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Using a Shop Smith Mark V on a Chris Craft Roamer refit

roamer46

I did a full walk-through yesterday in response to some requests for a video.

I think I have no videography skills, but enjoy if you can! lol

I'm off to the boatyard.

1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: Walk-Through Video

Cheers,

Q

RFGuy

As I have said before it is a beautiful boat and you have done great work! Congrats! :)

roamer46

Thanks RF GUY!

After a long day at the boatyard, I'm beat. But it was such a great day I had to share!

I and a very competent assistant got all of the roof frames and upper structures, the shrink wrap plastic, and the frames and scaffolding on the port side removed. Tomorrow I'll tackle the starboard side. With the tent gone, I have to say...this boat is a stunning beauty! So shiny!

1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: Dismantling Tent Model XXX

Cheers,

Q

roamer46

One of the last holes to fill on the exterior to keep rain out involved installing the mast. I'd had the mahogany clear-coated with Imron MS1 back in 2013, and the bronze parts were all rechromed back in 2010. In 2019 I assembled most of the mast, but then wrapped it up in the spring of 2023. A few days ago, I installed the mast on the cabin top. It looks really good. :-)

1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: The Mast

Cheers,

Q

Before

After

roamer46

Well, it took three days but Tent Model XXX has officially been retired. I took all of the lumber, plywood, and screws that were still serviceable back home, along with the compressor, refrigerated air drier, and airline plumbing. My back's killing me. lol

There's a bunch of refit debris still under the boat, but I'll deal with that after the Travel Lift moves it to the water. Cleaning up the area made the boat look even better!

I've been told the marine insurance underwriters should be getting back to me with their (hopefully) approval to splash tomorrow.

1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: Retiring Tent Model XXX part II

Cheers,

Q

roamer46

With the boat de-tented, I had two last items on my pre-splash punch list: final test fire of the engines to prove starting reliability, and then install the raw water impellers. I got both of those items done yesterday. So the only thing delaying launch now is the insurance underwriter's approval. Once I get that, I'm off to the boatyard. :-)

I can't figure out how to get video links to work correctly here, but there's a short video at the linked blog article showing both engines lighting off as seen from outside the boat.

1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: Final Engine Test & Impeller Install

Cheers,

Q

Last pre-launch punch list item: impellers

nuhobby

Pretty darn cool! I'm trying to remember if diesels generally would ordinarily start so quickly... you must be doing something right!

roamer46

Thanks!

The Cummins engines in the boat literally start faster than my Nissan or Subaru.

With thunderstorms in the forecast for the next week, and heavy rain all day tomorrow, the launch is scheduled for Saturday morning.

Booyah

JPG

So it is getting wet before splashing.

JPG

Q:

Did you see/get this? https://www.yachtforums.com/threads/roamer-cruise-control-trim-tab-and-capac-wiring.36233/

roamer46

It's definitely getting wet before splashing.

And I did see that post...in fact, I posted it! But that forum is dead, as you can see from the fact that nobody replied. Fortunately, I got my answers elsewhere.

Cheers,

Q

JPG

roamer46 wrote It's definitely getting wet before splashing.

And I did see that post...in fact, I posted it! But that forum is dead, as you can see from the fact that nobody replied. Fortunately, I got my answers elsewhere.

Cheers,

Q

All but the smoke part :(

roamer46

Well...after some drama with the Travelift, they got the Roamer over to the lift well. The bottom got wet. I discovered a small leak at one of the new Forespar Marelon seacocks. They lifted the boat clear of the water. I fixed the leak. They lowered the boat again. The fix held, but then I heard a drip...drip...drip sound from another seacock. Though the OEM Chris Craft-branded seacock for the original genset was dry and tight when I moved the boat to Deale in 2009, it developed a problem in the interim and has to be replaced.

The boat is sitting in the slings and on blocks in front of the Travelift well. I have a new Forespar seacock on the way.

This has been a disappointing day. That said, the boat did look good sitting in the water.

1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: Splash Day! (sorta)

Cheers,

Q

algale

I'm sure you were disappointed to have to deal with leaks and drips but the boat looks absolutely amazing sitting on the water! I am in awe of your perseverance on this epic project and the pay off is sooooo close!

roamer46

Thanks algale!

roamer46

When I tried to login a minute ago, I got a message telling me I'm banned here and my IP is blocked. No warning, no nothing...just banned.

But then I switched my VPN server, came back, and logged in again with no problem. Strange. I thought maybe it's because this thread is more about my boat than my ShopSmith, but I make it a point to highlight the machine every time I use it to do something no other tool of mine can do. I even had a reader of my blog comment that he bought one specifically because of my high praise. I hope I don't get banned. But if I stop posting all the sudden, that's probably why.

Anyway, while awaiting a new seacock to replace the one that leaked on Splash Day (sorta), I started digging into what's turned out to be another challenging problem from splash day: my starboard engine won't start!

I'd test fired it without an impeller in the yard a half-dozen times. On splash day, it started and ran great on the second crank. Perfect idle, good pressures, and when the Travelift operator yelled out "GOOD WATER," I knew the raw water was flowing out the exhaust the way it should. And then the engine died, which triggered the low oil pressure alarm. I hit the key, heard the starter try to engage, but it wasn't turning the engine over. Tried it again...and one more time. The engine seemed stuck.

I had a video camera rolling in the ER when I lit off the engine, so you can see exactly what happened. It's at the linked article, along with a video of Splash Day, when they had to use a big forklift to pull the Travelift out of the soft gravel. For some reason, my videos don't display here.

On the engine:

It bars over normally when I put a wrench on the alternator pulley nut, so it's not hydrolocked or catastrophically busted (probably).

Electrical connections are tight.

I checked the aftercooler and muffler--the former is dry inside and the latter has ~3" of water in it, so there's no way raw water got into the engine.

It can't be a fuel problem, because the starter engages but won't roll the engine over.

I'm stumped. Thoughts?

1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: Splash Day Breakdown

Cheers,

Q

Only 3" of raw water in the muffler

DLB

Like you, sounds like, I'd be presuming one problem related to A) Died and B) Won't Crank on starter. You are sure the crank is turning over when you turn the alternator, as opposed to belt slipping? If the crank turns manually but not on the starter, I'd be thinking electrical. How much of the fuel system is electrical/electronic Vs mechanical? Some diesels have an electric fuel cutoff solenoid/valve, name escapes me for the moment, that cuts off fuel to the system (mechanical FI). Sometimes that's integrated in a mechanical injection pump, but same function. Are the lights dimming in the engine room you noted in the video common when cranking or unusual?

- David

roamer46

Hi David.

The video I posted at the linked blog article is instructive about pretty much everything. It shows exactly what happened on splash day in the engine room and answers several of your questions.

As for the crank turning when I'm barring over the alternator bolt, I'm right there watching the harmonic balancer turn. So, yes, I'm barring over the engine.

Cummins doesn't have a fuel cutoff solenoid. It has a Fuel Lock solenoid that's energized with IGN turned to the ON position, and a Fuel ON solenoid that pulls the inlet to the injector pump open with the starter. Fuel is only cut off when the Fuel Lock solenoid loses power, generally because the IGN is turned off.

DLB

First time I lived in Europe I had a VW diesel. The glow plug controller failed in the "ON" state. It ran until depleting the battery. Superficially, the symptoms were similar to yours. It ran, died, and would not crank. Throwing this out there in case this, or something else, may have depleted the battery while it was running. I've heard of alternator shorts, but never experienced one. But if this happened it has to be something that can dissipate a lot of electrical power, likely got pretty hot.

- David

roamer46

That's a fair theory. But I have the batteries all paralleled together, and I started and ran the port engine after the starboard problems manifested. It seems unlikely to be a battery problem.

But I'm going through the electrical system today, from key switch to the starter.

Stay tuned...

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