1996 Privateer Renegade I/O to Outboard Conversion

Turned out I had pneumonia ..... 5 days of antibiotics last week. Still having a rough go of it. I did manage a little work today for the first time in about 12 days . Coated the limber holes I cut in the stringers. Roughed up some pvc and epoxied them in place for routing wires and hoses so they aren't laying in the bilge water. The stringers are upside down and the left sides will be up against the transom.

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I had pneumonia 7 yrs ago, It was bacterial, funny thing was, Mr Doctor said my lungs were clear, but to be sure they did an xray, turns out my lungs were full, 2 days later I was bed ridden, for a week and a half my older son had to help me out of bed and do those things we take for granted, I've been sick before but nothing like that.
I got the vaccine shortly after that and I'm waiting on the new one to become available, if you haven't already, I suggest you get one.
Glad your coming around.
 
I have ignored the fuel tank question up until today ..... I guess I knew all along, but chose not to think about. I cut thru a thin fiberglass skin into the foam around the rear base of the tank bay ..... water poured out and there was a gas smell to it.


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I have ignored the fuel tank question up until today ..... I guess I knew all along, but chose not to think about. I cut thru a thin fiberglass skin into the foam around the rear base of the tank bay ..... water poured out and there was a gas smell to it.


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We all knew that was the inevitable result. Hell, you've got the "Tools and the Talent" so you might as well bite the bullet.
 
Could be something as small as a swivel or hook, screw or what have you got under the tank. The ware and or vibration might have worked a tiny hole in the tank?
 
We all knew that was the inevitable result. Hell, you've got the "Tools and the Talent" so you might as well bite the bullet.

Tools and talent for the most part, yes. Stamina, flexibility (knees), aching back and energy .......not so much. When something looks like its gonna be a big job, I always go back to a favorite quote: "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time."
 
Tools and talent for the most part, yes. Stamina, flexibility (knees), aching back and energy .......not so much. When something looks like its gonna be a big job, I always go back to a favorite quote: "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time."

Hey you're making a "SHRINE" there, no sense despoiling it with some basic oversights. Wish I was down there, I would do your crawling work just so I could get a boat restoration masterclass from you!!
 
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I don't get some boat manufacturers when they seal the fuel cell in place cover it with no way of getting it out except cutting the floor up like you just did.
I mean really if your going to go this route go the distance, either make a cell that will last the life time of the boat or make it readily accessible so your not cutting the boat up to get to it.
I was wondering if you had checked the tank, my 85 Aqua had a problem where the bottom of the pickup tube broke off and every time the tank got a little low on fuel the engine died getting up on plane but would run fine putting along at 1200 rpms, switching over to the other pickup tube solved the problem, but looking at the tank I said no way, I replaced it, lucky for me the tank sat in a coffin, the lid needed replacing so I made a new lid too.
Look at it this way, what's your life worth? The one thing that terrifies me a lot is gas in a boat, especially old boats, I had a friend that had a 28 foot Silverton , knowing the boats reputation, I refused to be near the boat when he was filling it up, it was only after he turned the key and it didn't blow up would I get on board, even then I was apprehensive.
When your done you will be comforted in the knowledge that your fuel system is safe and sound, small price to pay considering the alternative.
Are you going to have a new one made or go with a plastic tank , I went with plastic, yes they permeate but the tanks now a days are a lot better, the cost of a new aluminum tank was $ 1k for 120 gallons, I got an 80 gallon Mueller for half that, as I saw no need for a 120 gallon tank as I just fish the sound.
Anyways, looking forward to see how you will go about the replacement.
 
Won't know till I get it out. I would hope at this point that it is corroded beyond repair..... to make this job worth the effort.


I'm pretty sure you'll get your wish on that one Cappy. I think you will find the bottom (V) corroded. the only thing keeping the gas in was the foam.

Anyway as long as you'r in there you should Blueprint it with dimensions where you cut just in case you have to go in there again.
 
That's what I did on the Steiger I have now ..... two 6 gallon portables on the deck. Clean gas all the time, easy to inspect, peace of mind. Most acquaintances want me to put a new tank in this boat. Apparently there were a couple times my fuel management ability was criticized as we pulled up to the ramp with only a half gallon left in the tank. :oops:
 
That's what I did on the Steiger I have now ..... two 6 gallon portables on the deck. Clean gas all the time, easy to inspect, peace of mind. Most acquaintances want me to put a new tank in this boat. Apparently there were a couple times my fuel management ability was criticized as we pulled up to the ramp with only a half gallon left in the tank. :oops:

Don't they have newer plastic gunnel tanks with larger capacities now? Granted you'd have to plumb them in together to keep trim fairly constant...
 
Don't they have newer plastic gunnel tanks with larger capacities now? Granted you'd have to plumb them in together to keep trim fairly constant...


Mr Roccus, IMHO i think Gunnel tanks Sukk. It's like having kitchen cabinets with no kick boards. You don't need being off balance in a boat. I had them in my Hunt. Not a fan. :censored:
 
Not much deconstructing, constructing going on the last couple of days. Put a good amount of time in deciding about the replacement tank. I found one thru Ocean Link that is made by Moeller. It's 63 gallons, polyethylene and has all the fittings located in the same places as the tank I pulled. (the old tank was 95 gallons). Its paid for and will allegedly be shipped on May 1st.
 
I want to buy the outboard locally and visited four different Suzuki dealers today ....... I am having a bit of trouble wrapping my head around the idea of dropping ~25k on an outboard ..... :eek:
 
I want to buy the outboard locally and visited four different Suzuki dealers today ....... I am having a bit of trouble wrapping my head around the idea of dropping ~25k on an outboard ..... :eek:

It is insane, isn't it? When a beautiful, 36' Grady w/3, 350s on the transom, tied up next to us my wife asked, "How much for that boat?" "Waayyyyy more than we can afford, heck there's got to be around $100,000 in engines alone!"
 
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