New To Us (Used) Z-Craft Invader 14,6

[marlyn]

So we sold our cabin in te beginning of this crazy year and finally got around to replacing her with a late 90's Z-Craft invader powered by twin 40 Suzukis.

The boat has been standing in a shed for the last 3 years and worked hard. As such it needs some TLC and I'm struggeling to source some parts.

I contacted Tobie (who now owns and builds King-cats also from Z-craft) for a anchor hatch door (ours is M.I.A)

Then I also need some Rubber Scuppers that fit in-between the motors - draining the area between the false transom and actual transom - anyone know where I can source these?

Some other odds and end also need replacement, like the trailer rollers and Stern Light.

The boat seems to sit only on the rollers, it is not touching the felt pads at the rear of the trailer. The hand crank winch also seems very low on the trailer and its pulling the hull downward and not fully up onto the trailer.

 

[willem wikkel spies]

ja, old boats and trailers shouts money!!!!

not all manufacturers are engineers!!!!

why use the rubber scuppers?
the other tennis ball sealing type work just as well.

the boat should only sit on the rollers.
not on the boards.
the boards are only there to assist with trailering.

hard work lies ahead.
just note, they are heavy boats.
so 2x 40hps is not a lot.

for inland use, they will be fine

 

[marlyn]

Thanks for the response,
I went to a local boat shop and saw the newer model king cat (also from Z-Craft) only sitting on the rollers, so I gathered it is as it should be.

The plan was to stick to inland waters and lakes (once they are accessible again.
I do have a skippers with surf launch endorsement but I live way too far from the ocean to get enough practice to do that maybe once a year.
I'll rather go with an experienced skipper.

So far the boat has cleaned up nicely, still some small cosmetics to sort out and then refurb the trailer.

 

[marlyn]

I want to replace the steering wheel. the old one has a crack on one side.

It has a Lecomble and Schmitt Hydraulic helm pump,It has a tapered shaft and keyway
I've tried almost everything (Light Hammer on the shaft, puller...the hub does not budge.

I'm on day 2 of WD40....any other suggestions?

 

[TimJan]

Hi
Also had a steering wheel that was stuck on my boat and built one of these the outside you bolt onto your steering wheel and the inside bolt pushes down on the steering shaft pulling the wheel off. Just be careful the pressure built up sent my wheel flying about 10meters past my head when it finally released

 

[Limpopoking]

marlyn wrote:

I want to replace the steering wheel. the old one has a crack on one side.

It has a Lecomble and Schmitt Hydraulic helm pump,It has a tapered shaft and keyway
I've tried almost everything (Light Hammer on the shaft, puller...the hub does not budge.

I'm on day 2 of WD40....any other suggestions?

Hot air gun on the hub... Should come off quite easily as usually the hub is aluminium which has a high coefficient of expansion with a bit of heat.

 

[marlyn]

Got the hub off after much motivation and at the end I had to drill open and split the hub for it o come off.
The new steering wheel fits 100% and hopefully I don't have to replace it again.

Does anyone know if there is a local product equivalent to seadek available in SA?

 

[marlyn]

Soooo

Basically one year later and allot has happened.

Rebuilt the trailer, new rollers, bearings, lights etc...
Re-wired the boat with proper wiring, switches and fuses.
Replaced steering and nav lights.
Removed and replaced the rotten transom with coosaboard.
Rebuild swim step and added a ladder.
Removed bottles used for buoyancy and replaced with Sondor SPX.

Now there are no more excuses not to use it...

 

[Skeltonsc]

Great stuff when all the hard work pays off.
Nice boat
I recently boat a Baronet with a siezed motor, but price was what I was willing to pay, but now that I add up everything I have spent I could have just got a better condition one. but then I would not have had all that Me time tinkering in the garage


Have learnt tons of new swear words working on my boat