The Pink Flamingo in Arizona

I’m thinking I must have Boat Attention-deficit disorder or something.  After almost rounding up all the parts I would have needed for the Eliminator I decided to sell it and get a different boat that had an open bow already.  The Eliminator had such a big flat area in front of the driver that it would have made a tight open bow anyways.

So I had my eye on a 1989 Caribbean by Hardin Marine.  One owner boat (technically) that supposedly had been stored for 10 years.  Rebuilt Mercruiser 454 with a Bravo 1 drive.  Sweet looking boat on a good trailer and full cover for it.  Interior was great except a small torn spot on the engine hatch.  It had the rear bench and a bit taller than the Eliminator in height to handle rougher water.  Only problem was it was an hour west of Las Vegas.

March 3, 2018 – So off Dixie and I went on a road trip since Tammy was gone to Guatemala.  We packed up the old Suburban with supplies and spare tires and headed towards Vegas.  6 hours later we arrived and the boat looked great and tapping on the bottom and transom everything sounded solid.  Then I climbed in the boat and sure enough the floor was soft.  Checked all I could of the transom and stringers and luckily they all seamed solid also.  We pulled the boat from his storage over to the house to test fire it and after charging the batteries she started up and idled good.

After a stop for lunch, a walk, and a new light on the trailer Dixie and I headed back towards home with hopes to make it back in time to stop and stay with Charlie and Cindy at Lake Pleasant and test run it in the morning.  Buying this as it turns out may have not been the brightest decision I have ever made but it is a really cool nice boat.

All was going good and we were just about an hour away from the marina and luckily just out of the mountains when the old suburban started loosing power.  Luckily the big guy up above was looking out for me and as I’m frantically looking for a place big enough to pull off here comes a call box area on my side of the road.  The suburban dies just before it so we come in hot realizing the hydroboost brakes on the Suburban don’t work as well without the engine running.  But we come to a safe stop and after a few thank you prayers and moments of rest it’s time to see whats up.  All fluids are good so I thought maybe I overheated it and the battery was a bit low on juice also.  A couple nice guys helped trying to jump it to see if that helped but still no spark it looks like so we’re not going anywhere soon.

Not to worry we have AAA RV Towing which covers trailers also.  Well not quite.  They will tow the boat trailer also but not with a boat on it.  The next week I find out that only BoatsUS towing with the additional Unlimited Trailer Assist ($14 per year) will cover towing the boat and trailer when your vehicle breaks down.

Luckily Charlie and Cindy come from the marina to save the day and tow the boat back to their house while the AAA tow truck brought the Suburban.  I can’t thank Charlie and Cindy enough for coming to the rescue and the next day we talk to their brother in law Dave and decide to see if the crank sensor might be the problem with the spark.  The new one from the parts store has a couple washers in it along with a note that these engines with high miles experience high amounts of crank bearing wear causing the reluctor wheel to hit the crank sensor.  Hence the spacers.  Sure enough you can see marks on the old once so I install the new one with both shims, she starts up, but sounds rough.  Looks like the engine is shot with the 188,000 miles on it.

So now it’s off to home to get my Dakota and pull it the rest of the way home.  Finally get home around 7 and boy what a long weekend and once again thanks to Charlie and Cindy.

Now to the good part, some pics.