A Day in the Life of.....

[Shlbyntro]

Looks like an industrial integrated tool carrier. Some really unique styles like that in the ports around Los Angeles and Houston I’ve seen. You want to find unique and purpose built machines go to the ports or mines. Trips me out when I see units like that on my travels.

nope just a good old fashion really big
loader with a custom made fifth wheel attachment. It's actually originally from Johnson Cat out in CA.

My God! What are you going to do to it? Anything looks to be a huge project. And what is that loader, forklift, tractor thing moving it? I've only seen semis, nothing like that

it is shaping out to be a really large project. I found a lot of stuff today after getting it out of the water

 

[clarence]

currently it is a 60ft Cruisers Cantius

Seems silly, but I suppose is an inexpensive waterfront home.

 

[monkeyswrench]

nope just a good old fashion really big
loader with a custom made fifth wheel attachment. It's actually originally from Johnson Cat out in CA.


it is shaping out to be a really large project. I found a lot of stuff today after getting it out of the water

Well, at least it means work, and work means food and shelter...and hopefully some fun stuff after!

 

[Shlbyntro]

I'm not a fan of pods. The technology is cool and all but it is constantly breaking down and very expensive to maintain and repair. It is also very proprietary. One of my good friends pretty much does nothing but maintain and repair all the pod boats on the lake, and there aren't that many but he's never twiddling his thumbs doing nothing.

when it comes to big boats I prefer shafts, or sterns in the alternative. The juice is not worth the squeeze for pods imo

 

[Shlbyntro]

had to order some parts but am back to work on the houseboat. Traditional engine lifting methods are not an option so this is what happens unless you have the ability to tie up a telehandler for several days. Engine couplers and now complete transom assemblies all while being charged by the day for this beast to sit on the trailer.

 

[monkeyswrench]

had to order some parts but am back to work on the houseboat. Traditional engine lifting methods are not an option so this is what happens unless you have the ability to tie up a telehandler for several days. Engine couplers and now complete transom assemblies all while being charged by the day for this beast to sit on the trailer. View attachment 1274088

We have to build you an aluminum take down setup. Make the work before the work a little easier on you!

 

[Shlbyntro]

We have to build you an aluminum take down setup. Make the work before the work a little easier on you!

ya this is a steel take down on loan to me. the main beam is still a good 70+ lbs by itself. I'd be curious about an aluminum I-beam supporting a fully dressed big block at about 800lbs

 

[monkeyswrench]

ya this is a steel take down on loan to me. the main beam is still a good 70+ lbs by itself. I'd be curious about an aluminum I-beam supporting a fully dressed big block at about 800lbs

Seen swing out gantry setups lifting BBC's, hat to pan. Aluminum heads, but a ton of blower sitting on top. That was with an 8ft boom, supported by the trailer on one side, and post on the outer. 4-5ft shouldn't be too rough?

 

[Shlbyntro]

Back on the houseboat today. 2 engine couplers and 1 transom assembly replaced. Other transom assembly tomorrow.

 

[Shlbyntro]

super tough day of work today! The stereo didn't make enough boom, so I added an additional sub. I also did some reconfiguring of the cooling for the electronics compartment. The 2 main duct covers on the side were flipped over to allow them to breath better and the output was turned into a 2nd input with a larger cooling fan now positioned directly above the amplifier to assist in drawing heat out.

Also the Firefly main control board took a shit during the last use. Everything just shut off. The Firefly folks were very nice and did not hesitate to send me out a new one under warranty (van is only 6 mo old) I didn't even have to ask, I was just looking for technical support. A very good company to deal with, my only gripe is good luck getting them on the phone unless you give them your number and wait for them to call you.

I spent the rest of the day "setting up the new controller and tuning the stereo."

 

[HubbaHubbaLife]

super tough day of work today! The stereo didn't make enough boom, so I added an additional sub. I also did some reconfiguring of the cooling for the electronics compartment. The 2 main duct covers on the side were flipped over to allow them to breath better and the output was turned into a 2nd input with a larger cooling fan now positioned directly above the amplifier to assist in drawing heat out.

Also the Firefly main control board took a shit during the last use. Everything just shut off. The Firefly folks were very nice and did not hesitate to send me out a new one under warranty (van is only 6 mo old) I didn't even have to ask, I was just looking for technical support. A very good company to deal with, my only gripe is good luck getting them on the phone unless you give them your number and wait for them to call you.

I spent the rest of the day "setting up the new controller and tuning the stereo." View attachment 1280631 View attachment 1280632 View attachment 1280633 View attachment 1280634 View attachment 1280644

Beats the hell outta some of those bilges I bet

 

[Shlbyntro]

I'm out here literally driving a boat in circles today to configure the digital compass for autopilot that will never be used

 

[monkeyswrench]

I'm out here literally driving a boat in circles today to configure the digital compass for View attachment 1282113 autopilot that will never be used

Sounds like a good day!

 

[DRYHEAT]

I'm out here literally driving a boat in circles today to configure the digital compass for autopilot that will never be used View attachment 1282113

Thank you for the suffering you endure for mankind.

 

[Shlbyntro]

We are officially back in the water and safely inside her slip. If you look in the background, they already have the next one teed up

 

[Wedgy]

Gotta love that. Not bad duty. For Texas!

 

[Shlbyntro]

Some customers really fucking suck. I wish I could elaborate, but no.

None of anything you see above, a different boat with a pos owner

 

[Shlbyntro]

Your boating content for the day. In case anybody is wondering, a slide anchor is not enough to pull a boat off the trailer. Fortunately there was this mangled heavy steel dumpster right next to my dump site. And just like that, I have a good service trailer.

 

[Shlbyntro]

It's work equipment service and repair season!

Im helping a friend whose another independant like I am make some upgrades to his big hauler trailer. He does most my big boat haulout fir me these days so its beneficial for me as well. We're adding a 4th axle to help with tongue weight and to also up the trailers load capacity. We should be able to handle up to 40 footers once done. We beat the front suspension apart with the help of some large hammers, pry bars, and a flame wrench. Then I welded new shackle hangers to the frame for the conversion. He will be bolting up the stuff tomorrow.

 

[Shlbyntro]

it may look like a beautiful day to be out on the water, but it was 37 out when I got moving this morning. on the plus side, Lake Travis is up 5 ft from all the recent rains

 

[clarence]

Only another 50' to go!

 

[Shlbyntro]

some more quality work right here.... This transom was installed on this boat about 3 years ago by a "professional" shop. Can you see whats missing?? job security I suppose but it bothers me that there are people putting out this level of work at all

 

[HubbaHubbaLife]

Way over my grade .... but looks scary

 

[Eliminator21vdrive]

some more quality work right here.... This transom was installed on this boat about 3 years ago by a "professional" shop. Can you see whats missing?? job security I suppose but it bothers me that there are people putting out this level of work at all
View attachment 1298847 View attachment 1298848
View attachment 1298876

Go the fast way and forget to cap it.

 

[Shlbyntro]

Go the fast way and forget to cap it.

The clamping bolt is completely missing on the tiller. I cut the hole open to fix the loose steering to find that. The outer shift cable was frozen in place and somebody only replaced the the inner cable, I had to drill it out. If I had any reason whatsoever to be pulling the engine I would have told him to junk this transom assembly rather than repair it. I don't even understand why the tiller bolt was off to begin with, nothing else was replaced by whoever did that

 

[Shlbyntro]

Anybody think this ground is any good??

 

[Bugginout]

Anybody think this ground is any good?? View attachment 1302226

Perfect

 

[shunter2005]

Anybody think this ground is any good?? View attachment 1302226

I was thinking, maybe you should pour a little Coca Cola on it and call it good!!!

 

[Done-it-again]

@Shlbyntro you work near Canyon Lake? If so, looks like Robust marine repair is selling their property....

 

[4Waters]

@Shlbyntro you work near Canyon Lake? If so, looks like Robust marine repair is selling their property....

It's driving distance

 

[Shlbyntro]

driving distance yes. but still a good 1.5-2hrs away. I'm on Lake Travis which is on the NW corner of the Austin Metro area. Canyon Lake is a much more seasonal lake than where I'm at.

 

[Done-it-again]

It's driving distance

driving distance yes. but still a good 1.5-2hrs away. I'm on Lake Travis which is on the NW corner of the Austin Metro area. Canyon Lake is a much more seasonal lake than where I'm at.

Wasn't sure if you were going to have more work coming your way... If they were shutting down, they could be relocating.

 

[Shlbyntro]

Today's project!

 

[poncho]

Today's project!

View attachment 1303332

How in the hell do you work down there

 

[Shlbyntro]

How in the hell do you work down there

This is one of the roomiest engine bays I have ever worked in outside of a Summerset. I was freaking ecstatic to see all this space

 

[poncho]

I'll think of you before I bitch about space the next time

 

[Shlbyntro]

This "freshly rebuit" transmission with less than 100 miles on it spun a bearing in the oil pump and started puking ATF out the front main seal. It took me nearly as much time to access the thing as it did to remove it, again. Fortunately all my bolts were still well lubricated from the last time I plucked it. Good thing I had nothing to do with it being rebuilt.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Somebody pulled the pump, sat it aside, "rebuilt" the core and stuck the pump back in...that'd be my guess. Hopefully the owner wasn't too far from home

 

[Shlbyntro]

Today's project!

also this was on a boat sitting nearby and couldn't help but take a picture

 

[Shlbyntro]

I'm going to lose my ass on this upper gear set replacement but after fighting this race for 5 man hours I WIN MOTHER FUCKER!!!! and I no longer care I did burn up a diamond bit on the dremel cracking the bastard out tho.

 

[poncho]

I'm going to lose my ass on this upper gear set replacement but after fighting this race for 5 man hours I WIN MOTHER FUCKER!!!! and I no longer care I did burn up a diamond bit on the dremel cracking the bastard out tho. View attachment 1309763 View attachment 1309765 View attachment 1309766 View attachment 1309767 View attachment 1309770 View attachment 1309768

I sometimes run a bead or two with a stick welder and 7018 rod, tends to shrink them.

Either way that can be a miserable job.

 

[Shlbyntro]

I sometimes run a bead or two with a stick welder and 7018 rod, tends to shrink them.

Either way that can be a miserable job.

I've generally had better luck going the "cut and crack" route. This one just happened to be in the one spot where I couldn't get inside with a cutting wheel. "A friend" has messed up too many drives when the welder came out

 

[poncho]

I've generally had better luck going the "cut and crack" route. This one just happened to be in the one spot where I couldn't get inside with a cutting wheel. "A friend" has messed up too many drives when the welder came out

Never had to do it on a drive, just equipment on the fishing boat.

 

[OCMerrill]

I see those Cummins Mercruiser's and man do I have stories which equate to big waste of freaking money. Mercruiser does a ton of stuff right. Marinizing a Cummins was not one of them. Apparently there was a class action on all this below but we were never notified.

Those Aluminum Core aftercoolers ingesting salt water, pitting the cylinder heads, valve seats, and valves. Leaking intake valves causing High IAT's. and flames shooting up the intake manifolds (this was the cause of high IAT's). Several mechanics later with a bunch of failed diagnosis and me at 12:30 am one Saturday night with all three partners... Frustrated as all hell....why are you taking the intake horn off? Just start it!

Oh look...flames.

 

[braindead]

I see those Cummins Mercruiser's and man do I have stories which equate to big waste of freaking money. Mercruiser does a ton of stuff right. Marinizing a Cummins was not one of them. Apparently there was a class action on all this below but we were never notified.

Those Aluminum Core aftercoolers ingesting salt water, pitting the cylinder heads, valve seats, and valves. Leaking intake valves causing High IAT's. and flames shooting up the intake manifolds (this was the cause of high IAT's). Several mechanics later with a bunch of failed diagnosis and me at 12:30 am one Saturday night with all three partners... Frustrated as all hell....why are you taking the intake horn off? Just start it!

Oh look...flames.

That’s awesome, got any video?

 

[Eliminator21vdrive]

I'm going to lose my ass on this upper gear set replacement but after fighting this race for 5 man hours I WIN MOTHER FUCKER!!!! and I no longer care I did burn up a diamond bit on the dremel cracking the bastard out tho. View attachment 1309763 View attachment 1309765 View attachment 1309766 View attachment 1309767 View attachment 1309770 View attachment 1309768

A trick I learned is mig weld a bead on the bearing surface and as the weld cools it shrinks and the heat also helps = they will fall out.

 

[OCMerrill]

That’s awesome, got any video?

This was back in 2014 or 2015. I'll look for the video. I know we have one.

IAT is Intake Air Temp. Made sense to see what the hell was causing 190 degree intake air temps, sounding the alarm, and throwing a code.

When pulling the head we learned quickly how heavy a common rail cylinder head is.

 

[Shlbyntro]

"Hey, while you're working on the transmission can you install a leveling kit? It'll take less than an hour."

 

[HNL2LHC]

"Hey, while you're working on the transmission can you install a leveling kit? It'll take less than an hour." View attachment 1310080

One hour!?!??!?! If it is that easy just do it yourself.……

 

[SBMech]

"Hey, while you're working on the transmission can you install a leveling kit? It'll take less than an hour." View attachment 1310080

"But the you-tube video shows him doing it in his driveway in 45 minutes, how can it take you 8 hours?!?!"

I never agree to doing shit I have not done before without a thorough exploration and summary of the scope of work. Preferably with specs and details!

I've been burned 1 too many times with " Reddit says it's all plug and play man, totally just drops in!"