Finally I have a boat!

[RobBradley]

Hey all,

So I have finally bought myself a little boat, I no longer live down south, I now live at the end of Loch Broom near Ullapool, in the Highlands of Scotland.

We have direct access to Loch Broom, we are working out the legals with the land owner at present. But for now, we will launch in the harbour.

I bought a Bayliner Capri 1952, she is about 20 foot long, and is powered by a mercruiser 3L engine.

I have yet to take her out, only bought her last week, for now me and hubby need to practice reversing with a trailer as we are crap and at harbour we need to drive in, and then reverse to the slipway.

No pressure as the harbour is always full of tourists!

But I bought her mainly as I want to work to Yachtmaster, I have done PB2 and Safety boat.

Next I will do Advanced Powerboating, and following that, will do Dayskipper.

I am looking forward now to explore the islands around me, and all the sea lochs.

I am looking forward to exploring and building my experience, currently have about 150 hours, but no nighttime. So looking forward to gaining nighttime cruising as well.

Hello all, and if you see me about, say hello.

 

[Mr Googler]

Great photo! Enjoy your new toy!

 

[Bouba]

Congratulations

 

[bowler]

Enjoy!

 

[Grubble]

That's a nice starter boat, cheap to run and maintain, especially if you are keeping it out of the water. When were the exhaust manifold and the outdrive bellows last changed? These are service items you can't afford to skip doing as a failed exhaust manifold will destroy the engine and the bellows are quite important for keeping the water on the outside. The outdrive also needs a recent oil change and a new impeller. Most of these things are DIY, but I would leave the bellows to a professional. If Loch Broom is salt water, you will need to flush the engine/drive with fresh water after each use.

Knowing how to maintain the boat is just as important as knowing how to drive it if you don't want big repair bills in the future.

 

[RobBradley]

That's a nice starter boat, cheap to run and maintain, especially if you are keeping it out of the water. When were the exhaust manifold and the outdrive bellows last changed? These are service items you can't afford to skip doing as a failed exhaust manifold will destroy the engine and the bellows are quite important for keeping the water on the outside. The outdrive also needs a recent oil change and a new impeller. Most of these things are DIY, but I would leave the bellows to a professional. If Loch Broom is salt water, you will need to flush the engine/drive with fresh water after each use.

Knowing how to maintain the boat is just as important as knowing how to drive it if you don't want big repair bills in the future.

oh yeah, boat was last serviced early in the year, I have a local mechanic who will be giving it a full service, impeller etc, didn't know you need to change the manifolds, will ask him about that.

Loch Broom is salt water, flushing won't be a problem. We already have a 3.3m f-rib, which is fab fun, and we flush that engine after every use.

 

[Alicatt]

Congratulations on getting a very nice boat and being in a lovely area to explore with it.
Spent a lot of time just north of there caving and potholing at Assynt, also was in Ullapool once a month for work too.

 

[Bouba]

Hey all,

So I have finally bought myself a little boat, I no longer live down south, I now live at the end of Loch Broom near Ullapool, in the Highlands of Scotland.

We have direct access to Loch Broom, we are working out the legals with the land owner at present. But for now, we will launch in the harbour.

I bought a Bayliner Capri 1952, she is about 20 foot long, and is powered by a mercruiser 3L engine.

I have yet to take her out, only bought her last week, for now me and hubby need to practice reversing with a trailer as we are crap and at harbour we need to drive in, and then reverse to the slipway.

No pressure as the harbour is always full of tourists!

But I bought her mainly as I want to work to Yachtmaster, I have done PB2 and Safety boat.

Next I will do Advanced Powerboating, and following that, will do Dayskipper.

I am looking forward now to explore the islands around me, and all the sea lochs.

I am looking forward to exploring and building my experience, currently have about 150 hours, but no nighttime. So looking forward to gaining nighttime cruising as well.

Hello all, and if you see me about, say hello.

View attachment 197730

The 3liter Mercury with the Alpha drive is well known to most of us....I’ve rebuilt most of one in my time so it gives you an idea of how easy it is to work on...if you have room. Keep an eye on seepage from the rams...and when replacing the impeller check the direction of the vanes three times. But mostly, don’t let your wife see you with a loving caress on the boat and a soppy grin on your face...or it will dawn on her that she is about to become a boating widow

 

[Seastoke]

The 3liter Mercury with the Alpha drive is well known to most of us....I’ve rebuilt most of one in my time so it gives you an idea of how easy it is to work on...if you have room. Keep an eye on seepage from the rams...and when replacing the impeller check the direction of the vanes tree times. But mostly, don’t let your wife see you with a loving caress on the boat and a soppy grin on your face...or it will dawn on her that she is about to become a boating widow

Don’t bother with the Trees they don’t keep good time.

 

[New Boater]

Amazing! I am one year in to owning my first boat and loving every minute of it!

You will find a wealth of experience on here and everyone is more than willing to help and advise (even in person if they are near) so stick around and remember there is never a silly question!

I am right down south but we often travel up to Ullapool and beyond for xmas! We always visit the Ceilidh Place for lunch!

Good luck with it you live in Boating Nirvana!!!!!!

 

[RobBradley]

That's a nice starter boat, cheap to run and maintain, especially if you are keeping it out of the water. When were the exhaust manifold and the outdrive bellows last changed? These are service items you can't afford to skip doing as a failed exhaust manifold will destroy the engine and the bellows are quite important for keeping the water on the outside. The outdrive also needs a recent oil change and a new impeller. Most of these things are DIY, but I would leave the bellows to a professional. If Loch Broom is salt water, you will need to flush the engine/drive with fresh water after each use.

Knowing how to maintain the boat is just as important as knowing how to drive it if you don't want big repair bills in the future.

How often should the exhaust manifolds be changed. They are a £300+ part, surely should last a few years?

 

[Grubble]

How often should the exhaust manifolds be changed. They are a £300+ part, surely should last a few years?

It all depends how much the boat is used, if it is flushed properly with fresh water after use and so on, but yes, you should get quite a few years use out of them, same as the bellows. Your local mechanic should be able to give you a good insight into this.

 

[Bitter-End]

but yes, you should get quite a few years use out of them, same as the bellows. Your local mechanic should be able to give you a good insight into this.

Would there be an indication of bellows going bad? Like miniature cracks on the surface of the rubber? Any way of maintenance being done to extend their life?
Or is there nothing you can do apart from just replacing them every few years just to be on the safe side.

 

[bowler]

Would there be an indication of bellows going bad? Like miniature cracks on the surface of the rubber? Any way of maintenance being done to extend their life?
Or is there nothing you can do apart from just replacing them every few years just to be on the safe side.

Just replace. You will sleep better! It's just part of owning that drive.

 

[Grubble]

Would there be an indication of bellows going bad? Like miniature cracks on the surface of the rubber? Any way of maintenance being done to extend their life?
Or is there nothing you can do apart from just replacing them every few years just to be on the safe side.

If you don't know when they were last changed and there are signs of cracking, then it's a good idea to get them replaced before water starts coming in. Volvo Penta bellows seem to need changing more often than Mercruiser bellows which can last for years.

Once you have brand new bellows on you will have a much better idea of what they should look like and when they will need to be changed next. My boat lives out of the water, with the drive fully down, steering centred. The 4 year old Merc bellows look like new.

 

[Bouba]

If you cannot find a recent receipt for the replacement from a reputable company among the paperwork then assume it’s not done. Personally I would treat boat ownership as Day 1.....all servicing starts from that day...unless you have proof it’s been done. That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy life on the water as you make your way through the list of routine maintenance. But peace of mind is remarkably valuable

 

[Scubadoo]

Would there be an indication of bellows going bad? Like miniature cracks on the surface of the rubber? Any way of maintenance being done to extend their life?
Or is there nothing you can do apart from just replacing them every few years just to be on the safe side.

It is the Volvo shaft bellow that should be replaced every two years which can be an expensive repair if it fails. The exhaust bellow replace less often which is thicker and will last longer, inspect as part of your annual maintenance schedule, it is filled with exhaust water anyway so not a big issue if it failed, note it has tiny hole(s) in the bellow which I think is do with pressure.

 

[Bitter-End]

Just replace. You will sleep better! It's just part of owning that drive.

Thanks to all that answered.

Yes, I will replace the bellows asap, even though they were replaced not too long ago. (yanmar outdrive bellows)

I'd also sleep a lot better if I knew there was an indication that the bellows I recently replaced bellows are holding up.

I just had a pretty much new boat (2021) sink due to a ruptured hose that looked pristine.
I just wish there was a way of telling something is about to fail.