Newbie Rebuild" 1988 Bluefin Sportsman 1900 w/ 100HP Merc

[Renderwurx]

YAY! the splashwell is in! Just need to add the grommet/boot.

 

[Renderwurx]

Transducer block and transducer installed.

 

[Renderwurx]

Livewell pump and screen installed... even remembered the drain plug!

 

[Renderwurx]

I was thinking about putting the livewell under the fron deck... but decided I'll place it in the stern... am thinking about making a seat/bench with a lift lid that reveals the livewell.

 

[Renderwurx]

I wired the running and navigation lights, the horn, and have the trolling motor ready to go (just a small transom mount for now). I just want to get it on the water... the goal was tomorrow, but we will see.

 

[Renderwurx]

Ha ha! It looks quite fdunny with a 1973 tiller steer 9.5 Johnson. Still, It'll get me out fishing, and many of the lakes around me have 10hp limits so...

 

[Renderwurx]

A quick shot of the PVC tarp frame I made a while back. Don't have any troubles with rain finding a way into the boat (foir now). I got lucky too... IAfter installing the mounts for the bimini top, it just so happens that the frame fits snugglu inside them keeping them from sliding off one way or the other when I pull the tarp ove.

 

[Renderwurx]

Althouugh I didn;t get to splash this weekend, It is pretty much ready to go for the next weekend day that is nice.

Still it was an amazing, exciting weekend! Can you guess why?

Yep... I had 100 horses running circles behind my garage! All I had to do was get a couple gallons of gas, prime the bulb, and turn it over a bit choke til it popped. It took maybe 30 secs to get it.

From there I just turned it over a few times... it sputtered a few times... then finally stayed running. Throttle respons is BUTTER! I cannot believe it.

I only ran it for 20-30 secs at a time because there was no tell tale. So I'll be ordering an impeller kit tonight. It smoked to high hell... but I guess I expect thaty after sitting for 7 years. It has the oil onboard and mixes on the go. When I connected the fuel line, it dripped 2 cycle oil from the connector, so I rather imagine I gotta blow that stuff out.

I'll change the fuel filter out as well... and change out the gearcase oil. Hopefully it's not milky, but dark and clear.

Anywho.. I am so pumped. $650 for baot, trailer and 100hp motor and the motor looks like it's a runner! Woot!

 

[Renderwurx]

Alrighty... I didn't think I was going to get off THAT easy... I got 1/2 cup of pure water followed by the milky, emulsified oil from the gearcase. So I'll be resealing.

Not a complex job, but getting out the carrier assembly and the existing seals, I understand, can be challenging.

 

[Renderwurx]

The parts all look fairly good... but I have to wonder why I am seeing clear and black silicone. I'm guessing it was an attempt at a makeshift gasket... or sealing the edge of a torn one. Tisk tisk.

 

[Renderwurx]

I'm not really sure what I am looking at... it looks like someone tried to fabricate a shift rod bushing from a block of PVC cutting board. The splined shift rod coupler seems to somehow have melted into the PVC... Maybe they heated it to get a clean seat?

Maybe it was used as a spacer of sorts?

I dunno... Weird. Why would you take an engine worth a couple to few thousand dollars and cobble it together like this?

 

[Renderwurx]

Well after finding an online service manual for my engine, the silicone is a factory step. And the plastic spacer is stock as well. Still, the white plastic disc has melted somehow... perhaps a previous service had to heat something to loosen it. not a big issue.

Back to good news, getting into the gears and prop shaft reveal an almost pristine condition. No rust, no damage to the parts, nothing. It all looks awesome. I can only assume that the water in the gearbox got in there when I was test starting the engine. The seal(s) must have failed from sitting so long, but never actually got water in it.

I am also VERY surprised at how easy everything came apart... like it has been serviced yesterday. All the bolts came out without any undue trouble, and event the bearing carrier came out with just a little gentle prying of a screwdriver.

 

[Renderwurx]

After seeing how nice this all is, and not finding any metal bits in the lower unt i am not going to remove the driveshaft. Looking into the lower unit, it all seems in perfect shape. So I ordered new seals, o rings, and a water pump rebuild kit.

 

[Renderwurx]

So I did get to splash her last Saturday! I was so excited and preoccupied I didn't take any pics of boat. lol But my admiral and I spent 4 hours in the water.. not a drop entered the boat. She rode nice in the water, but only had the 9.5 on her to muddle around.

 

[Renderwurx]

I used the new fishfinder to find some shad baitballs and catch some live bait!

 

[Renderwurx]

The fish were not "on", but I managed to get the first fish in the boat... no monster, but not a dink either.

 

[Renderwurx]

This run was really a preliminary splash to make sure eveything I've been learning, doing, and thinking was workgin out and it sure did. It gave me a chance to see where I will want thing in the boat, storage, seating, etc... so now I can get cracking on that. I have 4 day weekend in a few days... and one of them is supposed to look good.. so I will try and get her out again. More to follow as I finish her up and get the Mercury 100 on her.

 

[oldrem]

Congrats on the splash! Glad all worked well.

 

[BWR1953]

Woohoo! Congrats on the splash, it looks great! :thumb:

 

[mickyryan]

the smiles are always worth it