Fixing up a tired old boat.

[gophergunner]

Health issues made me get rid of my 14' Lund this spring.  Clambering over the bench seats was getting a little sport.  I all most fell in the boat last summer.  It was time to get something easier to move around in.
I bought a 78 16ft. Sylvan this spring.  Walk through windshield, 4 seats in back, 1 up front, a livewell, troller up front and a 75 hp Johnson.  The old Johnson runs really good.

I expected and planned on doing some work and it's starting to happen.  The lights were shot.  I ended up replacing both the bow and stern light, ran new wiring, and put a new switch in.  The dash boards are both rotted.  That's a project for next winter.  They'll make it through this season.  The livewell needs some work.  I'm debating weather to keep it simple and just buy one of those pumps with the clamps to put on the battery and suction cups to hold the pump and the spray bar to the well.  I'd really like to just do a correct, permanent system, but I just don't  know if I'm up to that much crawling around in the boat.  My tournament days are long over, so that's no concern.  I might just go the easy way out with that.

The previous owner replaced all the flooring and the casting platfomr last year and did a very professional job on it.  Fit and finish is very good. As for the pedestals, he used the wrong screws on them.  Their too small and not stainless.  Two of the stands have actually pulled out of the floor. I'm taking care of that tomorrow, although I'm sure 24 stainless steel screws won't be real cheap.

I don't like the way the trolling motor bounces around up on the bow, so I think I'm going to add another piece of marine plywood up there to firm it up.

It's always interesting to inherit somebody else's work.  This boat's had a lot of projects over the years, but it's not too bad, considering it's all most 40 years old. 

I don't mind the work.  With my heart issues I have to just take my time and just enjoy the project.  We've all reay put a good batch of fish in this old Sylvan, and am looking forward to many more.  'Hoping to get it on the water Sunday.  There's not much better than enjoying a steaming cup of coffee as the sun breaks over the horizon at first light.  If anybody's fishing Prior Lake this Sunday, look for the old Sylvan with a 75 horse Johnson on it.  Stop by and say "hi."

Good luck this weekend guys.

[gophergunner]

Just re-read my post.  Sorry for all the typo's guys.

[glenn57]

Just re-read my post.  Sorry for all the typo's guys.

hey you done good......................its a PHD above the boaraneze we are used to!!!!!!!!!!!! just work on getting better and enjoy the project. keep on truckin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gophergunner]

Thanks Glen.  We gotta match up for a coffee one of these days.

[Boar]

cooll beans double G! if thez guys can filter my typos, uv nuthi g to worry about

[Rebel SS]

Good luck, GG! Keep at it! I too had to sell my beloved Rebel last year, due to health issues. Sure do miss it! Take yer time and enjoy the heck out of it!!!

[glenn57]

Thanks Glen.  We gotta match up for a coffee one of these days.

sure thing!!!!!!!!!!!

[gophergunner]

Good luck, GG! Keep at it! I too had to sell my beloved Rebel last year, due to health issues. Sure do miss it! Take yer time and enjoy the heck out of it!!!

Are you in the Twin Cities area?  We should get out fishing some day.  The journey of the Walking Wounded kind of thing!

[HD]

Good luck GG, Jr and I rebuilt a 1984 Lund Super Pike....and I love it!
If you have any questions, ask away!

[gophergunner]

Good luck GG, Jr and I rebuilt a 1984 Lund Super Pike....and I love it!
If you have any questions, ask away!

I don't know if I want to fully rebuild the existing aeration system or just to the easy way and put a portable kit in there.  I just don't think I'm up to all the crawling around running tubing and wiring.

[HD]

As long as you have the existing wiring, installing a new pump....is easy.

[Rebel SS]

Ya, even Fleet Farm's got those Attwood pumps! Easy peasy!!!

[gophergunner]

There's a problem in the well itself.  There a shut off valve where the water comes into the well that is broken.  That would need replaced as well as the  power switch.  How do these systems work?  Is the water pumped in from the back of the boat?  I can't exactly figure out what all I'm up against here.

[HD]

Yup, the pump is in the back of the boat. Water gets pumped forward. Usually, there is a "Y" valve under a small sub plate in the floor (on most older boats) The valve is easy to replace, just 3 hose clamps and maybe a couple screws.

The way the value works, is that you have 2 small "levers" on the top of the value as it lays down. You move both levers each time you want to either fill the tank, or drain it.

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[HD]

They have newer ones now, that are labeled with the direction they should go.

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[gophergunner]

Thanks for the info.  I'll have to take another look at it and make a corporate decision on which way I want to go with this.

[gophergunner]

I had a nice day out on the water Sunday morning.  Stuck it out until 11 a.m. and the boat traffic was picking up, so it was time to go.  The old Sylvan is sure nice to fish out of.  The old 75 horse Johnson purrs like a kitten.  The boat's plenty fast enough for me.  I just wish I had power trim and tilt on it. I found a new to me spot for bigger sunfish, and it looks like it ought to harbor some walleyes in the early morning light too.  Gonna have to do the 4 a.m. thing and drag some cranks over the weeds and see what's hungry.

[Boar]

good luck goph!!

[gophergunner]

Well, I'm gong to start in on the boat after the first of the year.  The dashboard needs replaced, and I'm trying to decide if I want to do this my self or haul it in somewhere.  I'm not supposed to be laying down flat on my back because of my heart issues, and I'd have to crawl up inside the console to anchor everything and reattach all the wiring and steering.  Does anybody know someone in the south metro that does good work on a project like this?  Goal is to have this, and the livewell repairs done by the time the crappies are spawning.  I also need to do some work on the trailer, but I'll have to get the boat off it to do that.  All the rollers are in bad shape. (knew this when I bought the boat)  It shouldn't take long to do that job.  I think I can throw the boat in the lake, and just do the work in the parking lot.  Looks like all I need are a few wrenches and a couple punches, and I'll pick up some extra roll pins in case I lose one or two.