bought a '59 seafair

[reefCrawler]

wiring - Thanks, Gary, all major electronics still working fine on this boat, but loosing/hanging wires, and I just bought a chartpotter which triggers me to clean up all wiring, once I make sure the boat balancing issue, I'll schedule myself to do the wiring myself, tons of question surely follow... haha.

Bob, I really appreciate your valuable information guiding a new boating guy like me
I Just double check boat and engine, the old owner had installed doelfin + trim tabs, but he still putting sand bags in the front bow and cabin area, from all these observation and talkings, I don't even need a test run, I know this boat has a major balancing issue, I'll put "changing the fuel tank" as first priority, it seems we need to change it anyway! Bob, you just assigned a lots of homeworks for me to study... hahaaa..

any links or info to any proper fuel tanks you're talking? Thanks again all of you for every piece of valuable information, I need all these to build up my common sense about boating.

here are some pics I took this morning may help your precious suggestions. Thanks in advance.












Victor

[gecsr1]

When you bought the boat did you seatrail it. If not prehaps you should take it out the way it is and get a feel for it them remove the sand bags and take it out again, this way you can determine how the boat rides for your self. then take whatever corrective action you need to take.

Bob gave you some real good advise. and you should take it all into consideration. then proceed with your modifications.

Get a feel for it. Know for your self .


Have a Great Day

[SICK FISH]

I bought mine 38 years ago. I jumped 20' waves been airborne and hit the water hard many times.

Well this is what I did about 10 years ago

VERY VERY TOUGH BOAT

SICK FISH

[reefCrawler]

We did make the test run at the first day we bought it (Marina Del rey), it seems a nice ride from our poor boating experience.
the seller was so nice to spend almost total 5 hours - guiding us about all details about this boat and maintainence! such a nice french guy... and sill lower the selling price to us!!

I'm searching fuel tank, any good suggestion?

"20' waves been airborne " - goodness, that's crazy, don't think my ladies (boat and wife) can handle it...

[SICK FISH]

I was crazy back in the day !! Lucky to be alive today.

Your new boat will give you a smooth ride and will surf down swell perfectly.

I ripped off my cabin and raised the deck so that water runns off and with the center console and T-Top it makes a great fishin skiff.

I would recommend 2 heavy marine batteries and 2 bilge pumps one on a float switch.

Your hull is bullet proof strong and will last you your lifetime. ENJOY !!!


SICK FISH

[kerncat]

My suggestion is to develop a "base line"...don't build in a lot of tanks, etc until you are absolutly sure of what you might need...What I'd do is just make sure the tanks are empty that are in the boat...all empty (by the way, the tanks you have may not be auto tanks ..... may be plastic boat tanks or God Forbid..RV water tanks (big bang possible!!)...but 80 gallons will not ever work for that boat. Again, I'd make sure the tanks are empty. I'd get a Tempo plastic 6 or 12 gallon above deck marine gas tank with a hose to fit your engine (or use the one you have...you might also just opt to put in about 10 gallons of gas in the tanks you have for the "trial" instead)...used tanks if you choose to go that route are all over the place if you don't get in a hurry...way too much new. Check Craigs list, e bay, used boat parts stores....marine swap meets, etc. Don't try to substitute a fresh water tank or a waste tank for a marine fuel tank...I had one fire on a boat years ago and trust me you don't ever want that to happen....not ever. Look at the internet (google, etc) and get some ideas of how to do your work....it's there if you dig for it. Don't spend a bunch of money on things you may never want or need...just go really slow...one step at a time...lots of time to go slow before next spring...nice winter project.

The boat didn't come from the factory with sand bags...it should run fairly well with a battery in the back and about 10 gallons of gas on board...with all your required safety equipment of course. You may have to tilt the engine in or out a bit (if it has electric trim, change it little at a time and slowly...if not, you may want to check several settings in or out with the adjusting rod). If the trim tabs work try them out ....very slowly and easilly until you know what they do. If the tabs are "fixed" make sure they are flat and level with the bottom to start out.

I'm just suggesting you get the boat as light as possible and set it up the way it came from the factory many years ago....if you find it isn't running fairly trimmed when you try to set your base line, make sure the engine is developing full horse power and running right...also the prop pitch can make a huge difference. If the prop has too much pitch it will not let the engine wind up and develop full power...if it is too "flat" it will over rev and not give you any speed to speak of. I don't know what prop is correct for your boat or set up...maybe someone can chime in. I do know that the old Evinrudes and Johnsons are a lugging engine with lots of torque and I think (again, someone help out here ) that it should wind up to something around 4500 to 5000 rpm's with a fairly light load and fairly gentle seas...don't run it there for long...just to prove the prop and engine are working right....much below that is "lugging" and much over that is over revving.

Once you have a base line on just the boat you can begin to think about adding things like extra batteries, bait, extra fuel, etc...don't add fuel until you have some idea of consumption...figure what your day trips might be on a average and that's enough fuel....with a "prudent reserve" for safety. As I said...till you know, take a jerry can or two and a BIG funnel so you don't run out...you will be able to balance things a bit realizing that 5 gallons of gas weighs about 35-40#.

Sounds to me like you should get close to some folks in your area that have outboard boats and learn some basics..do go slow..do stay safe and consider Vessel assist or Seatow.....cheap insurance against a really expensive tow if you break or run out of gas.

Good luck.

[reefCrawler]

Originally Posted by kerncat

My suggestion is to develop a "base line"...don't build in a lot of tanks, etc until you are absolutly sure of what you might need...What I'd do is just make sure the tanks are empty that are in the boat...all empty (by the way, the tanks you have may not be auto tanks ..... may be plastic boat tanks or God Forbid..RV water tanks (big bang possible!!)...but 80 gallons will not ever work for that boat. Again, I'd make sure the tanks are empty. I'd get a Tempo plastic 6 or 12 gallon above deck marine gas tank with a hose to fit your engine (or use the one you have...you might also just opt to put in about 10 gallons of gas in the tanks you have for the "trial" instead)...used tanks if you choose to go that route are all over the place if you don't get in a hurry...way too much new. Check Craigs list, e bay, used boat parts stores....marine swap meets, etc. Don't try to substitute a fresh water tank or a waste tank for a marine fuel tank...I had one fire on a boat years ago and trust me you don't ever want that to happen....not ever. Look at the internet (google, etc) and get some ideas of how to do your work....it's there if you dig for it. Don't spend a bunch of money on things you may never want or need...just go really slow...one step at a time...lots of time to go slow before next spring...nice winter project.

The boat didn't come from the factory with sand bags...it should run fairly well with a battery in the back and about 10 gallons of gas on board...with all your required safety equipment of course. You may have to tilt the engine in or out a bit (if it has electric trim, change it little at a time and slowly...if not, you may want to check several settings in or out with the adjusting rod). If the trim tabs work try them out ....very slowly and easilly until you know what they do. If the tabs are "fixed" make sure they are flat and level with the bottom to start out.

I'm just suggesting you get the boat as light as possible and set it up the way it came from the factory many years ago....if you find it isn't running fairly trimmed when you try to set your base line, make sure the engine is developing full horse power and running right...also the prop pitch can make a huge difference. If the prop has too much pitch it will not let the engine wind up and develop full power...if it is too "flat" it will over rev and not give you any speed to speak of. I don't know what prop is correct for your boat or set up...maybe someone can chime in. I do know that the old Evinrudes and Johnsons are a lugging engine with lots of torque and I think (again, someone help out here ) that it should wind up to something around 4500 to 5000 rpm's with a fairly light load and fairly gentle seas...don't run it there for long...just to prove the prop and engine are working right....much below that is "lugging" and much over that is over revving.

Once you have a base line on just the boat you can begin to think about adding things like extra batteries, bait, extra fuel, etc...don't add fuel until you have some idea of consumption...figure what your day trips might be on a average and that's enough fuel....with a "prudent reserve" for safety. As I said...till you know, take a jerry can or two and a BIG funnel so you don't run out...you will be able to balance things a bit realizing that 5 gallons of gas weighs about 35-40#.

Sounds to me like you should get close to some folks in your area that have outboard boats and learn some basics..do go slow..do stay safe and consider Vessel assist or Seatow.....cheap insurance against a really expensive tow if you break or run out of gas.

Good luck.

Bob,
Thanks for all the hearty and practical suggestions, will try to manage some time this weekend and get wet my hands first.

"do go slow..do stay safe", exactly! and got your hearty messages.