Picked this boat up in mid February, found on Craigslist in Merritt island. Boat was in okay shape when I saw her, and I knew with a bit of love I could have a nice skiff. I found out from the previous owner skiff holds a few IGFA fly records, for red grouper on fly. Anyways, got the boat home and started going to work.
Replaced both cross members as they were badly corroded. New winch as the old one had some broken teeth. Led trailer lights, and new tires and wheels, bunk carpet.
- First was the trailer.
Replaced both cross members as they were badly corroded. New winch as the old one had some broken teeth. Led trailer lights, and new tires and wheels, bunk carpet.
- Then onto the skiff itself. Hull is a 1998 16' Seastrike with a 2004 Yamaha 40hp 2 smoke. Ran rough and idled high when I got it. One hour and a can of carb cleaner and a few screws and she has been running like a champ ever since. Also replaced water pump and plugs as Maintenance items. Boat runs about 28mph in the corner, cruises 24mph, wouldn't mind hanging a 70 2 stroke off her if I could find one in good condition.
- Replaced the throttle and shift cables as they were showing some age.
- Picked up a very nice throttle binnacle off eBay for a steal, as the old unit was corroded badly and had no tension adjustment so you were stuck holding the throttle all the time.
- Pulled the main deck hatch and replaced fuel line from the pickup all the way through to the motor. New stainless fuel/water separator, inline fuel filter and bulb. Also resealed the sending unit while I was there. Note the rats nest of wiring, and had to do some bleach scrubbing as the underside was covered in grime.
- Topped off the tab oil and got both tabs working, only for the switch to break, so I replaced it with the newer style Bennett euro switch.
- Re-wired the whole boat, heat shrink crimped connections throughout. Added a battery combiner switch.
- New blue sea fuse panel, and rewired the existing blue sea circuit breaker switch panel.
- Replaced bilge and bait well pumps.
- Refinished the poling platform as it was looking rough.
- Replaced both rear well thru-hulls with Marelon units, as the old ones were leaking and had seen better days.
- Added a Bluetooth connective amp so no headunit cluttering up the console exterior, along with two fusion marine speakers.
- Picked up a Simrad Go7 plotter and transducer setup, currently running shoot thru which is great.
- Bought a Haswing 55lb trolling motor and have been thoroughly impressed. Was sort of nervous about this as there wasn't much info out there on the brand, but after having been through some Minn Kota woes in the past figured it was time to give something else a try.
- She has been coming along nicely, still a few more odds and ends to get to but for now she is fish able and everything works correctly.
