Manatee Rebuild 1976

[Damifudo]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

Another day of working on the and with my son there we really got alot done. I am so happy with the progress today. To bad the budget doesnt contain new seats for now as I think some seats would dress it up even better. I tried to get some more money for the project but my son wants to graduate from college. Go figure and my daughter she wants to go to college next year. These straight A kids want to go to college whats up with that? . So my boss so no seats for now. Maybe some new carpet on the floor of the boat might be in the budget. I replaced the side wall carpet. Dave Ramsey is making me live in my budget dang it no credit cards in this build. But over all I am happy I will have enough money to get the motor a good going over by the Mechanic. I hope she doesnt need a new prop.

Todays progress.

Mechanical Engineer student hard at work.

Seats are in. Yea she is looking like a boat again!

Man I love the way that wood looks. I wish I could finish the entire boat in finished mahagany.

waiting to see water again!

 

[HVAC Cruiser]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

Hey Damifudo, Wow she is looking beautiful , she come long way since the day she rolled down the hill into your kids car. Keep up the great work

Regards,
Bill

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

You've got a really unique boat now! And I don't think the old seats look bad at all.

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

Damifudo,
It looks really nice. Nice woodworking too. I always love the real wood.
I also agree with EZ. Those old seats don't look that bad.
Nice Job
Bob

 

[heiliges]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

GOod job on the paint. The lines look alot like the boat I picked up, just don't know what it is. Anyways, great work, giving me ideas.

 

[Damifudo]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

thanks everyone I am feeling pretty good to be to the point I am ready to take the motor over to the Mechanic and get the engine a good going over. I am wondering if I can rebuild the carbs on the Johnny myself? I think I would feel better knowing the carbs are all clean and working good. I know it will be expensive to have them rebuilt by someone eles. Cash is very tight right now and nothing better than figuring it out on our own. I just dont want to screw it up and mess up an engine. The other issue I having is the gas tank when it is up the 1x4 it doesnt want to slide back as far as it use too under the splash well. I dont like screwing the tank into the floor of the boat but I may have too.

My control lines are a little too long too. I have to figure out how to make a loop or something in them or bit the bullet for shorter ones.

The big thing I am thinking of making is a seat across the back of the boat. 12 inches tall 56 inches wide and 16 inches deep. I would add a 2" seat cushion on top and the top would be a lid so I can store life jackets and put the oil tank and things below the seat. It also would add a step when stepping over the back of the boat from the swim platform. It would be easy to remove for fishing so I had nice standing room for the back of the boat too.

Next big step is going to be the run test after the Mechanic. I am getting excited now it seems to be all I think about.

 

[HookMaster]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

Hope it all works out........You might find a couple jump seats in the right color.One port, one stbd. Just a thought........ http://www.sportsmansguide.com/zoom...JPG&h=&w=&bgc=&ui=&mc=&cf=&nv=&c=&adid=196614

 

[Damifudo]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

Towed her home yesterday and now have her at the house where I can finish the 100 small details that needs to be done before she splashes back in the water. Lets see left is a new water pump and oil change in the lower unit. I cleaned the old out of the VRO pump. I am installing a new glass fuel filter in the fuel line at the motor. Its nice to see when you have gass getting to the carbs. I need a new depth finder still but waiting on a side job to get some money for that one. I have to install the swim platform on the back yet. I did restore the teak on it. Battery is charged and ready to go. I have to install The Registration numbers back on her and I guess I better take care of the lights again on the trailer. Seems like I have a bad case of just need another $ 100 and I will be done. That was like $ 300 ago.

I am nervous like a new dad. I run through the list in my head about 100 times a day. I should do this and I should do that.

Oh and I almost forgot the fishing rod holders and beer holders. What a screw up that would be on the first trip out!

One day I going to invent a combo unit its a Fishing rod holder and a beer holder. Seems like you need both of them things together anyways.

 

[Damifudo]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

Well tonight the weather looks good and my buddy is available so tonight she hits the water. The alarm works that I was having some issues with and she has a new water pump and works on the muff. I am so nervous I dont know why. I was up last night till 11 working on trailer lights.

Please wish me luck tonight.

 

[Greg Mrozinski]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

Damifudo,

Excellent work on your boat. Very nice. I just pick-up this thread again. I wanted to mention that since your seats are in such nice condition and you can afford to replace them at this point I would suggest using a vinyl spray dye to change the color. VHT makes a good vinyl spray dye that I have used before and it works great. It is a true dye and not a paint like covering. The color change is permanment. Very easy change to make for about $30.00.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

I did restore the teak on it.

Any tips on how you did that? I have a rough swim platform and a new ski locker lid to do.

Good luck on your splash.

 

[SnowHunter]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

Well tonight the weather looks good and my buddy is available so tonight she hits the water. The alarm works that I was having some issues with and she has a new water pump and works on the muff. I am so nervous I dont know why. I was up last night till 11 working on trailer lights.

Please wish me luck tonight.

Wow, ya have done an amazing job!!!!

Good luck with the splash!!

 

[Damifudo]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

Any tips on how you did that? I have a rough swim platform and a new ski locker lid to do.

Good luck on your splash.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...1151&storeNum=null&subdeptNum=null&classNum=0

This worked great on my swim platfrom.

 

[Damifudo]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

Damifudo,

Excellent work on your boat. Very nice. I just pick-up this thread again. I wanted to mention that since your seats are in such nice condition and you can afford to replace them at this point I would suggest using a vinyl spray dye to change the color. VHT makes a good vinyl spray dye that I have used before and it works great. It is a true dye and not a paint like covering. The color change is permanment. Very easy change to make for about $30.00.

I will make a note of that and thanks. I think we are going to keep the brown for now. I have actually had a bunch of compliaments on it.

 

[Greg Mrozinski]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

Coolness. I agree the seats look good.

 

[Damifudo]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

Happy dance. I took her down to the river last night and pushed her in. Time to learn to swim again. The motor fired right up but had a small drip from the thermostat housing. No too bad though. She idled a little rough but not bad. A few blips of the throttle and she seemed to clear out. I took her for a little run and was worried I was in a now wake zone. I flagged a boater over and he said nope not during the week. I checked Temps each head was right around 158 - 160 tell tale was warm not hot.

I hit the gas a little too much and she almost made me sit down in the seat. wow she has a little more get up and go than the old 115 merc. A few more runs at mid throttle and she seemed to run smooth. 15 min and all temps normal no lights or alarms. . Next a few high speed runs. Checked the temps again all good. 168 was the hightest I saw on the heads. The only thing I didnt have reverse it worked earlier but not now. Linkage problem I suspect but forward and Nutral worked fine. I was pretty confident things were pretty good. I put the lid on and she got quiet and sounded awsome.

Ok well she is running good and looking good but........... Whats the RPMs at WOT? 5100 pretty good. Time to push the luck one more run. Grabing the GPS Hit the gas. She tops out at 42 MPH. Not bad at all top speed on the old boat was a click over 30. Loaded her back on the trailer with out a scratch. Put her away in the garage and today I found the loose linkage and a new thermostat housing and gasket and she is good to go.

Only two items remain on the check list. New Depth finder $$$$$ need to save up for and bolt the swim platfrom back on. The she will be complete!

Oh and I had two really nice compliaments at the ramp. One guy said she looked great a nice classic looking boat. The other asked me if it was new? Nothing like the feeling of a fresh restored boat!!!

 

[SnowHunter]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

SWEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!! Sounds like a heckuva time on the water

No pictures?

 

[HookMaster]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

Sounds like your hard work has paid off ! Good to hear your first dip went ok..... Compliments at the ramp are always nice to get......... Congrats ! Now for some family fun ! I will be fishing in my Manatee this weekend! Great boat !

Don

 

[Damifudo]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

Sounds like your hard work has paid off ! Good to hear your first dip went ok..... Compliments at the ramp are always nice to get......... Congrats ! Now for some family fun ! I will be fishing in my Manatee this weekend! Great boat !

Don

Hey thanks how did the Merc make out? Thats a great motor. Mine was restored and is being tested this weekend I hope she runs again. Its nice to know that everything was restored from the day she rolled down the street. The motor went to my friend who helped restore my boat and showed me how to do the transom and the paint job.

 

[HookMaster]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

Thanks for asking.......The Merc is still on the stand and has not yet been fired up. I have been so busy with my remodeling projects I've had little or no time to arrange my guy to come over and if I do call him he is usually tied up also. Oh well....... I might call him today to see if he has time this weekend. Been putting finishing touches on the Glastron between work, garden, fishing and yard work. Installed a new windshield, decals etc... Latest pic attached..........

Going out on the water this weekend ? A video would be great ! Don