This thing is starting to look pretty good!

[Daximus]

Poodle and I at the lake today for a test run. Wish I could have been in the picture, but poodle isn't much of a photographer.

Starting to feel like my boat now, not I bought I'm borrowing from someone else. Ran like a champ today what with all the new parts. I still have major water leakage...I must take on 2 or 3 gallons in a couple hours...but that is the subject of another post. This is just me being happy!

[Joel]

Looks great!!!  I even like the tower!

Water leak from where?  If you've installed new packing material then you probably need to tighten it up a bit more...a light, infrequent drip from the front of the fitting is all that is needed.

[Daximus]

Looks great!!!  I even like the tower!

Water leak from where?  If you've installed new packing material then you probably need to tighten it up a bit more...a light, infrequent drip from the front of the fitting is all that is needed.

Well thanks! I'm glad I haven't offended the whole clan with my tower, lol!

Water leak is not from the stuffing box, I got a first class lesson from Ron on how to put that together. I have it set so I get a drip every ten seconds or so. It's not from the rudder either, I pretty much rebuilt that whole thing when I replaced the shaft.

I'm thinking maybe I have a leak coming from the speedo pick-ups or maybe where the swim platform mounts up? I'm going to try my hand at resealing these areas this week and hope for the best.

I've read the procedure on slowly dipping the boat and methodically looking for the leaks...problem is I don't have anywhere to do that. We don't have any private lakes in my area, everything is public and whenever I get a chance to use them there are other people looking to put in or get out. I can't hog a ramp like I need to.

Any areas that are known common problem areas where I should start?  In the mean time, it's totally usable. I don't take on enough to trigger the bilge, but still, at least 3 gallons pours out the rear when I unload.

[Joel]

I hope its coming in from the old mufflers or something much easier to fix...  If your getting THAT much water from the pickups' holes or the platform bolts then you may have some serious waterlog issues including delamination of the fiberglass, etc...  You might want to get this checked out in the Fall when the season is over.  You don't want a catastrophic failure i.e. your swim platform bracket bolts pulling all the way through leaving some sizable holes BELOW the waterline.  I'm sure you've already discussed this with Ron - he's our best resource with Dan running a close 2nd!!

Don't want to be a kill joy, but you've done a lot of great work on this boat - don't stop short now   

Joel

[Daximus]

I hope its coming in from the old mufflers or something much easier to fix...  If your getting THAT much water from the pickups' holes or the platform bolts then you may have some serious waterlog issues including delamination of the fiberglass, etc...  You might want to get this checked out in the Fall when the season is over.  You don't want a catastrophic failure i.e. your swim platform bracket bolts pulling all the way through leaving some sizable holes BELOW the waterline.  I'm sure you've already discussed this with Ron - he's our best resource with Dan running a close 2nd!!

Don't want to be a kill joy, but you've done a lot of great work on this boat - don't stop short now   

Joel

I hope it's the mufflers too. I don't think anything is wrong with the back, my friend and I have used the platform. 400 lbs of dudes and it's rock solid when we stood on it.   Heck, if I get bored this winder I may just yank the floor and rebuild...it desperately needs new carpet anyways. 

[Joel]

Stop over in Columbus, OH, and do my carpet too!!!   

[Daximus]

Stop over in Columbus, OH, and do my carpet too!!!   

You do my floors and I'll totally do your carpet, LOL.

I think I may have located the source of one of the leaks...seems my speedo pitot thingy on one side is a little loose. The the entire apparatus doesn't seem firmly attached to the boat, although the speedos worked last time out.

No big deal though, ordered a Perfect Pass Stargazer system this morning (this was already in the plans), so pitot tubes will soon be relegated to a box of stuff I don't need in the garage. 

I hear those Airguide speedos are a big deal...I'll probably be selling one or both pretty soon if anyone is interested. Heads up.

[PaulM]

I installed a PerfectPass on my 88 Advance approx. 15 years ago.  It has performed well.  I would recommend that you retain one of those Airguide speedos in the boat though, simply as a speed reference. 

[Daximus]

I installed a PerfectPass on my 88 Advance approx. 15 years ago.  It has performed well.  I would recommend that you retain one of those Airguide speedos in the boat though, simply as a speed reference.

I don't plan on not having a speedo, but I might go all GPS. Perfect Pass (Star Gazer) in one "hole" and a GPS speedo in the other.  Few less holes in the boat that way...plus I like electronic gizmos.