LAM, guess what I got today…NOW a build thread

[MPHSystems]

Just got the new transom assembly installed, I’m going to pick up the boat tomorrow.

The plan is to give it a test run on mead Saturday and bring it home Saturday night.

Sunday, take it out for the first trip with the family on Elsinore. My wife has never backed a trailer down a ramp, hopefully it won’t be busy and she can take her time.

 

[Jay Dub]

Just got the new transom assembly installed, I’m going to pick up the boat tomorrow.

The plan is to give it a test run on mead Saturday and bring it home Saturday night.

Sunday, take it out for the first trip with the family on Elsinore. My wife has never backed a trailer down a ramp, hopefully it won’t be busy and she can take her time.

post up some pics. As a thought, can your wife drive the boat? My wife drives the boat while I back down and park the tow rig.

 

[Ziggy]

Just got the new transom assembly installed, I’m going to pick up the boat tomorrow.

The plan is to give it a test run on mead Saturday and bring it home Saturday night.

Sunday, take it out for the first trip with the family on Elsinore. My wife has never backed a trailer down a ramp, hopefully it won’t be busy and she can take her time.

It is said that is the Happiest day of boat ownership
.
Enjoy it with your family, go make some memories

 

[MPHSystems]

post up some pics. As a thought, can your wife drive the boat? My wife drives the boat while I back down and park the tow rig.

Probably, I just don’t know about her docking the boat.

Hopefully it’s slow and I can ride shotgun while she backs the trailer the first few times.

 

[OldSchoolBoats]

Just got the new transom assembly installed, I’m going to pick up the boat tomorrow.

The plan is to give it a test run on mead Saturday and bring it home Saturday night.

Sunday, take it out for the first trip with the family on Elsinore. My wife has never backed a trailer down a ramp, hopefully it won’t be busy and she can take her time.

Elsinore will be dead on Sunday this time of year. If you are launching at La Laguna, just FYI.......that ramp is STEEP!! Not the best place to learn how to back down IMO. She would be better off learning at West Marina, but water might be too low to get out of there and you will risk eating your prop. Perris is way better and a cleaner lake. It will be empty too this time of year on a Sunday.

 

[MPHSystems]

Elsinore will be dead on Sunday this time of year. If you are launching at La Laguna, just FYI.......that ramp is STEEP!! Not the best place to learn how to back down IMO. She would be better off learning at West Marina, but water might be too low to get out of there and you will risk eating your prop. Perris is way better and a cleaner lake. It will be empty too this time of year on a Sunday.

I don’t think I have ever been on Paris. Any hazards I need to know about?

just had my prop cleaned up, it looks better than new, much better!

 

[counterpart7]

Just got the new transom assembly installed, I’m going to pick up the boat tomorrow.

The plan is to give it a test run on mead Saturday and bring it home Saturday night.

Sunday, take it out for the first trip with the family on Elsinore. My wife has never backed a trailer down a ramp, hopefully it won’t be busy and she can take her time.

I back the boat down until the trailer is just in the water, get in the boat and have my wife back down the rest of the way and then she parks the truck. Retrieving I normally tie up to a dock and I go get the truck and back in. If it's calm/less crowded I have her pull the boat on. If it's windy or super busy and I can run to the boat quick enough, I switch places with her and pull the boat on. Has worked well for us and has kept us from being the idiot couple on the ramp yelling at each other

 

[Riverryder]

@MPHSystems who did the work?
Gonna take it to mead? Solo?

 

[MPHSystems]

@MPHSystems who did the work?
Gonna take it to mead? Solo?

Jeff at Diamond Marine in bolder city did the work, I think he’s going to go out with me. Also, my MoTeC tuner is threatening to go out as well.

@OldSchoolBoats 35MPH max on Perris? That will be difficult in this boat… even with my wife hitting my shoulder.

 

[MPHSystems]

So, there was a drip drip drip coming from the seal on the blower snout by the pully…. NP, just order a new seal…. But the snout was hogged out and needs to be replaced 1-2 weeks delivey


Got the batteries mounted and cabled up

Also built custom billet brackets for the hatch ram

 

[MPHSystems]

Annnd…. The blower made some noises we didn’t like, it’s being rebuilt…



Is there some point where this all ends and I can take my family out on the water? It seems like eventually I’m going to have to run out of parts to replace or repair. The boat is only 24’ long, how many things can go wrong?

 

[2FORCEFULL]

I kinda knew what I was getting into. Before I got the boat, I got a 2500 W/Allison, a place on Parker to stay and storage.

BTW, that 2500, I’m going to need a postit note on the windshield saying: “you’re towing a boat” because between the long box and the 990 ft/lb 10 speed, you can absolutely forget the boat is back there.

when I go out on on your boat, you have to be quick on the draw to buy gas because I am quick and sneaky and I will fill your tanks every chance I get. I don’t care how tired I am, I have time to wipe your boat down and I don’t drink so if you accidentally get hammered, I will get your boat back for you. I have a fair idea what it takes before and after to have that great day on the water.


I’m in my 50’s, my wife is still a kid but I was talking with her and I think this boat could probably last us the rest of our lives. Even our 16-year-old is excited and he doesn’t get excited about shit.

nice boat....LMAO.....I told the same thing to my wife 30 years ago.... this boat is a lot of money...68k 30 years ago..... but it's gonna be the last boat we have to buy......

 

[MPHSystems]

So… it looks like I found a temporary trailer to put my boat on while I strip and powder coat and refurbish my trailer..


This boat thing is expensive!

 

[TomD]

nice boat....LMAO.....I told the same thing to my wife 30 years ago.... this boat is a lot of money...68k 30 years ago..... but it's gonna be the last boat we have to buy......

I bet she rolls her eyes a lot too Steve.

 

[MPHSystems]

I think I’m going to sell the boat. After spending 100+ hours working on it and $15K in preventative repairs, not to mention all the stainless this and stainless that on a boat which was supposedly turn key when I purchased it, I realize I have a toy that is more expensive that we can afford. I made a poor decision and have let my family down. The trailer is getting powder coated and breaks replaced from hitch to drum next week. Blower is being rebuilt and then I’m going to figure on a price.


Probably I’ll take out once with the wife and kids just because I want them to have the experience but I think it’s irresponsible for someone at my income level to own this expensive of a toy.

You guys on RDP have all been a lot of help and I appreciate it.

 

[Runs2rch]

I think I’m going to sell the boat. After spending 100+ hours working on it and $15K in preventative repairs, not to mention all the stainless this and stainless that on a boat which was supposedly turn key when I purchased it, I realize I have a toy that is more expensive that we can afford. I made a poor decision and have let my family down. The trailer is getting powder coated and breaks replaced from hitch to drum next week. Blower is being rebuilt and then I’m going to figure on a price.


Probably I’ll take out once with the wife and kids just because I want them to have the experience but I think it’s irresponsible for someone at my income level to own this expensive of a toy.

You guys on RDP have all been a lot of help and I appreciate it.

You will end up keeping it if you take it out.

 

[MPHSystems]

You will end up keeping it if you take it out.

The problem is that I’m building a turbo VW sand car, started that project a year ago and I just go the engine back. Doing the sand car was fairly expensive for me and probably a lose call to even do it but we have loved glam ice for decades. As I get into all the finishing touches at $2-4K a pop, it’s coming in at about 5X my projected cost. I probably need to sell one or the other or both but at the moment neither runs so I can take a bath and sell one now or finish them and just get a haircut.

It’s a giant shit sammich and the worst part is I have made decisions that have a fairly detrimental effect on my family who trust me to make good decisions…. for a couple fucking toys That’s not who I am, yet here I sit.

 

[Riverryder]

@MPHSystems takes alot of courage to kknow that you fucked up and make the decision before its really to late.
sell the sand car and keep the boat! the 240 is a perfect family boat. the memories and fun you can have on a boat surpass a sand car offroad toy anyday.

 

[MPHSystems]

Got my blower back from Martin supercharger, they instill a lot of confidence.

Monday I give the blower to my mechanic then bring the freshly powder coated trailer home for new bunks, breaks and lights.

 

[MPHSystems]

Well I got the trailer back from the powder coat shop, put 4 new dexter drums and backing plates one it. Still need to make new bunks, run new break lines, replace the surge actuator and wire and mount the new lights. Trailer looks great… from 3’ I wish I had spent another day on prep. There is some orange peal and a few depressions which I didn’t notice with the old crappy paint all over it, I think they may have been bonded and rattle canned. Oh well, I’m not a body man, the trailer looks great and it’s sound and solid and sealed from rusting fro at least 10 years. And it does look really nice behind my truck.


Gave the blower to my mechanic and had TPMS sensors installed in the tires. Just need the blower bolted on and the O2 sensors in the bungs for a fresh tune. Also need to figure out how to program the TPMS sensors to my truck.


I’s planning on buying new wood for the bunks today, I know gnhal has better quality wood than HD or loses but what typ of wood? I’m thinking premium pine but is ther something better?

All dexter parts

 

[Duramax]

Are we back to not selling it?

 

[Jay Dub]

Well I got the trailer back from the powder coat shop, put 4 new dexter drums and backing plates one it. Still need to make new bunks, run new break lines, replace the surge actuator and wire and mount the new lights. Trailer looks great… from 3’ I wish I had spent another day on prep. There is some orange peal and a few depressions which I didn’t notice with the old crappy paint all over it, I think they may have been bonded and rattle canned. Oh well, I’m not a body man, the trailer looks great and it’s sound and solid and sealed from rusting fro at least 10 years. And it does look really nice behind my truck.


Gave the blower to my mechanic and had TPMS sensors installed in the tires. Just need the blower bolted on and the O2 sensors in the bungs for a fresh tune. Also need to figure out how to program the TPMS sensors to my truck.


I’s planning on buying new wood for the bunks today, I know gnhal has better quality wood than HD or loses but what typ of wood? I’m thinking premium pine but is ther something better?

View attachment 1094385 View attachment 1094386

All dexter parts


View attachment 1094387

seriously, this is going to be too nice to sell once complete.

 

[MPHSystems]

Are we back to not selling it?

I’d like to hang onto it. But it’s our boat and we get to make the decision. The one who hasn’t put any elbow grease into it gets an equal vote.


I’ve just never had the ability to do crappy work.

If we do end up selling it, having a clean trailer should help with that.

 

[MPHSystems]

I kinda knew what I was getting into. Before I got the boat, I got a 2500 W/Allison, a place on Parker to stay and storage.

BTW, that 2500, I’m going to need a postit note on the windshield saying: “you’re towing a boat” because between the long box and the 990 ft/lb 10 speed, you can absolutely forget the boat is back there.

when I go out on on your boat, you have to be quick on the draw to buy gas because I am quick and sneaky and I will fill your tanks every chance I get. I don’t care how tired I am, I have time to wipe your boat down and I don’t drink so if you accidentally get hammered, I will get your boat back for you. I have a fair idea what it takes before and after to have that great day on the water.


I’m in my 50’s, my wife is still a kid but I was talking with her and I think this boat could probably last us the rest of our lives. Even our 16-year-old is excited and he doesn’t get excited about shit.

this post didn’t age well….

 

[Runs2rch]

this post didn’t age well….

You have a shop up off of Wells? Just walked up that way this am.

 

[OC Mike]

Just found this thread. Boat and trailer have obviously been abused.
You sure are doing right by it and It will certainly be nice when it's done.
And FO SURE it will be your boat when complete!!!!

 

[MPHSystems]

You have a shop up off of Wells? Just walked up that way this am.

I do not but several people working on my car and boat do have shops on/near Wells

 

[MPHSystems]

Just found this thread. Boat and trailer have obviously been abused.
You sure are doing right by it and It will certainly be nice when it's done.
And FO SURE it will be your boat when complete!!!!

I’m trying like heck to hang onto the boat.

Saved a bunch of money on the actuator, brought all the parts and pieces into pacific trailers chino today and was just going to buy a new dico/titan 10 but the gentleman at the counter went through it all and set me up with full rebuild/new master cylinder and my flexible caliper hoses $360


running all new galvanized break lines, and oh joy, I get to learn how to use my new tubing flaring tool… seems easy enough.



Somebody is going to end up with a really nice boat at the end of all this, hopefully its’ my family.

 

[MPHSystems]

Just found this thread. Boat and trailer have obviously been abused.
You sure are doing right by it and It will certainly be nice when it's done.
And FO SURE it will be your boat when complete!!!!

I wouldn’t say abused, more of neglected. The guys (partners) who owned it before me took a hard stab at refurbishing it but several things they hadn’t gotten to and a few things were done poorly.


The interior upholstery is showroom new, the engine, carb, blower, drive, transom assembly and out drive are new or fresh and done correctly. 12 hours or less on each of those and the engine has been leak down tested and compression tested by my mechanic.


The interior gellcoat needs some elbow grease and the stereo needs rewire but I was a rather accomplished competitive car stereo installer in my youth.


Just focusing on making the trailer safe and the boat reliable right now.

 

[MPHSystems]

Worse than a Rubin cube

 

[Runs2rch]

Worse than a Rubin cube View attachment 1094869

What the hell is a Rubin Cube?!

 

[MPHSystems]

Rubix cube LOL

 

[MPHSystems]

bead blasting the red off all the parts I have to reuse.

Probably have them powder coated black or a close gray.

 

[liquid addiction]

Worse than a Rubin cube View attachment 1094869

I defiantly recognize all of the McMaster Carr stainless bolt boxes. LOL

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

Well I got the trailer back from the powder coat shop, put 4 new dexter drums and backing plates one it. Still need to make new bunks, run new break lines, replace the surge actuator and wire and mount the new lights. Trailer looks great… from 3’ I wish I had spent another day on prep. There is some orange peal and a few depressions which I didn’t notice with the old crappy paint all over it, I think they may have been bonded and rattle canned. Oh well, I’m not a body man, the trailer looks great and it’s sound and solid and sealed from rusting fro at least 10 years. And it does look really nice behind my truck.


Gave the blower to my mechanic and had TPMS sensors installed in the tires. Just need the blower bolted on and the O2 sensors in the bungs for a fresh tune. Also need to figure out how to program the TPMS sensors to my truck.


I’s planning on buying new wood for the bunks today, I know gnhal has better quality wood than HD or loses but what typ of wood? I’m thinking premium pine but is ther something better?

View attachment 1094385 View attachment 1094386

All dexter parts


View attachment 1094387

I'd tell you to look at Ultimate Bunk Boards (ultimatebunkboards.com) but this is your first boat and I dont want the boat slipping off the trailer after you've done all this work on it if you happen to not secure it to the trailer properly. If you go this route, get their through-bolt stainless kit.

So you might be better off with kiln dried oak or cypress 2x4s, that you then varnish before wrapping with UV stabilized marine carpet and use stainless staples to secure it to the wood (all on the bottom of the bunks). Dont 100% wrap the wood, leave the bottom open to drain. Use stainless or galvanized lag screws to put the bunks on the trailer but be careful on the length.

 

[gqchris]

Worse than a Rubin cube View attachment 1094869

I went thru that same thing on my Hallet. I made some blind pins out of bolts to line that bitch up when putting it back together and used that to push the real pins thru. It was a fun party doing that in the Storage Unit. LOL

 

[MPHSystems]

I went thru that same thing on my Hallet. I made some blind pins out of bolts to line that bitch up when putting it back together and used that to push the real pins thru. It was a fun party doing that in the Storage Unit. LOL

I’m seeing what you are talking about. Those rear rollers and shocks are going to be a real peach to line up. I’m looking at it and thinking wooden dowels.


If I can strip and rebuild a Kahr P380, I can do this LOL

EDIT:

just measured thos big rear pins and they are 0.875”. 1/2” PVC OD is 0.840”. I don’t have any at the moment but I think I’ll give PVC a shot.

 

[JDub24]

I’m seeing what you are talking about. Those rear rollers and shocks are going to be a real peach to line up. I’m looking at it and thinking wooden dowels.


If I can strip and rebuild a Kahr P380, I can do this LOL

EDIT:

just measured thos big rear pins and they are 0.875”. 1/2” PVC OD is 0.840”. I don’t have any at the moment but I think I’ll give PVC a shot.

This sounds all to familiar … bought a boat and it appeared to be in decent shape. Boy was I wrong. Spent all my ownership time dumping money into it in hopes that I could enjoy it with my family as our first boat. That didn’t happen but I learned a lot and ended up spending our last summer in CA with a rv spot in Blythe and borrowing a boat from a good friend to salvage the summer. It turned out to be a great summer and the kids had a blast. I wrecked my liver from the stress of it all but they never knew.

Got to love boat ownership.

 

[gqchris]

I’m seeing what you are talking about. Those rear rollers and shocks are going to be a real peach to line up. I’m looking at it and thinking wooden dowels.


If I can strip and rebuild a Kahr P380, I can do this LOL

EDIT:

just measured thos big rear pins and they are 0.875”. 1/2” PVC OD is 0.840”. I don’t have any at the moment but I think I’ll give PVC a shot.

Yup, I went to hardware store and bought some Bolts that were almost same width as Pins and grinded em down. Had to have another set of hands with my friend but we got it finally! Fun times sir, looks like youre making awesome progress!

 

[MPHSystems]

This sounds all to familiar … bought a boat and it appeared to be in decent shape. Boy was I wrong. Spent all my ownership time dumping money into it in hopes that I could enjoy it with my family as our first boat. That didn’t happen but I learned a lot and ended up spending our last summer in CA with a rv spot in Blythe and borrowing a boat from a good friend to salvage the summer. It turned out to be a great summer and the kids had a blast. I wrecked my liver from the stress of it all but they never knew.

Got to love boat ownership.

That‘s the story of the dune buggy, it was supposed to be ready for Halloween but now it looks like next halloween.

The boat is real close, to run it needs:

blower installed/jet carbs
attach hatch ram
finish trailer


doodads:
colorsand and wax interior
rewire stereo
paint or replace windshield.
Carpet underside of hatch cover
replace swivel mec on passenger seat
glovebox door
carpet ski-locker
gunnal lights.

 

[BingerFang]

I hope you get to enjoy it with your family. I’m pulling for you!

 

[MPHSystems]

Yup, I went to hardware store and bought some Bolts that were almost same width as Pins and grinded em down. Had to have another set of hands with my friend but we got it finally! Fun times sir, looks like youre making awesome progress!

I just tried it with 1/2” PVC. Took some finagling but it worked! Even got both rear rollers to stay in place.


Let’s see if it works again once I have all the parts back from powder coat and the brake line connected.

 

[MPHSystems]

Got the trailer all wired up today, added 5 red rock lights facing inwards. They probably will look cool but mostly if I get stuck waiting at the ramp till 0’ dark-thirty, should make it easier to put the boat on the trailer.

Side markers were too big for the steps so I had to order some smaller ones, other than that the wiring is complete


I might start plumbing the breaks tonight.


Carpeting bunks tomorrow. that’s probably a full day’s job at least a few hours.

 

[Riverryder]

howd you do rock lights? i want to add some to help see the dam thing towing in the night. i have really dark windows and cant see the boat at night..

 

[MPHSystems]

howd you do rock lights? i want to add some to help see the dam thing towing in the night. i have really dark windows and cant see the boat at night..

The are facing in toward the hull.

Basically, Just put them opposite the side marker spots in the steps in front and behind the fenders, put another center of the rear center running light.

 

[MPHSystems]

Just need some adel clamps, side marker lights and a few pieces of hardware and it’s done! Perhaps 2-3 hrs of work and I’m taking it to Pacific trailers to bleed the brakes.

 

[FROGMAN524]

It’s not juse that, there is a 1 page list of thing to do, the boat is at my buddies shop, 4 hrs from my home and I’ve been spending weekends (and thousands) ”getting ahead of problems” and it just doesn’t seem like I’m making any progress. At this point, the boat would literally sink if I put it in the water.

This did make me happy though:

Not sure on your plans for the engine but make sure you replace those gold comp roller rockers. They are a point of failure. Ask JD Dearden on here about it.

 

[Runs2rch]

Not sure on your plans for the engine but make sure you replace those gold comp roller rockers. They are a point of failure. Ask JD Dearden on here about it.

They are Cranes. Always good to inspect them.

 

[wzuber]

They are Cranes. Always good to inspect them.

Yep, call Harland Sharp rocker arms. They may be able to go thru them, inspect etc. Maybe replace needle bearings roller trunions if necessary?

 

[MPHSystems]

Well, the rockers Are fine. Boat runs like a raped ape. When that blower spins up and starts whistling, I get a chubby.


Put in at lake Mohave, I guess Hemingway is just effed. Boat pops up on plane, pulls hard all the ay through 5200, that’s all the higher we revved it. It looks great, sounds great and then suddenly it didn’t want to go into drive.


Went back and disassembled the shift linkage and it goes into N and R just fine but doesn’t even try to go into F.