Upgrades & Repairs for 2019
With the end of 2018 comes the upgrades and repairs for the 2019 boating season. Here is what is in store!
FIRST – Install the radio purchased in December of 2017. $750 and it DOESN’T COME WITH THE XM RADIO! Ill need that too…
Second – Get a working Depth Sounder from Faria in order to match the already existing gauges and so I can use the Maxwell Windlass that was fixed in early 2018.
Fiberglass Repair
No really good pictures were taken however a friend who is heavier (425 LBS) jumped on the boat and left a horseshoe hair line crack on the swim platform. Also, being 365lbs myself Ive noticed a small soft spot measuring 3 inches wide by 6 inches wide in front of the cabin door. It needs fixed. Finally, prior to my acquisition of the boat it looks like an anchor tore a hole through the starboard side above the gunwale on a vertical plane. Its so small we have used duct tape to patch it. If it were never fixed nobody would really notice it. Except I would! SO… It too has to be fixed.
Cabin Door
The cabin door has 3 drawbacks.
- It takes muscle to open from the outside
- It takes Muscle to open from the inside
- It travels while underway far too much.
The door travels on four trucks that are in pretty bad shape. The image above is the part that needs to be replaced. That will fix the tough open and tough close BUT It will make the traveling while under way a bit worse. So the best fix is to lock the door while under way as no other latching system is in place.
Repairs to the Canvas
The Zipper from the STBD outter canvas cover zipper to the top canvas zipper is NOT holding up well. As a precaution I am doing it to both Port and Starboard Sides. Its also time to water proof ALL of the canvas AND clean the isinglass. A small tear on the wind screen exists and should be patched bilaterally in order to keep a uniform look.
The Ice Maker Paradox
I’ve got a fridge with an ice cube tray. I also have a small ice maker that you pour water into (we used bottled water only) and it makes ice well. That brings us to the ice maker in the wet bar on the back deck. My OCD tells me to put in another ice maker that I may not use. The vulcan logic part of me says to put in a front loading washer/dryer. The redneck part of me says to put in a beer keg. The problem with the keg is I dont drink and people rarely hang out on my boat. What do You think? Lets see the comments below!
Waxing & Out drive Maintenance
The boat needs waxed every year. My uncle’s best friend has a wax product that puts what I have been using to absolute SHAME! I forget what it is called BUT I will do a post or video covering it!
Gotta Drain the Out drives and re-fill them too. Its a mild PIA but Its my responsibility. The propellers come off and the screw gets popped out then its off to the waiting game of draining. That takes a solid hour or 2. Then I run a half a bottle through from top to bottom to knock out any potential particulates. Then its off to pump the out drive fluid in. After the fluid is in the monitors in the engine room on the blocks its time to disconnect the bottom and reinsert the new magnetic plugs with new washers. Now grease the shafts and let them sit in the full down position. check for leaking during the winter. I think Ill make a video of this process this year AS we are doing it.
A Side Note
I write my here to express the OCD That I have AND to show you that I do nickle and dime the boat. I want the boat to look and perform at its peak. I dont like saying “oh that thing doesn’t work”. This thing is my baby. There is no point in taking partial pride in the boat. Take pride and do it right.
With SOME of the items listed here… I will begin the process of ordering parts AND planning some weekends to go in and execute the repair process.
More work will be posted. This is just the start!
