Family runabout
Recruit
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2020
- Messages
- 3
Hello, and thank you to all who are willing to share your time and expertise! I've learned so much here already!
I am a "proud" new owner of a 1983 Bayliner Capri 1650, Volvo Penta AQ125a, and 270 outdrive. I picked her up cheap last fall, and am now finding out why.
She looks rough; upholstery is completely shot, floor is soft, and now I'm very suspicious that the stringers may be shot also. However, after doing a "tap" test on easily accessible stringers, I have some hope. Given the wear on the rest of the topsides, this may be one of the times when the floor rots from the top down. I picked this up in Montana, and I believe she has spent most of her life out of the water as a trailerable, with at least a few of those years spent outside, uncovered. I provide this info because I'm currently contemplating parting her out vs. restoration.
Which brings me to the root of my question: We've had her out twice, and now know that she runs, and is a lot of fun, but she needs some work to be trustworthy on the water. The Primary bearing (11013, ussually the gimbal, but Not gimbal on the 270, as I've just learned) is shot, the baffles need replaced, and the outdrive takes on water. More importantly, when at rest, she starts to flood (bilge pump doesn't work either!). When I pulled her out last Friday, the bilge drained through the exhaust baffle. I've read here that it's possible (although not recommended, with possible dire consequences) to run without an exhaust baffle altogether. Which leads me to believe that I have a leak in my exhaust manifold? Yet, I've read elsewhere that disconnecting the exhaust baffle can sink a boat.
So I'm currently facing the dilemma of making the necessary repairs and covering the upholstery so she's not as embarrassing, and getting some use out of her this summer, with a potential floor and upholstery restore this winter, vs. parting her out on ebay and craigslist, and finding a "not-quite-so-project" boat. If an exhaust manifold is on the "must repair" list, that may just be the tipping point. But I have yet to figure out how big of a project that is.
I believe I already need to pull the engine for good access to the primary bearing, so perhaps it's easy to fix the manifold leak while I'm at it?
Arugh, decisions! She's an unbelievably fun boat for what I paid for her, but there's an awful lot of work to make her sea-worthy and presentable (plus, if the stringers ARE rotten... well then forget about it!!). I've got no shortage of projects either. Seems like funding a better boat by parting this one out may be the fastest and best way back onto the water.
Thoughts anyone?
I am a "proud" new owner of a 1983 Bayliner Capri 1650, Volvo Penta AQ125a, and 270 outdrive. I picked her up cheap last fall, and am now finding out why.
She looks rough; upholstery is completely shot, floor is soft, and now I'm very suspicious that the stringers may be shot also. However, after doing a "tap" test on easily accessible stringers, I have some hope. Given the wear on the rest of the topsides, this may be one of the times when the floor rots from the top down. I picked this up in Montana, and I believe she has spent most of her life out of the water as a trailerable, with at least a few of those years spent outside, uncovered. I provide this info because I'm currently contemplating parting her out vs. restoration.
Which brings me to the root of my question: We've had her out twice, and now know that she runs, and is a lot of fun, but she needs some work to be trustworthy on the water. The Primary bearing (11013, ussually the gimbal, but Not gimbal on the 270, as I've just learned) is shot, the baffles need replaced, and the outdrive takes on water. More importantly, when at rest, she starts to flood (bilge pump doesn't work either!). When I pulled her out last Friday, the bilge drained through the exhaust baffle. I've read here that it's possible (although not recommended, with possible dire consequences) to run without an exhaust baffle altogether. Which leads me to believe that I have a leak in my exhaust manifold? Yet, I've read elsewhere that disconnecting the exhaust baffle can sink a boat.
So I'm currently facing the dilemma of making the necessary repairs and covering the upholstery so she's not as embarrassing, and getting some use out of her this summer, with a potential floor and upholstery restore this winter, vs. parting her out on ebay and craigslist, and finding a "not-quite-so-project" boat. If an exhaust manifold is on the "must repair" list, that may just be the tipping point. But I have yet to figure out how big of a project that is.
I believe I already need to pull the engine for good access to the primary bearing, so perhaps it's easy to fix the manifold leak while I'm at it?
Arugh, decisions! She's an unbelievably fun boat for what I paid for her, but there's an awful lot of work to make her sea-worthy and presentable (plus, if the stringers ARE rotten... well then forget about it!!). I've got no shortage of projects either. Seems like funding a better boat by parting this one out may be the fastest and best way back onto the water.
Thoughts anyone?
