Look who's back!

[fastasfox]

I took my boat to xs ribs on the 3rd of May and 5 day's later I was sent a picture asking me if I was happy with the positioning of the handles and the like before they glued them on. By close of business the following day she was ready to collect. I went up on Friday and wow....just wow. I can't begin to tell you how happy I am and the service by James and the team was sensational. I'm happy with my choice of fabric and the seems are so clean looking being welded and I get great comfort in knowing I haven't got to worry about the seems coming unglued for the life of these tubes....and at the end of the day that is what won out for me with the whole Orca v PU.
So after I stopped grinning and just looking at it I have started putting her back together. I saved all the Stainless screws and bolts when I tore her down,cleaned them up and I'm using them where possible. There are a few bits and bobs I wanted to bolt down with the slightly bigger bolt's (m8) so I had to make the holes bigger in the frame that surrounds the console and a few on the A frame.....bugger me drilling Stainless is tough. I cracked out my old high speed drill but it just turned my drill bits into glow sticks lol so I settled for a slow speed set up so I didn't overheat the bits....it worked but boy did it take an age. Both the A frame and console are now firmly in place and another round of bank account bashing was had on the old tinter net and I'm now waiting for the wave of parcels to come in. Flooring....I have gone for the black rubber flooring with the penny design on it, new fuel line and water separator, trailer mudguards, steering wheel boss and all manor of other much needed stuff. I still need to order a cover. I was thinking of buying one of those ducksback covers and a heavy duty tarp for the winter months.....anyone using the Ducksback covers? I can't afford a custom cover at the moment. I have been looking at batteries but I'm not quite sure what option or what to consider from a battery but I expect to pay around the £100 mark....any advice?
The seats and backrest have gone to be upholstered...the chap was propper grumpy but the work he had around the place was top notch....so I gave him one of my condescending telling off's and he came round a bit...so I left it with him.
I struggled to find an engineering firm to do my Stainless steel frame for the new bench seat that converts from seat to sun lounger and into a picnic table too...(told ya it was fancy) but a local firm in Grantham has taken the job on and they will match the curve radius of both the Aframe and console frame..... let's see how expensive it is. I have been looking at the few outboards for sale in the UK and having flirted with the idea of importing one I have decided to see how my old Mariner 75hp runs (still want the 90hp carbs off the fella on here from Scotland but I can't get hold of him) if it's ok then I will stick with it for now and start saving for a Yamaha f90...I would love one with the EFI on it. I have been through the outboard and have found a few bits and bobs that I have had to fix ...perished seals and a blown gasket on the fuel pump....also a cracked carb link...brand new one now fitted.
So that's it for now.....still plenty to do including making an anchor locker to fit into the bow and re-hang the motor at which point I can sevice the leg.
It's all starting to come together and I love it.
All the best folks.

[fastasfox]

Look what I found in the fuel pump.

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by fastasfox

Look what I found in the fuel pump.

Bet that run really sweet

[fastasfox]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

Bet that run really sweet

It ran...sort of lol ...but I have never had this boat out on the water. That's why I went through the motor to find stuff like this.....gotta expect this kind of thing it's a
It's 35 years old.

[Steve509926]

I have to be honest, you can tell from your first post it's a labour of love

[fastasfox]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

I have to be honest, you can tell from your first post it's a labour of love

You wouldn't do a project like mine for the money....it wouldn't stack up.

[GuyC]

Originally Posted by fastasfox

You wouldn't do a project like mine for the money....it wouldn't stack up.

I suppose that sums our boating hobby.

It looks very good.

The two schools of thought as to whether to do up an old boat vs buying an operational one has been debated on here before and whilst "it wouldn't stack up" is very true, there are quite a few people, myself included, who have gone down that route.

Battery - I can recommend an Optima Blue Top although they are more than your £100 budget.

Stainless Steel - I bought some cobalt drill bits from UK Drills which work better than ordinary ones. I then dribble some oil on the area to try and keep the temperature down.

[Lemonbonbon]

Are you going to move that console back it looks way too far forward

[fastasfox]

Originally Posted by GuyC

I suppose that sums our boating hobby.

It looks very good.

The two schools of thought as to whether to do up an old boat vs buying an operational one has been debated on here before and whilst "it wouldn't stack up" is very true, there are quite a few people, myself included, who have gone down that route.

Battery - I can recommend an Optima Blue Top although they are more than your £100 budget.

Stainless Steel - I bought some cobalt drill bits from UK Drills which work better than ordinary ones. I then dribble some oil on the area to try and keep the temperature down.

My train of thought was that I have a good strong hull as a starting point and I have built on that. When you think about the price of a new package you would need £25k to get on the water and the second hand market is a minefield....you could spend 12 grand and still end up with a basket case. New was not an option so this route made a bit more sense as I know what I have got. Cheers bud.

[fastasfox]

Originally Posted by Lemonbonbon

Are you going to move that console back it looks way too far forward

No....it looks lonely out front up there because the seats are not in. The console sits on top of the fuel tank tgat is fiberglassed in place. It's good to get s bit of nose weight .cheers .

[Steve509926]

WD40 do a good cutting oil, Screwfix or Toolstation.

[fastasfox]

Originally Posted by GuyC

I suppose that sums our boating hobby.

It looks very good.

The two schools of thought as to whether to do up an old boat vs buying an operational one has been debated on here before and whilst "it wouldn't stack up" is very true, there are quite a few people, myself included, who have gone down that route.

Battery - I can recommend an Optima Blue Top although they are more than your £100 budget.

Stainless Steel - I bought some cobalt drill bits from UK Drills which work better than ordinary ones. I then dribble some oil on the area to try and keep the temperature down.

Just ordered the optima blue top and the smart charger conditioner.... £175 for the battery does that sound about right? Your supposed to save me money btw lol.

[GuyC]

Originally Posted by fastasfox

Your supposed to save me money btw lol.

I'm sure it will in the long run.

Just to check, the Optima battery which is dual purpose is the light grey one with the blue top. On Tayna, they are £180 wth the dark grey starting one at £150.

https://www.tayna.co.uk/marine-batteries/optima/

It might be worth checking you bought the dual purpose, assuming you are using it for starting and 'hotel' loads.

[fastasfox]

Originally Posted by GuyC

I'm sure it will in the long run.

Just to check, the Optima battery which is dual purpose is the light grey one with the blue top. On Tayna, they are £180 wth the dark grey starting one at £150.

https://www.tayna.co.uk/marine-batteries/optima/

It might be worth checking you bought the dual purpose, assuming you are using it for starting and 'hotel' loads.

That's the one...got it from the same firm.

[GuyC]

[emoji106]