refurbing a sr 4.0 with yam 40 veto

robert hates h2o · 21 April 2015, 17:53

Hi, first post, though long time trawler through your archives

5 years ago I lived on a wee uninhabited isle (bar us) with my then girlfriend. She had a 4.0 metre Avon searider. As things go, we split up and both left, though at the time it was me that kept on top of the rib repairs (basic stuff, cleaning carbs, changing filters, fuel pumps etc).
By chance, I met her recently and bought the rib off her, though she had left it in the open for the last 3 winters without using it.

Problems are/were.
Leg could not be dropped so couldn't start it up (moored on beach so no hose). Manual release - seized, hydrolic release valve - seized. Local engineer managed to get tilt and trim motor off, the magnets had detached (he put them back on upside down lol). So this now 'okay'.

Previously the autolube had been playing up, and memory tells me I thought the waxstat had gone/was going.

Rib now sits tilted (this is mainly why I signed up, as cannot find anything similar in archives). I know it is a self flooding hull, but on the beach it wants to lie to starboard all the time, and keeps the list once in the water and presumably flooded. And on beach, you can hear water slooshing around if you rock her.

Steering very very stiff for about half the turning circle, and I don't know how to check if it is the hydrolic cable or the engine part.

A few other faults that I'll get to like fibreglassing a bit of the console, resiting battery etc, but these are the main things I could do with a few pointers on.

Ta in advance, Robert.

matt h · 21 April 2015, 19:39

Welcome..
Where do you start with this one.. ok

Quote:

Previously the autolube had been playing up, and memory tells me I thought the waxstat had gone/was going.

The autolube probably wanted bleeding out, (done by a small 7mm headed bolt on side of oil pump)
The wax stat is a auto choke unit..
Rib now sits tilted I know it is a self flooding hull, but on the beach it wants to lie to starboard all the time, and keeps the list once in the water and presumably flooded

Normally lie starboard as offset consol and engine is offset to starboard also.

Quote:

and keeps the list once in the water and presumably flooded

shouldn't do. should sit evenly when in water and hull flooded.. has the engine position been altered??

Is the hull unblocked still??

Quote:

Steering very very stiff for about half the turning circle, and I don't know how to check if it is the hydrolic cable or the engine part.

Im guessing its a steering cable.. in which case undo the large alloy cable nut on the side of the engine saddle .. take it out. clean up and grease well,. or get a new cable.. you will have to let down the starboard tube to withdraw the cable...

I have just done a SR4 refurb so I can post some pics if you need to see some ideas Robert

robert hates h2o · 21 April 2015, 19:46

Hull has never been blocked, though still to check front holes (oversight).

Autoube will be 'work in progress' I think, I want to get it right even though I know I could go premix easy enough.

The listing more of a worry as it (the exact, very same boat) didn't do it at all before. Looks funny when afloat, and gave it a straight line blast this morning to clear the seafoam I had put down the carbs, and it felt unstable.

Thank for reply

matt h · 21 April 2015, 19:49

Only thing that I can think that would cause that is water in the starboard tube???

can you post some pics of the set up?

robert hates h2o · 21 April 2015, 19:59

Will try photos tomorrow .

Back 2 tubes are softish, although when inflated it still sits to the side in the water. I just am unsure of the make up of the hull, ie there is the closing part, but is there others?

When on beach, the sloshing sounds as if from the hull though.

matt h · 21 April 2015, 20:31

If the hull is unblocked then it not in there. Water could be in the underdeck air tanks. Are there any holes in the deck that could have let water in . Approx 2.5 ft to 4 ft from the transom?

1eyedjim · 21 April 2015, 21:56

In the rear of the boat there are two ballast tubs that aid with what I'd imagine is flotation. One was ruptured on a sr4 we got and was full of water and may explain what you can hear. If you look thru the rear hole in the hull you will see them

Nos4r2 · 21 April 2015, 22:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1eyedjim

In the rear of the boat there are two ballast tubs that aid with what I'd imagine is flotation. One was ruptured on a sr4 we got and was full of water and may explain what you can hear. If you look thru the rear hole in the hull you will see them

They aren't that big that it'd make it list significantly though if the flooding hull is open, surely?

I'm suspecting Matt H is right and there's water in one tube.

robert hates h2o · 22 April 2015, 10:03

Hopefully these give an idea of the list..

Nos4r2 · 22 April 2015, 10:30

Get it out of the water and deflate (ie, suck them empty with a pump) the starboard chambers to see if one's got a load of water in. Those little ballast tubs wouldnt' cause that with one flooded.

robert hates h2o · 22 April 2015, 10:34

Cheers Nos, would using hand pump set to deflate work or would I need more 'ooomph' ?

robert hates h2o · 22 April 2015, 10:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt h

Welcome..

Im guessing its a steering cable.. in which case undo the large alloy cable nut on the side of the engine saddle .. take it out. clean up and grease well,. or get a new cable.. you will have to let down the starboard tube to withdraw the cable...

I have just done a SR4 refurb so I can post some pics if you need to see some ideas Robert

Sorry matt, only twigged your last part there, am I right in thinking that if I undo the nut and turning the wheel is effortless, then the 'stiff' part is not in the cable but the mount?

Nos4r2 · 22 April 2015, 11:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by robert hates h2o

Cheers Nos, would using hand pump set to deflate work

That'd do it. You're only relying on outside air pressure to push it out after all

robert hates h2o · 22 April 2015, 11:49

Rightyho, to the village Caruthers!!!!

Report back in a bit.

robert hates h2o · 22 April 2015, 13:26

Right.

Bingo Nos. Bingo.

Not the starboard tubes that goes soft, but the front tube that hasn't needed pumped at all.
Hand pump not enough to get it out, but pressed the deflate thing by hand and water started pouring out until it was only in starboard side. Nobody around to give me a hand to tip it over so that it lies the other way, so I'll wait on the tide.
As matt said earlier about the propensity to lie to the starboard, this put all the water on that side of the tube (its a u shape at front and a straight one each side for those unfamiliar with this rib).

Strangely , I did the taste test, and fresh. How on earth did it get in? And how do I stop it happening again? Remember this tube is firm and airtight.

Re steering, as tube was deflated and I had right size spanner, I unscrewed the alloy nut and it was very free to turn by the wheel. Will remove totally and regrease when I have the right spanners and grease with me.

1eyedjim · 22 April 2015, 17:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

They aren't that big that it'd make it list significantly though if the flooding hull is open, surely?

I'm suspecting Matt H is right and there's water in one tube.

Probably not and after seeing the pics it defo isn't but he asked for ideas and as I had seen it in a boat we had I thought I would offer the suggestion.

robert hates h2o · 22 April 2015, 17:31

Appreciated though Jim, my first thought was 'hull' and the flotation bits you mentioned, I did not know existed.

All comments welcome