Silentpardner wrote:
Well, in the spirit of the original thread, I have been pretty busy with the whaler this winter. After seeing the boat on the new trailer, I decided I really ought to restore the boat! That trailer started making the boat look bad!

I have decided to remove all the bottom paint and go to 100% gelcoat hull, I have been told that I can improve my MPG by as much as 3 mpg...I am not really expecting that drastic of a change, but every MPG increase will add range offshore, so I am excited to see what this will do. As a side benefit to stripping and re-gelcoating the hull, I am having all the nicks and scratches from hard use removed. All the screw holes from old transducers and miscellaneous equipment will be completely re-fiberglassed and gelcoated.

I have decided to remove all the teak and completely refinish it as well as remove and inspect the console, and replace any interior wood showing signs of rot. The entire console will be rewired with marine wiring and new fuse blocks using all heat shrinked terminals. My switches all still work, but I will ensure they are completely refurbished as well. I am really tired of the rat's nest of wiring that has built up over the years with the addition and subtraction of electronics and electrical devices, and it has gotten so bad I would be in trouble tracing the wiring for a component in a pinch if something quit working. It took me 3 days to find a lighting short last month!

I have installed a Garmin autopilot on the boat, as well as a CHIRP sounder with the dual range Airmar transducer. At this point, I have WAY more $$$ in this boat than I could ever get out of it, so I figure, What the Heck? Might as well go for broke and have it all like I want it. I got new cushions for the leaning post from the OEM manufacturer after a lot of research. I highly recommend this manufacturer if anyone has a need for an aftermarket leaning post, Spacemaker in Florida. My boat was originally ordered without a post or seat and this was installed by the dealer in 1986 and it has lasted all this time with only minimal wear even with exposure to the elements.

I have purchased a 1985 Johnson 9.9 for a kicker and I am having it installed also. The old Lenco troll n tabs (original) is long since obsolete, and there is no way to get the electric non-digital motors it used anymore, so I am going to modify the trimtabs by removing the motor mounts from them completely. I really like the trimtabs when trolling in moderate seas, so I intend to keep them as they still work perfectly. I am installing a new dual binnacle mount controller to use with the kicker. My original Tach went out last September and I was forced to use a more modern looking tach as a replacement, so now I guess I will go ahead and replace the rest of the gauges with modern matches. I think the handwriting is on the wall for them to go out soon also, they are all the same age as the tach. The new engine controls will also have to be modern as I have been unable to find a suitable vintage one.

I am still unsure whether or not I really want to re-gelcoat the interior of the boat...it is really not all that bad. There are plenty of the tiny spiderweb type cracks, but I like having the original whaler checkering on the no-skid surfaces and I am afraid I will have to lose that if I have it redone.

I expect to have all work completed by March...we shall see! I know I am getting cabin fever already from not fishing since my last trip in October. I certainly am looking forward to getting back on the water soon!