Another 470 Club member...

Joined
Jul 15, 2013
Messages
29
:facepalm: what are the annual dues, btw (BTW!)

Man oh man...it seems no matter what experience level you (me) may have in a given hobby or recreation, it is so easy to buy with passion and ignore signals (reddish flags)

I have yet to add pictures to my initial post about my new purchase of an oldie but nostalgic goodie (83 Larson 19.5 Nantucket Express) but the fun newz is my realization I unwittingly joined the MCM 470 Club.

with a nod to the fine research I discovered here in the last few days, let me say the following:

I still love the purchase...

I know the vessel lived most of its 3+ decades in Montana (reservoir no doubt) and explains its far-above-average condition. ( purchased it, ironically or otherwise, with-in 15 miles of its origin in Little Falls, Minnesota.)

After being cautious about "water-testing" it at the boat landing, and being told by my local Mercruiser dealer, "they would not even look at it for a pressure/charging system test", I was wise enough in my boating years to take it today to the "other" boat shop in town and have a new impeller put in and a system test.

I will add that altho i have my thoughts on the condition of the engine/drive unit being "good" I am leaning towards caution and am new to my lake surroundings so I am glad to be cautious.

I wish I would have spent an extra second or 3 looking up this MCM (my 81 silverline version of this identical rig had the MCM 198 in it) as I think I Svengalied myself into thinking,"hey, this will be a great fuel efficient power-plant"...yada, yada....

Ok, fire away...lulz:facepalm::lol:
 

stonyloam

Vice Admiral
Joined
Mar 13, 2009
Messages
5,827
Re: Another 470 Club member...

:facepalm: what are the annual dues, btw (BTW!)

Pain and suffering my boy, pain and suffering :facepalm: LOL. OK ya got a 470, now forget about EVER taking it to a marina for service, they will bone ya big time, ya gotta learn how to DIY! Starting now. Here is the manual I think it covers your "83": Boatinfo - Mercruiser Service Manual nr. 8 - 1985-1989 - Mercury Marine 4 Cylinder Engines Depends on what you have for a cooling system, around 83 they changed to a newer style of coolant reservoir. Time to get dirty. Go to your local Autozone and borrow the tools to do a compression test and a cooling system pressure test. Check your antifreeze with one of those cheap little testers, should be about 50/50 automotive antifreeze. Make sure the hose is connected to the expansion tank and the tank is filled to the line. Locate the weep hole on the lower starboard side of the engine waterpump and with a piece of wire or toothpick make sure it is clear. Start the engine and let it warm up and see if any coolant leaks out of the hole. Pull the sparkplugs and take a look at them, the insulators should be tan or brown, if any are pure white that indicates a coolent leak in that cylinder and needs to be addressed. If you have the original charging system and it working don't worry about it till it fails. When it does slap in a Breezeworks alternator kit. Do all that and we will let you in the club:rolleyes: LOL. Now the good thing, in the fall to freeze protect, just pull the aft plug on the heat exchanger, 5 minutes and you are done. Do it right on the ramp, last trip of the year. So when all the guys with the "good" engines are peeing and moaning about cracked blocks and milky oil next spring you can just go boating. Good luck and welcome.

Oh yeah, learn how to change your own impeller and do it at least every other year.
 
Last edited:
Joined
Jul 15, 2013
Messages
29
Re: Another 470 Club member...

thanks stony!
appreciate the link to the manual. getting the impeller done for me and will do alot of the work myself. I have had I/O's professionally winterized and i have diy b4 and have learned lessons doing both. I like the notion that the 470 is an easy winter-prep beast and will keep in mind come fall here in Minnesnowta.
 

wrestling coach

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 27, 2011
Messages
210
Re: Another 470 Club member...

Welcome to the 470 club. There will always be the haters. I did just as you did 1 year ago. Found a 1983 19' Grady White in a very well maintained condition from top to bottom. Spent its life in Lake Ontario and on a trailer when not in the water. I was warned to run away as fast as I could. But I didn't. So in the past year I made some improvements to the weak points of the motor. Points to Pertronix, Alternator conversion and 3" heat exchanger to a 4" heat exchanger. It was no big deal. Boat and motor have been great. Enjoy your boat listen to the naysayers but make up your own mind. There are also a lot of 470 lovers out there too.

Dennis
 
Last edited:
Joined
Jul 15, 2013
Messages
29
Re: Another 470 Club member...

thank u dennis
i will always be happy with purchase due to nostagia, cheap investment and love for the boat configuration.
 

stonyloam

Vice Admiral
Joined
Mar 13, 2009
Messages
5,827
Re: Another 470 Club member...

There are lots of folks that are happy to help around here. BTW my German shorthair came from Fulda MN, probably not far from you. If you get a chance a photo of the engine would be great (the boat too).
 
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