Unofficial Splash Tomorrow

AKBASSKING

AKBASSKING

Active Member
Apr 13, 2008
4,649
SE Alaska Summer/Columbia River winter
Boat Info
1988 Yacht Fisher
Engines
Twin 375hp Cat 3208 T/A
The tub is not sitting on the trailer right, so I am going to tow it over to Gaston Lake tomorrow and float it. Then put the props on and take her for a spin.

I want to make sure she is sitting on the trailer right as next weekend I will be towing her to mid-Missouri to stage her for the trip to Portland. All my instruments work in the cabin, but not the bridge, so I will have to be careful.

Gaston Lake NC at Morningstar marina is the only place that has a boat ramp open. All the lakes around here are closed due to very high water. Dad said a few years ago Falls Lake was a pasture with no water, now too much.

When I took the props off the stbd side did not have a castle nut on it. Just 2 jam nuts with a cotter key. The port side had a castle nut. I called MarineMax in Wrightsville Beach and the guy in the parts dep’t was a jerk! He stated he won't even bother trying to look for the castle nut because my boat was too old and wasn't worth his time. He told me to go to WM!:smt013

So I will reinstall the props with the 2 jam nuts and find a castle nut when I get to the left coast. Maybe they are friendlier there........

Will post a few pics.
 
Thats cool bass king ,wish i were splashing tomorrow ,mabey ill take some toys in the hot tub and dream about it.Good luck and safe voyage!!!
 
OMG What a great day!!!!

Before we left I vacuumed the bilge out to make sure no water existed. We left about 10 am and drove to Gaston Lake. Boy NC has some narrow roads. We go to the marina and the water was a mud color. The first task was to get the boat sitting on the trailer properly so I could install the props. put her in the water and it didn't sink so that was a good sign.

With her sitting on the trailer right, I had plenty of room to install the props. The PO had lost the castle nut which the cotter key passes through. When to the marina and their was a replacement fiber (lock) nut with lock tabs. I was told by the Sea ray dealer this was a replacement .

made sure the intakes were clear and backed her back in the water. It still floated. I ran the fans and opened the engine hatches and noticed water running. Oh oh. Looked and the genny valve was leaking, I had pulled the hoses off when I took the genny out. It was the original sea cock that SR had installed in 1986, which were like the old engine seacocks, a rubber inside with a hole drilled through the center. Pieces of junk. I can see I will be replacing this one too. I found a hose and plugged one end and stopped the leak.

Cracked the engines and they fired right up with water coming out the exhaust. I must have put the impellers in right.

Parked the truck and climbed to the bridge. Now if I had a piece of coal in the cheeks of my butt it would have been a diamond. I grabbed the gear shifts and pulled them toward me thinking this was reverse! It is on my river boat. We shot forward and I almost took out the dock! Pushed the gear levers all the way forward and i missed the dock by inches I know it!

The bridge station is not attached all the way because of the work so I so it was an adventure. The throttles and shift cables are a little stiff.....more work. We left the marina and I moved the throttles forward and WOW! The power of those mercs came to life and I couldn't believe it. I had a smile a mile wide. Played with the trim and off we went. We were the only boat on the lake and it was a sunny 57f.

After about an hour all gages in the cabin showed good and we headed back to the marina with a slight breeze. I came off of step, lifted the engine hatches. I did have some water in the bilge and it would appear that my shat seals are leaking and the port engine has a small oil leak front main seal.

Remember that slight breeze I mentioned? The admiral was on the ground laughing when I tried to dock this tub! Again if I had a chuck of coal....you get the picture. It kept pushing me down the cove and I started to panic and almost took out the covered docks. Then one engine stalled and I was in a world of crap! Got it restarted. Note to self to adjust neutral switch and fix cables...

It a good thing the marina owner was there to help me! I managed to get it back on the trailer with seat pouring down my face!!! I can see I need a LOT of practice.....

Got her loaded and properly adjusted. She is now set for the first leg of her journey to Portland OR. I will tow it to Missouri next weekend.

We got home and the Admiral was still chuckling under her breath. She mentioned something about how big the Pacific was and a good thing.....
 

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Are you saying that the shift controls are connected bassackwards? Pulling the shifters aft should be reverse, what happened?
 
More pics. Great day. Can't wait now until we can get her back in the water!!!!:smt038
 

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In case you didn't know, those two bolts sticking out of the transom (between the prop tunnels) are most likely for a zink anode. If so, you might want to get a new one.:thumbsup:

Nice looking boat!:grin:
 
SCORPIO said:
Are you saying that the shift controls are connected bassackwards? Pulling the shifters aft should be reverse, what happened?
Click to expand...

Nope, it placed it in forward gear. When I was under the dash, it appears that the shifters top cable connection is broke, so they were hooked up on the bottom. One of the surprises the PO left me..

I will have to replace them...............
 
Way to go.....boat looks great.
 
Congrats! Great story, I could picture it in my head before I even saw the Pics! Had to chuckle to myself, if I had a nickle for every time I panicked in a docking situation I'd have a bigger boat! Thanks for sharing.... Todd
 
Don Sr said:
many congrats, what a great feeling that must be. Whats with the missou->portland trip ?
Click to expand...

Thanks everyone. The MO to OR trip is because of a an opportunity for a job in Portland, plus it gets me 2800 miles closer to home. We are planning to do the inside passage to take our boat home in a few years. I am parking it at the Admiral's family farm until May then I will come get it once the snow in the mountains is gone.
 
Nice pics! I bet you were happy. You've put a lot of work into that boat.

Good job.

Doug
 
Looking good Tom. A great sea trial and it will give you ton's to think about while traveling. Be safe on the transport and add a second tie down on the bow just to be safe.
 
It must have been good to finally do a little cruising with it after all the work you've done. Congratulations!
I can't wait to get mine back in the water this spring.
 
Wow that's going to be a heck of a land cruise your always welcome to stop by if u need a place in denver. I'll probably have a little sanding left!
 
Tom
Could your props be on the wrong sides if your throttles pressing forward is taking you in reverse?
 
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