I bought my 1973 36' TF (FDA-36-0097H) last march with "rebuilt" engines but unfortunately one of them was actually bad. Something knocking inside the port motor and after much deliberation, my only choice was to remove it and send it out to be rebuilt (again!).
1973ish Marine power 454.
I'm more than a little frustrated with this endeavor and it has certainly put a hitch in my giddyup. I was not able to use the boat this season (except sitting at the dock) but I got a lot of projects done on her and I still like the boat. Hard to say if I "love" the boat yet because she hasn't really been 100%.
I'm hoping I can get it all put back together before the spring! I very much look forward to running her properly and seeing how she performs.
I'm happy that the motor is at the rebuilder and I'm half way there.
Sorry to hear. Boats follow the "Rosane Rosanadana" theory. Do you know the model number of the transmission you have?
Hey there Whitney... As you know sometimes we have to deal with some gremlins. After sitting for a number of years, the person that ended up buying my parent's boat (Seaquel) has run into his fair share of issues that I wouldn't have expected. Sort of like you, more frustration than enjoyment, but he's also been making progress...
Keep a stiff upper lip. Like you said, you've gotten a lot of other projects done, and once you get the engine back and ready to go, there will be more smiles than frustration. Crossing my fingers for you and a much better 2025 boating season!
C.
@Michael Watson Paragon 6C-9271 P44L
Good. The 454's i bought for our old 35 came with P25's. The owner of Kalamazoo Marine Gear, sadly now closed, said they were junk so I removed them. He said they were one of the last ones they made. Best of luck.
P.S. Your old SS is now a dingy.
That is frustrating! While you have it out, though, it is a good time to inspect/replace the damper plate and consider a transmission overhaul. Also, those starters (especially the port ones) are getting hard to find - so could be a good time to swap out the bell housing to one that would support a more current starter. On a positive note, that port engine could go another 50 years when done. I have Mike's old 35 SC - the 35s & 36's were great boats!
I'm thinking the hatches of your boat like mine have no drain for the lower lip. This allows water to wet the supports etc. I made deck lip drains and the post should be in the archives.
A project to consider while the hatches are open.
@Timothy Miller the rear deck is the only area exposed to the elements and they all seem to have lips inside the hatches (lots of hatches) two side circles, center square and rear long horizontal lazarette, they all have lips/gutters with a drainage hole and there is a tube in the hole - well, i could certainly update the tubes, clean them and make sure they are functioning... but the idea is there...
Great, the holes on my 68 were just that so they tended to weep down the supports. I drilled them slightly larger, counter bored the opening inserted and bedded over-flared copper tubing with plastic tubing leading to the bilge.
@Timothy Miller mine seem to be original with little plastic fittings in the holse and tubes to the bildge. But now that you focus on that, i think i'll take a good look at the system this winter and make sure its draining properly to avoid weeping down the supports... good (relatively) easy project!!