.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

Congrats on the launch BSnB! That sucks regarding the down riggers, but I bet you will figure it out and get a scenario that works.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

^^^ yeah, what he said^^^ Sometimes you have to do things 2,3, even 4 times to be satisfied with it. Its just part of boating and making things right for you. Congrats on getting her in the water though, what happen to the vhf, usually electronics don't go bad just sitting there, did it get moisture in it? Maybe a bad connection, corroded wire? I'd be checking that first unless you just want a new one,lol

 

[BSnB]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

thanks, dawg, I'll try some.

 

[BSnB]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

I will mustang, and I figure I can probably use the existing flush mounts for outriggers someday. I'm trying to turn lemons into lemonaid!!!

 

[lil buggy]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

I will mustang, and I figure I can probably use the existing flush mounts for outriggers someday. I'm trying to turn lemons into lemonaid!!!

ya know,,, whats the one thing that you gotta add to them lemons to make the lemonade? yep you got it,,,,,, water,,,,,
congrats,
on the splash.
not sure about the vhf,, but i'd start with the fuses. as far as the downriggers go,,, post up some pics, next time you visit her, i am sure we will be able to help ya figure a solution.

all the best

 

[25thmustang]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

Being the opposite of an electrical guru, I'd love to help but have no idea, so how did the motor work go? Did the mechanic have a look at her?

 

[Pmccraney]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

Glad you got the boat in the water where it belongs... The "dry dock" is cool and one of my favorite places on earth to hang out, but nothing beats the water (especially early or late in the day) - or whenever there is a fish on.

You'll get these down-riggers figured out - no worries....

 

[BSnB]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

It's been a while, I see, since my last posted update. Where to begin???

Let's start with the good news. The tune up is done. Plugs, points, rotor, condenser, new distributor caps, plug wires looked good, he said. The distressing part for me in this news is that the tune-up was just finished this past Wednesday. I don't know yet how she runs and I m looking forward to burning some fuel this weekend finding out.

The Admiral and I overnighted on the boat this past weekend. We spent most of the time fixin' the little things like retying the anchor rope to the eye bolt in the anchor locker, flushing and filing the water tank and testing the pumps, filing and treating the head and checking that pump, adjusting the thermostat on the water heater so the relief valve doesn't release, removing and clearing the valve on the shower so that it works and searching for the slider-door nob for the storage bays above the V-berth that had somehow come loose and found its way into the cabinet under the Galley sink in the tray containing the filet knife, sharpener and can opener. My interrogation of the likely suspect in this dastardly deed has not yet resulted in a confession

...ok...ok...I confess, I seem to remember maybe possibly sort of putting it there last fall. I'll beg the Admiral's mercy and ask that time served searching be counted in sentencing. :facepalm:

OH! I forgot to mention...I found the problem with my VHF radio. I didn't have the switch on!...Duh!!! Power to it is through a switch which controls power to the fuse block feeding the depth gauge, speed log, RPM balancer and FM radio. I gotta remember that switch!

 

[BSnB]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

Fortunately, it was not all tedious work. We did take the time to float out into the big lake and onto dead-calm blue water under cloudless skies.



No fish were harmed in the making of this picture (unfortunately), but it felt good to wet a line!

 

[BSnB]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

If you've subjected yourself to the pain of this post for any period of time you'll know that I've got a number of projects in the planning stages. Work has begun on my next upgrade.

As you can see from the photo above, the Admiral is sitting on a deck chair facing the stern. You can see, where my life ring is hung, that there is no stern seating/sun platform. There are, however, screw sets there to attach that option offered by Chris Craft at the time the boat was built. I like the fact that the entire deck is open for fishing, but for cruising and sunning I want some seating/bench.

While at the boat last week I made a paper template of the stern and then transferred that template onto a piece of marine grade 3/4 plywood. I also marked the location of the "notch" in the stern leading to the swim step ladder. My cuts along those template lines resulted in two identical trapezoidal shaped plywood "seats" that fit into each corner and extend toward the center "notch" and forward sufficiently to cover my coolers. I dry-fit those boards and have sanded the edge to perfect the fit. I have enough plywood left over to cut the piece needed to fill in the gap below the "notch".

I want these to be removable so that I can transition from pleasure barge to a fighting fishing machine! I considered hinging the seats so that they would drop down against the stern, but because the seats are flat and the stern is not, this installation method was scratched. Instead, I've decided to install a ledger board, cooler height, across the stern and extending forward. Similar to what chriscraft254 (264 now?) has done to enhance his boat and conceal his RGB lights.

I bought, for now, some Mahogany ranch casing that'll I'll mount thick side up. I say "for now" because I know that I'll be making some mitre cuts that will be less than perfect and because I may decide I like teak better. The back and sides of the seats will rest on these ledger boards with the forward inside corners supported by fold-up legs. I'm still trying to figure out the best way to secure the seats from moving while still allowing me to easily remove them. I could use some ideas (pins, snap latches). I'll cover the seats with white vinyl and, once the seats are installed I'll measure and create fixed bolsters above them to serve as a back rest and create the fill piece below the "notch'.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

BSnB the stern seats sound like they are moving along. My 29 was open at the transom as well, whereas every other model of my boat had a built in, non removable transom seat. I liked the openess of it, but agree that folding chairs can be bulky and a pain some times. I think your idea is perfect for the solution.

I would also look into possible storage locations for these seats, somewhere on the boat. As far as how to hold them in place, the only boat I had with a similar set up, had a ledger but it was very wide and stout. The bench seat weighed a ton, and when in position it went nowhere. It also was the full width of the stern, so it really couldn't move around and fall out.

 

[lil buggy]

Re: 1987 28' Chris-Craft 283 Amerosport

sweet,
time on the water,,,, priceless.

i love the sunpad,, bench idea.

i like that idea alot
are you making one large piece across the stern or 3 smaller ones?
originally i was thinking one large piece,, my worry with three pieces is without a dog house to support you may have pinch points between the pieces. but i bet you could use a fold down piano hinge for the back of the middle piece supported by legs in the front,,, but as far as the corners go,,, a ledger on the outside sounds great,,, but i'm not sure about the inside where it meets the middle seat.

its too bad that you cant make one large piano hinged seat that would lay flat down when not in use( what if you just left the side corners open?) that would certainly help with the storage, when not in use.

ok i got another idea,,,lol,,,,
three pieces,,,,
back long piece pianio hinged to the stern with 3 support poles to make the middle of the bench( middle ant one each on the outside)
and 2 smaller (jump seat stile) pieces on the corners that were piano hinged to the side gunwhales supported by a leg and maybe have an added underlap piece(from the smaller sections)to aid in keeping the bench all one levell with no pinchpoints
that way you would be able to drop out the side piece by the ladder to the platform for easy boarding.

ok got another idea for you,,,lol.
not sure how tall your coolers are compared to the height of the transom or cutout/passthru ,,,,,
but i take it that your transom is curved a lil,,, that being said if you could put a ledger type board across the stern and use a chalkline to mark it in a straightline from the back corner to corner across the stern and cut away to make it flat.(yep a lil pita of a cut)
you would have a spot to mount a few piano hinges to the transom and also would alow you to drop that whole seat down flat against your transom when your not useing it.

i also agree with mustang,,, if they are removable,, think about were you gota store them when they arent being used, to help with the design.


just spitballing here,,,,
but i hope it helps,
happy memorial day