My $500 270DA.

[White90GT]

Any new updates!?

You have any troubles launching your boat with your suburban? Im aassuming you have to use 4x4 to pull out?

 

[boatman37]

i tow my 250 with a 2013 Ram 1500 hemi with no issues and have not had to use 4x4 yet

 

[the1andonlycmo]

You have any troubles launching your boat with your suburban? Im aassuming you have to use 4x4 to pull out?

No issues! I actually don't even use 4WD hardly at all. One or two times I have put it into 4WD high just to get up off a very slippery ramp, but normally here in NC we have great paved ramps. I do stay on top of maintenance though. One small leak and you could be in some real trouble when your max towing.

 

[Ck111484]

No updates, she's winterized and stored

2016 was not a kind year to me, personally and financially, so I wasn't able to get anywhere near as much as I wanted to with the boat. I couldn't even afford to get it shrink-wrapped, and the marina owner doesn't allow tarps, so the camper top will have to weather the winter

The project is in no way dead, however; I brought home plenty of stuff I can work on, I'm working and I'll probably have questions so you'll see me posting.
I'm going to try as hard as I can to make 2017 MY YEAR! Had a job interview today in my field and another one on Friday, so hopefully my financial situation changes and I can get to work on her ASAP next year, and launch her in the spring

I have tons of little things to do, but they're not preventing her from splashing... she's not THAT far really. Just have to sort out the starboard starter, fully service both outdrives, drain/clean the fuel tank, possibly replace the throttle/shift cables... if I had money I could have all that taken care of in a week!

 

[mjoplin]

I have really enjoyed reading through this story. Congrats on what you've accomplished so far. You will enjoy her that much more when in the water. Best of luck with it and post more pics & narrative as you get started again.

 

[bracketracer]

I also just read through the whole thing.

Couple of points.
1) Seriously nice job keeping at it. I used to detail many years ago, and you've taken on one daunting project. The most recent pics look great though
2) I like your Focus ST. I own a Euro car repair shop, but can appreciate domestics and asian

 

[Ck111484]

My first two detailing jobs (35' Viking and 35' Chris Craft Commander} of the season are 4 figures, so I should finally actually have the money to get her in the water... I just need to not over-schedule myself so I can actually work on her.

Just have to:
- Service both outdrives (gonna take a shot at it myself)
- Figure out the broken crank bolt situation on the starboard motor
- Re-install starter on starboard motor
- Drain gas tank
- Replace hard fuel lines with soft lines w/inline filters
- New pumps all around, and make sure they work

... and I think she'd be ready to splash.
Of course I still have to install carpet in the cabin and about a million other little things, but that can be done while the boat is in use.
Soon
I just hope she weathered the winter okay... I winterized the motors, but wasn't able to get her shrinkwrapped due to lack of funds, and they don't allow tarps where she is stored, so the camper top (the only top I've got) had to take on the winter

 

[Ck111484]

Anyone have a suggestion as to what the BEST guide is to follow for fully servicing the outdrives?
Any links, videos etc. would be much appreciated,
Thanks!

 

[bahamabreisus]

Glad to see you are still plugging away at the boat. You will have something to be very proud of.

 

[BillK2632]

On the Alpha I outdrive servicing, the main items are:

Generally performed annually or every 100hrs

100hr gear lube change
Water pump service - lots of Alpha I owners recommend every year, Gen II will go more like 2-3yrs.
Gimbal bearing / hingepin / coupler lube
Alignment check
Anode inspection / replacement and general paint / finish condition

Past those items it depends on any trouble you are having, there is not specific schedule for other items like bellows, shift cable etc.

If you are planning to do your own work, I would recommend a Merc repair manual, you can find a lot of it online for free download, but sometimes its nice to have the actual manual. Another good place to start is outdrives.com, they have a number of how to articles for the various outdrive service and repair items - also, if you google, there is a youtube video for about everything.

 

[JGrund85]

Following your thread. I had a 1987 270 that was in excellent shape. I sold it last year to upgrade to a 93 370DA. I love both of those boats. Makes me miss my 1987 a little.

 

[Ck111484]

On the Alpha I outdrive servicing, the main items are:

Generally performed annually or every 100hrs

100hr gear lube change
Water pump service - lots of Alpha I owners recommend every year, Gen II will go more like 2-3yrs.
Gimbal bearing / hingepin / coupler lube
Alignment check
Anode inspection / replacement and general paint / finish condition

Past those items it depends on any trouble you are having, there is not specific schedule for other items like bellows, shift cable etc.

If you are planning to do your own work, I would recommend a Merc repair manual, you can find a lot of it online for free download, but sometimes its nice to have the actual manual. Another good place to start is outdrives.com, they have a number of how to articles for the various outdrive service and repair items - also, if you google, there is a youtube video for about everything.

Thanks for the advice.
I'm planning on doing EVERYTHING, since this boat has been sitting without being started for nearly 14 years.

Glad to see you are still plugging away at the boat. You will have something to be very proud of.

Thanks! I certainly hope she comes out looking and running well.

Following your thread. I had a 1987 270 that was in excellent shape. I sold it last year to upgrade to a 93 370DA. I love both of those boats. Makes me miss my 1987 a little.

Very nice! My folks had a '97 370 Sundancer when I was younger... I LOVED that boat.

 

[Ck111484]

Here's a quick picture update that I don't think I ever posted -
The original helm was pretty badly rotten and would have been a PITA to rebuild, so this will more or less be the new setup.
Still have to build a base for the bench, and I'm considering jump-seats facing backwards behind them like the factory setup.. not sure yet.

I got lucky, I found the Captain's chair from a bigger, newer Sea Ray and the bench, which is from a Chaparral, local and cheap

 

[Big Island Lifer]

Nice scavenging! I like the update.


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[JGrund85]

Been a long time since an update

 

[Capt White Beard]

I had the same problem with my regular outlet /shore power cord (mine is home made ). All I had to do was to switch the black and white wire at the point where it plugs into the house type 115v outlet. Hope that helps! Good luck with that 270. I'm working on an '84 270 twin 480 myself. Yours is cleaning up real nice.

 

[Capt White Beard]

I've been reading this thread with great interest. Brings me back to when I had more energy than $$. I didn't see a response to your question about gell coat color. If it's the same as mine (and it looks like it is) Sea Ray calls it "Sand" I've found that Rustolium makes a very close match. They call it CANVAS. Comes in a spray can.

On the teak: the circles are plugs. only way I know to remove them is to carefully drill a small hole in the center then sink a screw in and pry out. You can buy new ones online. You can get them pretty cheap at either amazon or ebay. Otherwise, they're spendy and you have roughly 260 of them. I just bought 300 for $12.50 on ebay . Oh yeah, they are 3/8" diameter. keyword; teak plugs.

Your boat is really looking great!! if mine comes even close I'll be happy.

 

[Ck111484]

Been a long time since an update

Yeah, the weather hasn't been cooperating well lately, and I've been busy with pre-season details. Very soon though

I had the same problem with my regular outlet /shore power cord (mine is home made ). All I had to do was to switch the black and white wire at the point where it plugs into the house type 115v outlet. Hope that helps! Good luck with that 270. I'm working on an '84 270 twin 480 myself. Yours is cleaning up real nice.

Thanks! I'll be sure to try that.

I've been reading this thread with great interest. Brings me back to when I had more energy than $$. I didn't see a response to your question about gell coat color. If it's the same as mine (and it looks like it is) Sea Ray calls it "Sand" I've found that Rustolium makes a very close match. They call it CANVAS. Comes in a spray can.

On the teak: the circles are plugs. only way I know to remove them is to carefully drill a small hole in the center then sink a screw in and pry out. You can buy new ones online. You can get them pretty cheap at either amazon or ebay. Otherwise, they're spendy and you have roughly 260 of them. I just bought 300 for $12.50 on ebay . Oh yeah, they are 3/8" diameter. keyword; teak plugs.

Your boat is really looking great!! if mine comes even close I'll be happy.

Thanks for the advice - and my boat is "sand", the off-white color (not sure why they didn't just make them white?).

Pre-season detailing has been good to me, so I should have the money I need to do what needs to be done to get her in the water soon (which isn't actually a whole lot). I must say I'm worried about that broken crank bolt though... Hopefully it can be extracted.

 

[Ck111484]

Also, unless I can figure out a way to make these cushions fit somewhat properly, I think I've decided I'm just going to throw an air mattress in the aft cabin for now :lol:
I have the feeling everyone will just be throwing their stuff in there anyway, except for overnighters, where they would need a bed anyway.

 

[JGrund85]

Also, unless I can figure out a way to make these cushions fit somewhat properly, I think I've decided I'm just going to throw an air mattress in the aft cabin for now :lol:
I have the feeling everyone will just be throwing their stuff in there anyway, except for overnighters, where they would need a bed anyway.

We used to primarily sleep in the aft of ours. It was the most comfortable and we loved it. Getting in and out wasn't very fun. We bought a 5 inch memory foam topper for the tops of our cushions. But way better than sleeping two in the forward v.