Buehler Project

[Shully]

Hi everyone; Rescued this beauty from cretin death. Got it home and started going over it I am told it is a Buehler as the tag on the jet indicates as such. 75-3C, it 21.5 foot day cruiser. Lots of work to do. I'll keep you updated if this post works out. Got the new stringers in last year and am glassing them in now. Parts are hard to come by.

 

[Isaacm1986]

Re: Buehler Project

Very cool looking boat! Looks that will be one big project though. Welcome to the world of boat restoration!

 

[Shully]

Re: Buehler Project

Thanks; this is my second restoration. I did a 22' Cruse Boats Center Console from the ground up including a new transom, stringers, floor, console and fabed a t-top took 4 1/2 years. Parts on this puppy are a trip the jet drive is coming along. I am, rebuilding the entire pump, it's a slow go, I have to glass blast everything and dress the impellers, cutless bearings are 85 each I need 2. I got the front pump bearing assembly out and I believe I press it out from the back. If someone could send me a pic of the engine to pump setup it would be greatly appreciated. Im hooking the 3 stage pump to a 351 mercuriser....I Love those lines

 

[bananaboater]

Re: Buehler Project

Really interesting boat. Nice lines and the jet power adds to the interest.

 

[Willyclay]

Re: Buehler Project

From Fiberglassics.com: "Buehler Turbocraft also licensed jet units to be used in other makes of boats. You will see the Buehler jet units in Chris Craft, Arena Craft, Century, Correct Craft, Borum, Formula, and Campbell." Good luck with your project!

 

[Greg Mrozinski]

Re: Buehler Project

Hey Shully,

Nice cool boat there. I read you restored a 22' Cruise Boats CC. I am in the middle of restoring a 17' dual console Cruise Boats. This is the first time I have run across someone else who has had a Cruise Boats boat. Very cool. Do you have any pics of the 22' er?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Buehler Project

Very unique boat. I'll enjoy watching this one. Good luck with it.

 

[Shully]

Re: Buehler Project

Hey Shully,

Nice cool boat there. I read you restored a 22' Cruise Boats CC. I am in the middle of restoring a 17' dual console Cruise Boats. This is the first time I have run across someone else who has had a Cruise Boats boat. Very cool. Do you have any pics of the 22' er?

Yes I do have some pics but not many. Dumb me I never thought of doing a photolayout of the boat . The stringers though were interesting. I made them using 2" blue foam than glassed 1/4" marine plywood on both sides. Trimmed them up and laid them in. I cut off a piece of about 8" and let it outside for 3 years in all weather it never came apart or peeled the plys. I love the Carolina bow of the Cruse Boats.

 

[drewpster]

Re: Buehler Project

I like the fantail off the back of the transom deck and the flat hand rails. very cool.

 

[Shully]

Re: Buehler Project

A quick update; Finally got my pump rebuilt. It took all summer. What a trip finding those parts. Most of them I found at my local farm equipment supply house. the large O rings, seals and bearings are all Case part numbers. so if your having trouble finding parts find a tractor and equipment place that has been there like forever, they'll enjoy working with you.

Also I found my serial # it was under the foot rest at the helm. it is 43A6002 maybe someone can look that up and let me know what I have. thank you it is greatly appreciated.

now it's on the next trick fitting the engine and pump together in the craft and fitting the pair of skegs that I had to reproduce back on. I'll keep you updated as it goes along.

 

[Willyclay]

Re: Buehler Project

Thanks for the update. Glad to read about your progress. Good luck!

 

[rallygabe]

Re: Buehler Project

Also I found my serial # it was under the foot rest at the helm. it is 43A6002 maybe someone can look that up and let me know what I have. thank you it is greatly appreciated.

Well, I don't believe your hull is a Buehler, but the pictures of that pump look familiar. I have an 62 Buehler Turbocraft and those pump pieces look just like mine. Basically it is a Hamilton Chinook jet unit, 3 stage. Manufactured under license by Buehler.
The output though looks pretty crazy...not sure what that all is.

On my Buehler there is a U-Joint yoke bolted to the input flange of the pump, and a short drveshaft and another yoke bolted directly to the flywheel. If I had pictures of it I would share...

 

[Shully]

Re: Buehler Project

Well it's been a sort of productive winter. I got my engine rebuilt and had a shaft fabbed. ouch! The weather just now started to cooperate and I now have the pump installed with the shaft and engine. The motor is nor permanent yet but will be shortly. Tanks are in also as is steering. When I started this project I couldn't beat the tiller with a hammer and make it turn. but after a complete pump rebuild it steers easily.Here are some photos of my progress. Guess I should paint the inside of the hull.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Buehler Project

Well, too late for me to help with the shaft, but on my Buehler the shaft was just a welded round bar, like a PTO shaft for a tractor, attached to the pump and engine flywheel with flanges like the ones on your shaft. It looked very simple and quick to make.

I'm glad I didn't try a rebuild of my turbocraft... I don't have enough hours in the day for that.

Erik

 

[Shully]

Re: Buehler Project

It didn't come over night by any means, so when I started this project I planed for a 4 year restoration.I am now in my 3rd year. I think about it every day though. What I need, what is coming up ect. So when I do my runs every day I try to plan it to get by a shop or retailer or parts store to make my order, and there is countless hours on e-bay looking for needed parts. A case in point is the yoke that connects to the fly wheel. Thinking outside the box for a solution to my shaft problem "Viagra?? no not that" and with no instruction booklet on how to make one I let my imagination run till I stumbled on the Sprint car pages on eBay and the yoke for connecting the drive shaft to the flywheel. BINGO! I had my yoke $60 from eBay; problem was it was for a GM motor not a Ford. Before I could find one the guy at the jet shop ordered one from Roush Racing in NC for $350.00. are you kidding me!!!!!!!????? An adaptor would have been 20 bucks for the GM, Roush would not take it back so 1/2 of the shaft cost was for the yoke. The 5 gallons of glass resin, marine plywood, the list goes on and on but in the end since I can not purchase on of these I hope the end result will be a quality craft with classic lines and great head turning potential.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Buehler Project

I'm not sure on the is but it might be worth an email. Somenthing in the back of my head is telling me that Duckworth worked for Buehler. Duckworth is still around. You might shoot them an email and see what you come up with. I could be totally wrong on this.

 

[Shully]

Re: Buehler Project

Well, I don't believe your hull is a Buehler, but the pictures of that pump look familiar.

See Photo Has I not found the MFG Plate I might believe you. It Reads TURBUCRAFT; A division Of BUEHLER CORP 9000 Precision Drive Indianapolis, Ind, 46236; Serial Number 43A6002, Got all hooked up and am working on getting the engine running.

 

[Shully]

Re: Buehler Project



Here is an update to the project. This year has been spent on getting the engine to start. The distributor was in 180 degrees out and the fuel pump didn't work., melted my starting wire and on and on. but finally I put on an electric fuel pump, hit the switch and the engine came to life and ran great. You could sorta feel the craft smile and thanking me for bringing her back to life. I didn't want to run it long for fear of the cutlass bearings ( I was flooding them with a hose didn't trust that) but it did run great. So now to work out the fuel delivery problem.

I understand a carbureted engine is not a happy engine with an 40 PSI electric fuel pump, not without a anti-siphon valve and a " low oil shut off switch" otherwise the cylinders can fill with fuel and hit the switch and Boom! blown to the sky Edith. ordered a used mechanical pump from e-bay said "inspected, in working order, no returns." should have caught the hint. does not work. I know---- that is why they were selling it. so I got a 2-5 PSI electric pump. anti-siphon valve and am looking for a reasonable priced low oil switch. Got fuel back to the carb but will not start and the coil is really hot. think I burnt it up. I hate wiring. even with the wire chart it's all greak to me.

The Rails are back on and they came out great. If you scroll up you can see what the looked like when I got the boat. There not on permanent but I wanted to see what I needed to put them back on and I wanted to see haw they looked. When all painted up and with all the wood this should be a real good looking boat .

Got the Throttle and directional controls F\R hooked up and am working on the cabin as well as a new V-Birth needs to go in along with carpet, vinyl, lights and all. I'll keep you updated as time goes on but ti looks like things are going to start to gear towards getting her on the water probably next year.

 

[Willyclay]

Re: Buehler Project

Thanks for the update. Good luck with your final push to get that beauty splashed!

 

[Shully]

Re: Buehler Project

From Old to New, This is the old from when I pick the Beauty up. The Cabin Door was falling off and there was no Hatch. Thanks to a great friend that was able to build my ideas for a new Door and hatch this is the new door. Using marine ply wood,

several pieces of unfinished Mahogany flooring and the know how to use the Biscuit cutter and some marine glue, Teak oil and Spar Varnish I think both the Cabin Door and Hatch came out great. Thank you Bob For the Help. After it's all done he tells me he never did louvers before. You'd never know it. I do not know if you can see it but there is a new wind shield too, made off the old frame. I simply could not save the wooden wheel and am on the lookout for one if ya see one let me know.