New Boat Day! 65 Steury. First time boat owner with a ton of questions

[wackostu]

Hello all!

I purchased a project yesterday. She is a 14 ft 65 Steury, with a 40 hp Johnson Super Sea Horse Model# RDSL-26S on her. This was a CL special. From what I know, this is a one original owner boat that was garaged for the last 19 years and was sold with a lake house. New owner didn't want it, and put it up for $250.00. The motor was run dry, and had no varnish smell, no leakage, and my friend who came with me (As I needed some expertise on this) is 85% sure it will turn over.

The boat is dirty, but has no dry rot anywhere.Seats are almost perfect. Hull and transom are solid. Controls work. Everything was worth the gamble for me.

So now she is in "dry dock" in my side yard for a little while. I want to clean her off real good. What is a good cleaner that can do the job? What shouldn't be sprayed off?

Next after that will be to pop the battery I have charging in her and try and run it in a bucket. IF thee engine works I am golden and just doubled my value, and the restore can start in earnest.

There is no "carpet" in the boat. Should there be? If so, what is a good type to use There is some fabric in the side storage wells that is coming off. What can that be replaced with?

Any warning signs I should be looking for?

Thanks in advance for the answers, and sorry they are so "noobish"

I look forward to this process, sharing the findings and asking a ton of questions!

 

[Coho Ghost]

Re: New Boat Day! 65 Steury. First time boat owner with a ton of questions

Wack,

You mentioned the transom is solid. How did you determine this. That metal plate on the transom that the motor is bearing against is kind of a "Red Flag" for some problem with the transom that the PO put a band aide on.

Just curious,
Coho Ghost

 

[wackostu]

Re: New Boat Day! 65 Steury. First time boat owner with a ton of questions

Ghost,

I brought a friend with me who is knowledgeable about boats and he said that the transom was solid. So I went with the advice. Should I be cautious?

Wack,

You mentioned the transom is solid. How did you determine this. That metal plate on the transom that the motor is bearing against is kind of a "Red Flag" for some problem with the transom that the PO put a band aide on.

Just curious,
Coho Ghost

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: New Boat Day! 65 Steury. First time boat owner with a ton of questions

Do an advanced search from the resto forum homepage: Soft transom, transom inspection, suspect transom.... Something like that...

It is a good idea to familiarize yourself w/ everything you can re: a 45+yr old boat.

The good news, as I see it, is:

• 
  [*=1]There are no huge piles of leaves IN the boat
  [*=1] There are no trees growing IN the boat
  [*=1]The exterior transom skin doesn't show signs of leakage during the likely 1st & longest tow in a very long time. So no long term water sitting in the bilge.
  [*=1]Many Stuery's have a very similar plate. It looks substantial, but it isn't really. I just had a Stuery & it too had a homeplate shaped plate exactly like that. It was not an add-on band-aid, IMHO:
  [*=1]
  
  
  [*=1]
  [*=1]
  

I don't want to green light it as 100% but for me the visual indications are that you may have found a decent, vintage glass hull, that may not require tons of work to safely enjoy it.

Good find.

Give it a really good inspection. Crawl all over it & put your hands on every nook & cranny you can. Don't skip any portion of the deck, seat boxes, ski lockers, transom, and bilge.

Post as many pix as you think you need to or that you have questions about....

Welcome to iboats,

​

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: New Boat Day! 65 Steury. First time boat owner with a ton of questions

I owned a Steury. Very nice boats that were very well made. The fiberglass was much thinker on my steury then any other boat I have seen........ even on the dash of my dual console the fiberglass along was 3/8" thich and the plywood was 1/2".

Before you get it running....... spray some pre-mix gas/oil into the spark plug holes and turn the motor by hand...... squirt some in the carbs and do the same to get some lubrication in there. Remember that motor has a 24:1 ratio (1 quart oil to 6 gallons of gas) and they used to recommend straight 30 weight oil. TCW 3 will work for you.

You have a nice bargain boat there!

 

[wackostu]

Re: New Boat Day! 65 Steury. First time boat owner with a ton of questions

JBcurt Thank you for your insight. I appreciate it!

 

[wackostu]

Re: New Boat Day! 65 Steury. First time boat owner with a ton of questions

Bob,

The engine instruction state a 50:1 mix. Did I miss something as you state a 24:1? Also, thanks for your insight on the pre-mix in the sparks and carbs. I will do that.

I owned a Steury. Very nice boats that were very well made. The fiberglass was much thinker on my steury then any other boat I have seen........ even on the dash of my dual console the fiberglass along was 3/8" thich and the plywood was 1/2".

Before you get it running....... spray some pre-mix gas/oil into the spark plug holes and turn the motor by hand...... squirt some in the carbs and do the same to get some lubrication in there. Remember that motor has a 24:1 ratio (1 quart oil to 6 gallons of gas) and they used to recommend straight 30 weight oil. TCW 3 will work for you.

You have a nice bargain boat there!

 

[sphelps]

Re: New Boat Day! 65 Steury. First time boat owner with a ton of questions

Nice find ! I like how the lap strake changes direction at the bow ..

 

[wackostu]

Re: New Boat Day! 65 Steury. First time boat owner with a ton of questions

Nice find ! I like how the lap strake changes direction at the bow ..

I didnt notice that until you pointed it out. Makes it interesting!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: New Boat Day! 65 Steury. First time boat owner with a ton of questions

Bob,

The engine instruction state a 50:1 mix. Did I miss something as you state a 24:1? Also, thanks for your insight on the pre-mix in the sparks and carbs. I will do that.

Hmmmm get into the Johnson/Evinrude forum but for that vintage I know it changed in 1964-1965..... best to check. LOL it is an engine born on the "cusp"!

Read this thread http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=491889 and look inside your engine cover for a label.

 

[wackostu]

Re: New Boat Day! 65 Steury. First time boat owner with a ton of questions

Hmmmm get into the Johnson/Evinrude forum but for that vintage I know it changed in 1964-1965..... best to check. LOL it is an engine born on the "cusp"!

Read this thread http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=491889 and look inside your engine cover for a label.

Bob, under the engine cover it states 50:1.

 

[emoney]

Re: New Boat Day! 65 Steury. First time boat owner with a ton of questions

If that's a "manufacturer plate" and not something a previous owner put in there, then trust it and proceed onward.

Congrats on the boat. Love these old beauties, especially when they've been cared for and will be again. I'll be crossing my fingers for you that the motor runs as it's a perfect fit for that hull. Follow Bob's advice and don't be too over-anxious to start it until you know it's "ready to start", if that makes sense. There's also a "Top Secret" file around here
that's got a TON of awesome information in it that applies to every boat owner. Spend some quality time perusing those files and keep us posted on your progress.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: New Boat Day! 65 Steury. First time boat owner with a ton of questions

Too much oil, 24:1, wouldn't be the worst for the initial startup tank of gas on a motor that's been sitting. More 2cycle smoke though, and might load up the plugs. Check the plugs, spray a little SeaFoam in the plug holes, maybe add some in the gas tank w/ the 2cycle oil (24:1), run a tank. Then check the plugs, and shift to 50:1. That engine hood w/ plate may not be an original hood either, but the link Bob posted covers that & why it might be either ratio...

Check here for a link to a reviving old outboards article by Max W....

And the Tasha's Daddy Top Secret files....... Big loss, but he's running JohnyRudes all day every day from now on Greatly missed, immensely helpful, & was a huge resource.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: New Boat Day! 65 Steury. First time boat owner with a ton of questions

LOL that clears that up. If you read the threads about it .....they are confusing since the 64 and 65 versions were built the same way.

Okay so you are 1 pint of tcw3 to 6 gallons of fresh gas.

 

[wackostu]

Re: New Boat Day! 65 Steury. First time boat owner with a ton of questions

LOL that clears that up. If you read the threads about it .....they are confusing since the 64 and 65 versions were built the same way.

Okay so you are 1 pint of tcw3 to 6 gallons of fresh gas.

Very well!

Sorry for my noobness, but tcw3 is just straight 2 cycle marine oil correct?

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: New Boat Day! 65 Steury. First time boat owner with a ton of questions

BTW: You need to usetype C lower unit oil with that electric shift Johnson. Not standard lower unit gear oil.

It is available at iboats.com... And is currently on sale

 

[wackostu]

Re: New Boat Day! 65 Steury. First time boat owner with a ton of questions

BTW: You need to usetype C lower unit oil with that electric shift Johnson. Not standard lower unit gear oil.

It is available at iboats.com... And is currently on sale

Good to know before I head down to the marine store. Thank you!!!

 

[wackostu]

Re: New Boat Day! 65 Steury. First time boat owner with a ton of questions

I guess I should rename this to my restoration story

I got home late from work tonight so my working on the boat was limited to removing the junk from her, and inspecting the canvas, a good shop vac treatmet, and some cleaning. I put down the seats and gave them a good scrub, and cleaned the windshield and dash a little bit to make her a little more presentable. Tomorrow the hull gets a good cleaning. Sunday looks like a good day and try to spark the engine. exciting times ahead. She's coming together. Here are pics of her a little cleaned up:

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: New Boat Day! 65 Steury. First time boat owner with a ton of questions

Mothers Mag and Aluminum Polish wil make that old aluminum shine like Chrome!!!!

 

[wackostu]

Re: New Boat Day! 65 Steury. First time boat owner with a ton of questions

I have found a problem. I have a 1 ft by two ft soft spot between the seats and the transom. I got down on hands and knees and checked for more. No other ones but this one has my stomach turning. When I step on it, it almost sounds like a breath exhaling, if that makes any sense,

From doing readings I think I know what you guys are going to say....... Where should I start.