The R?surrection of the SeaGem

[HVAC Cruiser]

Re: The R?surrection of the SeaGem

Hi Bob,
Thanks, I was under its tarp yesterday, there's less de-laminating than I thought , really only the co-pilots station. The Live well is all fiberglass, the only bad wood is what they used to cap

Hi betayv,
You just confirmed my thoughts, I also have a 73 Cruisers cuddy that handles pretty good off shore. With the 2 boats side by side I see a major difference in the hull especially at the chine. It looks like it will be more stable than my 73
good luck with your Wellcraft, keep us posted

Hi Kev, Thanks for the greeting, but I'm running for Mayor not governor lol

Hey Vert, I'll be sure to call you when I'm ready to change the O.D., we can learn together, I've never done one either

Hey Kenny,
You see that would work if wifey actually liked the boat , she's afraid I'm not going to finish rebuilding our other one that was her dads. So I'm sure the honey do list is going to get longer every time I go to work on her.
BUT I have a plan , this is were Vert & KRH come in, " But honey the guys are coming over to help I can't be cleaning the pool" and "Remember when they came over to help now it's my turn to help them" I'll mow the grass tomorrow hehehe

 

[thrillhouse700]

Re: The R?surrection of the SeaGem

This thread is worthless without pics!! sorry sorry I have just always wanted to say that. It sure is a nice boat. I drive by one that looks a lot like that every time I go to lost causes house to work on ours. Glad your back in the resto forum HVAC. Can't wait to follow this thread along with all the others.

 

[lowkee]

Re: The R?surrection of the SeaGem

That almost looks like a short project (don't they all? ). Really nice condition. I hope all looks well when the outdrive comes off. We all know that is when the cold hard truth comes to light.

Looking forward to more pics, especially of the interior.

 

[HVAC Cruiser]

Re: The R?surrection of the SeaGem

This thread is worthless without pics!! sorry sorry I have just always wanted to say that. It sure is a nice boat. I drive by one that looks a lot like that every time I go to lost causes house to work on ours. Glad your back in the resto forum HVAC. Can't wait to follow this thread along with all the others.

OK, Just for you Thrill Lol

Cabin with Toilet

Cabin with all cushions installed

Co-pilots chair with sink stove and fridge underneath

Seat lifted showing sink

Darn 6 image limit, more pics below

 

[HVAC Cruiser]

Re: The R?surrection of the SeaGem

Picture showing stove and Fridge, stove is good, Fridge is junk.

Captains station showing live well underneath

Shot towards stern showing removable table

Engine

Ok, Looked it all over real good this morning, there are lots and lots of extra cushions on the boat I haven't figured were they go yet. If you look at the photo showing the sink, stove etc, thats the platform I need to redo. the wood cover for the stove has delaminated and is rotten. only a section of the wood at the bottom were it meets the deck has delaminated and the wood has swelled,but I think I am just going to build it all new.

With the live-well the only thing that's bad are the hinged covers. The seat cushion for it does need to be replaced the wood bottom is rotted out, as is the engine cover seat cushion.

Now for the bad news, The bilge is full of ice under the engine. Turns out there is pin hole in the cover right over the engine.
Good news is I checked the weather report and its going to be getting up to the mid 40's by the weekend with no sign of rain till next Wednesday

I am pulling the fridge out this morning, and bringing all the cushions in the basement to keep them safe and dry. Hopfully this weekend I can start building a new cabinet for the sink and appliances.

Looking at the boat it appears the the PO spent an awful lot of time on her with everything that on her it's almost a live on board

I see lots of fun on her in the future hehehe
P.S. Ignore the ignition switch hanging, the keys are lost I had to hot wire her lol

 

[ezmobee]

Re: The R?surrection of the SeaGem

Well it does appear to be in decent shape. It's a strange boat though with a small cabin and all the gally stuff out in the cockpit. Not my cup of tea. I think you got a heck of a deal.

 

[betayv]

Re: The R?surrection of the SeaGem

the cabin look small but aint small, trust me you know how many times I rest on my cabin is great and when you open the latch and the door great breeze go thru, jaja and you can fit easy five people seat inside that cabin.

 

[PaulyV]

Re: The R?surrection of the SeaGem

wow...thats tricked out..kinda looks like a James Bond boat with the velour pads and all the hidden gadjets.Great potential. Good Luck

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: The R?surrection of the SeaGem

She's all set up to have a fish fry on the water Cool.

Nice rig, looks like a "comfy cruiser" with all those cushions and accoutrements.

Is she going to be rigged for fishing too or just cruising?

 

[HVAC Cruiser]

Re: The R?surrection of the SeaGem

The pic is a little deceiving, the cabin is a nice size, and with me being a shrimp( 5'6" 132lbs) and wifey 5'0" there is plenty of room lol. Supposedly it sleeps 4 but I think sleeping 2 comfortably is more like it.
Yep is does feel real comfortable. I have to remake some of the cushions and some of the padding along the Gunwale, but all the fiberglass seems solid.


It looks like it was initially set up as a partying boat it even came with a bimini top, But not 1 rod holder to be found . I'm gonna have to change that I am thinking at least 6.

One thing I did forget to mention, and I probably should post this part in the Mercruiser section. The boat has a closed cooling system, the seawater intake doesn't come from the outdrive. It is setup with the water inlet is under the boat and a separate pump for it driven by the engine. I am wondering if I am going to do some mods on the new SEI drive when I get it as not to mess up the pump in it

 

[vegasphotoman]

Re: The R?surrection of the SeaGem

Cool deal Bill, we all know who to meet up with at the NY lakes for a fish fry at the end of the day...YOU!

lol

wow they stashed alot of sheet in there!

wonder if the motor has water in it or what....drained for the winter?
dang COLD!

thanks for posting the pics!

 

[thrillhouse700]

Re: The R?surrection of the SeaGem

Dude Bill where are the pics!!!!! I wanna see things ripped apart and cut and painted and slathered with resin, sand paper grinders and a bow mounted M60 Turret. EXACTLY IN THAT ORDER.

Say you have escaped from NY, after a night of the living dead in your new boat. The next morning during the dawn of the dead your nearing an island. As your keel hits the soft sand you and your family are looking around to see if anything is lurking in the shadows. All of a sudden hundreds of blood thirsty zombies burst from the tree line on the shore. THAT is where your turret comes in handy. Please Bill, I beg of you, don't sacrifice your family's safety here.

 

[HVAC Cruiser]

Re: The R?surrection of the SeaGem

Hey Vegas

Me Casa es su Casa or in this case Mi barco es su barco the tag says 13 people so we can put some boats together lol make a new Redneck Yacht Club video , Thrill would like that for sure . Tell you what I really like this boat, the way its laid out although it seems a little strange at first it is really very functional right down to the table . Catch fish, cook them, catch fish cook them, eat.... lol
I think I am gonna steal thrill's design for the seat platforms beside the engine , what are friends for lol .

Hey Thrill I cross threaded to the zombie zone for your request for more pics lol

 

[thrillhouse700]

Re: The R?surrection of the SeaGem

HAHA nice, steal any idea you want. Goes for anyone. I will prob need some suggestions from you guys sat or maybe sunday anyways

 

[HVAC Cruiser]

Re: The R?surrection of the SeaGem

OK, Started the engine again tonight, maybe I'm being paronoid but I think I hear a bearing knock Here is a link to the video on face book, can't really see the engine but you can hear it. I set it up so everyone can see it

Engine Running 1

Engine Running Gauges

Any opinions, the oil pressure was fine

 

[vegasphotoman]

Re: The R?surrection of the SeaGem

Bill

that dont sound good at all SORRY!
yeah bit deeper sound than a lifter but I could well be wrong....
you didnt do anything wrong by not spinning the oil pump up, Ive started about 80 motors that were brand new or rebuilts....they all quieted up within seconds all on thier own.

Use a test light to pinpoint the cylinder (or you can pull plug wires one by one and get zapped alot) hook the testlight to negative terminal, while eng running push the sharp tip into the top of each spark plug wire at the distrib, it works espec well with wires that have the 90 degree bend at the distributor, because after youre done you can dab some silicone over the pinholes that were made

anyways, it will lower the rpms a little, once you hit the wire connected to the cylinder thats bad, it will change the sound quite a bit.....

it could be a couple things......
I would hazard a guess that thats a main bearing or thrust sound (theres thrust bearing plates on some of that main bearings for controlling frt to back motion) could also be piston slap in a cylinder.........since you have good oil pressure thats more likely the issue...... also could be an object in a cylinder....beating around....chunk of piston ring land....etc (aluminum)

Howd the old plugs look? were there an oddball plug (super clean or real extra dirrty?) that could be the culprit cylinder clue etc.

either way its always better in person to hear noises

if you pinpoint the cylinder, yank that plug and see what it looks like now....is it beat up from something hitting it? clean? or already fouled?

 

[thrillhouse700]

Re: The R?surrection of the SeaGem

I can't see the video cuz I am a loser and dont have facebook. From what vegas is describing I would just drop the oil pan and look for metal. If you see metal then time for a rebuild. A spun bearing is usually a loud ticking noise changing with rpm. A rod knock or piston slap is usually more of a metal on metal clunking noise followed by increased oil consumption and or reduced gas mileage. If its gone make sure you tear down completely because metal will have made it through the engine.

 

[HVAC Cruiser]

Re: The R?surrection of the SeaGem

Hey Thrill
Yea Vegas confirmed it for me, I was in denial got a bad bearing.
I am not even going to bother with the 305. I can get my hands on a 350/350 out of a vet. I'm going to make the necessary mods and drop that puppy right in and call it a day . The one thing I have to look at is the cam selection and pick one for the right RPM range I believe for the 350 the power curve is 6000-6500 I noticed the mercruise manual shows 4000-4500 I have to find out if I should change the cam or the prop

I thought about rebuilding the 305 but its just not worth it

 

[thrillhouse700]

Re: The R?surrection of the SeaGem

according to my other friend Bill who used to do marine engine work. Take this with a grain of salt, or wait till one of these guys confirms. He tells me that the marine cam has less overlap because if it has too much overlap the exhaust valves will be open when the intake is and it will suck water into the engine. So get a marine cam.

 

[HVAC Cruiser]

Re: The R?surrection of the SeaGem

Going tonight to pick up the new engine for the boat Chevy 350 stroker 383ci, 4 bolt main bla,bla,bla

The Good News- Got the engine pulled today

The Bad News- Some Mental Midget Hacked of a corner to fit the seawater pump!

Obviously the wood for the perch is 1/2 rotten, and the fun begins. Man I was really hoping I didn't have to do any glass work, this changes everything

Now I am going to scrape up some pennies and finish the other project boat before putting an ounce of glass on this one otherwise wifey will have me sleeping in the boat