A new boat for Old Davy

aeoliandave · May 3, 2015

I've been thinking about this since my return in August to full function. thought about it a lot and waited until I was sure strength, health and stamina were stable.

I got my first boat in 2006, a 14 ft bowrider gullwing-hull puddle jumper with a 55 hp Mercury 4 cylinder outboard hung on the back. Loved it, with 4 inland conservation lakes withing an hour's drive from Stratford, the closest being 17 minutes from driveway to water down St Marys way. Surrounding Southwestern Ontario are 5 of the Great Lakes, shores 90 minutes to 2 hours away. The Sunray 145 reminded me of the lake boat Uncle George had when I was sent up to his cottage, flown actually on a DC10 regional airline, every summer for two weeks. (fond memories of Uncle George teasing and pulling my pj bottoms off as I climbed the cottage cabin bunk ladder or skinny dipping or George driving his Oldsmobile station wagon in reverse around all the twisting forest roads...what ensued in the subsequent summers is best left to the adult forum)

So anyway, I enjoyed that boat from 2006 to 2012, when I sold it and got the land-bound sexy sleek 1997 Subaru SVX luxury touring coupe. I do luvs me some mantoys. LOL

I gave up the boat because in the last two summers my chosen greedy workload eliminated most of the free time I had to go out on the water and will the beginnings of my health decline thought I was getting too old to heave the thing around.

We know what that led to over two years of 2013 - 2014...

So, with the Theatre Season in frenzied full sail heading toward opening week end of May and by choosing wisely to crew only two shows instead of the usual 4, my thoughts became focused on a new boat for the rebuilt 'new' Dave and all the free time I will have from now on.

Researched all over Ebay & Kijiji and on drives around the counties spying boats for sale on the lawns of country houses.

Was looking for a 18-20 ft bowrider sportboat and it had to have blue trimming accents over white. Found a half dozen that interested me, made some calls...but then!

Saw this boat on Kijiji London, stunned at the price and called the phone number of the seller instead of the usual message to.

The guys was transferred to Hamilton area 5 years ago, the boat was in heated storage closer to Windsor/Chatham and he & his wife had only managed to run it once or twice a season. They moved up to a sailboat and put the Capri up for quick sale.

I asked if the asking price was accurate (I had already seen the same sort at 1/3 higher). Yes, says he and I arranged to drive toward Chatham last weekend to touch & feel it. I was his first caller, and he honored that when he was deluged with over 3 dozen callers and messages as I waited for Saturday. The bargain of the year had been discovered...

In short, real honest guy, text messages flying back & forth so I knew what condition it was in. Excellent, duh. Saw it, inspected it over an hour and slapped a significant deposit in his storage buddy's hand. Phone calls to Hamilton and the boat was sold. To Wee Davy!

Sarturday just past, May 2nd, I drove 90 minutes to hitcher 'im up and brought it home.

Brief as I can, it is a 1991 Bayliner Capri 17.5 ft x 7 ft w bowrider inboard 135 hp 4 cylinder Mercruiser that looks like it just landed from space.

Astounding design, mechanically well maintained & perfect - started the engine first turnkey - and cosmetically superb. Interior is soft & deep cushioned; simply needs Naugahyde treatment, Plastic dash bits Meguired up & hull orbital polishing & buffing stem to stern. Only docked in water one year, otherwise trailer-ed. The side glass is marine grade tempered, curved vertically and was discontinued for a shorter window in 1993. Has less than 100 hours on the powerplant, and all the bells & whistles Bayliner offered in 1991. Standard radio/cassette replaced with kickass Alpine 6 cd changer/radio/GPS, Kenwood power amp, upgraded speakers and a subwoofer. Of course a stack of comprehensive owner manuals for engine, power steering, transmission, sterndrive, all service records and original brochure sales literature.

Pictures speak for themselves. First, old SunRay, next the ad pix, then the actual alien pod thing in all it's splendor.

appnut · May 4, 2015

Forget the boat, I'd rather look at you!!!

Ultramatic · May 4, 2015

Uhmmmm; What boat?

toploader55 · May 4, 2015

Bayliner

Bayliner may be a good choice for lakes but here on Cape Cod in the Bay and Atlantic you would need a boat with a nice deep V Hull to handle the chop,

I had a 1972 Boston Whaler for 13 years with the original "Flat Bottom" hull that was and still is popular on the Atlantic coast. An extremely stable boat and hull design, you won't want to get caught in a rough chop in this type of hull unless you like to send you organs on a roller coaster ride.

Bayliners had a horrible reputation back I the 90s for catching on fire due to poor factory wiring. And also a not so great hull design for rough bay and Atlantic chop.

They have a slick stream line design which we refered to here on the Cape as a "Go Fast Boat" design. They are a economical design for the money, but lacks the design and construction for a serious angler and Ocean Going Vessel.

But you would and do look good behind the helm of any vessel.

jmm63 · May 4, 2015

Very nice Dave. I love your color choice since it matches the Subie. How is towing it with the Subaru?

firedome · May 4, 2015

Enjoy your new boat!

Dad was in the Navy, so we grew up with boating, going on now for 60 years, and have always had a boat myself for about 40. During summers off from teaching worked at a marina/boat repair business in Vermont for a number of years, doing boat and motor repair and fitting.
Observations -
#1 the small inline 4 cyl Mercs, along with 3 cyl and V-4 OMCs (Johnny-rude) are some of the best outboards ever built. The Chesapeake Bay watermen used to search them out for commercial use on their smaller boats.
#2 Bayliner Capris are fine for small lake use, their Trophy (fishing) models are best for big water. We boat on Champlain (110 mi long) and it can get rough. I won't have a boat under 21' there. We've moved though many makes over 40 years, and finally have one we love best for all-around use, from fishing to cruising to "tubing", with up to 12 people aboard, and rides like a Cadillac, great in all water conditions:

aeoliandave · May 4, 2015

Good comments all and i'll respond afterhectic workday...@ 7:00.

firedome · May 4, 2015

Observation #3+

In general I/Os are much more labor intensive than outboards, I used to hate changing the big rubber bellows that surrounds and seals the outdrive to the transom, these must be checked/replaced every few years, which involves pulling the entire outdrive. Failure to do so can result in the boat ending up on the bottom! Outboards don't have this issue for obvious reasons, and are relatively easy to remove, repair, replace.

The Japanese outboards are pretty good but parts very expensive. All the older Yamaha were direct OMC copies, OMC sued them and won for infringement. Their 4 strokes are their own, and very heavy. OMCs are much easier to work on than Mercs, in general. Use NGK plugs exclusively! I prefer 2 stroke to 4 stroke, and the new ones (Bombardier/Evinrude) run cleaner AND get better gas mileage than any 4 strokes, plus are more powerful/torquey, they are quite amazing. On all I/Os or outboards, the water pump impeller should be checked/replaced every few years, and change the lower unit oil every fall when winterizing. Just a few tips from an old marina salt.

abcomatic · May 4, 2015

Dave, Congrats on your new find. I read on your profile that you like player pianos, hence aeolian Dave. I have a 1916 Waltham player which sounds great. I have lots of rolls too, the Kimball ones being my favorites. Picture one is good. Gary

firedome · May 4, 2015

MerCruiser 135

I worked on many of the 3.0 4 cyl MerCruisers, they've been around a long time and there's a gazzilion of 'em out there, they're heavy-ish (iron block) and not that powerful, a 135 outboard will kick it's butt, but they are pretty durable, easy to get parts for, and not too bad to work on as there's lots of space around the small inline block. The cast iron heat-riser water-cooled exhaust manifold is prone to cracking, but replacements are easy to find. The block is mated to the smaller Mercruiser Alpha outdrive, which is good but expensive to replace/fix, however you can now get new and actually pretty good Chinese made replacement outdrives for under 1000, the OEM is closer to 3K. My marina owner friend has had pretty good luck with them, and they have a good warranty...just keep the oil good and don't hit any rocks with yours! Boating season is almost here in the NorthEast (Vermont)... can't wait! It's way too short, so enjoy it while it lasts!

Grummann 24' Party Barge pulling a tube:

aeoliandave · May 4, 2015

Addressing all the goodly comments in order:

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That was the biggest problem with the modest 1974 SunRay on any surface but calm and glassy, which we get much of the time on inland lakes. Any humping longwave action over 2' inches would subject the boat and passengers to an unwanted gangbang pounding that rattled yer teeth. On glassy water at full throttle the thing really flew on plane and I could tow water skiers with ease. 

Not really my speed anyway; my idea of boating recreation is to run up & down the lake real fast a few times, drive slowly along the shorelines gazing at other people's cottages & landscaping... then find a nice secluded cove, float, have a picnic lunch, read, music in the background and generally just commune with peaceful nature watching the herons & wild swans come & go and the fish breach & leap. Many afternoons I'd nose into shore clearings carved out by the previous generation, tie 'er to a tree trunk and go wandering through the forests and have lunch at the supplied and scattered picnic tables accessible in no other way other than intrepid hikers. Created for flood control in the hilly areas of SW Ontario, selected valleys of the Thames and Grand river systems were dammed by the Conservation Authority in the 1950s & 60s. This is the case at both L-shaped Wildwood in St Marys and Y-shaped Conostogo 30 minutes north. Half the time I'm out there with a boating buddy into the same thing.

Once took the boat to Port Burwell to get to the nude beach at the west end of the provincial park. This was a farmer's private land abutting, was along the foot of very tall cliffs that couldn't be climbed and was cut off at the western end where the cliffs turned into the water, Walk or boat.

Well, even on a calm day Lake Erie is a nightmare. It is the shallowest lake and gets choppy real fast. We made it and it was easier heading back est to the launch ramp with the wind at our backs...it was that time I resolved the next boat would have a knife prow.

Who could foretell the medical conundrums I was to face in a few short years that would put the kibosh on that upgrade...or much of any future at all...

Why on God's green earth and blue water would I want to have anything to do with the ocean salt water? I loathe Florida, have no desire to visit the Caribbean, Prefer New England for the history and museums, and California up the west coast...well, no offense and wonderful places & folks to visit - and I have - but I don't belong there either.

Just look again at the geography that surrounds me right here at home. Fresh water lakes in every direction within easy driving distance. 'Nuff said.

The Outback XT turbo has 240 hp, AWD with massive torque to all 4 axles and the OEM hitch is rated for 3000 lbs. Boat & trailer weighs 2000. I had my Outback lowered 2.3" on Legacy GT (turbo) suspension and it handles extremely well. No problems at all having that boat follow me in a straight line and never loses speed up hills. That's a undertall engineerbear's car! As you can discern in the hitched picture, the trailer rides level, which it wouldn't hitched to an a SUV or truck. Don't need them for maneuvering, I can see any cars behind me but will look into suction cup side mirror extensions. (The pre- 2010 Subarus have no door frame surrounding the windows and I ain't drilling any holes in it's spectacularly sleek wind-shearing designed body).

Funny thing about the Merc's reliability and I listened. All the time while launching or loading guys would come over and ask if I was interested in selling the 55hp 4 cyl Mercury outboard on the decidedly shabby looking humble 1974 SunRay. Work buddy I sold it to has it up at his cottage on Manitoulin Island and gets asked the same. Guys know these engines. As for maintenance on the Capri....I'm well known to be a gearhead gearbox and do my own work. Not the least bit daunting. There is a full marine shop garage over in New Hamburg a mere 20 minute drive and a heated storage facility 10 minutes away by the local airport. I'm well situated on all counts.


Thank you, Roger Firedome for your wise counsel. 

And, for anyone that's unaware of what I went through the past 2 years, what follows is the shortest version I use, because I get asked - it's a real chat downer - in profiles on a few bear sites, and explains clearly why I am thrusting my life forward with such enthusiasm for the things that I like to be involved in that I almost lost entirely:

[COLOR=black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small]Already a fit but aging red-faced 143 lbs, on New Year's Eve Dec 31 2012 had emergency surgery for an MRI-revealed [/COLOR][COLOR=black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small]pulsing & [/COLOR][COLOR=black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small]leaking lower abdominal (groin) aortic aneurysm the size of a small orange [/COLOR][COLOR=black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small](the same condition that took our dear Terry Latz too soon)[/COLOR][COLOR=black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small]. Returned home with a dandy Dacron graft to a full recovery - tho I couldn't get my buff back - and to work as usual in February.
Sometime in July 2013, carrying an oblivious workaholic workload I began to lose weight gradually. Fingers would briefly go numb as would my leg strength causing stumbling. Told my Doctor I felt something was wrong with my brain.
By September 2013 I could no longer work. By default, Doctors naturally looked for complications from the previous surgery - symptoms pointed to mini-strokes, graft clots, MS, Lyme disease, ALS or premature Alzheimer's. Multiple tests proved negative and the downward spiral continued.
By October 26 I was unable to live alone, was moved to brother Jim's home in London, bedridden, befuddled and unnaturally cheerful w daily nutritional and hydration IVs. Failing to thrive, 98 lbs and mentally deranged, was moved on Nov 17 to a Palliative Care home to expire compassionately. In & out of Hospital several times, On Dec 5 a student Intern, Dr Paul Lussier, asked for a Lumbar Puncture.
BINGO! Analysis revealed rampant destructive invasion of Cryptococcal Fungal Spinal Meningitis that had been switching me off bit by bit for many months.
11.5 months of dogged determination to strengthen muscles & organs, replenish nutrients & body fat, I came out of the brain fog on Mar 2 2014. I worked my ass off (well I didn't have one at that point) from wheelchair to walker to stumbling shuffle to mid-May workout machines to the point I could take walks around the neighborhood unattended. July I began to feel antsy and capable of returning to my home...

Moved back to Stratford mid-August 2014. World Gym workouts are restoring & maintaining my buff. Re-emerging sturdy pocket GnomeBear is a work in progress. "We can rebuild him" I am one lucky SOBear.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small]Returned to full time work January 26 2015 after over a year of medical adversity. To all those who cautioned it couldn't be done or would likely pause at a plateau, I say 'shove this up your pipe and stroke it'.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small]Wee Davy was small, but oh, my![/COLOR]

[COLOR=black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small]Pictures are chronological from 2012 to today.[/COLOR]

tolivac · May 5, 2015

Used to do the boat hobby when I was a child-My parents had boats.My stepdad had a Cobia 17Ft runabout with a 60Hp Johnson Sea Horse outboard.It had a Deep-V hull.Great boat! My brothers liked it for skiing-I and my Stepdad liked it for fishing.
On the other hand my Dad was into sailboats.He had a 22Ft wood catamaran-the thing sailed like a brick-but was still fun.Strange funkiness about sailboats-"ragboats" as they were called by motorboat sailers-No motor noise just the wind thru the sails.Kinda liked that.Sometimes you want to ride the boat in quiet.Then I get the urge to have a roaring motor!
I don't own any boats-but sort of have an interest in the flat bottom tub like swamp boats-sort of popular here.One owner has a tub swamp boat and a Fountain V-h
ull for deepwater-best of both but the $$$$$????Also look up the website featuring the air cooled "Swamp-Mud" motors for very shallow water use---or even in mud!!Since the motor is air cooled-Briggs&Stratton V twin cylinder Vangards-35-45 Hp.The Mud Buddy site shows these boats and motors going 35+ MPH in wet mud!Duck hunters and crawfish fishermen love these.If I got a boat would sort of like this.There is even a custom built "Mud Motor" using a Harley Davidson V-Twin motor with a "longtail" outdrive!A special fan on the motor cools it.That thing can haul!!!And it just like a Harley on water!!!

firedome · May 5, 2015

Wow Davy...

what an ordeal. I have a feeling that you'll savor boating time even more as a result of going through that awful ringer. I feel more at peace out on the water than anywhere, and agree, there's nothing more beautiful than a glacially formed New England lake, I feel blessed every time we're there. Southern lakes suffer greatly in comparison (the folks lived in NC for 10 years) and the ocean is ok, but just not the same.

firedome · May 5, 2015

PS: nice boat!

good find, the Capri looks to be in mint condition. The hull design is actually like a small Bertram/Ray Hunt copy and should be pretty decent in rough-ish water like 2 ft chop, the most comfortable ride while still making decent headway being 10-12 knots, just barely on plane, or at slow headway speed off plane in bigger waves.

A new boat for Old Davy

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