Offshoreonly.com - Boating on budget

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- Do It Yourself, Boating on a Budget (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/do-yourself-boating-budget-249/)

- - Boating on budget - no such thing anymore (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/do-yourself-boating-budget/379515-boating-budget-no-such-thing-anymore.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swamplizard (Post 4875060)

Found that some downturn PVC pipe cuts noise in half at idle and up to about 1200 rpm ... good for slow cruising down ICWW.
And ... we ran her up on plane last night for a few miles .... water temps never climbed above 175, held a good 30mph cruise at 3200 rpm ... not bad for a big Pig of a girl. Still need to do some retightening of everything in the engine room before we do an ocean rip. Need to pick up a second Vesselview Mobile dongle so I can all the stats on both motors in real time.

Congrats

You don't need a second VVM, you need to add some wiring. Also make sure one engine is set to port.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...e4b1969a19.png
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...1fc6058668.png

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swamplizard (Post 4875060)

pics of your old Tub ?

To be honest she looks like hell right now - been a rough road last few years but on the upswing for sure. Will post some when it stops raining.

Next projects - repaint interior cockpit after fixing a few soft spots, new zip-in enclosure as I am tired of snapping in the tonneau cover every time I want to board it. Replacing fried A/C in cabin .... and need to run through a few tanks of fuel to get em clean enough to run single fuel/water separator per motor (currently breaking Merc 496 rules by doubling up).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mbam (Post 4875066)

Thanks again for the info - found a couple of the Vesselview Mobile dongles on facespace cheap - like $80 each - so will use two of those and my old IPad minis that were retired years ago. Was cheaper than cables and running them all over the place. Was just looking to compliment the existing analog gauges with some real-time digital data and this will work well (and I dont have to re-swizzle the entire dash). It has been interesting to see how inaccurate the analogs are.... Oil PSI off by 20% for example was surprising. Also very cool to see Water Temps on each side of the motors and the water (block) PSI. Too bad my MPI 496HO do not seem to have oil Temps. I also have a Rinda just in case though I have not seen anything it can do that the Vesselview Mobiles can't except "rename" a motor to Port versus Stbd.

Now on to the cosmetics and I need to find some Engine Flush kits (perko plastic things make me a bit nervous but are elegant to use.....we'll see).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swamplizard (Post 4869972)

I am a working slob - not some trust fund kid - and have always tried to keep boating in my life by doing things myself. I am not a mechanic or electrician by trade but for the last 30 years I have always managed to keep a boat running and usable for family fun, scuba diving, and just trolling around South Florida waters.

Recently after an A/C hose broke and old 454s got wet I decided to repower my 1988 40-footer with arneson drives. She is old school, cosmetically about a C+, but good hull and normally floats. Perfect for overnights and cruising the Keys.

Post Covid I am finding some challenges:
1) Marinas are closing to become condos and those staying open are geared for rich dudes who dint mind paying $8k to get their props painted (WTF)
2) Do it yourself marinas are extremely rare and require $200k of insurance and "proof" you will not abandon your boat
3) ALL rates have quadrupled since pre-Covid. Got a quote for a bottom paint (2 coats and some light scraping) $4,200 or more than $100/foot (Wow)
4) Mechanics willing to work on older boats with inboards are charging $200/hour and you wait weeks for em to get started if they ever show up. I had one younger guy show up and he had never seen a counter-rotating motor before - ???

Sorry to ramble but things have changed significantly in S Florida and I now understand why everyone is going outboards. At least those can be pulled and worked on elsewhere but at $50k a piece - the convenience is at a cost I cant swing. Do it yourself boating is dead.

Might be my last repower then the old Kayak will have to enough

;-)

Being from South Florida but being gone the kast few years, your post makes me sad. What areas or marinas are you talking about?

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrFeelgood (Post 4870031)

Straight shaft inboard with a keel, so the running gear is protected and I can beach it without worry. Draft is about 18".

That's the way to go. No outdrives to pour money into.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LakeHuronPower (Post 4869985)

I don't think it's dead, you just have to lower your expectations. If you have something with less than 550 hp and can be trailered and kept in your backyard it's pretty affordable, no marina costs at all, work on it in your driveway, no crazy expensive driveline repairs.
I run a 24x7 nearly every summer weekend on LSC and Huron and my biggest yearly cost is gasoline and Coors.

yup agreed. Biggest expense is the winterizing, and time and effort to keep it covered securely and safely from the snow. Other than that It sits in my driveway, and I don't let the social media run out of control over maintenance and what you should be doing and what you shouldn't be doing. The scare can cost you thousands. A lot of the maintenance is pretty straight forward, and with a do it yourself approach, you would be surprised on what you can get away with.

BOAT = Break Out Another Thousand....