A New Journey Begins for OverEasy - 2023/2025

[OverEasy]

Hi All!

What a beautiful day it was today here in SC.
Perfect day to actually get some stuff done on the boat repairs!

Ok …. WellI stripped out the old Teleflex cables.
This involved removal of the top engine cover shell and the port side intermediate side casing.
This was to gain access to the Teleflex rod ends where they connect to the throttle & shift linkages of the engine,
Sure enough the bolt that provides the engine side clamp function to hold the rigid portion of the Teleflex cables was frozen in place.
Fiddled around with it but eventually the bolt sheared in the threaded portion of the clamp. Fribble! Another thing to fix…)
I measured the existing rod end adjustments by counting the exposed threads for each of the Teleflex cable engine ends.
This will allow me to quickly reset them when it comes to installing the new Teleflex cables.
I then took apart the pedestal to access the throttle quadrant.
Once the throttle quadrant was accessed I removed the back cove and removed the two Teleflex rod ends and again measured and recorded the number of exposed threads to ease the new Teleflex installations.

I took the new Teleflex cables, applied a light coating of marine on all the interfaces and along the exposed inner moving portions.
For the engine side of the Teleflex cables I then applied a layer of heat shrink tubing to help seal-up the cable sheaths where the come out of the engine as a sorta insurance policy. I used the recorded information from the old cables to set the position of the engine side rod ends

Threading the Teleflex through tge existing feed through was a PITA. A larger set of holes would have made a big improvement. But got it done.

Routing the new Teleflex through the aft berth was basically straight forward.
Then routing up into the pedestal and quadrant. I set the respective rod rods the the previous cables settings.
Then got the water muffs on and gave the engine a test run.
Cleaned up and reattached the port side cover and cover.

TAADAA! All done and it works!

Looks like the Plan C (Monday launch) is our current best relaunch date option.

Best Regards
Over Easy

PS: Finished photo

[Russ]

Nice work. You will sleep better knowing the repair is done and new cables installed.

The side cowling on the Suzuki comes off fairly easily giving good access to most components. That's how I replace the internal fuel filter.

Any idea what caused such failures on relatively new parts? How was that bolt frozen?

This all makes me think about maintenance. I should spray lubricant on the moving parts such as linkages, cables and such.

Now you can get back out on the water. Enjoy.

[Be Free]

Good job remembering to count the threads. That saves a lot of time by not having to keep disconnecting and adjusting the connectors. I feel your pain on the cable routing. Turning the corner where they pass through the transom is a real pain if all of the flotation material is still in there.

[OverEasy]

Hi Russ!

Thanks! It’s good that it’s been taken care of inspite of the inconveniences…..

Seems that when the new Suzuki was installed by the dealer the outer sheath was cut back from the furrele that should have sealed the inner fixed metal sheath allowing water to corrode it. The section that degenerated was covered over by the rubber engine cable bung so it was out of view. The outer plastic was trimmed right to the exposed edge of the bung.

Why anyone would do that is well beyond me….It’s irresponsible to say the least.
Not that I expect much but now that I know what I know I’m going to call the dealer even though the installation was three years ago.
It shouldn’t have occurred in the first place.
It was serendipitous that the situation was able to be safely mitigated in our case.

The Teleflex cable clamp has an integral threaded barrel to mate with the bolt. Probably different grades of SST or galled when the engine was installed. Personally I prefer adding a dab of marine grease and the addition of a SST spring lock washer on the things I’ve designed or been responsible for and the appropriate torque for a lubricated assembly (it’s a bit different than for a dry assembly). I’ve never had any back-outs or issues at or assembly or in the field or in service with this approach. (On critical systems I’ve added either lock wire, locking tabs or cotter pins. One does that anyway for those applications.

Anyway your right, it’s a good idea to carefully lubricate things regularly. It doesn’t hurt.

Best Regards
Over Easy

[OverEasy]

Hi All!

So PlanC worked!
We were able to launch this afternoon height close to high tide! Perfect! 4:45 pm!
THE LAUNCH WENT PERFECT:D

We turned up Battery CREEK and enjoyed watching the dolphins. One had her baby with her!
That was nice!

The new Teleflex cables worked like champs!

Landed back in our slip by 8 pm.
Then I flubbed up, got my feet tangled in the sonar cable while maneuvering to step off and tie up only to do a classic face plant in the cockpit! Fribble! I don’t bound as well as I used to …. I’m gonna feel it tomorrow!

Best Regards,
Over Easy

[OverEasy]

Hi All!

Well it’s three days on since my self inflicted personal gravitational drop check on Monday.
Yes, I can unequivocally state that gravity still works in South Carolina in a boat on the water!
Yes, it still aches too! … in multiple locations…

My “To-Do-List” project progress has taken a substantive detrimental hit for the month of April and the contagion has now spread into May!
The reshuffle for getting the boat ready, launched, trailer bunk repaired, hauled out, boat cable repair/replacement, relaunch and gravity check have played havoc with the planned project timeline… fribble….

To top things off I’m now needing to reassess my assessment of our boat trailer… I was too optimistic earlier when I thought I could put off the through trailer refurbishing until next year… While it is still safe for the time being I don’t think it’s up to the “good enough” to travel any distance with criteria. It seems that when it was assembled they used bright zinc plated self locking ‘nylock’ nuts on hot dipped galvanized hardware. These nuts haven’t faired well with our saltwater and high humidity down south… These bright zinc nuts are deteriorating and the as are the exposed threads of the bolts. I did a destructive cross section of a likely representative and found that the external nut surfaces are the most problematic as the outer rust was about 25% while the core portions were pretty much intact… Meaning there’s not much left of the nut corners to grip and it’s only gonna get worse with time. It coming into hurricane season and my primary plan is to haul out should one come into this area and to use Over Easy as a camper while we move to a safer locale… the nut degeneration makes me question that plan at the moment…

Soooo….. I’m gonna take the initiative and deal with it now even if it’s a fair number of u-bolts and associated hardware… may as well get it over with and be done with it for a decade or so. While I’m at it I may as well also replace the leaf springs which are getting pretty rusted up as well and not have to come back to it later. The current materials needed are still generally available and prices, while not cheap, are starting to rise… (Note: The Admiral understands but isn’t best pleased by the delays and additional works or expenses… timing is everything… and we’ve already shortened our ICW cruising plans for this year due to the current economic turbulence and what is anticipated to come… fribble.) Things are what they are and I gotta work with what is.

The serendipity of it all is to take the opportunistic approach and get the trailer fixed up now before there is a potential crisis in the future. I’d rather be doing this in the driveway than on the side of a highway (or worse ).

Meanwhile all is good, the weather is warm, the boat is afloat and tomorrow is the beginning of a potential four day weekend for us to be out on the water!

Best Regards,
Over Easy

[OverEasy]

Hi All!

Got to pickup the new trailer hardware (well most of it anyways ) and after the sticker shock wallet palpitations subsides a bit I’ll hopefully emerge from my nearly catatonic state

Sheeze stuff has gotten expensive over the past couple of weeks. It up almost 20% from what it was in late 2024! The only saving grace is they haven’t incorporated the import tariffs yet for existing inventory… they don’t want to pre-raise prices until it actually costs them ore to get it in stock. (As most of you might know the majority of Hot Dipped Galvanized Marine Hardware is imported. The domestically produced hardware is generally used and procured in US Government purchase contracts it seems. ) The shop said when they get new orders placed for material not already on the shelf it will have to include any new tariff charges. With new leaf springs it was over $1300!!!

Well I got back home and started into it. I got about a dozen old U-Bolts cut free and replaced this afternoon. I’m using a die grinder with a cutoff wheel as what’s left of the nuts have degenerated too much. Is what it is….

Best Regards
Over Easy

[jimmy alonso]

Good call replacing the Teleflex cables. I remember thinking I should change those cables they felt stiffer than before. Only to have one break right after refueling in St.Thomas leaving me drifting in a marina luckily someone was passing by in a dinghy and pulled me to a dock.

[OverEasy]

Hi All!

It’s the Admirals Day!
The kids even remembered to call!
It’s a good day even if the thunderstorms are keeping us off the water this weekend… working with the is conditions.

On the trailer refurbish project I’ve gotten all the old bunks off and the bunk angle brackets removed.
Preliminary cleaning shows the angle brackets galvanizing is aging where it was in contact with the pressure treated wood bunks.
The modern PT lumber has copper additives which kinda galvanically/chemically attacks the regular metal.
The brackets metal thickness is still good and I can’t seem to get replacements locally… still looking.

A Plan B, if I can’t get ahold of new is to rotary wire brush down to base metal and triple coat with Rustoleum inhibiting paint and then place plastic or nitrile rubber pads between the brackets and the new PT bunks. Then use recessed through bolts using plastic washers & plastic sleeves through the new PT bunks. That way it will minimize the direct metal to PT wood contact.

Here are a couple of pictures of the bright zinc nylock nuts corrosion….
Half the riser U-bolts replaced


Close ups of some of the nuts






Glad we’re getting this pre-emptively out of the way!

Best Regards
Over Easy


Or when the phone rings
Or when Daddy moves
Or when someone walks on the street in front of the house
Or….

[OverEasy]

Hi All!

Still piecemeal working through the full refurbishment of the boat trailer. Nearly done with the frame U-bolts. Three to go.
I’ve been using a die grinder with a cutoff wheel to cut the U of the U-bolts as there’s not enough purchase left on any of the nuts to turn!
( but enough to not let go )

Next will be getting the trailer up so I can replace the leaf spring assemblies. That ought to be fun !

Good thing we were flexible about our ICW cruise plans with the economic hit we took to our retirement accounts… zip for any progress the past 5-to-6 months…. It’s like the old phrase “no ticky -no washy”… we can only hope that things possibly improve enough to make up for the lost opportunities by next year

That the thing about being retired that can get a bit frustrating… the having to plan on one’s savings/investments/SSA accounts that are relatively passive and not really being actively operating at one’s career or profession. Making a plan for us is designing in contingency plans, sort of like boating or flying. Know where you are. Determine a destination. Plan alternate destinations in case things change. Plan a route to primary destination. Plan progressive alternate routes and decision check points to change to planned optional destinations.
Make new contingency plans as you start using the options. Always planning. Always assessing. Always noting where the safest place to land within sight if needed (hopefully not). Plan check points to measure progress

That process worked for me going to college, earning a couple of degrees/licenses, working through college as a city medic for 6 years, working as an aviation/aerospace /high tech engineer, starting a consulting engineering company, as a pilot, raising kids, etc…

Plan your work/ work your plan/ adapt constructively to changing circumstances/ do what you can when you can with what you can.

The forecast skies are clear and warm this coming weekend so we’re hoping to get out on the water and enjoy the time and opportunities we have!

Best Regards,
Over Easy .

[OverEasy]

Hi All!

We got out on Saturday afternoon for a good 4 hours!
Weather was actually better than expected too!
Down the Beaufort River to Cat Island Cut… the haul over bar has shifted some from last season though… gets shallow REAL QUICK on either side of the entry channel!
Wandered around the left and right branches of upper Cowen Creek and Distant Island Creek.
Nice area with several Egrets.
Returned up the Beaufort a river and a loop into Battery Creek.
Saw several Dolphins which is always fun.

Only one boat out trying to chum for sharks (towing kids on an inflatable) behind a big power boat.
Most people around here understand and appreciate the variety and number of sharks around this region, especially the bull sharks.
One almost never sees water skiers or open water swimming because of them.
There are some gators around but they tend to (but not always) stay in the more shallow back water areas….

Landed back at our slip about 5:30 pm with plenty of time to get a chore or two out of the way after rinsing out the engine with fresh water and rinsing down the boat. Cleaned our electrical cable and topped off the water on both batteries with distilled water. It’s alway a good feeling to get a task or two out of the way.

The port side window we recaulked is doing very nicely!
Tried flooding it with the rinse off hose from just about every angle and no leaks!

Hope to get out again tomorrow!

Best Regards,
Over Easy

[OverEasy]

Hi All!

We got out on two of the four days this weekend!
It was great albeit warm!
Cruised down to Cat Island and two of the three estuaries on Saturday afternoon.
Then up the Beaufort River and on past Sam’s Point Landing on Monday.
Saw lots of dolphins!

Continued on with the trailer bolt refurbishments Tuesday and lifted the trailer up off its wheels to replace the original leaf springs while I’m at it. They were well rusted but ‘appeared’ intact and serviceable …. Funny word ‘appeared’…. Doesn’t mean ‘are’….

After removing the port side springs a piece fell off!
Not what I’d expected at all!
The bottom leaf of the forward axel spring was broken clean through and rusted.
It had been sandwiched between the clamp plate and the axel in line with the clamping u-bolt.
Never would have found it if I hadn’t been disassembling it all.
There is a second crack propagating in the same leaf in-line with the opposite edge of the clamp plate!






Serendipity is a nice thing!

I’m glad I had decided to replace the springs ‘while I was at it’!
Losing the support of an axle spring while traveling would be a real PITA!
Much nicer to be found in the driveway with the boat off the trailer and having all my tools available!

I wonder what other serendipity surprises are going to be found?

Best Regards
Over Easy