1988 Chris Craft Amerosport - Just purchased..questions!!!

[Globetrottin1]

Re: 1988 Chris Craft Amerosport - Just purchased..questions!!!

Survey cost for me was around $550. Well worth it. Make sure your guy is accredited.

 

[Globetrottin1]

Re: 1988 Chris Craft Amerosport - Just purchased..questions!!!

Still don't have the boat back from Virginia yet. I've changed some of my original plans. After learning of the quality of Chris Craft gel coat I decided against covering the gel coat and to repair it instead. I'm having the high priority items from the survey done before shipping it home as well. There were a couple of ball cocks that needed replaced in the engine room and one of the blower hoses was torn and needed replaced. I want to put the boat in the water at the marina as soon as it arrives and I thought valves on hoses might be tricky to do in the water, so why not do them while its out?
We had a big boat show here in Cincinnati over the last couple of weekends. I've gone both weekends and have the fever again. Can't wait until spring!
I'm still searching out which marina I want to use. There's a really nice one about 15 minutes from my home that is along the Ohio river but is in a sheltered cove that will cost me about $2500 for the season (May1-Nov1). There's another one about 10 minutes from my home that is directly on the river but only about $900. Is it worth the extra $$ to be in a cove and not in the current?:mad-new:

 

[erie_guy]

Re: 1988 Chris Craft Amerosport - Just purchased..questions!!!

Globetrottin1,

Congrats on the new boat. Looks grrrat!! I noted on one of your pictures that there appeared to be a charger of inverter installed in the bilge area of the boat. This is considered to be a no no because of sparks that may cause an explosion. You should consider moving the 110 VAC outlet pictured out of the bilge area before using the boat.

I have a 1500 watt inverter in my boat, but have it installed in a back deck compartment and wired, with big cables, to the house battery in the bilge. Sparking when connecting to AC is the issue. Could be a blast you don't need.

erie_guy
Port Cllinton, OH

 

[JoLin]

Re: 1988 Chris Craft Amerosport - Just purchased..questions!!!

Globetrottin1,

Congrats on the new boat. Looks grrrat!! I noted on one of your pictures that there appeared to be a charger of inverter installed in the bilge area of the boat. This is considered to be a no no because of sparks that may cause an explosion. You should consider moving the 110 VAC outlet pictured out of the bilge area before using the boat.

Second that, but in stronger terms. I'd get both the outlet and the charger the heck out of there, no question. I'm surprised that boat doesn't already have a permanent onboard charger controlled from a switch on the A/C panel in the cabin. Or, maybe the original charger crapped out and somebody replaced it with that 'portable' one.

 

[Globetrottin1]

Re: 1988 Chris Craft Amerosport - Just purchased..questions!!!

Globetrottin1,

Congrats on the new boat. Looks grrrat!! I noted on one of your pictures that there appeared to be a charger of inverter installed in the bilge area of the boat. This is considered to be a no no because of sparks that may cause an explosion. You should consider moving the 110 VAC outlet pictured out of the bilge area before using the boat.

I have a 1500 watt inverter in my boat, but have it installed in a back deck compartment and wired, with big cables, to the house battery in the bilge. Sparking when connecting to AC is the issue. Could be a blast you don't need.

erie_guy
Port Cllinton, OH

Thanks Erie Guy,

I'll look at that. As I recall, the charger and batteries and outlet were all down in the engine room. Batteries were along port side aft (no boxes, which I plan to remedy). I wonder why the surveyor didn't call that out? I'm going to pull my report out and make sure I didn't miss that. Problem is that I don't know anywhere else to put these items due to the layout of the boat.

 

[Globetrottin1]

Re: 1988 Chris Craft Amerosport - Just purchased..questions!!!

JoLin,

I think your scenario is likely to be what occurred. The auto fire extinguisher was replaced with a manual one as well. Could have been the dealer for I know. The original listing said it had a new anchor and two new props as well. When I got to it there was no anchor and one old prop..

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: 1988 Chris Craft Amerosport - Just purchased..questions!!!

Decent looking boat, i would definately move that inverter. On my last boat i mounted the inverter in a storage area in the cockpit.

LK

 

[JoLin]

Re: 1988 Chris Craft Amerosport - Just purchased..questions!!!

JoLin,

I think your scenario is likely to be what occurred. The auto fire extinguisher was replaced with a manual one as well. Could have been the dealer for I know. The original listing said it had a new anchor and two new props as well. When I got to it there was no anchor and one old prop..

Mine's mounted inside a storage locker in the cockpit, near the shorepower inlet. Look the boat over good- doubtful that the original would have been in the cabin, so that narrows your search. You can mount one anywhere above decks. Just avoid using it where it is while you figure out a new spot.

 

[NYBo]

Re: 1988 Chris Craft Amerosport - Just purchased..questions!!!

The charger is probably fine (doesn't look lie a portable to me, John), but the outlet needs to go.

 

[JoLin]

Re: 1988 Chris Craft Amerosport - Just purchased..questions!!!

The charger is probably fine (doesn't look lie a portable to me, John), but the outlet needs to go.

You're probably right. From the pic it looked like the power cord that's plugged into the outlet, looped back to the charger.

 

[Globetrottin1]

Re: 1988 Chris Craft Amerosport - Just purchased..questions!!!

You're probably right. From the pic it looked like the power cord that's plugged into the outlet, looped back to the charger.

Okay. So you both think I'd be alright to leave the charger where it is, but I should remove the outlet and extend the charger power to elsewhere on the vessel, outside of the engine room. Correct?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: 1988 Chris Craft Amerosport - Just purchased..questions!!!

I was told on here a few years back not to have that inverter in the engine bay unless it's a diesel.

LK

 

[JoLin]

Re: 1988 Chris Craft Amerosport - Just purchased..questions!!!

If it were my boat I'd move them both out of there.

 

[MarkSee]

Re: 1988 Chris Craft Amerosport - Just purchased..questions!!!

Okay. So you both think I'd be alright to leave the charger where it is, but I should remove the outlet and extend the charger power to elsewhere on the vessel, outside of the engine room. Correct?
Thanks for the help!

Below is a link for the proper type of device that is installed in the bilge as original equipment from the builders or a proper replacement and hard wired in to the a/c electrical panel to a breaker that should be labeled something like "battery charger".
The type of charger you have is more typically used in open air areas as the others have indicated.

Are you able to follow that romex back to a source where it gets it's power from?

The main issue is that if you have that charger plugged in to a/c, go to start the engine and had some type of gas fumes and a spark emitted from those exposed outlets.....well, might not be good.

I remember a couple years ago hearing two "old salts" as they were walking by on the dock talking and one mentioned he'll never start his boat again while plugged into a/c as that caused some major electrical problem.
I figured I'm just going to learn from that and follow the same practice.......but in your case with that exposed a/c outlet, it would be even more reason to have no a/c connected when firing up.

While you're underway that charger won't be plugged into a/c so no chance of a spark; I'm figuring you don't have a generator installed or would be using that while underway.

Products :: Battery Chargers :: Flyback 20-3 12 Volt

So what I would suggest is to obtain and install a properly wired bilge charger/converter but until you can do that, just make sure those connections stay covered and don't start the boat with live a/c to that outlet or the charger plugged in.

BTW: an inverter is a device that takes 12v d.c. and converts to 120 a/c; you've got a converter/charger going from a/c to d/c.

Mark

 

[Globetrottin1]

Re: 1988 Chris Craft Amerosport - Just purchased..questions!!!

Below is a link for the proper type of device that is installed in the bilge as original equipment from the builders or a proper replacement and hard wired in to the a/c electrical panel to a breaker that should be labeled something like "battery charger".
The type of charger you have is more typically used in open air areas as the others have indicated.

Are you able to follow that romex back to a source where it gets it's power from?

The main issue is that if you have that charger plugged in to a/c, go to start the engine and had some type of gas fumes and a spark emitted from those exposed outlets.....well, might not be good.

I remember a couple years ago hearing two "old salts" as they were walking by on the dock talking and one mentioned he'll never start his boat again while plugged into a/c as that caused some major electrical problem.
I figured I'm just going to learn from that and follow the same practice.......but in your case with that exposed a/c outlet, it would be even more reason to have no a/c connected when firing up.

While you're underway that charger won't be plugged into a/c so no chance of a spark; I'm figuring you don't have a generator installed or would be using that while underway.

Products :: Battery Chargers :: Flyback 20-3 12 Volt

So what I would suggest is to obtain and install a properly wired bilge charger/converter but until you can do that, just make sure those connections stay covered and don't start the boat with live a/c to that outlet or the charger plugged in.

BTW: an inverter is a device that takes 12v d.c. and converts to 120 a/c; you've got a converter/charger going from a/c to d/c.

Mark

Agreed. I looked the existing charger and it has horrible reviews anyway. I think I'll get a different model and make all of the appropriate changes.

Thanks everyone for the help!

 

[Globetrottin1]

Re: 1988 Chris Craft Amerosport - Just purchased..questions!!!

That is so valuable to know. Thanks!

 

[Globetrottin1]

Re: 1988 Chris Craft Amerosport - Just purchased..questions!!!



And so it begins...

The Escape Plan finally arrived last Thursday and I couldn't wait to get her into the water....but I had to. In my ignorance, I guess I thought that a boat that hadn't been in water for a season and a half would just slide in, start up and all of my dreams would come true. Hell, I brought a six pack of Coors to drink while I'd sit back and enjoy my new purchase! No such luck...
Luckily I was surrounded by a group of seasoned boat veterans with one being an old friend and neighbor and a Sea Ray sales rep that grew up on boats and the other a boat hauler that's seen every possible scenario with boat deliveries. Also there were boat mechanics nearby that had a lot to offer.
Snafu#1: Boat arrives with mis matched props. The starboard prop is an original OMC prop, but worn and different pitch than the newer Michigan Wheel prop on the Starboard motor. This has been remedied and the port stern drive now matches the starboard stern drive.
Snafu#2: As soon as we dunked her in water she begins taking on water at a pretty high rate.:mad-new: The stern drives were pretty heavily coated with bottom paint by the previous owner so we didn't feel that they were the source of the water. The water was entering from somewhere around the port side motor. I was able to reach in beneath the port side engine towards the transom and feel an opening just large enough to fit my four fingers into. There, water was pooling and running in. What could be leaking we wondered? Was it the boots around the shafts outside on the stern drive or (gasp) do I have a transom issue? I had the boat surveyed so I feel confident that the transom is solid. Finally after tightening boot clamps and doing what we could on the outside, we turned our attention to the inside. We put the boat in and out of water half a dozen times so far. Thank God for Chris my boat hauler and Bud Light! On the inside of the transom I am able to locate and reach four of the six nuts/bolts that secure the stern drive flange to the transom. I find that I'm able to get anywhere from half to 3/4 turns on these guys. We dunked her again and all that's left is a very slight trickle. The only problem now is tat the last two bolts would require pulling the engine to get to. I'm just going to monitor the situation and hope that some expansion take place and eliminates the remaining trickle. My only guess is that the transom shrank some while out of the water and in a salty environment for over a year.
Snafu#3: Well, now we can dunk her and get her into a slip, right? Wrong. When we go to fire up the engines we find that the dealer also gave me ****ty batteries. They were charged prior to shipping and they're already dead a few days after. Pull her again. Put on shore power for the night to get a charge on the batteries.
Snafu#4: Okay, next day lets get this sucker going! Port engine fires up, sounds good, risers feel cool to the touch. Starboard engine fires, sounds good but gas is dripping from carb. I tighten the bolts and the leak s gone. Fire it back up and....risers are hot:facepalm: No water flow. Impeller in stern drive is shot. Pull her back out. Next day, both stern drives get new impellers and gaskets.
Snafu#5: Boat is back in water. ALL the way in the water this time!! I don't know how to operate the twin engines yet and my buddy is not available to tech me on this evening but somehow I manage to get it into a slip without hurting myself, my boat or anyone else's boat! I only passed about 8 slips before getting her nestled into one...

 

[Globetrottin1]

Re: 1988 Chris Craft Amerosport - Just purchased..questions!!!

In the water now!
Being an air conditioning guy I figure ill check the a/c. It comes on but doesn't cool well. No water coming out of through hull. Uh oh:facepalm:
I figure ill take a dock hose and fill the system through the through hull and prime the pump. No luck. Time to start taking things apart
Not as bad as I thought it would be. Some sort of insect built a mud like nest right where the hose attaches to the through hull. Cleaned it out, primed the pump and away she went. Scratch a/c off the list!:laugh:

 

[JoLin]

Re: 1988 Chris Craft Amerosport - Just purchased..questions!!!

View attachment 189648

Snafu#2: As soon as we dunked her in water she begins taking on water at a pretty high rate. The stern drives were pretty heavily coated by the previous owner so we didn't feel that they were the source of the water. The water was entering from somewhere around the port side motor. I was able to reach in beneath the port side engine towards the transom and feel an opening just argue enough to fit my four fingers into. There, water was pooling ind running in. What could be leaking we wondered? Was it the boots around the shafts outside on the stern drive or (gasp) do I have a transom issue? I had the boat surveyed so I feel confident that the transom is solid. Finally after tightening boot clam and dong what we could on the outside, we turned our attention to the inside. We put the boat in and out of water half a dozen times so far. Thank God for Chris my bat hauler and Bud Light! On the inside of the transom I am able to locate and reach four of the six nuts/bolts that secure the stern drive flange to the transom. I find that I'm able to get anywhere from half to 3/4 turns on these guys. We dunked her again and all that's left is a very slight trickle. The only problem now is tat the last two bolts wold require pulling the engine to get to. I'm just going to monitor the situation and hoe that some expansion take place and eliminates the remaining trickle. My only guess is that the transom shrank some while out of the water and in a salty environment for over a year.

Sorry, Globetrottin', but there won't be any 'expansion' to speak of. The transom didn't shrink while the boat was out of the water. Fact is, you have a serious water leak that, depending on how long it's been going on, might already have destroyed the transom. It won't stop leaking on its own, and the only cure is to uncover that area, find out if the transom is rotted, repair if necessary... and seal and bolt it up properly.

Based on the mismatched props, I'm guessing that drive was a replacement, improperly installed.

My .02

 

[Globetrottin1]

Re: 1988 Chris Craft Amerosport - Just purchased..questions!!!

Sorry, Globetrottin', but there won't be any 'expansion' to speak of. The transom didn't shrink while the boat was out of the water. Fact is, you have a serious water leak that, depending on how long it's been going on, might already have destroyed the transom. It won't stop leaking on its own, and the only cure is to uncover that area, find out if the transom is rotted, repair if necessary... and seal and bolt it up properly.

Based on the mismatched props, I'm guessing that drive was a replacement, improperly installed.

My .02

JoLin,

I'm really hoping you're not right about that. Wouldn't my surveyor have caught. Bad or rotten transom? He spent hours tapping everywhere with a hammer and using moisture indicator device. Also, the mismatched prop I believe is just a result of the dealer taking a short cut to save $$. During my inspection I noticed a chip out of the old prop that occurred when they pulled it out of the water. At the time, the stern drive wouldn't raise due to what was later determined to be a loose wire. I asked them to put on another prop before I had it shipped home. I guess I should have specified a " matching" prop. At least it was an OMC prop:lol::lol: