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Post Info TOPIC: Boats... The love/hate relationship
John D


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Boats... The love/hate relationship
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I love having a boat. Towing the kids tubing/skiing, taking a sunset putt-putt with a toddy around the lake, or just a speed run down the length of the lake.

I HATE BOATS. It's totally obvious that the designers have NEVER had to work on one, and some things are just completely idiotic. Imgonna

One of the biggest PITA's in winterizing is getting to and removing the two plugs in the sides of the engine block. They're wayyyyyy down near the oil pan seam, one is nearly blocked by the starter, the other by coolant and oil filter lines. On top of that, you're leaning over the rear seat backrest, fiddling blind down in the bowels. Then (for reasons known only to MerCruiser) for some inane purpose, they didn't use a simple 1/4"NPT plug directly in the block. Nooooo, they put a 1/4" to 1/8"NPT reducer in the block, and used a 1/8" plug headscratch.

Well, I've been threatening for a few years to just bite it, pull the rear seat assy, and replace the plug/reducer with a darn petcock. About a dozen screws later the rear bench seat was out, and I had clear access to the sides of the engine. Got the proper wrenches, layed down in there, and proceeded to go after the brass adapters in the block.

Now, knowing full well that MerCruiser uses a thread sealer something along the lines of Locktite 9million, I did the "tighten it first" trick to break it loose. Even used a 6-point wrench! Got in there, gave a pull and heard/felt a little "tink"... YES! Yes that is until I heard another sound. The sound of the top 1/2 of the adapter falling off into the bilge... leaving the rest in the engine block banghead

So now I've got a sheared-off brass fitting (did I mention I HATE BOATS) in the engine block. NO room to work, let alone get at the fitting properly to use my extractor kit. Time to brainstorm.

I wound up using a blade for my air-hacksaw, and by HAND (1/2" strokes at a time) sawing 3 slots in the (now) brass sleeve in the block.  Got the propane torch, heated the ever-lovin-crap out of it, and got my "el-cheapo" screw extractor kit, and tapped it into the sleeve. Another promise to the Lord, put a wrench to it and "TINK"... the little bugger spun out!nana I ran a tap in the hole to clean up any thread buggering I created, and screwed the petcock in place.

(did I mention I HATE BOATS)

Guess what? The other side did exactly the same thing!

What should have been about a 1 hour job turned into 6 hours... but now I have two nice shiny new brass petcocks in the sides of my engine block, and no tools needed to drain the engine this fall.

 



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John D. - St. Louis Park, MN.

1965 El Camino - LT-1, 4L60e, 4wh discs, SC&C susp.
2013 F-150 Platinum - Twin Turbo 3.5

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Chris S


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Nice work. 

Great idea with the petcocks. 



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Chris S.

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Jon H


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I understand the pleasures of boating. First greatest day is when you buy the boat, second best day is when yo sell it! Just a hole in the water to throw money into. Been there done that a couple of times.

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John D


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Just to give you and idea of how much "FUN" this little job was... here's a few pics and a video off the 'net. (The boat is a SeaRay, but the same engine, and nearly the same engine bay access!)

Now imaging trying to get tools in there to do machine-work, and remove a busted off fitting or bolt...

(Did I mention I HATE BOATS?)



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John D. - St. Louis Park, MN.

1965 El Camino - LT-1, 4L60e, 4wh discs, SC&C susp.
2013 F-150 Platinum - Twin Turbo 3.5

2018 Factory Five MkIV Roadster build thread
bowtie


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My comedic opinion: boats are just a mobile version of a cabin. I know some people really enjoy having one, that's great. All I see is two weekends a month of leave quick on Friday after work (or early Saturday), 3 or so hours later, either hang out til bed (Friday) or start Saturday with mowing the "grass". Follow that up with trying to make do without something you forgot to bring up and making a list of stuff to bring up next time to fix the stuff you found to do on this trip. If you ever get the boat going, you get to take a break doing that, then park it for another week or two.

Those of you that have a cabin, you know there's some truth to this. I make fun, partly because I really did like having a place to go that's just for relaxing, but I couldn't keep the place we had in Wisconsin. I inherited it, like many people do, but I never could relax there so I sold it. Another reason I decided to sell was that I was too concerned about theft, vandalism, or any of the tall thin and dying Jack Pines toppling over onto the place or the garage.

That being said, if I lived there year round, I would have a differing opinion.

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Bryan-NW 'burbs
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John D


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Too true as I have both... But my make-up being I cannot just sit still and "relax", it suits me.
My relaxation is tinkering/putzing around with stuff - on my terms & schedule (unlike work). I may bytch about it, but I really don't mind all that much.
Sheryl's the one who'll put a bathing suit on, grab a book, and go bake on the dock.

The place is an investment...paid for... and now assesses for more than my house in the city. Something to hand down to the kids if they stay in my good graces

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John D. - St. Louis Park, MN.

1965 El Camino - LT-1, 4L60e, 4wh discs, SC&C susp.
2013 F-150 Platinum - Twin Turbo 3.5

2018 Factory Five MkIV Roadster build thread
Lost in the 60s


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bowtie wrote:

My comedic opinion: boats are just a mobile version of a cabin. I know some people really enjoy having one, that's great. All I see is two weekends a month of leave quick on Friday after work (or early Saturday), 3 or so hours later, either hang out til bed (Friday) or start Saturday with mowing the "grass". Follow that up with trying to make do without something you forgot to bring up and making a list of stuff to bring up next time to fix the stuff you found to do on this trip. If you ever get the boat going, you get to take a break doing that, then park it for another week or two.

Those of you that have a cabin, you know there's some truth to this. I make fun, partly because I really did like having a place to go that's just for relaxing, but I couldn't keep the place we had in Wisconsin. I inherited it, like many people do, but I never could relax there so I sold it. Another reason I decided to sell was that I was too concerned about theft, vandalism, or any of the tall thin and dying Jack Pines toppling over onto the place or the garage.

That being said, if I lived there year round, I would have a differing opinion.

 So you're ready to buy a different cabin on the north shore of Big Sandy...laughing

Oh, I may throw in a boat too...stirpot

John, doesn't someone make an 1/8th inch petcock ??



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Mitch D.   River Falls, WI

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John D


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Oh they make them, but why neck down the 1/4"NPT hole already drilled & tapped in the block?? Still can't figure that one out.

Using fresh sucked direct from the lake water for cooling, you won't believe the rust & crud that comes out of the cooling jackets at the end of a season. MerCruiser even recommends jabbing/poking around in the holes with a wire to break-up & dislodge any "crud" from the drains to ensure complete emptying. So why neck down the hole and make it smaller??

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John D. - St. Louis Park, MN.

1965 El Camino - LT-1, 4L60e, 4wh discs, SC&C susp.
2013 F-150 Platinum - Twin Turbo 3.5

2018 Factory Five MkIV Roadster build thread
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