An assortment of stupid questions

[scoutabout]

Re: An assortment of stupid questions

OK -- good job! (I've been following with interest and having just parked my but after mowing the lawn, thought I'd log in. Nice to meet you.)

That first pic is indeed the spashwell. That second pic is indeed the bilge area. That's where the pump should go and I second (or third?) the recommendation to epoxy it down assuming you can dry it out.

That there boat has some nice lines to it. I believe a neighbour had one when I was a teenager so it's at least...um...three decades old....

That engine should definitely have the capability of charging your battery. As mentioned, get a simple multimeter and put it across the posts both running and not and see if you have voltage change.

As for tubing, I can' emphasize enough the importance of having a spotter to watch your daughter (legal requirement) while you concentrate on driving the boat. Being intimately familiar with the water you are tubing in is critical too. And of course rules of the road, etc. Never back the boat toward anyone in the water and keep the engine off when pulling them in after the run or they are getting ready before the run.

One other thing...Have fun!

 

[H20Rat]

Re: An assortment of stupid questions

and one other suggestion... when you load, make sure the bow is against the rubber bow stop by the winch. That is part of the designed support of the boat, without it some boats can pick up a fairly bad bounce while going down the road and could end up being quite dangerous.

 

[axeslinger1957]

Re: An assortment of stupid questions

Good, good and good.
Yup, there will definitely be a spotter.
OK, I'm in the ballpark on age. So what kind of a boat do you think it is, and how old is it?
On the epoxy, how do I apply it? I can't do it in a circle or water won't be able to enter the pump, right? Should I just apply it where the screw holes are supposed to go?
The boat shifted when I pulled it out of the back yard. Good catch. That will be dealt with. Oh, and I'm going to get a new strap winch too.
Hey, Crater, where are you from? My mother hails from Fargo.

 

[axeslinger1957]

Updates

Updates

This has been a good day. I've gotten three very irritating projects done, off the list and out of the way. Even had some time to work on the boat.

Dried out and swept the bilge. Easy. Mounted the base thing for the bilge pump. Took the advice and glued it down. Found a tolulene-based adhesive that did the trick quick, Nick!

Also got in a little trip to Wally World where I picked me up a nice li'l' strap winch for the trailer. The rope and its winch have had it. They bite the dust first chance I get.

Now I've got to find some wire and some tubing and finish up that pump...

 

[H20Rat]

Re: An assortment of stupid questions

Hey, Crater, where are you from? My mother hails from Fargo.

currently in the bis/man area, but have spent quite a few years in the eastern edge of the state also. (fargo and grand forks both) The eastern edge offers lots of smaller minnesota lakes, but all small and all a fair drive to get to. At least out here on the western side we have fairly big water at sakakawea and the missouri. Outside of the great lakes, the #2 and #3 largest lakes in the continental US are in North Dakota, Lake Sakakawea and Lake Oahe (South Dakota shares lake oahe with us!)

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: An assortment of stupid questions

A-ha. Cool boat looks like a classic in good shape.
The splashwell should have a drain to the outside (transom) and it can stay open
Be sure you plug any holes from the splashwell to the boat--looks like some wires going through.
Your drain hole is not a couple of inches above the bottom so that answers that. You can (have your crew) pull the plug out while running to drain water but with a pump you won't need to. But mount the pump so you can get to it as you need it for back-up. Also carry something you can bail with.
If you plan to moor the boat overnight, or for convenience, have a float switch on the pump.
The bilge is just that small depression back there; your hull between the deck (floor) and hull is sealed, so the only water you have to worry about is in the well. But on an different level be mindful that your inner hull may have gotten water in it--watch for constant seeping out or around the drain hole.

Carry 2 six gallon gas tanks at least. Put a cover on the battery box.

In addition to your winch strap remember straps to hold the stern of the boat to the trailer: stern straps or belly band.

Your motor looks like one of mine--3 cylinder? and if so it's a good one.

 

[axeslinger1957]

Re: An assortment of stupid questions

A-ha. Cool boat looks like a classic in good shape.
The splashwell should have a drain to the outside (transom) and it can stay open. Be sure you plug any holes from the splashwell to the boat--looks like some wires going through.

Roger that.

Also carry something you can bail with.
If you plan to moor the boat overnight, or for convenience, have a float switch on the pump.

Check and double check.

Carry 2 six gallon gas tanks at least.

Say WHAT?!?! Man, the ONE tank barely fits in there!

Put a cover on the battery box.

Roger that.

In addition to your winch strap remember straps to hold the stern of the boat to the trailer: stern straps or belly band.

Got 'em. You can see the starboard one in the first picture if you look hard.

 

[MudSkunk]

Re: An assortment of stupid questions

4) This boat is fiberglass. I plan to attempt to take my daughter tubing in it. As I want to do this safely, I have been considering getting one of those digital depth gauges with the in-hull "hockey puck" transducer. Would one of those work quickly and reliably enough at around 20MPH to warn me that I was headed for shallow water or a submerged obstacle?

get a chart of the lake you are planning on boating with a skier. the chart will show you where the deeper parts generally are. the depth finder will show you how rapidly the dpeth changes combine that with a chart and you wont hit bottom. as for floating objects it is a good idea to run around the area first at a slower pace looking for such things where you plan to ski before you actually do it at a fast pace. it is also a good idea to have at least one other person to keep a watch on the skier as your attention should be fully on where you are going.

another good thing would be a fish finder with a GPS unit that can track your course and layout waypoints in the deeper parts of the lake on which you wish to ski.

anyway just some ideas.

 

[axeslinger1957]

Re: An assortment of stupid questions

get a chart of the lake you are planning on boating with a skier. the chart will show you where the deeper parts generally are. the depth finder will show you how rapidly the dpeth changes combine that with a chart and you wont hit bottom. as for floating objects it is a good idea to run around the area first at a slower pace looking for such things where you plan to ski before you actually do it at a fast pace. it is also a good idea to have at least one other person to keep a watch on the skier as your attention should be fully on where you are going.

another good thing would be a fish finder with a GPS unit that can track your course and layout waypoints in the deeper parts of the lake on which you wish to ski.

anyway just some ideas.

As noted earlier, there will be a spotter. It will definitely NOT be me. I will also work on making the "preflight tour" part of my routine. The GPS thing is a great idea. Unfortunately, I don't think I can get that through Accounting at this time...

 

[axeslinger1957]

Recent updates

Recent updates

My 13-year-old daughter and I have completed the Boater Safety course. The test is tomorrow night.

I had a mechanic over last night. My motor IS recharging the battery, just not much. Voltmeter reading at rest was 12.1VDC. Voltmeter reading with motor running was 12.4VDC. His opinion was that I might do well to replace the battery. Any opinions here?

Also, he mentioned that a method of last resort to start a battery-deprived engine is to open the shroud and wind a piece of preknotted nylon rope with a wooden T-handle around the geared thing (flywheel?) at the top, set the key to RUN, and pull to start the engine mechanically. Any opinions?

 

[NoKlu]

Re: An assortment of stupid questions

Put a new battery in it then check the charging rate again to see if it's up where it should be. If not have it repaired. A backup system to get your engine started is never a bad Idea. Make the rope and practice the starting procedure till you get it right. Keep the rope on the boat, just in case.