It has been a while since I was able to devote some time to the Roamer project. This seems to be a common theme. Life and work gets in the way…yada…yada. But I am back at it! In the last post I had just installed the oil pan on Phiona. This was followed by the … More Port engine rebuild..some progress….
After the #1 piston was installed, the others were installed without incident. It looks like the machine shop did their job. I can’t wait to fire up Phiona and smell the mix of LL100 and the burning of epoxy paint….. they should make an air freshener! I fitted the odd bank head gasket followed by … More Port engine rebuild continued…
Dynamic Speed and Marine has had the Port Engine for a number of months and they called me up last week to say that it was done. Typically it would not take so long for the machine work to be done but I told them that there was no rush. Nevertheless, I was getting a … More Port Engine is back from the machine shop!
It is mid July 2016. We have nearly completely gutted the interior of the Roamer in hopes of finding out how bad the hull plating is. The rust is pretty extensive and there are many areas that have rusted completely through. Keel (Midships) Starboard just aft of the v-berth Keel coming up the bow… this … More The root of the problem
It is June of 2016 and I have decided to begin tearing out the interior of the Roamer to expose the hull plating. I am curious how many more problem areas that I will find. I began by tearing out the dinette. Starboard seating/bunk just forward from the head. I see the light! In … More Salon and Cabin Demolishing
While the Port engine is off at the machine shop, I have been keeping myself busy restoring all of the “little bits and bobs” that are needed in order to fire the engine. The Alternator and starter looked to be in pretty good shape, however I didn’t want any surprises once the day came to … More Port Engine Distributor,Carburetor and other “bits and bobs”.
It is March 2016 and the restoration is taking longer than I want it to. I am finding it somewhat hard to keep enthusiastic about the project as it has been awhile since a major goal has been reached. But I will not be dissuaded…forge on I must! This week I took the Port engine … More Port engine off to the machine shop and raw water pump rebuild
The last couple of months have been slow going in regards to the Roamer restoration. Partly due to the fact that we haven’t been able appropriate any funds to the project. The Port engine is all but ready to go off the the machine shop to have the Block, Crankshaft, Connecting rods etc. inspected. I … More Cast oil pan conundrum
Well, It is official. The Port engine is in need of lots of work. Right off the bat, I noticed that the raw water pump had a cracked housing/mounting flange that needs to be repaired if not replaced. The crankshaft had a crack in the vicinity of the dowel pin that locates the flywheel. There … More “P” Stands for Poor….not Port
Referbification: rēˈfərb-if-ication /n. Origin: United States (deep south) The action of renovating or renewing whilst using what tools are immediately and readily accessible (no matter how antiquated). Back In November 2015 I removed the Sea-Strainers in preparation for the engine removal. They needed to be coerced with fire, but I finally got them out of … More Sea-strainer Referbification
1965 Chris Craft Roamer Restoration 