WOEISMEIGOTTA470
Petty Officer 1st Class
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2012
- Messages
- 375
Hey everyone,
I'm new to the site, figured I'd share photos of my project boat for the past 6 years. I have a 1987 Thompson Carrera 198 cuddy cabin cruiser. Acquired the boat on eBay (1st mistake), in December 2005 (2nd mistake), for $1500 (3rd mistake). Boat came complete with shoreline single axle trailer and was listed as "turn key" - just needed some interior TLC...
...ha laughable since the seller never even found the keys when he delivered it.
Long story short, I got eventually got the non-turn key motor running with a bit of work, but that season of 2006 presented more problems (blown out engine coupler, leaking power steering, and later to my dismay complete engine failure). Upon tearing apart the original 180LX 4bbl 470, I discovered it had already been rebuilt w/ .040 pistons, one of which had seized rings and a chunk off its top. I also later found a crack in the head btwn. int. & ex. valves.
Spring 2008 I find a 'new' used 470 (what I believed to be good running) engine. But upon taking out the old motor I discovered transom and floor rot. I end up ripping apart the entire interior and R/R my transom, partial stringers, and floor. (I lost count now at how many wrong turns I've made up to this point :facepalm.
Later in the season I get the boat back on the water again with the new engine, only to have it spring the infamous water pump/cam seal leak. After that I've been too discouraged to touch the boat since and have kept it dry and sitting in my backyard for the past 3 years.
Now that I am finished with college and have a steady job, I have rekindled thoughts on finishing the project once and for all! (famous last words)
I have being wrestling in my head the whole summer what to do with it, whether to sell/junk the boat or actually finish it. I keep coming to the conclusion that while its been an absolute PITA, I have gained so much valuable knowledge and skills in restoring this old boat that it would kind of be a shame to give up on it now...and it hasn't been costing me money just sitting there. I'm kind of looking at it like a clean slate, and I at least know all the major hull issues are now solid.
Well that's my story, I'll let the pictures do some of the talking. Some exciting news: I may have found my motor: An inline 6 mercruiser 165 package completely rebuilt w/ 0hrs for sale locally that I am considering as a re-power option. Please help me out if anybody has any more information on this type of motor and its adaptability to a gen1 alpha. Thanks!
I'm new to the site, figured I'd share photos of my project boat for the past 6 years. I have a 1987 Thompson Carrera 198 cuddy cabin cruiser. Acquired the boat on eBay (1st mistake), in December 2005 (2nd mistake), for $1500 (3rd mistake). Boat came complete with shoreline single axle trailer and was listed as "turn key" - just needed some interior TLC...
...ha laughable since the seller never even found the keys when he delivered it.Long story short, I got eventually got the non-turn key motor running with a bit of work, but that season of 2006 presented more problems (blown out engine coupler, leaking power steering, and later to my dismay complete engine failure). Upon tearing apart the original 180LX 4bbl 470, I discovered it had already been rebuilt w/ .040 pistons, one of which had seized rings and a chunk off its top. I also later found a crack in the head btwn. int. & ex. valves.
Spring 2008 I find a 'new' used 470 (what I believed to be good running) engine. But upon taking out the old motor I discovered transom and floor rot. I end up ripping apart the entire interior and R/R my transom, partial stringers, and floor. (I lost count now at how many wrong turns I've made up to this point :facepalm
.Later in the season I get the boat back on the water again with the new engine, only to have it spring the infamous water pump/cam seal leak. After that I've been too discouraged to touch the boat since and have kept it dry and sitting in my backyard for the past 3 years.
Now that I am finished with college and have a steady job, I have rekindled thoughts on finishing the project once and for all! (famous last words)
I have being wrestling in my head the whole summer what to do with it, whether to sell/junk the boat or actually finish it. I keep coming to the conclusion that while its been an absolute PITA, I have gained so much valuable knowledge and skills in restoring this old boat that it would kind of be a shame to give up on it now...and it hasn't been costing me money just sitting there. I'm kind of looking at it like a clean slate, and I at least know all the major hull issues are now solid.
Well that's my story, I'll let the pictures do some of the talking. Some exciting news: I may have found my motor: An inline 6 mercruiser 165 package completely rebuilt w/ 0hrs for sale locally that I am considering as a re-power option. Please help me out if anybody has any more information on this type of motor and its adaptability to a gen1 alpha. Thanks!
