New Boater, New to me Marinette.
Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2018 9:25 pm
Greetings all, nice to meet you! My first post on the forum so let me introduce myself. I'm a retired US Navy Senior Chief Gas Turbine Tech (84-04) and though I'm a Sailor and a destroyerman engineer, I'm not yet a boater. I've Love being out on the water and have been looking to get a boat for some months now, learning and getting market smart. I currently work for the US Navy as a civilian and I'm the Test, Trials and Maintenance Manager for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) - Independence Variant. That's the cool looking tri-maran hull version that's made of - you guessed it - all aluminum! And yes, they all have Impressed Current Cathodic Protection (ICCP) systems onboard.
Well, a friend knew I was looking and offered to give me a Marinette that his father was restoring when he passed two years ago and he'd rather see me get it than scrap her! Researching online I'm guessing she's a mid-70's 28' Express Cruiser. Not as sleek, sexy, fast or powerful as the one above, but this one is about to me MINE! (I can always add guns later... LOL)
She's about an hour away so I still haven't seen her and have no data; year, model, LOA, nothing except for this single pic he gave me and the fact that it has a reman engine with <50 hours (318?). I'm sure that after sitting for 2 years even the engine will need a good checkout, oil change, engine fog, oil prime, perhaps a carb rebuild, etc. We're getting together this Sunday to check her out and make the arrangements!
All my life I've been building and/or repairing anything from computers, Jeeps, engines, wiring, ham radios, electronics, engines, transmissions, gears, anything electrical, electronic or mechanical so projects don't frighten me, they just take time and money. I do know that doing this right means perhaps a lot more time than I can afford since I can't store the boat on my property (HOA) and will have to go somewhere else to work on her, likely only on weekends.
The hull, perhaps the whole boat, will need to be blasted and repainted. I'm certain the wood will all need refinishing or replacement, all electrical systems checked as mice or rodents could have gotten inside and chewed wires, etc. I'm guessing the best way would be to basically strip everything down to parade rest, paint the entire hull and reinstall everything system by system and that might take a good two years, by my guess.
I'm leaning towards an engine and systems checkout, a hull integrity check, replace through hulls, anodes, rudder post bushings and seals, prop and shaft/seals checkout, and anything else in the water, fix up the helm console and whatever I can in the winter, then paint in the spring (weather permitting) and be able to use and enjoy the boat while I finish restoring the inside.
I've already learned a LOT from all of you here on the forum and I'm looking forward to learning more and sharing this project.
Well, a friend knew I was looking and offered to give me a Marinette that his father was restoring when he passed two years ago and he'd rather see me get it than scrap her! Researching online I'm guessing she's a mid-70's 28' Express Cruiser. Not as sleek, sexy, fast or powerful as the one above, but this one is about to me MINE! (I can always add guns later... LOL)
She's about an hour away so I still haven't seen her and have no data; year, model, LOA, nothing except for this single pic he gave me and the fact that it has a reman engine with <50 hours (318?). I'm sure that after sitting for 2 years even the engine will need a good checkout, oil change, engine fog, oil prime, perhaps a carb rebuild, etc. We're getting together this Sunday to check her out and make the arrangements!
All my life I've been building and/or repairing anything from computers, Jeeps, engines, wiring, ham radios, electronics, engines, transmissions, gears, anything electrical, electronic or mechanical so projects don't frighten me, they just take time and money. I do know that doing this right means perhaps a lot more time than I can afford since I can't store the boat on my property (HOA) and will have to go somewhere else to work on her, likely only on weekends.
The hull, perhaps the whole boat, will need to be blasted and repainted. I'm certain the wood will all need refinishing or replacement, all electrical systems checked as mice or rodents could have gotten inside and chewed wires, etc. I'm guessing the best way would be to basically strip everything down to parade rest, paint the entire hull and reinstall everything system by system and that might take a good two years, by my guess.
I'm leaning towards an engine and systems checkout, a hull integrity check, replace through hulls, anodes, rudder post bushings and seals, prop and shaft/seals checkout, and anything else in the water, fix up the helm console and whatever I can in the winter, then paint in the spring (weather permitting) and be able to use and enjoy the boat while I finish restoring the inside.
I've already learned a LOT from all of you here on the forum and I'm looking forward to learning more and sharing this project.