repower, fuel tank, restoration, upgrade.

Knot_Pursuit · Post by **Knot_Pursuit** » Tue Sep 13, 2016 7:15 am

So as the season is getting closer to the end, I am hauling out a bit early. After an encounter with the dreaded black goo of death…. Sometimes referred to at a monomer suspension issue. Yup, I am putting my fuel tank into my engines! So with the failing engine performance, I ran as long as I could. Tried any trick I could to extend the season, but it didn’t take long to glue those mills right up. Im not too upset at all. I was already planning a repower this winter, so that wasn’t a big deal. I will be running some new merc. EFI motors mated to new transmissions. I am doing all of the work myself, so that will keep the costs down. I will post pics to deatail the progress. This past weekend, I built a gantry and removed the motors, and blocked them up on the rear deck. The boat is being hauled out tonight, and we will remove the motors from the deck. It was easier to get the motors to the deck prior to hauling the boat due to equipment on hand at the yacht club. Here is a pic of the gantry up on the STB side with the old 454 on the deck. 8am sunday [IMG]http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/yjguy94/Bertram%2033/20160911_082146_zpsomz1gvpa.jpg[/IMG] all done and broken down by 11 am [IMG]http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/yjguy94/Bertram%2033/20160911_113952_zpsvvidtrwn.jpg[/IMG] more to come!!! Tom

Knot_Pursuit · Post by **Knot_Pursuit** » Tue Sep 13, 2016 8:07 am

I was quite lucky with one aspect of the boat. Its pretty much a time capsule. The boat is still set up with the original stereo, speakers ect. The wiring was never bastardized at all. The cabin is in fairly decent shape, and everything works. I did have to upgrade the stereo. I decided I wanted a separate stereo on the flybridge. I purchased a Fusion MS RA50, with 6â€� speaker combo, and added a Bluetooth dongle. The Fusion MS RA50 is set up to only run 2 speakers. Perfect for the FB. Since the original speakers were some odd size, I used a polly board, (similar to starboard but much more dense) and fabbed up some speaker adaptors. I installed the speaker mounts with 10/32 threaded hardware from behind. I mounted the head unit next to the helm on the port side after moving the trim tab switch down to accommodate the stereo. Here is the package that I ordered prior to installation. I [IMG]http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/ ... f0pqsc.jpg[/IMG][/URL] The speakers installed in the flybridge [IMG]http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/ ... sos9pt.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Relocated the trim tab switch and the head unit was mounted in its place. [IMG]http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/ ... xkwtue.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Knot_Pursuit · Post by **Knot_Pursuit** » Tue Sep 13, 2016 8:15 am

My plans for the lower entertainment area will include a new Fusion head unit with 4 speakers(2 in the cabin, 2 int eh cockpit) an external remote for the stereo located in the cockpit, and the Fusion BT200 Bluetooth adapter for full iPod control. The old Sony CRT TV will be tossed, and the cabinet will be changed into a bar of some sort. I need somewhere to store/sample my rum collection!

Rick · Post by **Rick** » Tue Sep 13, 2016 8:28 am

Should be a sweet ride by next Summer Tom, good luck with the work. Where are you getting your new tank ? Rick Ticket 85 SF Merc 454 MPI's Falmouth, MA

greysole · Post by **greysole** » Tue Sep 13, 2016 9:06 am

Tom Once you clear the cockpit of the engines, if you have a crane available you could use it to remove the tank. When I pulled my tank, I was next to the crane on land. I took up the deck, removed the bolts thru the rear bulkhead to the fighting chair backing plate (even though I don't have a fighting chair), disconnected all connections (hoses etc.), cut the tabbing to the forward & aft bulkhead with a sawsall, then slid straps under the wings of the tank & lifted with the crane. The tank was set in some kind of hardened glass compound on 3/4 plywood glassed to the bottom of the hull. Al, Rick & others instead of the crane, have used hydraulic jacks, rams & wedges to break the tank free from the goop that it was set in. I'm in favor of the crane method[:D] Great work with the gantry & fast engine removal. Good Luck! When you're done you'll know exactly what you've got, an awesome boat.

Knot_Pursuit · Post by **Knot_Pursuit** » Tue Sep 13, 2016 11:20 am

Rick, I was thinking either Kentfab in Pembroke Ma. But a friend of mine told me to use Speedytanks in NJ as they etch and epoxy coat the tanks to resist corrosion. quote:Originally posted by Rick Should be a sweet ride by next Summer Tom, good luck with the work. Where are you getting your new tank ?

Knot_Pursuit · Post by **Knot_Pursuit** » Tue Sep 13, 2016 11:30 am

quote:Originally posted by greysole Tom Once you clear the cockpit of the engines, if you have a crane available you could use it to remove the tank. We do have a crane at the yacht club. I do plan on using the crane to lift the tank (and genny for that matter) to reduce time with the crane, I was planning on using my I beam as a gantry across the gunwalls with cribbing and breaking it free. Similar lift idea as to how you did yours, I am planning on using two chainfalls, and lift straps one on each of the tank wings as you described, I dont want to tie up the crane operator for longer than I need to. He is a member of the club, no an employee. Plus, it will help reduce possible boat instability when pulling/lifting.

greysole · Post by **greysole** » Tue Sep 13, 2016 3:55 pm

Knew you'd be all over it Tom Good Luck Keep us posted Keep the pictures coming

Knot_Pursuit · Post by **Knot_Pursuit** » Wed Sep 14, 2016 8:08 am

We were able to haul the boat out last night and get those motors off the rear deck. That all went seamlessly. [IMG]http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/ ... d4uytc.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [IMG]http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/ ... isprsk.jpg[/IMG][/URL] This weekend I will start to pull the cockpit floor up, and prep the tank and genny for extraction.

greysole · Post by **greysole** » Thu Sep 15, 2016 9:32 am

Giddy Up! How'd she ride on the trailer? Never been on a trailer only travel lifts. Is that the Neponset River? Milton? Once you get your deck up & get a good look at you fill hose, you'll be very glad you did (if it's original), I know I was. Mine was fill of cracks & showed signs of leaking on top of the tank. Any gas boats with original fills need to inspect them ASAP!

Knot_Pursuit · Post by **Knot_Pursuit** » Thu Sep 15, 2016 11:46 am

Fore River, all the way up in Braintree. I am taking a couple of days off of the boat. I will be back at it on Sunday. I plan on getting the deck op and fuel tank ready to lift out. I am replacing the ENTIRE fuel system. event he through hull vent is being replaced. Fuel fill line, vent line, vent fitting, fuel lines to motors, new raycors, shut off valves....EVERYTHING)

asher · Post by **asher** » Thu Sep 15, 2016 6:04 pm

Sounds like you are gonna enjoy the heck out of the boat after you get done with all the work you are about to be doing. I pulled and reinstalled my generator in the past couple of months and felt like a hero afterwards. Good luck in the endeavor, hope it goes as planned, and thanks for posting up pics with the posts!!

Rick · Post by **Rick** » Sun Sep 18, 2016 5:02 am

Sounds good Tom. I was just curious, it's been a long since Al & I did ours, so I really don't know the vendors these days. We sprayed automobile undercoating all over our tanks when we installed them, cheap & easy. Hope it goes well, keep posting ! Rick Ticket 85 SF Merc 454 MPI's Falmouth, MA

Knot_Pursuit · Post by **Knot_Pursuit** » Thu Oct 27, 2016 10:38 am

Its been a few weeks now. Here is some of the boat with the tank flying out. and ready to load into the truck [IMG]http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/ ... v60sfn.jpg[/IMG][/URL] The hole left behind by removing the tnak [IMG]http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/ ... n9joch.jpg[/IMG][/URL] The temporary deck until the work is complete [IMG]http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/ ... he6hzg.jpg[/IMG][/URL] anyone what to take a guess whey these are off the boat???? [IMG]http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/ ... wvjyxp.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

greysole · Post by **greysole** » Thu Oct 27, 2016 2:18 pm

Hey Tom, You're cranking right along! If you get a chance I would love to see a picture of what it looks like behind the B33 nameplates. I'm not sure if my leaks are coming from there or the side windows. Keep up the great work.