New -to me any way 1982 Jaguar

[oldmisterbill]

Hi I just plain cheated- so here I go this is a copy of my 1st post on the other forum.

Hello Guess I make an introduction W/ my first post. My name is Bill,I am a 71 year old 100% disabled veteran & proud of it.

I spent most of my life offshore fishing off the New England coast and hobby lobstah fishing. Till my legs got too bad to keep up with the larger boats. So I haven't been fishing in 20 years. I moved to Oklahoma in 2001 and still haven't been fishing - so now while My Lord allows me I plan on some crappie & cat fishing (I live in Wagoner,OK 1/2 mile from Lake Ft Gibson) with my grandchildren and family.

I traded for a project boat (my Bro-in-law) and I hope to finish it by cooler weather -a 16ft Monark aluminum bass boat to fish the ponds etc. off the Arkansas river. In cooler weather while I can.

Any way while looking through craigslist I saw a 17ft? Arrow glass tri hull bow rider, grabbed Momma and bro in law and off we went Cool ! a lil 140 pre alpha Mercruiser I have always kinda liked them but they were too small for the offshore fishing I was used to & it looked real good for an 82. There was no ladder there so I had my b-in-law climb in and do a dance on the floors - open the engine cover all looked like new. on muffs it sounded nice -and I had traded earlier this year for a rough boat w/soft floors and a nice 87 alpha that would provide all the spare parts I should ever need. I had done a lot of work in marinas in my younger days so I was comfortable with it..

Here's my questions - fuel gauge doesn't work ( the tank is between the helm & passenger station - is there access to the fuel gauge sender? and can I get at the fuel lines from for to aft? I am very fussy about the fuel system for safety reasons. Is the tank metal or plastic?

I am no longer able so it is going out to get new bellows and gimbal bearing as needed .

The propeller is not correct for the boat he told me it will wind over 5000RPM and top speed is 25MPH GPS. Does anybody know what top it should be capable of and any idea fo what the factory prop might be or close so I can get a base line to start to get optimum efficiency from the prop. I have a lot of propeller experience andknow cups - pitchetc can work miracles for fuel and cruising speeds.

Oh by the way I also have the original top for it, It was garage kept during the original owner and the previous owner (4 years) kep it under a boat cover under a carport.

Ant ideas suggestions are welcome especially related to modes to help me deal with my handicaps.. One thing is I will need to revamp it to get higher seats that I can get out of and I will need to create some savtey ails as I am not steady whenstanding. I plan on using an old electric mobility scooter lift mounted on the trailer to help me on & off when away from the home with no ladder to help me.

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[oldmisterbill]

Here are the last 2 pictures

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[oldmisterbill]

Well -its been a bit so maybe time for an update. The Exhaust bellows had a large crack in it- I used to do them 30 years ago but -just can't get around well enough to do the job. Any way I sent it to a small local shopand hadthe drive checked over. As luck was in my favor the drive bellows was shot, completely seoerated in 2. Amazingly no water in the ripples of the bellows (as if it tore after the last time it was in the water. Oil leaked into the pleats but had nowater any where. Gimble ring & bearing perfet, U joints perfect, uper drive sealreplaced,both bellows replaced, new water pump (old one looked like new) new prop shaft seal - vacuum checked the gear case - held overnight. Guy was real reasonable $450 & I made a new friend. God is so good tome. The boat sits too heavy on the front of the trailer and the transom is over hang in the rear by 3 in. I need to movethe boat back to get the load correctly balanced. However I am leary of moving the transom back with too much over hang as I believe in supporting the transom in the rear of the trailer, Also I am going to pull it with my LT! powered 94 Buick roadmaster )land yaht) I used to carry my moility scooter on it till momma got me a94 Fleetwood LT! goliath to look sexy for my nurses at the VA,:-) Then the VA just got me a brand new scooter metallic red- I mean to say I am the sex object there now.

Today I got in it myself with some help and realize I will need a lot of mods to in able me to spend time in it comfortably. I wish I had got a bigger boat but I am kind of attached to the old girl in her prime like my self. Spent some time cleaning the bildge and cleaning drain holesit 2 tanks mounted under the bow seats for fish and live bait. Checked basic wireing and almost every thing worked but found a corroded fuse panel and gobs of hanging wire so that will be next. It is trust worthy now but I am kind of anal about how all my oldboates were maintained. Will post pics soon. Tired sore but happl ole man tonight! Mr Bill


 

[oldmisterbill]

Well I have got it back from having new boots-impeller- new upper seal- gear oil- pressure checked the gear box new fuel filter-the gimble bearings and gimble ring are fine-u joint fine. I was happy with bill,a local guy with lots of local recommendations did it for $457 so I was happy there. Spent a couple hrs checking lights etc found a corroded fuse holder so I plan to replace that. The seats have got to be raised quite a bit as when I sat behind the wheel ,it hurt my bad hips so bad I rolled out of the seat and crawled to the engine cover to get back on my feet, That won't work! LOL I may even go to a post type helm seat, or build a box to set the original seat base into to raise the seat. I haven't been feeling well so things move slowly. The propeller is a 19 pitch 3 blade stainless from what I gather its gotta be about right. The engine sounds sweet running in a tub of water. More pictures to post

[oldmisterbill]

[oldmisterbill]

Oh by the way The original top looks good with 1 exception - it has shrunk making the snaps way short of each other, Any idea how I can stretch the top back so it will snap on?   Also I was lucky as the boot to store the top is there also- it matches the upholstery .

   Would any one know where the black plastic sliders that the bow for the top goes in can be found -one of mine is missing

    We are thinking of making a smaller engine cover to gain the extra space for the jump seats and to use as a table for fishing or whatever. We would gain at least 4 inches on the sides and close to 6 inches on the front, then put the original cover in the storage shed for later.

   A couple more pics Ill get top pics later.    

[James Cochran]

Your top was probably Taylor Made (Ameritex)and your windshield Water Bonnet. West Marine will probably have those fittings. There are some YouTube videos related to stretching the top back, I have never tried it tho. Great looking boat!!

[James Cochran]

Take a look at this...
www.westmarine.com/buy/whitecap--nylon-side-mount-sliding-deck-hinge-for-1-05-track--17281296?recordNum=109

[Forrest Garner.]

Need info on 1977 Arrow Glass 18 bass boat hull and seats drains pumps Ext. Bought boat and it has been sitting up. ARWHA0070876