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My Hobbies!

The Boat Project

This is the "Kathy Lee"

I know, but it's NOT named after Regis' ex-cohort!! That was simply the name of the previous owner's wife. And we all know that it is EXTREMELY bad luck to rename a boat (unless all the proper godly rituals are performed). Maybe I will do this some day. Right now, I just want to finish this project.
The Kathy Lee is a 1973 Starcraft Chieftain. As with all Starcrafts of the time, she has an all-aluminum hull. She also has a 165hp I/O Mercruiser.

The project basically is a cosmetic restoration. The running gear all seems to be in ggod working order, so we really just need some help in the interior. And I do mean help! Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get any shots of the 'before' except for these. The entire floor of the boat (wood) was rotted out completely as the boat was filled up with rain every storm for 8 years. The rear cabin bulkheads were rotted, too. Fortunately, the previous owner is a friend of mine and also an ex-Mercruiser mechanic. He has been an enormous help, believe me! So... the first step was to remove the floor and replace it with aluminum (won't rot again, I tell ya!) which was cut from old sheets (misc origin) and riveted to the hull ribs. Outdoor carpet was then glued to the upper surface. Al looks cool, but it sure is slippery! We cut new bulkheads from wood, laminated and re-installed them. The seats and their supports were ok. Now we just need to work on the cabin interior! The cushions are having new covers sewn, the carpet and headliner will be replaced, and some of the counters/cabinets/doors will be fixed or replaced. I am currntly at this stage. Now all I have left, really, is to replace the plexi windshield.

The Beast Project

So here is the Beast!!
That's him as i found him, in full Civil Defense trim. Nice color, eh? He's a 1968 Kaiser-Jeep M715. That's a military Jeep, 1+1/4 ton cargo truck. Got a 230ci straight six (the Tornado engine), Dana 60 and 70 axles and 5.87(!) gears. It'll crawl slower than you can walk in 4 wheel HIGH(1st gear). 4-Low is LOW. Top end (2 high, of course) is about 55-60mph. I found this guy in McRae, Georgia (a tiny town in south GA near Waycross). It had been used for search and rescue out in the boonies, but when 4 wheelers came about, it just wasn't used much anymore. so it sat in a barn for about 20 years. It still has only about 3500 miles on it!! When I got it, it ran ok, but needed some work. I got a rebuilt carb from Memphis Equipment (a Godsend for big M-trucks). It needed a new exhaust manifold and a water pump. The rear drums were frozen, so I replaced all the drums and shoes. M715 I also got all new plugs and wires (they are waterproof, shielded, and the screw-on!). That's about it! Just some lead substitute and a quickie paint job to proper olive drab, and it's really fine! Runs great. Sorry I don't have better pics, but that is all I could find (digitally) since it was painted. Now all I need is some hardware for the troop seats in the rear and a canvas cargo cover plus the ribs that hold it up over the troop seats. If you got any, let me know! That crap is hard to find. I'll probably just fabricate something.