1973 Seafari Project
 

Hi,
I'm a newbie, and just picked up a 73 Seafari on Cape Cod. First, the hull appears in good shape, 2-3 coats of blue paint over a blue-grey gelcoat.The deck is good, except for the companionway floor, it's soft. The transom seems OK, by banging it with a hammer test. The motor is a 1983 200 HP Merc (I know, 175 HP MAX), its not fully rigged and does not start, but turns over and has 125 psi compression in each cylinder. The gas tank is in the process of being removed.I do have the galley seat. I plan on stripping the hull in the Spring. Any thoughts, comments would be appreciated. http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...y/DSCF0003.jpg http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...y/DSCF0002.jpg

Re: 1973 Seafari Project
 

Congrats on the SeaFari!! You'll love it!

The motor is fantastic too. 125psi is very good for that motor. You'll have all winter to clean it up too . . . rebuild the carbs, swap out the trigger and stator, and replace the wiring, bleeder lines, hoses, replace the fuel pump gaskets and diaphragm (unless it's been done).

as far as starting the motor . . . You need to do a few things first. Inspect the wiring!! especially the wires from the stator and trigger to the switch boxes. The yellow wires on the stator rot out first and usually rot out close to where the wires come out of the stator. Next inspect the bleeder lines . . . especially where they meet the check valves. Next inspect the wiring harnesses from the swtichboxes to the ignition coils and make sure the ignition coils are in good shape and grounded. Personally . . . I'd go through the entire fuel system (fuel pump, inline filter, clean carbs, new hoses) and then try to start it off a 6 gallon tank with fresh fuel.
when you choke the motor you should hear the click of the enrichener solenoid opening. That drains fuel from the top carb bowl down to the bottom two carbs. Once the fuel system is clean up . . . make sure you have spark on all 6 plugs. I just pull them out and turn over the motor. If you have spark on 3 of the 6 (one side) it's a switch box. The real beauty of that motor is that it's so simple to work on and very efficient too.

If you need any parts I have TONS of blackmax parts . . . just no spare 9 amp stators.

Re: 1973 Seafari Project
 

Congratulations - the Seafari's a really versatile boat, and this one looks to be in good shape! I've had mine since 1975! If you'll send me a PM with your e-mail, I'll send you some brochure files I have. Let me know if you don't want the galley seat! I've been planning to build one! Denny

Re: 1973 Seafari Project
 

Bigshrimpin,
Thanks for the advice, I have a book with the wiring diagrams, and will need it. A few wires disconnected here and there. Just figured out I have all the bits and pieces for the trim&tilt.

Re: 1973 Seafari Project
 

Way to go, another Seafari on Narr. Bay (I'm assuming seeing Middletown). I'll be looking for ya coming out of the east. I just picked one up this Fall, I'll be launching from the North Kingstown side. Good luck with the project.

Re: 1973 Seafari Project
 

Bushwacker,
PM sent

Re: 1973 Seafari Project
 

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/...8/P1010125.jpg

This is what my coils looked like when I first bought my v225.

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/...58/trigger.jpg

Here's the wiring to the switchboxes . . . you can see the trigger wires are shot. Make sure you go through everything before you even turn the key. You can end up toasting certain components if there is a short. Also you don't need the spark advance/idle stabilizer modules . . . Throw them away. They are responsible for more merc deaths than oil injection (plastic worm gears on the crank) on the later merc v6's.

Re: 1973 Seafari Project
 

Also that 83 200 is only 360lbs and puts out over 200hp. It was the first year they put fingerports in the 2.4L. You'll be 50+ mph easy with the right prop and motor height. Go through that motor this winter and you won't be sorry!! I burn 9gph @ 33/34mph with my 200 in perfect conditions. Check the gear oil for water . . . pressure test the lower unit (and put in a new water pump) before you run it.

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/..._121.sized.jpg

Re: 1973 Seafari Project
 

I also have 3 sets of Hydraulic Lines in Mint condition for that single ram Trim and tilt . . . if yours are in rough shape. Also if you want . . . I have a Three ram style trim setup . . . that bolts up the that motor . . . instead of the old single ram trim/tilt with the external pump.

Re: 1973 Seafari Project
 

big,where did you find that motor info? im wondering if my 84 2.4 makes over 200 hp also??

Re: 1973 Seafari Project
 

Bigshrimpin,
Thanks for all the advice and info,alll of it great!!. I will check out the switchbox wiring this weekend. Heres a question, there is a black module with wires coming out of it right above the carbs. I think it has something to do with the oil injection system (which I have no oil tank, and from what I have heard , don't want one)what is that thing?

Re: 1973 Seafari Project
 

if u have no oil injection make sure that u have the block off kit they have for it. i heard that if u leave the little pump thing on there it draws vaccuum. i dont know for sure about that though. maybe bigshrimpin can answer better.

Re: 1973 Seafari Project
 

I don't think 83 had oil injection yet. The box your talking about is the spark advance module . . . just disconnect it and throw it in the garbage. Screamandfly.com and www.biggerhammer.net are the best places to get information on that motor.

Blue - your motor is the same . . . except I think 84 had oil injection (and maybe the smaller 5 pedal front) . . . the worm gear saps a little HP . . . otherwise it's the same motor. I got the chart off screamandfly.com . . . it's from landandsea's dyno tests.

Re: 1973 Seafari Project
 

What paint should I use to paint the hull and topsides? The boat will be trailered and the colors probally will remain the same. Can I paint the bottom of the hull and sides with the same paint?

Re: 1973 Seafari Project
 

I can give you a little history on the boat. I owned it before the person you bought it from. I bought the boat from an old man in yarmouth ma. He stated that he bought the bought from his friend when it was a year or two old. His friend had bougt it for a mothers day present or something, alterior motives I'm sure, anyways, his wife didn't like it. I bought it about four years ago, he told me the engine was fine but, ya can't trust those 80 year old men (just kiding, no I'm not.)Never ran right. had the tank out so I could drain the cottage cheese out of it. Got it up to 35 on a beat 150 johnson. any ways I found the wooden hatches for the cabin bunks if you want them. I gave the last guy alot of old litature with it also. I would say the transom is soggy. the white patches is where hardware was mounted. I drilled out the holes and put dowles in them. The stuff that came out was black and wet. Also the boat was on a mooring in the Bass river most of its life. AS far as paint goes I'd say you have a lot of sanding first, I had big plans for her but things didn't work out. good luck with her. Tom.

Re: 1973 Seafari Project
 

For a do-it yourself roll & tip job, you might want to check out Signature Finish. I used it to do my bootstripe. Doesn't require a primer, is easy to repair, and seems to be pretty durable. Capt. Chuck did his whole boat with it several years ago and is probably the resident expert on this site. Tsunami(73?) also used it recently. Not sure how well it holds up on the bottom.

Re: 1973 Seafari Project
 

Tom,
Thanks for the history! I will send you a PM about the covers. I am having a new fuel tank made at Luther's Welding in Bristol, RI. It will be a bigger tank (53 gallons), so I will be doing some floor work. I will make a decision on rebuilding the transom once I find out how the Merc runs, I would hate to rebuild the transom for a 20" shaft!

Re: 1973 Seafari Project
 

Are you going to make your new tank a "belly" style, or lengthen it to extend into what is now the cockpit sole?

Re: 1973 Seafari Project
 

Fr. Frank,
The new tank is 24" longer and the forward bevel is removed. I plan on removing the companion way step down and building it flush with the rest of the deck, moving the step down to the door area. The deck aft of access cover may also be modified to facilitate tank installation.