Al the Mirthmaker (Mark III)

[tuned]

Thanks guys. Hoping to go wet deck around Friday. The weather even looks cooperative. It's been raining all spring. The big lake is about a foot above flood stage. I just barely managed to drag the trailer through my yard, almost burying it to the axles. Now I have some ruts to fix. Next year I'm moving it before the ground thaws

Still a ton of little details left. The rails are only a third tightened so far. Numbers, corner caps, dock rings, fuel system tests and engine test fire, further finish work and waterproofing around engine, FIVE tube plugs, pressurize tubes, line and fender rigging etc....yada....the list goes on, but is growing shorter. The biggest items are about off of it.
I can't wait till I get down to crossing off critical items like 'ice beer cooler' and 'load blankets and pillows'.

Herb, the brazing took a ton of practice but ended up working very nicely. I saved a bunch of cash over hiring a mig/tig guy, and ended up with a new skill and a nice little oxy/ace rig to boot!

[oldcoot]

Very nice....lots of man hrs....hands on makes it special when you do it yourself...Congrats!!!

[HandymanHerb]

Herb, the brazing took a ton of practice but ended up working very nicely. I saved a bunch of cash over hiring a mig/tig guy, and ended up with a new skill and a nice little oxy/ace rig to boot!

Cool I still need to get a regulator for my C set and start practicing, all the spare rail I have left I can make a holder for a grill when I get good with it

[Bryden24shp]

Looks FANTASTIC! You have done a great job on it, should rightly be very proud of your work.
Very Nice, Al! I'm very impressed!
Now, I want you to build me one...

[reelin in the years]

Amazing, you gotta hate people with talent. Great job!

[badmoonrising]

[tuned]

Great Job dude, now go enjoy it before it starts snowing again!

Too late! I saw a couple of flakes last night. Dipped down to 28.
Another 12 hour day today dry-boatin with wrenches. Much accomplished. Too tired to post any shots so I guess it didn't happen.

[tuned]

Aaaargh. Looks like I have joined Craig and a few others that are drydocked during the peak season. Is it friggin contagious or what?

Took Al out for sea trials a couple days ago. I have a fairly pronounced ticking or knocking in the outdrive during sharp turns. It even does this when I am in neutral with the engine running and I turn the wheel hard over (either direction).
I have heard this sound before and am fairly certain it is u-joint related. The sucky part is that we had gone thru EVERYTHING in this area and replaced all wear parts--bushings,gimbal bearings, u-joints, bellows etc.....

On the plus side, the motor is running like a champ. This is solvable, but still sux.
Any I/O guys out there that have further ideas?

[BobG]

Any I/O guys out there that have further ideas?

I'm not an I/O guy (and I didn't stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night), but why don't you just stop turning the wheel that far?

Maybe get the boat a "Flea and Tick Collar"???

[tuned]

why don't you just stop turning the wheel that far?

I guess I could try that, Bob. Might be a bit of a challenge parallel parking with a straight ahead rudder. Maybe I should mount an electric troller as a bow thruster? Not sure if they make 'em big enough to have much effect at forty mph.

[curtiscapk]

That sucks Todd! Won't be getting back down till 29th now....

[badmoonrising]

First thing I would do was check alignment. Second - noise that gets worse turning can either be a bad u-joint or gimbal. I'd bet on u-joint or misalignment though.

[tuned]

That sucks Todd! Won't be getting back down till 29th now....

Well now you won't be alone in the running for the highly coveted 'Latest Launch' trophy. I think I can take ya
Ed: Thanks for the input. Gonna pull boat tomorrow and get a look at the u-joint and check alignment in the next day or three.

[badmoonrising]

Also take a close look at the engine coupler - is it new ? Check for cracks.

[tuned]

Boats running good. Vibration is gone
Not sure if it was u-joint assembly or alignment, as we checked them both at the same time.
Systems are slowly coming on line and working the bugs out. It's going a little slower now, as I spend much time entertaining.
Here's a couple of updates:

Solar is up and running. Sixty watts. Now if the sun would shine....


And the power anchor from h*ll! The winch is Australian. Couldn't find a decent one stateside.
22 lb stainless claw anchor. 110' of 1/2 line and 15' of 3/8 chain.