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Well,
We attempted to the Bellboy in the water for the first time this week. Thursday was the initial launch, as soon as the old trailer was hooked up to the truck it started to rain. The tide was just to low and we had some real difficulty trying to get it launched. I sure we would have made Americas Funnest videos had we had a camera. Found some bugs, stiff steering, wouldn't go into reverse.
We finally got it in the water and just puttered around Gig Harbor for a little while. Tied up at the public dock and went and got a warm cup of hot chocolate and a change of cloths because I was soaked. Also found that the Cuddy leaked bad guess I did not use enough caulk at the attachment points for the windshield and the wiper.
Friday the day was spent fixing leaks in the cuddy roof, I think I got them all.
Saturday morning we get to the launch a little later then we wanted but seems to be going well. Bet the boat launched even though I really need to learn how to back that trailer up. The Homelite starts right up as always has been the case. Thanks Bill Roberts. It is idling at about 600 rpm as we wait for all to be ready to go. We pull away from the dock and it dies. Try and restart and it will barely crank. I just can't figure it out I thought the battery was fully charged and I had installed a dual battery system just for these types of occasions. After messing with it for almost an hour I gave up and it was back on the trailer for the short trip home.
I messed with it on Sunday again and found that the starter that I had rebuilt had a lose bolt causing the starter not to turn straight, I guess there is a reason to use lock tight. This caused the appearance that it just did not have enough power to go. But the reason it died was my big concern and it was something simple the points were burned slightly and a simple swap has made it back and running.
Today we will be out to get some break in runs to see if we can get used to it. I am still very cautious this is the first time I have been driving a boat in about 30 years.
Well Thanks to all that have help get it up and running.
Tom Sexton
We attempted to the Bellboy in the water for the first time this week. Thursday was the initial launch, as soon as the old trailer was hooked up to the truck it started to rain. The tide was just to low and we had some real difficulty trying to get it launched. I sure we would have made Americas Funnest videos had we had a camera. Found some bugs, stiff steering, wouldn't go into reverse.
We finally got it in the water and just puttered around Gig Harbor for a little while. Tied up at the public dock and went and got a warm cup of hot chocolate and a change of cloths because I was soaked. Also found that the Cuddy leaked bad guess I did not use enough caulk at the attachment points for the windshield and the wiper.
Friday the day was spent fixing leaks in the cuddy roof, I think I got them all.
Saturday morning we get to the launch a little later then we wanted but seems to be going well. Bet the boat launched even though I really need to learn how to back that trailer up. The Homelite starts right up as always has been the case. Thanks Bill Roberts. It is idling at about 600 rpm as we wait for all to be ready to go. We pull away from the dock and it dies. Try and restart and it will barely crank. I just can't figure it out I thought the battery was fully charged and I had installed a dual battery system just for these types of occasions. After messing with it for almost an hour I gave up and it was back on the trailer for the short trip home.
I messed with it on Sunday again and found that the starter that I had rebuilt had a lose bolt causing the starter not to turn straight, I guess there is a reason to use lock tight. This caused the appearance that it just did not have enough power to go. But the reason it died was my big concern and it was something simple the points were burned slightly and a simple swap has made it back and running.
Today we will be out to get some break in runs to see if we can get used to it. I am still very cautious this is the first time I have been driving a boat in about 30 years.
Well Thanks to all that have help get it up and running.
Tom Sexton
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