- Joined
- Mar 9, 2005
- RO Number
- 16534
- Messages
- 1,745
This was the year for the intermittent big buck maintenance expenses for the TOY. Coming into the 7th year it was time...$1200+ got me all new bellows and shift cable. Then I replaced the water shutters for the exhaust since one had broken up, and as long as I was at it - gimbal bearing and gimbal shaft seal. Pulled the risers for inspection...they're fine. Changed out cap, rotor, plugs, oils, found a better oil filter to use rather than the usual Sierra/Quicksilver version, grabbed a fellow RO that lives near me and we slapped her on the Mississippi river a couple of weeks ago for a Polar Bear Run. There's a religous quality to the sound of a beautifully running marine engine.
This past weekend I grabbed my new Porter Cable polisher and my detail stuff and spent 8 hours polishing and waxing the hull...looks like a million bucks, glossy wet look and clean as she's been in years. Even tried "Woody Wax" on the foredeck non-skid surface...that stuff is pretty neat! (should be for $30.00/16oz) Also replaced the original Mayfair cartridge style bilge pump whose "auto" function wasn't working anymore with a Rule pump. The "auto" works now as I found out haphazardly. Turned my back to rinse out a polishing pad and all of a sudden I've got a torrent of water spraying onto my back. Between collected rainwater and hot soapy water I had thrown in the bilge to loosen the grime, I guess the pump decided to activate itself! Good to know it works!
And a lot of these improvements were because of my spending winter browsing through BE's threads.
Since we're in mid April, the Mississippi is now approaching or over crest stage in some areas which means another 3 weeks of down time until it recedes and the garbage goes down river til I can safely romp the TOY.
Last I spoke to RadioguyJ (Jason) he was getting very crabby since he's on the hard and his marina is delaying launches because of the high water.
So here we are. Middle 70's today, sunshine...perfect conditions...and my boat is sitting, looking beautiful and sexy and nowhere to run! (Available lakes are all high and are no wake til water drops...and I don't like seeing the same real estate within 20 minutes of launch).
The Admiral has announced that she isn't quite ready for the river...she wants to look perfect so is beating herself up with diets and excercise. At least I don't have to wait for her to put on the makeup.
And you? What's left on your list of things-to-do before you can go feet wet?
This past weekend I grabbed my new Porter Cable polisher and my detail stuff and spent 8 hours polishing and waxing the hull...looks like a million bucks, glossy wet look and clean as she's been in years. Even tried "Woody Wax" on the foredeck non-skid surface...that stuff is pretty neat! (should be for $30.00/16oz) Also replaced the original Mayfair cartridge style bilge pump whose "auto" function wasn't working anymore with a Rule pump. The "auto" works now as I found out haphazardly. Turned my back to rinse out a polishing pad and all of a sudden I've got a torrent of water spraying onto my back. Between collected rainwater and hot soapy water I had thrown in the bilge to loosen the grime, I guess the pump decided to activate itself! Good to know it works!
And a lot of these improvements were because of my spending winter browsing through BE's threads.
Since we're in mid April, the Mississippi is now approaching or over crest stage in some areas which means another 3 weeks of down time until it recedes and the garbage goes down river til I can safely romp the TOY.
Last I spoke to RadioguyJ (Jason) he was getting very crabby since he's on the hard and his marina is delaying launches because of the high water.
So here we are. Middle 70's today, sunshine...perfect conditions...and my boat is sitting, looking beautiful and sexy and nowhere to run! (Available lakes are all high and are no wake til water drops...and I don't like seeing the same real estate within 20 minutes of launch).
The Admiral has announced that she isn't quite ready for the river...she wants to look perfect so is beating herself up with diets and excercise. At least I don't have to wait for her to put on the makeup.
And you? What's left on your list of things-to-do before you can go feet wet?