Trout Hunter
Member
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2008
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- 19
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Hi there. Been lurking for a week or so and and have been impressed with the amount of help and knowledge available. First, a little background.... soon to be 38, don't know squat about boats or outboards. Live on the Coast of Maine and fish a lot. I fly fish 99% of the time and always on foot. There are places I'd like to visit with a boat..... fresh water only at this point until I get some experience. I live near a major river and have easy access to the ocean/rivermouth where the fishing is pretty good.
The boat..... 1980, (we think) Mirrocraft 14 footer. Open boat, three bench seats with no frills.
The Motor.... 1980, (we think) Mercury 200 20 horse that runs rough. Working on changing out what appear to be the oiginal spark plug wires today to see if we can get rid of the annoying miss at 1/2 throttle or better.
The pictures will come this afternoon or tommorrow morning after I get up to camp and work on it.
The plan.... add a floor, new transom (if it is deemed that I need one), a front casting deck and a bit of storage. If anyone has ideas on how to make it a center console, (the motor isn't set up for cables), i'd love to do that. But I think it is out of reach unless I get a new motor. Maybe I can mod the boat so that it will be an easy upgrade at a later date?? electronics I haven't thought too much about but I plan to run some pvc somewhere under all this mess for future wiring of lights and maybe a trolling motor. (gps? stereo?)
The Problems.... when the boat is under full power with my fat *** in the stern it gets on plane easy enough but porpoises really bad and scares me half to death. I end up backing out of the throttle. I think that the modification will add some extra weight and solve that problem. The transom flexes really bad with that motor on it. The motor porbably weighs 100 pounds or so. I think the wood in the transom needs replaceing and that this would help but I don't kow for sure. Can I just take er out and replace it with a sealed piece of 2x6? I found some old 8th inch steel plate at work that I plan to add to the motor section as a plate to help stiffen it all up. I have a smaller piece that I can put in the front, sort of sandwiching the transom. I also have some large fender washers to put at the end of the bolts that hold the motor on, (the original screw down things were missing their little round anchors and I think I need more surface area than just the bolt to actually hold the motor. I have an old piece of rubber 1/4 inch thick or so that I plan to cut up and use under the mounting pieces of the motor. (the screw down thingies that hold the motor on and a small piece under the part of the motor mount that hangs off the back). I figure this will add some cmpressability to the whole thing and allow me to feel like i got that baby on their tight enough to never come off.
The story.... I had always wanted a boat and finally bought this beaut about 3 years ago.First trip out it ran fine but the pull handle came off in my hand when it was time to go..... found some good samaritans to help us beach the boat, give a ride back to the launch, and help get the boat back on the trailer. I fixed the handle pull myself and tied a knot in the rope so if it comes off again I won't lose it up inside the motor. 2nd trip out it started ok, we got half way across the lake, fished a bit and when we started it back up to leave.... it ran like carp and then conked out. got towed back to the dock by yet another good samaritan. Third trip out i never got it started..... between trips 2 and 3 it went to the shop. they checked it over and said it was fine, "must have had the vent on the tank closed". (I was pretty sure I didn't but who knows.) Took it back to the same shop after the 3rd trip and we determined that the rust in the bottom of my tank was clogging the carburator. New tank, new line, and the showed me that I had to hold the bulb vertical when priming. (I previously hadn't been). The boat sat for 2 years after that. I just didn't have it in me to fail again..... Last week I took her out determined to get this thing to work! Ran better than it ever has, (thanks probably to the new tank and fuel line). But I found this anoying miss..... and after it has warmed up and run around the lake a bit it still is iffy when you let it cool for about 30 minutes and then restart. It idles fine at that point but when you give it the gas it just dies.....?? Any ideas? I am thinking that if new plug wires doesn't help it I might just put her up for the winter and work a bunch of overtime for a new 15 horse. How much for a new 4 stroke?? I thought I saw one for around $2200 but can't find it for the life of me now in the internet.
Conclusion..... I welcome all ideas, tips, criticisms, etc. Like I said, I am really a rookie about all of this so what seems obvious to many of you is greek to me. I have looked a tons of projects on here and have some great ideas from you guys. Also some questions....
1. If I paint my boat, will wire brushing the outside and then cleaning it real good be good enough to hold primer or is there another process I should use?
2. I notice many of you attached little "L" brackets to your ribbing to hold the 2x4 supports. Is this enough to keep it all from shifting? Won't the constant stress eventually break them? (at 255lbs I don't trust many things....)
3. If I make it a center console, thus removing the middle bench, is 2x4 framing under the floor enough to stiffen her back up again? (I saw someone who did this but can't understand how it worked.) Would simple 2x4 coverd with ply wood be solid enough to hold the wheel, throttle, electrical switches and stereo? ( I have ideas that I might make a bench seat to sit on while I drive with storage under the seat. maybe even use the existin rear bench but fear it is too far back)
4. Soup to nuts, if I strip the whole thing down and start from scratch, how long would a project like this take? If I started as soon as I can get it in the garage next spring, could I have it ready my early may or late april? (one month or so)?? I plan to work ot and save up to do this project. If I save $1000, I think that should give me what I need to do the mod. Am I about right? Wood, screws, water sealant, silicone, seats, brackets, carpet, lcoker hinges and pulls.... what am I missing? (assuming I don't go the cable sterring route.) What would it cost to convert to a cable system for steering and throttle controle?? and how can I do it with the motor I have?? (I don't expect that I can.... I also expect that I'll purchase a new motor a couple of years out anyway. Are there small outboards 10-20 horse that Can be set up for a center console? Brand loyalties anyone?? How good are used motors? (mine is almost 30 years old.... some thing 5 years or less maybe??)
Ok, i know this was long. future posts will be shorter. I just sort of wanted to get it all out at once. I know I'll have questions in the future as I go. I'll try and post the pictures later today.
Thanks in advance for all your help. and thanks to the guy or guys who create these types of forums for us all to learn from. YOU GUYS ROCK!!
Karl
The boat..... 1980, (we think) Mirrocraft 14 footer. Open boat, three bench seats with no frills.
The Motor.... 1980, (we think) Mercury 200 20 horse that runs rough. Working on changing out what appear to be the oiginal spark plug wires today to see if we can get rid of the annoying miss at 1/2 throttle or better.
The pictures will come this afternoon or tommorrow morning after I get up to camp and work on it.
The plan.... add a floor, new transom (if it is deemed that I need one), a front casting deck and a bit of storage. If anyone has ideas on how to make it a center console, (the motor isn't set up for cables), i'd love to do that. But I think it is out of reach unless I get a new motor. Maybe I can mod the boat so that it will be an easy upgrade at a later date?? electronics I haven't thought too much about but I plan to run some pvc somewhere under all this mess for future wiring of lights and maybe a trolling motor. (gps? stereo?)
The Problems.... when the boat is under full power with my fat *** in the stern it gets on plane easy enough but porpoises really bad and scares me half to death. I end up backing out of the throttle. I think that the modification will add some extra weight and solve that problem. The transom flexes really bad with that motor on it. The motor porbably weighs 100 pounds or so. I think the wood in the transom needs replaceing and that this would help but I don't kow for sure. Can I just take er out and replace it with a sealed piece of 2x6? I found some old 8th inch steel plate at work that I plan to add to the motor section as a plate to help stiffen it all up. I have a smaller piece that I can put in the front, sort of sandwiching the transom. I also have some large fender washers to put at the end of the bolts that hold the motor on, (the original screw down things were missing their little round anchors and I think I need more surface area than just the bolt to actually hold the motor. I have an old piece of rubber 1/4 inch thick or so that I plan to cut up and use under the mounting pieces of the motor. (the screw down thingies that hold the motor on and a small piece under the part of the motor mount that hangs off the back). I figure this will add some cmpressability to the whole thing and allow me to feel like i got that baby on their tight enough to never come off.
The story.... I had always wanted a boat and finally bought this beaut about 3 years ago.First trip out it ran fine but the pull handle came off in my hand when it was time to go..... found some good samaritans to help us beach the boat, give a ride back to the launch, and help get the boat back on the trailer. I fixed the handle pull myself and tied a knot in the rope so if it comes off again I won't lose it up inside the motor. 2nd trip out it started ok, we got half way across the lake, fished a bit and when we started it back up to leave.... it ran like carp and then conked out. got towed back to the dock by yet another good samaritan. Third trip out i never got it started..... between trips 2 and 3 it went to the shop. they checked it over and said it was fine, "must have had the vent on the tank closed". (I was pretty sure I didn't but who knows.) Took it back to the same shop after the 3rd trip and we determined that the rust in the bottom of my tank was clogging the carburator. New tank, new line, and the showed me that I had to hold the bulb vertical when priming. (I previously hadn't been). The boat sat for 2 years after that. I just didn't have it in me to fail again..... Last week I took her out determined to get this thing to work! Ran better than it ever has, (thanks probably to the new tank and fuel line). But I found this anoying miss..... and after it has warmed up and run around the lake a bit it still is iffy when you let it cool for about 30 minutes and then restart. It idles fine at that point but when you give it the gas it just dies.....?? Any ideas? I am thinking that if new plug wires doesn't help it I might just put her up for the winter and work a bunch of overtime for a new 15 horse. How much for a new 4 stroke?? I thought I saw one for around $2200 but can't find it for the life of me now in the internet.
Conclusion..... I welcome all ideas, tips, criticisms, etc. Like I said, I am really a rookie about all of this so what seems obvious to many of you is greek to me. I have looked a tons of projects on here and have some great ideas from you guys. Also some questions....
1. If I paint my boat, will wire brushing the outside and then cleaning it real good be good enough to hold primer or is there another process I should use?
2. I notice many of you attached little "L" brackets to your ribbing to hold the 2x4 supports. Is this enough to keep it all from shifting? Won't the constant stress eventually break them? (at 255lbs I don't trust many things....)
3. If I make it a center console, thus removing the middle bench, is 2x4 framing under the floor enough to stiffen her back up again? (I saw someone who did this but can't understand how it worked.) Would simple 2x4 coverd with ply wood be solid enough to hold the wheel, throttle, electrical switches and stereo? ( I have ideas that I might make a bench seat to sit on while I drive with storage under the seat. maybe even use the existin rear bench but fear it is too far back)
4. Soup to nuts, if I strip the whole thing down and start from scratch, how long would a project like this take? If I started as soon as I can get it in the garage next spring, could I have it ready my early may or late april? (one month or so)?? I plan to work ot and save up to do this project. If I save $1000, I think that should give me what I need to do the mod. Am I about right? Wood, screws, water sealant, silicone, seats, brackets, carpet, lcoker hinges and pulls.... what am I missing? (assuming I don't go the cable sterring route.) What would it cost to convert to a cable system for steering and throttle controle?? and how can I do it with the motor I have?? (I don't expect that I can.... I also expect that I'll purchase a new motor a couple of years out anyway. Are there small outboards 10-20 horse that Can be set up for a center console? Brand loyalties anyone?? How good are used motors? (mine is almost 30 years old.... some thing 5 years or less maybe??)
Ok, i know this was long. future posts will be shorter. I just sort of wanted to get it all out at once. I know I'll have questions in the future as I go. I'll try and post the pictures later today.
Thanks in advance for all your help. and thanks to the guy or guys who create these types of forums for us all to learn from. YOU GUYS ROCK!!
Karl