New, old boat owner

R

RiL

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Apr 27, 2002
Messages
33
I am a first time boat owner and have a number of questions.<br />First the boat. Its a older boat but in very good shape. 1970 trihul with a 60 hsp Johnson motor, and trailer. It cost $150 so that gives me alot of room to work with cost of updating.<br />The boat has been siting for about a year and a half to two years. Motor is dirty but shows no signs of oil leakage. Fuel line was removed and covered when I got it.<br /><br />Question,<br />1. What is the best thing to clean up the motor with? Will reg. car motor cleaner work?<br />2. This is a batt. start motor. Should it have a rope start backup on it?<br />3. Does not have the hydro lift on the motor. What are the different lock settings for and which is best for just plain boating.<br />4. Boat is 16ft is the 60hsp Johnson a little light? The boat will just be a fishing boat.<br />5. I am looking at a 120hsp Johnson with the hydro lift. What are some things to look for when buying a used boat motor. (from a dealer)<br />6. I would like any and all tips on taking care of a boat.<br />7. The boat is white with a gray deck. The white is ok but the deck is very, very, faded. I am thinking about painting just the deck. What type of paint should I use and can it be put on with a brush?<br />8. I need to do some work on the trailer with the boat off. I live aways from a lake. Is there some way to take the boat off here at home and then get it back on the trailer?<br />9. I am also looking for some way to add a live well to the boat. I was thinking along the lines of having a bench across the back with the live well under the bench. Do any of you know a place that makes something like this?<br />10. Charger for batteries? your thoughts. I plan on having a battery for the motor, and lights and a motor just for a troling motot.<br /><br />Well thats a start. Thank You for your help<br />Rick <br />Lubbock, Texas.
 
oldboat1

oldboat1

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Apr 3, 2002
Messages
9,612
Re: New, old boat owner

Way too much. Get the motor model number for the year, and then get a manual -- unless you are switching motors anyway....
 
R

RiL

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Apr 27, 2002
Messages
33
Re: New, old boat owner

OB1,<br />Are you saying way too much motor for the boat(120hsp)? Please explain.<br />Thanks,<br />Rick
 
JB

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
45,907
Re: New, old boat owner

Howdy, RiL.<br /><br />Oldboat is saying that you are asking for a beginners handbook on boating, not an answer to a particular problem. <br /><br />I agree with him. It will take you a long time and a lot of conversations to learn everything you ask about.<br /><br />The boaters who are your fellow members here are here to trade advice and answer questions. We would be glad to do that, but not 10,000 words at a time.<br /><br />Ask one question at a time, please. Thanks for including a lot of information, it will make it easier to give you good answers and advice.<br /><br />Please post your question as a reply to this thread. :)
 
R

RiL

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Apr 27, 2002
Messages
33
Re: New, old boat owner

Sorry, Just alot of questions. Can ya just start at the top and work your way down as you may?<br /># 5 and 7 would be the top 2 questions I have right now but would like to get answers on all if possible.<br />Thanks,<br />Rick
 
JB

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
45,907
Re: New, old boat owner

Hi, RiL.<br /><br />What year is the Johnson you are considering?<br /><br />A compression check is a good idea. Over 100psi and no more than 10% difference among the cylinders is a good result.<br /><br />An on-water test is even better. Does the engine start and idle well? Does it accellerate well under load? Can it reach and maintain 5500rpm for 5 minutes without overheating? Is there a strong water stream from the tell-tale?<br /><br />After the test, is the grease in the lower end dark and not milky? Milky is bad.<br /><br />Good luck. :)
 
oldboat1

oldboat1

Fleet Admiral
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Apr 3, 2002
Messages
9,612
Re: New, old boat owner

Welcome to the board, RiL. A 60hp motor is hard to start manually, unless it is well-tuned -- and yours may or may not offer that option anyway (probably an emergency rope start). You need to come up with a model number. Work on the electronics for the motor as one of the first steps. Clean all connections and make sure you have a fresh battery.<br /><br />The boating forum has excellent info on work your boat might need. Check the transom to see if it is stable -- no warping and no soft spots. If the wood inside is rotten, you will need to rebuild the transom for safety -- lots of advice on that in the boating section.<br /><br />a step at a time....
 
W

Walter

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 3, 2001
Messages
787
Re: New, old boat owner

Inside the boat somewhere you should find a metal plate screwed or riveted to the boat that's stamped with the maximum horespower, person capacity, load ratings, etc... Look to see if your boat can handle a 120 hp engine... If not, then at least we've answered that question.
 
oldboat1

oldboat1

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Re: New, old boat owner

right. You are thinking about switching motors --need to be sure your boat will handle the horsepower and weight (doubling hp and probably 50% more weight, maybe less). If the boat is rated for 120hp (and I think that might be unlikely), you need to be sure it's condition will permit use of the larger motor -- that's the stuff about transom strength/need for structural repairs.
 
S

sirlespat

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Jan 27, 2001
Messages
87
Re: New, old boat owner

Just a thought. Read the other posts about starting motors that have sat for a long time and apply them. Treat yourself to a good new battery. Get the motor running and check the structure of the hull steering etc. Check the trailer especially bearings and fit submersible lights.Then get the boat wet as soon as it is running ok and have some fun. What you think the boat needs changes after you have used it for a while.<br />Good Luck.
 
R

RiL

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Apr 27, 2002
Messages
33
Re: New, old boat owner

Walter,<br />I have been over this boat from top to bottom and cant find any plate that you talk about. Is there any where else I can find this?<br />Jb It is a 80+ model.<br />Thank you.<br />Rick
 
oldboat1

oldboat1

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9,612
Re: New, old boat owner

RiL -- If I understand correctly, you have a '70s tri-hull with an '80s 60hp Johnson, and you paid $150 for the rig. That would be a very good deal if the motor is in running condition, or close to it -- and maybe not even very close. The model number for the motor is usually located on the side of the transom bracket where it is attached to the stern. If you show a model number, we might be able to confirm the age of the motor. The metal hull plate for the boat can sometimes be a little hard to find. See if it is on the transom, maybe back under the seats or whatever is back there.
 
B

Billy Bob

Seaman
Joined
Jun 3, 2002
Messages
72
Re: New, old boat owner

Come on guys, give me and RiL some real answers about hp. That is in addition to what you mentioned about his/her boat handling the extra hp. Let's say the boat can "take it", what are we really talking about in terms of speed? Is a 60hp good for 40mph and is a 120hp good for 45mph or a whole lot more? <br /><br />RiL would then have to ask, "just how fast do I need to get to the other side of the lake?"<br /><br />thank you all<br />Billy Bob<br /><br />PS Numbers for mph are for example only, as I really have no idea. I do understand that boat design and weight and maybe some other things factor into actual mph as well.
 
F

Franki

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Feb 16, 2002
Messages
1,059
Re: New, old boat owner

1. yes, car degreaser will clean it.<br /><br />2. if its an electric start, your only manual recourse is probably a rope around the flywheel. (you will see cutouts on the flywheel where the knot and rope go.)<br /><br />3. Depends on how you use your boat, how much weight and load placement, there is no "set" guide, its trial and error I am afraid. start in the middle setting and see how it goes.<br /><br />4. 60HP is probably not badly matched to that boat.. you might be able to go higher, but why do that if you haven't even tried the current motor??? if it isn't completely clagged, get it runing and go for a spin.. only get a bigger motor when you are sure you are not happy with the old one.. an old design is goin to reach a limit on speed regardless of horsepower. and it will reach a saftey limit before then. (also, a bigger motor changes the boats handling, eccomony, saftey and pretty much everything else as well, be sure you need it.)<br /><br />5. That it runs well, that the compression is relatively even accross cylinders, that its in good general condition, (shows good maintanence)<br />That they owner knew what he/she is talking about.<br />make sure paint on block and heads is not blackend or burnt. (which happens when an engines been cooked.)<br /><br />6. Seach this forum, (use the search box at the top of the window) for care tips, use google.com to search also, there are alot of tip sites around. basically, keep it clean, don't leave salt water on it any longer then necesary, keep it undercover if possible, and change your water pump impeller every year, (or at least check it.)<br />and don't leave primix in the tank for more then a month. (thats just a quick list, there is lots more)<br /><br />7. The type of paint and its application are entirely up to you, you should look at the paint suppliers web sites, (use google.com, search for "marine paint" )<br />here is an example:<br /> http://us.yachtpaint.com/USA/ <br /><br />8. If your boat is small and not particularly you can put it on tires in your backyard. I just send my girlfriend out fishing and take the trailer home. (there is also a topic on this in the trailer forum.)<br /><br />9. Nope, no idea, but use google.com and search.<br /><br />10. Thats a small boat to worry so much about charging and stuff, and you keep it on a trailer,, why not just charge the batteries out of the boat with a good old battery charger.. I have a bigger boat then you and have never had the need for charging solutions.<br />If you really must, have a look on:<br /> http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/commerce/command/ExecMacro/store_home.d2w/home <br /><br />There is a charger there for 150US.. but thats if you really must have one..<br /><br />Lastly, If I were in your shoes, I'd go and do a boating course.. you will not regret it. they are really cheap, and available everywhere.<br /><br />Also, in future, you will get more answers if you post one question in ten topics then 10 questions in one topic.<br /><br />regards<br /><br />Frank
 
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