1987 21 BR Project

[NWABoater]

I'm starting a new topic to log my progress on the "restoration" of my '87 21BR. Check out my intro thread for some background on the project. viewtopic.php?f=45&t=4305

To recap, the boat is an '87 21BR with the 5.7L 260.

Ok, so since my last update I've mostly just been cleaning. It's amazing how dirty a boat can get if you leave it uncovered under a tree for 2 years...

I do have one funny update though. So in my intro thread I mentioned how damn heavy the engine hatch was which was made worse by not having any strut support. So tonight I've got the hatch up so that I can poke around in the engine and in the past I've used a port to prop it open but I was lazy tonight and found that the hatch would support itself if tilted past the tipping point so that the top of the rear bench was resting against the hand rails on the stern. Seemed ok? That lasted all of maybe 2 minutes before the whole thing snapped free and went tumbling out of the boat. Turns out it wasn't the hatch that was water logged, it was the damn seat! That sucker must weigh 150 lbs! Definitely water logged.

Anyway, the hatch itself seems ok. I'll just have to remount it with a new wood backing board and then replace the bench seat with something new. If anyone has ideas on a budget friendly replacement send them my way.

[NWABoater]

Note, I might just create a back bench seat myself. I was going to replace the front seats myself anyway so might as well save some money here too.

[akorcovelos]

Post pics of the bench seat, might get the juices flowing on suggestions.

[NWABoater]

Here ya go!

[NWABoater]

Wondering if anyone can help answer this for me. I only have one section of the floor which isn't rock solid and it's the section outlined in yellow in the attached image. Does anyone know if that area directly over the fuel tank is a separate piece of wood? I'm assuming it is because all of the flooring on the other side of those aluminum dividers is solid as a rock. If it's separate it would seem logical to me that I could replace just that section for now.

[Big Block Power]

Yep that will be your fuel tank.

[NWABoater]

Thanks BBP! I'll rip it out when I replace the jump seats and carpet during the off season.

[nolaboater99]

Here ya go!

I just sold a 1985 CM23 that I did a lot of work to. I was tired of the tuck and roll and replaced with this....

IMG_0845.JPG

IMG_0835.JPG

I designed all of this and had the embroidery done as well
Shawn

[AsLan7]

That’s some beautiful work Shawn.

[nolaboater99]

That’s some beautiful work Shawn.

Thanks, but she’s gone now. Sold to a family that is going to finish what I started. The weather here is so funky that the boat was just not getting used the way I like to boat.

[NWABoater]

Agreed. Great looking seats Nola.. Did you construct the seats yourself or did you farm it out to a shop?

Here's my update the for the weekend. I demo'd the rotten lid which housed the convertible top so that I could better access the engine area. Once that was done and cleaned up I started in on the new EST Distributor install to replace the faulty MSD ignition which had been installed by the previous owner. Distributor went in fine and got the cables hooked up to the plugs but that's about as far as I got. The new coil required hooking up to power and tach cables which I couldn't confidently identify. So off to the shop it will go. I guess it'll be a good opportunity for the pros to give it a once over too to see if any other mechanical issues may be present.

[NWABoater]

So I've been researching all aspects of the engine wiring and I think I have better grasp as to what needs to be done. I'm going to take another shot at it this weekend.

Another issue I have to solve for is the location of the new coil. The previous one was bolted to the riser but the way the new module is setup the wires almost come into contact with the throttle cable. Either add a bracket of some sort to give it more clearance or I'll need to find another suitable location..

Anyway, wish me luck!

[capn272]

It's probably a better idea to take a stab at it yourself. If you take it anywhere, it'll be there for weeks, especially right now. If you do end up taking it somewhere, Waypoint did a fine job with the electrical on my boat... but that being said, the electrical system on a boat isn't terribly complicated. In another time in my life I would have attempted the work myself but kids, work, family keep me from indulging in all that!

How much wiring do you have - can you screw it to the transom, or will it need to be much closer?

[NWABoater]

It's probably a better idea to take a stab at it yourself. If you take it anywhere, it'll be there for weeks, especially right now. If you do end up taking it somewhere, Waypoint did a fine job with the electrical on my boat... but that being said, the electrical system on a boat isn't terribly complicated. In another time in my life I would have attempted the work myself but kids, work, family keep me from indulging in all that!

How much wiring do you have - can you screw it to the transom, or will it need to be much closer?

Yep, Waypoint is who I was going to take it too as they're the nearest shop to me. The quoted me at 2-3 weeks before they could get to it.

I agree that the electrical system shouldn't be too complicated. I think my unfamiliarity with the electronics in a boat along with the multitude of additional electronic gadgets the previous owner installed (LED bars, amps, GPS, etc) had me questioning my ability to complete the project.

Not much wiring really. Just need to get power back to the eChoke and Distributor for starters.

[NWABoater]

Well, I wired everything up but it doesn't seem to be firing. I've confirmed that the coil has power and disconnected the shift interrupt switch but still nothing. If anyone has any suggestions I'd love to hear them.. Wondering if maybe it isn't getting fuel. Something to check tomorrow I suppose.