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It's Gonna Be A Long Year Guys!!!
I am here to tell the tale of my last 2 years that some of you may find intresting... even entertaining to others. It all started in August of 2004 when I purchased a 1994 24' Baja Outlaw from a dealer in S. Carolina. I bought it for a relatively cheap price and it needed some work but overall a decent boat. Over the next 11 months I put all my heart and soul (not to mention about 10k in repairs and upgrades) into my Baja. I was in the process of having the vinyl done a couple pieces at a time by a local upholster and I had the engine tuned up and the outdrive rebuilt in July 2005. Due to my job I was working a 14/7 shift schedule so after the engine and outdrive work I only got to take her out for 2 weekends....then the schit hit the fan!!! On August 29th 2005....the worst day in history if you ask me....that bittch named Katrina literally rolled through my back yard. We had a 25' storm surge in my neighborhood!!! I was at work in south Texas of course when it came through and I couldn't get home to get my boat. My neighbor secured a couple of lines to some telephone poles for me before he high tailed it out of town. I wasn't able to get back home until the police finally let us back in about 5 days after the storm. I was in shock at the ferocity of what that storm did to my home and the surrounding area. My Baja was still in my front yard (kinda) along with 2 of the 3 homes that were across the highway from me. My Baja came to rest on top of a Lincoln Towncar on top of an 8' wrought iron gate that crumbled under the weight. See pics below. At some point during the storm she rolled on her side and took on water. (salt water of course) To my great despair I found out that my insurance had lapsed on my boat and my ex-wife conveniently forgot to tell me about it. (long story about her) So I had to salvage what I could. After about a week of cleaning with a bobcat and a dozer my front yard was somewhat clean. I took the Baja to a buddies that lived in an area that wasn't directly hit by the storm since my home was uninhabitable. I only had 1 day to go over the boat and all I could do was drain all the fluids out of the engine and the drive. She only had a couple of bad spots on the starb. corner where the fiberglass was damaged. (no holes in the hull though) I went back to work for my 14 day hitch and left my boat in my buddies driveway about 40 miles from my house. I secured it with a stainless cablelock that I ran through the rim and I also put a hitch lock on it. The second weekend I was gone my buddy called to inform me that my boat was gone. He had to go to Houstin to get his family and while he was gone someone helped themselves to my recently devoured Baja. I was beyond pissed. I had lost my house, my boat, and my wife within a 2 month period....Keep the house and the bittch of a wife but GD I wanted my boat!!!:eek: The local law enforcement infrastructure was so overwhelmed at this point they told me to wait a couple of weeks to make a report bcuz they simply didn't have the manpower at that time. I knew at that point I would never see my beloved Baja again....Well it turns out that I was wrong. I got a call from a detective last week and he asked me if I had a Baja stolen from me after the storm. I told him I did and he said a confidential informant came forward with information on where a stolen boat was being kept. It turns out some phuckhead had it sitting in his backyard in the woods of Mississippi. The cops ran the hull id # and it came back to me. So after they arrested the douchebag who had my boat I went to pick it up from the impound Monday. Apparently my boat has been sitting in this azzholes backyard untouched for almost 2 years. Needless to say she is in bad shape. I am going to start gutting her next week and I am going to document the whole process for the wonderful members of OSO becuz I know the best of the best are members and anything I do will be scrutinized and I am going to need that for a few of the things I plan to do. I know the stock 454 mag is probably shot so I am looking to repower with either a 496ho or a 502. I guess when it comes down to it the price will be the deciding factor. All my money went to rebuilding my house.(damn insurance companies are legitamate thieves) Any encouragement will be greatly appreciated from all of you guys. I know anything I need to fix or upgrade I can find it on here so wish me luck on this massive project I am going to undertake pretty much by myself. Thanks guys !!!:D
I HATE HURRICANES AND THIEVES!!! Capt. Chuck http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...BAJAosopic.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...0/BAJAOSO2.jpg |
thats horrible man. good luck with everything.
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What don't kill ya, can only make you stronger
Good luck man |
Wow.
That's the only word I could come up with after reading that. I'm still kind of dazed from all the info my brain just processed. I can't even think of anything else to say to make you feel better. Buck |
Tropical storm Allison, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita cost me about 400K in lost business and flood damage, both years brought me to my knees financially.
All you can do is learn whatever lessons can be learned and turn your back on the rest. Better times are ahead:drink: Attitude is everything. |
What a ****ing mess...
Motor through... "When your going through hell, keep going" -Churchill |
Is your name NickSlick by any chance :D:D
Man you seem to have a killer attitude all things considered!! Jon |
I saw many of the boats that Katrina destroyed, sad, very sad. It's a shame you couldn't get it to one of the many "salvage" boat auctions. I attended a couple, & to my complete amazement, people paid "Top Dollar" for these "salvaged" boats. I saw a 2000 32 Fever with severe bow damage, not to mention the water damage to the interior, & many other small items, this boat went for 50k. I do wish you luck with your project...& as for the X...when ya get the boat back in the water, take her for a nice ride out to Chandalier Island...& leave her a$$ there, ohhh...I forgot, the island is completely submerged now...oh well, hope she can swim :D
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Good luck with the boat. You might want to put this in the Baja section too for more support.
Keep looking in the classified and swap section for good deals. Hang in there and take your time. It will come together eventually. Any OSO brothers in his area that can help him out? |
Originally Posted by CAPTCHUCKV
(Post 2091010)
Thanks guys !!!:D
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Oooops. You have that turned off. Send me a pm with your e-mail. I have a suggestion. :cool:
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You don't have a cousin named gino do you:evilb: ? Sorry,I couldn't resist,good luck with your endeavor,Smitty
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Thanks for all the support guys...I did have some thoughts of just scrapping my Baja but I think it would be more fun to do the rebuild. This way I know what she is capable of in the long run. Well here goes nothing........:D
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Got A 454 Efi Long Block For Sale. Man That Sucks. I Know Where Some Interior Pieces Are Here In Indy
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Originally Posted by racesdad
(Post 2091473)
Got A 454 Efi Long Block For Sale. Man That Sucks. I Know Where Some Interior Pieces Are Here In Indy
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Holy hell, man. What a mess. Good luck with everything.
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Wow - crazy story... good luck as not many people would take on a project of that magnatude! Would be great to see the progress as you move though it, kinda like givin' back a bit on what Katrina took away! :cool:
Hey - I just had a thought, since Fred has been quiet with projects lately - maybe we have a new "trailer queen / who's gonna be in the water first" contest, Audio vs. Captchuck!? :D (sorry Jon, couldn't resist - how's the bambino btw!?) ;) |
Find a 502 or get that 454 and stroke it for a 496. If you look you may find a 496mag. Look into a cam and ecm change (or recal) and you got a HO motor. Too bad there wasnt a "fix my boat" TV show where you send them you hard luck story and they fix your boat. Good luck with the project!
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Know a local that has a high hour carb 7.4 that he might let go really cheap. Twin engine boat, he blew one of the motors not sure if he's going to rebuild them or repower. I can ask him what he plans on doing with the good motor if he repowers.
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That sucks:mad: good luck:D
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Good Luck my friend,And if you need any parts looked at in southeastren Pa,or northren Md.for you project let me know.
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Best of luck to you on your project! Keep us posted with pics as things move along. I am in the process of changing some things out on my H2X, so I will have some misc. engine items for sale if any of it would work for you (headers, etc.). Good luck.
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Originally Posted by jmeng
(Post 2091687)
Know a local that has a high hour carb 7.4 that he might let go really cheap. Twin engine boat, he blew one of the motors not sure if he's going to rebuild them or repower. I can ask him what he plans on doing with the good motor if he repowers.
Chuck |
What do you guys think about this engine? I don't know anything about Volvos so any input would help. I have a bravo one drive on my boat.....could this setup work?
http://www.offshoreonlyclassifieds.c...o11701-en.html Chuck |
I probably won't see him till next weekend but I'll check then. Let me know if theres anything else I can do to help.
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Originally Posted by jmeng
(Post 2092376)
I probably won't see him till next weekend but I'll check then. Let me know if theres anything else I can do to help.
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good luck
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Originally Posted by CAPTCHUCKV
(Post 2092032)
My budget is tight so if I can't find a good deal on a 496 or 502 I may have to settle for another 454. Let me know if your buddy is looking to sell and how much he is willing to let it go for. Thanks bro.
Chuck |
Capt Chuck.. sorry to hear about your situation. You have a great attitude and that is the best start. Best of luck in the re-build.
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Best of luck to you! Hang in there, congrats on the divorce!
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Ok guys I am seriously thinking about getting the 2001 8.1 496/420 hp Volvo Penta. I guess what I need to know is how hard will the conversion be to adapt to the bravo one drive I have? Please help me out with this so I can make my decision before it gets snatched up by someone else. Thanks.
Chuck http://www.offshoreonlyclassifieds.c...o11701-en.html |
Well guys after some discussion with other members I have decided to go with the Volvo Penta 496. I am hoping the swap will be as easy as some people have told me. Can anyone tell me the difference between closed cooling and not? Thanks.
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Well guys I finally got down to it the last couple of days....WHEW!!!! I have decided to strip the whole boat and go from ground up. I figure this way I know what I have and what my boat is capable of. So far I have come up with this list that just keeps getting longer....new paint, new engine(496), new seats (all), new interioir and different setup in cuddy, new design on rear bench seat, new sunpad/engine hatch. I think that should keep me busy for at least 6 to 9 months. If all goes well I will be ready for spring break next year!!!! WOOO HOOO!!!! Here are some pics of what I have been doing.....until we meet again......
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s...w/portview.jpg http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s...tlaw/stern.jpg http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s...w/outdrive.jpg http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s...terncorner.jpg http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s...strncorner.jpg |
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540 c.i.
I have a complete 540 with all accessories...aluminum oil pan, flywheel, oil cooler, stainless marine exhaust with risers, Dart aluminum heads, Dart intake, 1050 Dominator carb, MSD distributor, etc. etc. etc.
Need $6,500.00 for everything. I'm located in Metairie if you want to take a look! |
I will be in touch bro. Thanks.
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I put down a deposit on a 540 ci engine today. According to my new buddy Steve I should be looking at 625 horses with this new bad boy!!! I am on the fence about a new drive. I know a bravo can handle the power but I honestly don't think my 1994 bravo drive, that has been sitting untouched for the last 2 years, can handle it. Any suggestions from you high HP guys? Thanks fellas.
Chuck |
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