BACK FROM THE "DEAD"!!!
It's amazing how I made decent progress/speed early on....then, well, LIFE! So here's where I am RIGHT NOW! ON THE WATER!!! I'll have owned this boat for SIX YEARS this October, and it's registered, running and we're using the heck out of it as of about 3 weeks ago!!
As "fast" as the floor/stringer project went early on, the rest stacked up on me.
1) Had to rebuild the Quicksilver controls (gobbed up, dirty grease, so detents, etc. weren't working, plus new Neutral safety switch, throttle only button was corroded, etc.).
2) Replaced all of the gauges with new. But after the helm is installed, it ain't easy to get in there. Ended up with a couple wiring snafus I had to sort.
3) Got it running on muffs, but then had to diagnose a crank-no-start issue....so replaced the engine harness, coil, slave solenoid, etc. Turned out that the lanyard kill switch was wired backwards by some dummy (me!!).
4) Had too much slop in the drive. Turned out to be the pivot pin and tiller arm were corroded. Got a new pin, bushing, seals, bolts, etc., and did a DIY "JR Marine" type of access to replace without pulling the engine and transom plate (that was scary to start out, but no problem)
5) Replaced gimble bearing, all bellows, lower shift cable/bellows, etc.
6) Divorce # 2, but got to keep the house, the boat, the '77 Camaro and my Triumph Thunderbird Storm (he who dies with the most toys wins, right???).
7) Because of #6 above, have had more "free evenings" and weekends to finally finish this thing up!
Sorry to resurrect this one, but I couldn't resist! And really, truly wanted to thank all of you guys for your comment/support on this as I went through it, but also for your own project threads that really helped me figure this one out along the way!
Hope to bump into some of you folks, if'n you're ever around Upstate NY (Sacandaga, Lake George, Hudson River, etc.). And just maybe I'll be able to make it out to the meet next year!!!
Oh! By the way....her names is "It's About Time!!!" Cuz, well, it's about time I got it done. And life is all "about time"....making time, using your time, enjoying your time!!!
Stay Well, Fellas (and Gals)!!!!
Jamie