It's official. I'm in the club now!

[Kevlar7r]

Well guys, it's official. Signed the paperwork, and brought her home!

We made the 170 mile journey from Port Canaveral to Jacksonville. No major issues, but found a few small ones. Port fuel gauge is disappointingly optimistic, showing full all the time. Fortunately, ran out of fuel for the port right in front of a marina in Smyrna Beach.
Shower wouldn't drain right, and the bolster over the main bunk fell down.. Doesn't look like anything was holding it, just wedged in.
Had a scary moment when the port oil pressure gauge failed, but no alarm. Did some diagnosis, and I believe its the sender. 10 hours later engine was still running beautiful.

The aft cabin floor is constantly wet. I think I saw another thread where the floor collapsed there on someone's 3000, and I think that is what happened here.

Also, there is 320lbs of ballast in storage compartment on the starboard side, and I still list a bit to port. I think I also remember a thread where someone was discussing these all list to port.

Here's a pic of her tied up at her new home, and one of me and my first mate, Chandler. (He's recovering from a play date with a raccoon. The raccoon won.)

[CGG]

Congrats!

[mmwjr]

Kev congrats

Regarding the gauges remove the sense wire from the sendors and the gauge should deflect in one direction then ground the sense wire and they should deflect in the other direction, if they do the sendors are bad.

I am sure other with this model will chime in on the floor and list issues.

Fine looking and feisty first mate.

[Kevlar7r]

Mmwjr, before I go spelunking in the engine compartment, do you happen to know where the senders are on these 5.0l engines? I see one hanging off the oil filter, but I haven't spotted the other yet.

[Kevlar7r]

Found a dead raccoon in the yard today when I got home from work. Maybe Chandler didn't lose after all.

[mmwjr]

Kev call me Mike.

The fuel sendor will be on the rear of the gas tank next to the fuel supply line to the engine.

The oil pressure gauge sendor will be either at the rear port side of the block next to the filter or near the distributor. It will be bell shaped.

[Kevlar7r]

Solved the oil pressure issue, the wire fell off. As far as fuel, the sender meters out as okay, so possible gauge issue.

In case someone is searching in the future, here's some info:

Oil pressure sender location above oil filter with switch.

Port fuel level sender location behind access panel under wet bar.

I'm guessing there is a similar access panel on the starboard either under the captains seat, or behind the wall panel in the aft cabin.

[mmwjr]

One down and one to go. Did you test the fuel gauge as I outlined in an earlier post?

[Kevlar7r]

Yes, I pulled the sender and tested it, and its fine. Pulled the dash panel and swapped wires for the gauges. Its the gauge. Already found a new one, gonna order it tomorrow. Also solved the leak in the pressure water system... The transom shower wasn't shut off all the way, lol.

Now to build new floor in aft cabin, determine why the macerator doesn't work, re-waterproof the bimini. Well, that's till this winter when we haul and do the bottom and trim rams.

[Kevlar7r]

Did you know, that those dc breakers under the dash can't be reset with your finger? You need to use a key, or a stick or something to push them in far enough.

In other news, there is nothing wrong with my macerator pump.

[mmwjr]

Kv glad tohear you have resolved the issues. No I did not know the breakers are difficult to reset.

[Kevlar7r]

Its not that their difficult, you just have to push them in further than you think, and further than I can with my huge fingers. They can look and feel like they are reset, and not be.

[Innamorata]

Good info Kevin, I'm a learning new owner myself and every issue has been a mystery but also well so far.

BTW did you make 170miles on one fuel load? If so that's great, I've never got better that 1 mpg.

[Kevlar7r]

Oh no, there 2 fuel stops.... But that's a whole nother story of learning that the port fuel gauge didn't work.

[Kevlar7r]

So, I might as well update on what's going on with my boat.



Tried to leave my dock at too low of a tide, and dinged a prop... The prop I just had repaired. Wasn't aware it happened, but couldn't figure out why I was having so much trouble staying on plane. Thought I had picked up some growth, so was pushing through it hoping it would scrape off. Port motor starts running rough, pulled back throttles, and the port motor dies. Try to restart it, and the starter dies.



That actually probably saved the motor.



Turns out I blew a head gasket. Tore down that motor, and the heads are out being checked.



While in there working, I noticed that the headers on the starboard motor are developing quite a bit of rust around the joints. Between that and the fact that that motor has been starting hard, and smoking a bit on startup, I went ahead and ordered a set of new headers for that motor, plus a new prop for the port.



Lots of new toys coming in the mail!

[mmwjr]

Kev sorry you are having so many issues but it sounds like you have them under control.

At least it's still early in the season. Hope she's upnand running soon.

BTY what is the MLW at your pier?

[Kevlar7r]

My dock is juuuust off the official charts, so I don't know what the official is. Typically I get down to about 1.5 feet of water. It's a soft mud bottom. This time of year we get a few even lower tides. Usually I can leave the bow tied up and swing the stern out a bit, and have enough water to fire up. This time in particular, I tried to be a little too bold. Usually we just don't come or go at low tide. I'm waiting to get my floating dock built, which will push me 10' further out, and wont have any depth problems anymore.

[mmwjr]

That's some skinny water.

Longer dock sounds great.

[Kevlar7r]

Its only a problem about 2 hours a day. The rest of the there is plenty of water. Midsummer through spring, I usually have at least 3 feet of water. Also, that is at the dock. It drops off another 1.5-2 feet by the other side of the boat.

[Kevlar7r]

Here's what my engine room looks like at the moment.