New Job, 501 Constellation, Good and Bad.

[DECK SWABBER 58]

Re: New Job, 501 Constellation, Good and Bad.

Traveling down the ICW in a jon boat with you Swabbie going to Palm Beach for me...would be a blast.

While you enjoy my thread, I enjoy the others. The restorations, the rebuilds, guys solving others problems. I knew little about small boats and have learned more here on iboats in a short period than anywhere else.

I also hope to meet you someday. My home is open. Plan on a vacation here someday. I just finished reading the book you sent me yesterday. Brought back some wonderful memories of that beautiful place in the Carib. Thanks again, bro.

Well Captain, I guess today I'm moving up in the boating world, I'm putting a deposit on a new pontoon. It will have a helm and everything!

Two years ago when I found this forum I knew almost nothing about boats, now I can occasionally offer help to other newbies. Funny how life works, I've lived for over 30 yrs. literally minutes from several lakes but I was too busy chasing the almighty dollar. Two yrs. ago last month my long time employee died at 49. That's when I decided life is just too damn short and ordered that new jon. And we're already talking about going back to Salt Cay next spring. You and Kimmie should come too! And for that matter, anyone else here too.

 

[sasto]

Re: New Job, 501 Constellation, Good and Bad.

Well Captain, I guess today I'm moving up in the boating world, I'm putting a deposit on a new pontoon. It will have a helm and everything!

Happy for ya' Swabbie ....A little advice? .............Never give up that ol' boat if you don't have to. To me?....a jon boat....is by far...the most pleasant expierence in boating and fishing.

 

[DECK SWABBER 58]

Re: New Job, 501 Constellation, Good and Bad.

Great advice. My plan is to keep it and find a vintage Evinrude like my Grandpa had, since the newer Tohatsu is going on the pontoon. But for the time being I have the other Grandpa's 1 1/2 hp Neptune Mighty-Mite.

 

[sasto]

Re: New Job, 501 Constellation, Good and Bad.

Great advice. My plan is to keep it and find a vintage Evinrude like my Grandpa had, since the newer Tohatsu is going on the pontoon. But for the time being I have the other Grandpa's 1 1/2 hp Neptune Mighty-Mite.

What's up with the toon, Swabbie?

I haven't done much work on the Amusement lately. Changing the impellers and polishing the fuel. Summer is usually slow for me, but this year I'm pretty busy. I won't see the bossman 'till October, so I will take my time and take her for a spin once in awhile.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: New Job, 501 Constellation, Good and Bad.

What's up with the toon, Swabbie?

I haven't done much work on the Amusement lately. Changing the impellers and polishing the fuel. Summer is usually slow for me, but this year I'm pretty busy. I won't see the bossman 'till October, so I will take my time and take her for a spin once in awhile.

What are the chances of us getting a tour of the boat in September? I would like to see the results of all of your hard work.

 

[sasto]

Re: New Job, 501 Constellation, Good and Bad.

What are the chances of us getting a tour of the boat in September? I would like to see the results of all of your hard work.

Oh...about 90%. Fireman. The other 10% is for a hurricane. Can go for a ride if you wish.

 

[EricR]

Re: New Job, 501 Constellation, Good and Bad.

That toe rail is wood core with a backing plate for the rail screws. I've determined if I can find a glass guy about 2 feet tall with a 4 foot wingspan, I have it made.

I think for now I will take nlain's advice on raising the rail, then take Fireman's advice on doing some drilling under the stanchion, fill it, redrill, and screw it down. Maybe later do the repair correctly.

I had a couple gauges not functioning properly. Shutdown solenoid intermittently not working. After doing some troubleshooting and speaking with the bossman, somebody had peridocally washed down the engines with water.:facepalm: Now I'm in the process in replacing all electrical connections in the engine room.

View attachment 94436View attachment 94437

Just saw this! Man painted wiring and hoses are such a pet peeve of mine! I have been a marine diesel tech for 25 years, worked on all kinds of stuff and I love people that neglect boats.....money in my pocket!

Good luck with the Chris Craft, looks as though you are doing a fine job.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: New Job, 501 Constellation, Good and Bad.

Oh...about 90%. Fireman. The other 10% is for a hurricane. Can go for a ride if you wish.

Very nice! I would absolutely love to go for a ride, as long as the boss man is good with it! It would be a pleasure to ride on a boat and actually have someone else (besides "SamIam") do the driving!

Counting the days already, but just a little too soon to start counting.

BTW, I need a point in the right direction of a decent place to stay while we're there, if you can recommend any right off hand.

 

[sasto]

Re: New Job, 501 Constellation, Good and Bad.

Just saw this! Man painted wiring and hoses are such a pet peeve of mine! I have been a marine diesel tech for 25 years, worked on all kinds of stuff and I love people that neglect boats.....money in my pocket!

Good luck with the Chris Craft, looks as though you are doing a fine job.

Thanks, Eric.

Yes, couple that with somebody using a garden hose frequently to hose down the engines makes for a nasty job and alot of rust. Someday I'll strip the engines down and repaint them with AwlGrip.

Very nice! I would absolutely love to go for a ride, as long as the boss man is good with it! It would be a pleasure to ride on a boat and actually have someone else (besides "SamIam") do the driving!

Counting the days already, but just a little too soon to start counting.

BTW, I need a point in the right direction of a decent place to stay while we're there, if you can recommend any right off hand.

I certainally know the feeling of being allowed to ride in somebody elses boat...."Sticks Competition" is one. Should be no problem!

I'll set you up with a home to stay in here on the island, along with any others that may join. No worries, mate.

 

[DECK SWABBER 58]

Re: New Job, 501 Constellation, Good and Bad.

What's up with the toon, Swabbie?

I haven't done much work on the Amusement lately. Changing the impellers and polishing the fuel. Summer is usually slow for me, but this year I'm pretty busy. I won't see the bossman 'till October, so I will take my time and take her for a spin once in awhile.

I don't know Captain, I guess I'm just in that mid-life crisis thing.

Seriously though, I ordered the pontoon, great story..........

I found this guy on the internet, he's a retired electronics aeronautical engineering professor from St. Louis University who builds pontoon boats in his garage. Don't laugh, we went and visited and a week later after "we" designed our boat, I wrote the check.

It's designed for low hp on little lakes. Standard equip. is a 55 lb. elec. trolling motor. We are going to put our 10 horse jon boat motor on it and have a blast! He says it will go 15 mph !!!!!!!

It's a totally custom made to order boat. After he got my check he called at 9 pm one night and discussed the design with me at length. Is that "cool" or what?

I can't believe I found this guy, I've been looking at pontoons that cost $10, 15, 20,000 and he is building me a custom one for less then $6000. Of course I will spend almost another $1000 outfitting my non-remote control outboard to a remote, but it's still a great deal. (I think). He is hooked up with a factory just down the road that employs 20 people that builds the pontoons and does all the aluminum fabrication, which is a big deal in our little poor neck of the woods.

I can't wait to post pics but you'll have to wait it's still under construction.

Here's his site, http://www.jcbolesboats.com/

 

[sasto]

Re: New Job, 501 Constellation, Good and Bad.

I checked out the site, Swabbie. Really cool looking rig. I want one, but there are alot of boats I want.

I was sitting at the Tiki last night and caught this pic of Amusement. Now, if I could only find the other end of the rainbow I could afford one of those pontoon boats.

That mast of a catamaran looks kinda funky on a motor yacht!

 

[sasto]

Re: New Job, 501 Constellation, Good and Bad.

Aer finally getting the diesel smell out, I could smell something funky in the galley. Today's job, clean out the cabnets and re-paint them.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: New Job, 501 Constellation, Good and Bad.

Eewwwww...

 

[veritas honus]

Re: New Job, 501 Constellation, Good and Bad.

Very nice! I would absolutely love to go for a ride, as long as the boss man is good with it! It would be a pleasure to ride on a boat and actually have someone else (besides "SamIam") do the driving!

AWWWWWW come on now, you know you liked Sam piloting your boat... You just didn't wanna take orders from a younger Captain!!!

Aer finally getting the diesel smell out, I could smell something funky in the galley. Today's job, clean out the cabnets and re-paint them.

You'll have that taken care of in no time...

You've already replaced the water heater; but had you considered a tankless water heater to save space and weight?

 

[sasto]

Re: New Job, 501 Constellation, Good and Bad.

You'll have that taken care of in no time...

You've already replaced the water heater; but had you considered a tankless water heater to save space and weight?

Yeh, no worries, veritas honus. I found an exact replacement size water heater. She has been in for a few weeks now.

I think I'm going to take her out this weekend for an overnighter on the hook. Kimi is busy and I would like to see how I handle this thing single-handed at the dock. Leaving will be easy. Upon return I figure on having a fellow boater on standby at the dock in case I need him. If it is a calm as I expect it will be, then I should have no problem....I said.......SHOULD!

 

[Fireman431]

Re: New Job, 501 Constellation, Good and Bad.

AWWWWWW come on now, you know you liked Sam piloting your boat... You just didn't wanna take orders from a younger Captain!!!

I wasn't concerned that he was a younger Captain...just that he actually did a better job that I did!!!

 

[DECK SWABBER 58]

Re: New Job, 501 Constellation, Good and Bad.

I checked out the site, Swabbie. Really cool looking rig. I want one, but there are alot of boats I want.

I was sitting at the Tiki last night and caught this pic of Amusement. Now, if I could only find the other end of the rainbow I could afford one of those pontoon boats.

That mast of a catamaran looks kinda funky on a motor yacht!

Captain, you already found the other end of the rainbow..........

 

[nlain]

Re: New Job, 501 Constellation, Good and Bad.

Captain, you already found the other end of the rainbow..........

I have to agree.

 

[sasto]

Re: New Job, 501 Constellation, Good and Bad.

Captain, you already found the other end of the rainbow..........

I have to agree.

Dang! Why didn't I think of that guys?

Another one bites the dust.......I got out the Brownie dive equipment to teach a couple young'uns how to spearfish yesterday. We were off the back of Amusement. I found the bottom to be crusted full of barnicles. The bossman pays a couple guys each month $75 to keep her clean. I figured that's a good price, I'll let them do it! I guess if I want things done my way I have to do it myself.

 

[DECK SWABBER 58]

Re: New Job, 501 Constellation, Good and Bad.

Dang! Why didn't I think of that guys?

Another one bites the dust.......I got out the Brownie dive equipment to teach a couple young'uns how to spearfish yesterday. We were off the back of Amusement. I found the bottom to be crusted full of barnicles. The bossman pays a couple guys each month $75 to keep her clean. I figured that's a good price, I'll let them do it! I guess if I want things done my way I have to do it myself.

Captain, good move. Us 53 yr. old guys can't do all the things we used to, now can we. :facepalm: