My First Boat Resto

[Jbird5363]

I've been itching for a boat for a while so craigslist got the best of me.
I picked up a 1970 chrysler fury ( I think ) with a 60 horse Johnson and the trailer for $150.

I want to split the shells replace the transom and build a new floor. Throw in some academy seats and run through the motor. The guy I bought it from removed all the interior and foam so it's just a shell. I'll take some interior pictures this weekend as well as remove the engine and try to split the shells. I'm new to this and I am open to ideas and suggestions.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: My First Boat Resto

I gotta say, that boat has about the least amount of usable space in it as I've ever seen.

 

[Jbird5363]

Re: My First Boat Resto

it wont when i get done with it I'm going to cut open the front area.

 

[paavola]

Re: My First Boat Resto

I have an open bow 1979 version of this boat that I just finished restoring. I'm starting to write about it on this forum, so check it out if you like. Just search "chrysler 15 foot outboard" and you'll find it. Mine has a 70 horse engine and we've had a great time fishing and tubing with it. I spent around $250 on supplies (plywood, epoxy resin and glass fabric). I highly recommend US Composites for supplies. They are much cheaper than West Marine, for example. It was a lot of work, but the results were really satisfying.

Hope the project is fun for you and that it turns out well.

 

[Jbird5363]

Re: My First Boat Resto

Sweet thank you for the info I'm going to start cranking on it Saturday.

 

[Jbird5363]

Re: My First Boat Resto

Ok got the motor off today

Some interior pics before you ask the pitch fork was included in the price of the boat.

Some one went crazy with rivets

I have some front end repair to do.

 

[Jbird5363]

Re: My First Boat Resto

 

[crazy and lazy]

Re: My First Boat Resto

Hey there welcome! Glad you found this forum, it has all the info you need to do whatever you need pertaining to boats. If you go to out board motor forums and look for a thread called "TOP SECREAT" it's by Tasha'sdaddy. It has must know info for first time diy'ers.
Here's what I did
1)drained the lower unit oil, checking it for water or metal shavings. Let it drain COMPLETELY. Refill. When doing so fill til it comes out the over fill in the top. Note when you refill, put the gear lube in the bottem. I made the mistake of trying to put it in the top hole. Just one of those things you wish you would of had some one tell ya. Hind sight is 20/20
2)Replace ALL the fuel lines, gas, and gas tank if need or remopve the gas.
3)Remove sparkplugs and spray some inner lube in the cylinder walls that way when you go to start the moter it won't scar the rings.
4)Replace sparkplugs.
5)Rebuild the carbs with oem carb kits don't use seloc! Be sure to replace the float and all the needles, and clean all the cracks and crevas' with carb cleaner. Be sure to remove all the debris as it can clog the ports up easily therefore giving you the blues.
6) Most importantly get a OEM manual. They are worth their weight in gold.
Hope this helps, sorry can't give you more. There's a place in North Shore called North Shore Marine. Their very helpful, and they have all the oem Johnson Evinrude parts you need. Take care good luck and we'll be watching your progress.

 

[Jbird5363]

Re: My First Boat Resto

Thanks for the info. If you want to come check it out one weekend I would love for some pointers. It came with repair manual and extra set of rebuilt carbs.

 

[crazy and lazy]

Re: My First Boat Resto

Did you hear the motor run?

 

[Jbird5363]

Re: My First Boat Resto

no but it looks like it was on the water as 09 it cant be in that bad of shape it has compresion on all three cylinders. I paid 150 bucks for the boat motor and trailer so if the motor ends up being trash I'm not out a lot of money.

 

[crazy and lazy]

Re: My First Boat Resto

I hear ya about being out a little money if it goes bad. I know with the money I've spent on buying tools and materials I could of bought a very nice pre used boat. But then again I wouldn't get the satisfaction I do as I am doing this myself. It's worth it to me cuz of the fact I know I did it, plus it gives me something productive to do and keep me out of trouble.

 

[Jbird5363]

Re: My First Boat Resto

I hear ya about being out a little money if it goes bad. I know with the money I've spent on buying tools and materials I could of bought a very nice pre used boat. But then again I wouldn't get the satisfaction I do as I am doing this myself. It's worth it to me cuz of the fact I know I did it, plus it gives me something productive to do and keep me out of trouble.

Exactly some one else gets it my wife however does not.

 

[oops!]

Re: My First Boat Resto

hi jbird,,,,, welcome to i boats

congrats on the score......a older joinnyrude like that really makes the deal.

did you say you were gonnna do an open bow conversion?

what are your plans?....is this going to be a gellcoated interior or paint?
there have been a few attempts at an open bow conversion....im not sure if they were completed or not.

however.....(you can do it) its not hard....it just requires a little more fibre-glassing know how.

can you please resize your pics to 640 x 480......its tough to see the details on smaller pics

640 comes out like this

for details on glassing and gellcoating......click the link in my sig.....very good info there from the forum and experts on the subjext

cheers
oops

 

[JDA1975]

Re: My First Boat Resto

on your first pic of motor stand I noticed your motor mount boards are on the back of the stand, they should be on the front of the angle so that motor is pulling into the screws,nails...whatever you used rather than pulling against them. It may hold like that, but I wouldnt try starting it on there the vibration coupled with the downward force could pull your screws out.

 

[Jbird5363]

Re: My First Boat Resto

They will have bolts run through it before we start the engine or it will be put on a car engine stand with an adapter for easier work height as it sits now it's going to be a pain to work on. Ps Friday that engine stand was a pallet. No drawing no tape measure or level just threw it together so we had a place to put the motor.

 

[Jbird5363]

Re: My First Boat Resto

ok after a trip to branson and a lot of thought and a lot of reading on here i know exactly how I'm going to tackle this boat. I decided against opening the bow up and just reinforcing it and putting texture in the paint and using it as a fishing platform of sorts.Heres the kicker just got a green light from the boss to bring it up to work and restore in the shop during the winter.So saturday its coming to work and the fun begins.