1985 30' Sea Ray 300DB Sedan Bridge Project

[Pack66Dad]

Remember there are on and off switches to the trim tabs on the upper and lower station. I thought I had a problem with my trim tabs too at first then I realized the damn switch was OFF!

 

[Captain B]

Good story! I'm sure your trim issue is something simple... see if you have power to them. Hope you get some more nice weather it has been terrible here so far!

Thanks Jason. I was glad to know that the motor and solenoids were at least good. That means it is electrical and I can figure that out.

Thanks, this weekend weather isn't helping right now! Hope you get some better weather soon.

 

[Captain B]

Remember there are on and off switches to the trim tabs on the upper and lower station. I thought I had a problem with my trim tabs too at first then I realized the damn switch was OFF!

CJ - Please tell me more! I have 2 metal toggle switches mounted side by side on the flybridge without tags. Wonder If these are it.

I did see there was a fuse missing in the holder at the lower helm but that didn't solve the problem. Although, I have plenty of electrical to sort through and fix. Most of the upper helm doesn't work. So it could just as easily be something else.

Just out of curiosity, why would you want off switches for this?

 

[Big Island Lifer]

Congrats!!!

That video made me pucker a little and it's not even my boat!

 

[Captain B]

Congrats!!!

That video made me pucker a little and it's not even my boat!

LOL - Yeah, I was just a bit nervous about that! I will have to grab some more pictures of the place next time out there. Kind of anxious to leave the place, but the owner is a really nice guy and very helpful!

 

[KC_Sundancer]

I can understand the nervousness watching the video and seeing the old crane.
Using a crane was common with the boat racing we did and still had me nervous with ones twice that size and new.

Nice to see her in the water - safely. She looks great. :thumbsup:

 

[moparlvr4406]

that old crane was very "experienced"
at about 500 years old it should know what it's doing by now :lol:

 

[Pack66Dad]

CJ - Please tell me more! I have 2 metal toggle switches mounted side by side on the flybridge without tags. Wonder If these are it.

I did see there was a fuse missing in the holder at the lower helm but that didn't solve the problem. Although, I have plenty of electrical to sort through and fix. Most of the upper helm doesn't work. So it could just as easily be something else.

Just out of curiosity, why would you want off switches for this?

Lower right hand side next to the throttles is a switch next to the trim-tabs.

circled in red on lower panel:

 

[Pyrojodge]

Remember there are on and off switches to the trim tabs on the upper and lower station. I thought I had a problem with my trim tabs too at first then I realized the damn switch was OFF!

Good call Pack, Mine are the exact same way... you have to have the breaker on or they will not work (yes, ok, I have tried it a few times). I bet you're right Cj. Hey B... check it out!

 

[AKBASSKING]

Great! Glad you got in the water. Great place for your fenders...

 

[Captain B]

Alright guys, hoping to get the boat to its home this weekend. Next week I will be starting to get quotes for new canvas. Those of you with 300DB's, would you be able to upload some detailed pics of your canvas? I am really interested in both AKBASSKING's and PackDaddy's as it looks like a nice setup, but I couldn't find any bigger pictures detailing the canvas.

Thanks for the help!!!

 

[Pack66Dad]

Alright guys, hoping to get the boat to its home this weekend. Next week I will be starting to get quotes for new canvas. Those of you with 300DB's, would you be able to upload some detailed pics of your canvas? I am really interested in both AKBASSKING's and PackDaddy's as it looks like a nice setup, but I couldn't find any bigger pictures detailing the canvas.

Thanks for the help!!!

I will be down at the boat today. I'll take some pictures hi-lighting the canvas so you can get a good look at it.

 

[Captain B]

Thanks Pack, that's awesome!!! Got to admit, CSR members are some of the very best

 

[Pack66Dad]

I don't know if this is what you were looking for but here is the inside:

outside:

 

[Captain B]

CJ - that's great! I was trying to determine how much canvas I want and if I want camper top on the bridge and in the aft cockpit. I just couldn't wrap my mind around how I could still use the bridge ladder. Your pictures helped a ton!

Heading to the boat this afternoon to sleep on it for the night and then head out in the morning to bring the boat to Havre De Grace Maryland. I have a bout a 100 mile trip ahead, so crossing my fingers that all goes well! Remember, the boat is a surprise and my wife knows nothing about it. Today will be the first time that she ever sees it.

If I don't post again by Sunday sometime, something went terribly wrong! Should have lots of pics for you guys by Sunday, as I know that nothing else matters.

Guys, I was planning on running around 3200 rpm which was giving me about 23MPH, does that sounds close? Any idea on where you best fuel burn is at? I know it changes with conditions, just curious if there was an average area that you run. Thanks!

 

[KC_Sundancer]

Good luck with the surprise and have a safe trip - looking forward to the pictures.

 

[Pack66Dad]

CJ - that's great! I was trying to determine how much canvas I want and if I want camper top on the bridge and in the aft cockpit. I just couldn't wrap my mind around how I could still use the bridge ladder. Your pictures helped a ton!

Heading to the boat this afternoon to sleep on it for the night and then head out in the morning to bring the boat to Havre De Grace Maryland. I have a bout a 100 mile trip ahead, so crossing my fingers that all goes well! Remember, the boat is a surprise and my wife knows nothing about it. Today will be the first time that she ever sees it.

If I don't post again by Sunday sometime, something went terribly wrong! Should have lots of pics for you guys by Sunday, as I know that nothing else matters.

Guys, I was planning on running around 3200 rpm which was giving me about 23MPH, does that sounds close? Any idea on where you best fuel burn is at? I know it changes with conditions, just curious if there was an average area that you run. Thanks!

Glad to help.

Hope it all goes well and your trip is a lot of fun.

I run mine up to around 3200-3400 rpm or just until I hear both exhausts come out of the water (you will hear a big difference) so I know its up on skip. Then I back off a bit and work the trim tabs until that exhaust is consistently out of the water but just barely and the 4 barrels are not engaged. Right around 16-20 knots for my boat (depending on tide and wind) at that speed the motors are using about a gallon per mile (the same as if I was at hull speed).

 

[AKBASSKING]

Glad to help.

Hope it all goes well and your trip is a lot of fun.

I run mine up to around 3200-3400 rpm or just until I hear both exhausts come out of the water (you will hear a big difference) so I know its up on skip. Then I back off a bit and work the trim tabs until that exhaust is consistently out of the water but just barely and the 4 barrels are not engaged. Right around 16-20 knots for my boat (depending on tide and wind) at that speed the motors are using about a gallon per mile (the same as if I was at hull speed).

Same with mine. You can really hear the 4bbls kick in at about 3500-3600rpms.......

 

[rstaub]

Hi Capt B. I had my boat out today and at 3200 rpm I was doing 23 knots - pretty much exactly what you were thinking. Good luck on your trip - just make sure there is plenty of room on your credit card for the gas!!

CJ - that's great! I was trying to determine how much canvas I want and if I want camper top on the bridge and in the aft cockpit. I just couldn't wrap my mind around how I could still use the bridge ladder. Your pictures helped a ton!

Heading to the boat this afternoon to sleep on it for the night and then head out in the morning to bring the boat to Havre De Grace Maryland. I have a bout a 100 mile trip ahead, so crossing my fingers that all goes well! Remember, the boat is a surprise and my wife knows nothing about it. Today will be the first time that she ever sees it.

If I don't post again by Sunday sometime, something went terribly wrong! Should have lots of pics for you guys by Sunday, as I know that nothing else matters.

Guys, I was planning on running around 3200 rpm which was giving me about 23MPH, does that sounds close? Any idea on where you best fuel burn is at? I know it changes with conditions, just curious if there was an average area that you run. Thanks!

 

[Captain B]

I am so sorry everyone, I didn't realize that I didn't come back here and post how the trip went, :smt021 Didn't mean to leave you hanging. Been very busy with life lately, but here goes. Alright, here is the long awaited update! I apologize for keeping you guys in suspense!!

Well, it all started off on Thursday morning May 3rd. After watching for good weather for several weeks, it looked like this weekend was going to be the best bet. Friday anyway, Saturday was iffy, but worse case scenario, I thought it could still be a good day. To start off the story, you need to know one detail, my wife is in a Grand Jury every Thursday in Philadelphia and she commutes there by train. So around mid morning, I sent her a text that said, do not get the train home, instead, meet me at 30th street train station. She was very confused and didn't understand what was going on, but finally went along with it. She knew that we were going away for the day, but didn't know where or when. So then I caught the train to Philadelphia and met her at the station. Needless to say she was very confused and asked all kinds of questions. She wanted to know where we were going and when we would be back. I didn't tell her much, just that we were catching a bus to the next destination. Grabbed a cab to the bus station and killed an hour until departure.


Bus ride went well, but seemed to take forever. During the ride, she figured out that we were headed to a Wildwood NJ, pretty easy to do as the tickets had the destination on them. The whole time she was trying to figure out where we were going to stay. It was bugging her like crazy. Finally she figured out that we were going to stay on a boat. (I made a comment that we weren't spending any money on lodging) luckily she assumed that we were staying one of my "Internet friends" boats.


So we pulled into the wildwood bus station and walked about 1/2 a mile to the marina. It was dark so she didn't really get to see the boat when we got to it. Once she saw me step onto it, she immediately knew it wasn't someone else's boat. She was very shocked and not the happiest at first. It took her quite awhile to take it all in. We talked about the whole purchase, when it happened, etc. she wanted to know all of the details. Finally we headed to bed, she still wasn't sure what to think.


We awoke in the morning to fog thicker than pea soup. Visibility less than 1/4 mile. So we walked into town and had breakfast. Fog finally started clearing around 10 am se we untied the lines and casted off. Here is a picture of the marina as we left. I was anxious to leave as this place is really falling apart.

As we were heading out, we snapped a few of these pictures. My wife made sure to point this boat out to me.

As we idled along in the back bays and channels, we were listening to the radio reports of how the fog was out in the bay. It didn't sound to bad, so we kept going. We stopped at Utsch's Marina an topped off the fuel tanks just to make sure that would have plenty.

Went through the canal passing the Cape May and Lewes Ferry docks where we snapped these photos. These boats made me feel so small!


Old railroad swinging bridge in the Cape May Canal

After we turned the corner and past the jetty into the Delaware bay, I eased the throttles forward and she climbed up on plane..... For about 30 seconds. All of the sudden, the port motor started surging and she wouldn't stay on plane. I couldn't understand why as she was running perfect the weekend before! Changed the fuel filter and examined the contents. Looked like there was some water in the filter so I thought that was the problem, tried again and had the same outcome. For the next 45 minutes, I kept fiddling with the fuel lines and changing filters, but I couldn't get it to run for longer than about 2 minutes before it would start sputtering again. During this time, we were continuing ahead on the 1 motor at about 5 mph. I knew it would take 20 hours for the trip at that rate. There was no way that I had the time for that this weekend. First off, the weather forecast for Saturday didn't look that great and I wasn't about to spend the night on anchor in the middle of the Delaware Bay. It wasn't easy, but I had to make a decision, if I didn't have it running well by 12pm, I would turn back. So I went to the bridge and continued on with the one engine as I contemplated the next step of troubleshooting the port engine. My wife went down below and laid down in the front berth for a few minutes. This was not going well, the engine wouldn't run and my wife was getting annoyed and couldn't believe that I bought a boat that wouldn't go above 5 mph. Every second that dragged on, I felt like I would be turning around and heading back to the marina and probably never have my wife step on board the boat again. This wasn't going at all like I had planned and worked so hard to make happen.