our new project boat (update 13/7/13)
hi guys
i have picked this thing up for $500, needs a bit of work.
Ford Merlin 4cly turbo diesel jet, 6mtrs, 2000 modle, only done 26hrs.
for some reason they have totaly strip the jet and the engine, cant seem to see any problems with it at this stage, all the engine parts are like new, not even any carbon build up on the pistons.
hydrulic steering, nav lights, internal fold down seats(Rated for 10 people)
i will remove the lifting frame, but the mounting points would make a great place to bolt a new targa top on if it goes that far.
i know with western power cherry pickers they have to do a 10year full rebuild to keep them in test, i wonder if this is the same??
it was decomissioned 2 years ago and has been sitting around ever since
if any ones knows any info on the tub please let me know, i cant seem to find any info on it at all
also dose anyone know what the grey barrel thing does on top of the targa bar, we pulled the pin on the self inflator to see if it worked.........it did..........not anymore...lol
im thinking it will be ok for my boys to use for some close in fishing and in the river.
cheers ron
Fathom
Posts: 619
Date Joined: 18/04/08
Nice FRC
I want one, want to sell it? Grey bit works like a life jacket so boat doesnt sink.
FRC at work @49sec in my vid of Bayu Undan : www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iwa46FFCGrU
fisho-ron
Posts: 2539
Date Joined: 26/09/09
yeah i thought as much, the
yeah i thought as much, the sides are foam so there is no way it would ever sink, i thought it might be to flip it over if it landed upside down????
whats FRC??
and not for sale just yet, but you never know!!!
meglodon
Posts: 5981
Date Joined: 17/06/10
video sent a shiver down my spine
I had a shiver go down my spine when i saw your video, the part that shows the 4 guys being lifted onto the rig via the most indescribable torture machine man could devise.
When i was a very young apprentice of 16 years of age i went down to fremantle harbour with a group of workers from the place were i did my apprenticeship to be the "gofor" and we had to get on the rig via that lifting cradle. I have never been so terrified in all my life I wanted to get inside the cradle but the tradies would have non of it. I griped the sling sides like nothing on this earth talk about scared. Glad I never got a job on a rig.
alfred
Posts: 3097
Date Joined: 12/01/07
Bloody Hell! I want one!
Bloody Hell! I want one!
fisho-ron
Posts: 2539
Date Joined: 26/09/09
i take it that it must be
i take it that it must be good then alfred???
like i said i know nothing about them at all, very shallow sides so would not be great for fishing i guess, it will do though.
Fathom
Posts: 619
Date Joined: 18/04/08
FRC = Fast Rescue Craft
Used on offshore projects, rigs, ships etc. built for speed but not really stable, they are shit in choppy conditions, their main purpose is to be deployed quickly and rescue man overboard or quick escape from sinking vessel. Have had some fun in them though, have to launch them regularily for drills and stuff.
fisho-ron
Posts: 2539
Date Joined: 26/09/09
i take it they would be
i take it they would be stable at rest?? just not very good under way???
what sort of speed do they do?
cheers mate
Fathom
Posts: 619
Date Joined: 18/04/08
good under way
not so good at rest, yours looks really skinny, wouldnt be much fun fishing from it unless perfect conditions. They are built for speed not comfort, thats why I am looking for one.
fisho-ron
Posts: 2539
Date Joined: 26/09/09
yeah mate only 2.5mtr wide, i
yeah mate only 2.5mtr wide, i thought at rest it would be ok, as till said it would settle on the pontoons, it would have to settle pretty good to alow people to climb in from the drink.?????
either way, we will find out one day, it will only be a close in muck around boat anyway, with the jet my boys might get back into skiing if it can tow a kneeboard/tube around.
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Yeah, it would make a good
Yeah, it would make a good fad spearing express, but pretty lousy for fishing.
What outdrive does it have?
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
PS: holy crap, that is an 8l
PS: holy crap, that is an 8l engine.
fisho-ron
Posts: 2539
Date Joined: 26/09/09
8ltr 4cyl??? thats
8ltr 4cyl??? thats huge.
someone told me it has a bp jet? if that is what he said,.
we are going to do a full inspection today on what we have and see if we can find out why they stripped it down, something must be shot somewhere?
sarcasm0
Posts: 1396
Date Joined: 25/06/09
Ford Turbo Merlin ?
http://www.mermaid-marine.co.uk/images/documents/pdf/TurboMerlin.pdf
2496cc or 152cu by the looks of it?
Still producing 82kW or 110SHP.
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Ahh that looks more like it,
Ahh that looks more like it, I kept getting a 7.8, then a 6.8L version.
sarcasm0
Posts: 1396
Date Joined: 25/06/09
Some more docs
Parts Manuals and Schematics:
Turbo-Merlin from 04/1987 serial nos beginning 8495:
http://www.mermaid-marine.co.uk/images/documents/pdf/partsmanuals/mermaid%20marine%20parts%20manual%20merlin%20turbo%20merlin%20from%20apr%201987%20serial%20numbers%20beginning%208495.pdf
Turbo-Merlin from 01/1995 serial nos beginning 1100:
http://www.mermaid-marine.co.uk/images/documents/pdf/partsmanuals/mermaid%20marine%20parts%20manual%20merlin%20turbo-merlin%20from%20january%201995%20serial%20numbers%20beginning%2011000.pdf
There is also this model:
http://www.mermaid-marine.co.uk/images/documents/pdf/TurboMerlin1.pdf
Which is the same block but 130 hp.
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
It has a very deep V, it
It has a very deep V, it would be tippy but it probably settles down to the pontoons.
carnarvonite
Posts: 8673
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Natad
Looks to be along the same lines as a Naiad, deep Vee and uses the pontoons like a shock absorber when it comes down.
For $500 it is a steal, bargain of the year, even with the motor in bits.
bitten
Posts: 803
Date Joined: 07/04/10
our frc is the most stable
our frc is the most stable boat for its size i have ever been on it eats choppy water for breakfast, 35 knots straight into it past all the amateure fishos returning home at 6 knots and getting smashed i had a to have a chuckle as they all stared at the yellow bullet flying over the top ov the waves
Fathom
Posts: 619
Date Joined: 18/04/08
Are you a pro fisho using a
Are you a pro fisho using a FRC bitten?
Rob H
Posts: 5807
Date Joined: 18/01/12
In our industry (bitten and
In our industry (bitten and I) we use FRC's daily as most rig tenders have one on board though most are twin outboard. The thing on top is an inflatable to selfright it.
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
fisho-ron
Posts: 2539
Date Joined: 26/09/09
thanks rob, thats what i
thanks rob, thats what i thought it would be for.
do you know if the side foam pieces will suck up water like a sponge, the covering material on top is all rat shit from sitting outside uncovered for the last 2 years, i wouldnt think so but i dont know.
cheers
dodgy
Posts: 4580
Date Joined: 01/02/10
That would make an awesome
That would make an awesome freediving rig.
Couple of guys I know in Darwin had one nearly identical and rebuilt it as a dive platform. Turned out pretty good.
Will see if I can find the thread where they did the rebuild.
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
fisho-ron
Posts: 2539
Date Joined: 26/09/09
what do you reckon its worth
what do you reckon its worth as is guys?? and what would it be worth running??
gotta make sure its worth fixing up.
dodgy
Posts: 4580
Date Joined: 01/02/10
http://fishingterritory.com/b
http://fishingterritory.com/boats-motors-f10065/project-boat-the-mutant-t24676.html
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
fisho-ron
Posts: 2539
Date Joined: 26/09/09
it will not allow me to see
it will not allow me to see pics mate, have to be a member.
alfred
Posts: 3097
Date Joined: 12/01/07
Ron, they are fast, but need
Ron, they are fast, but need horsepower to get them on plane but once up they will fly. They are fast. I ran 2 when I was in Hawaii and they were really the boys toys! They are really fast. On the go they are better going into the chop, terrible running parallel and have some helm steer in a following sea, but they are fast. Oh by the way, did I mention they are fast? You could go anywhere faster then all recreational craft up to about twice the length in about any condition.
I did find them pretty stable at rest and they will make great diving boats. The closed cell foam is designed to not absorb, but like in most cases, the theory is better then in real life. To recover the bags will cost big time, so I would see if you can actually insure it before spending any money on it. If the foam will "sand" when you pinch it, it's dead.
If you want to hold position in any sea, there is nothing better then a jet drive. The ones I ran had Hamiltons.
fisho-ron
Posts: 2539
Date Joined: 26/09/09
thanks for the replys
thanks for the replys guys...
after some further inspection today, the jet is a hammilton jet unit, in very very good condintion, which it should be for 26hrs old...no probs there at all.
it runs a gear box set up with a 2.4-1 ratio, i suppose is needed for the lack of revs in the deisel.
the probs are in the donk, when dissasembled...and i mean disassembled compleatly, every nut and bolt has been undone......ok not so bad you would think!!!!
they have then placed all the engine parts in the bottom of the hull, which then has filled with water and been submerged for the last 2 years.......
soooooooo... without a full engine rebuild, its basically nakered!!
will shop around for some rebuild qoutes, or even a running engine, maybe even go a petrol 6 to get the sme power.
anyone know what other donks will fit?????
if there is any deisel mech on here that would like a bit of cash on the side for some mechanical work, drop me a pm.
i have over the years put many engines together, including my 383 chev stroker in my hot rod, but i have no idea on deisels.
other than that every thing else looks great, all cables,steering,lights,ignition,hull looks good and in a working condition.
will do it slow over the next year or 2 and see what happens.
cheers ron
Rob H
Posts: 5807
Date Joined: 18/01/12
ratios
2.4-1 is a reduction box not step up.
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
carnarvonite
Posts: 8673
Date Joined: 24/07/07
V6
Go for a V6 fuel injected engine if you are unable to find another diesel. Not a lover of petrol engines in boats but with fuel injection there is less chance of mishaps if fitted properly.
One problem though could be the ratio of the gearbox with the higher revs the petrol engine will put out so a different pitch impellor could be needed.
Fathom
Posts: 619
Date Joined: 18/04/08
Twin 250 outboards on a pod
"I feel the need for speed"
Want to sell it to me?
fisho-ron
Posts: 2539
Date Joined: 26/09/09
not yet mate!!!....lolhow
not yet mate!!!....lol
how much you wana offer?? ya never know
Fathom
Posts: 619
Date Joined: 18/04/08
$550, I need to spend another
$550, I need to spend another 70K to get her up to speed :)
Fathom
Posts: 619
Date Joined: 18/04/08
Seriuosly talking now mate, I
Seriuosly talking now mate, I am seeking a fast freedive boat,..... hard to find. ......FRC's are ideal for my needs, lets talk? PM me
fisho-ron
Posts: 2539
Date Joined: 26/09/09
nah mate not for sale
nah mate not for sale atm.
engine parts going to the builder tomorow for a clean and a qoute, we want to stick with diesel.
if and when we sell i will pm you.
cheers mate
dodgy
Posts: 4580
Date Joined: 01/02/10
I see the water police are
I see the water police are upgrading the naiads shortly fathom.
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
fisho-ron
Posts: 2539
Date Joined: 26/09/09
moving along nicely
moving along nicely already,
jet is ready to go back in,
motor is in the shop getting cleaned/tested and qoutes on rebuild, might be a slow rebuild though as they get quite expensive,
if anybody knows of a 4cyl diesel for sale out of a ford transit would be great.
picked up a tandem boat trailer that will work with some small mods, will be like a ski boat trailer on skids(float on float off)
i will get some updated pics soon.
cheers
fisho-ron
Posts: 2539
Date Joined: 26/09/09
its no where near the quality
its no where near the quality of some other project rebuilds on here, but we will keep adding pics as it comes together.
we are trying to keep it as low budget as possible.
pick up a good running engine for $1500, it has alot of parts on it that we can sell, including the electronic diesel injector pump for $1000,
(we are using a manual pump off the old engine), so hopefully the engine only owes us $500 at the most.
the jet unit is back in and ready to install the impellar,wear ring and other bits this saturday, so that should be compleat and nothing else needed.
the trailer is on its way, with a few mods to get it to fit, should have axles,springs and hubs on this saturday as well.
here is a cople of pics siting on the trailer and a better uncluttered view of the inside.
a big thankyou to my mate for letting us use his big shed to work on it out of the wether.
will get some more pics this weekend after some more work
cheers
bitten
Posts: 803
Date Joined: 07/04/10
haha straight off the stena
haha straight off the stena clyde one of the oil rigs we work on the north west shelf where did u find it
fisho-ron
Posts: 2539
Date Joined: 26/09/09
found it in kewdale mate,
found it in kewdale mate, decomissioned and in pieces.
we have to take the name off mate, i should off done it already, it will be done before it hits the water.
we are going to paint the inside a off white, the orange is just yuk!!
did you ever do a drill run on this tub?
catchalittle
Posts: 1875
Date Joined: 04/09/08
You should have a lot of fun
You should have a lot of fun on that Ron once its finished and will have one fast ski boat
Nathan
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Man that trailer looks
Man that trailer looks flimsy, hope you have a plan for it!
fisho-ron
Posts: 2539
Date Joined: 26/09/09
yeh it is a bit light,the
yeh it is a bit light,
the suspension is on its own cradle and im gunna reinforce the draw bar a bit more as well as some centre supports down the guts.
the tub is 1500kg.
if it turns out to be a great boat worth kepping it will get a new trailer.
gotta work with what we can get cheap mate!!
Cruise Control
Posts: 973
Date Joined: 03/11/10
Come on Ron, we know that
Come on Ron, we know that you are just looking for another boat to carry some of those squillions of rods that you and Troy have !
fisho-ron
Posts: 2539
Date Joined: 26/09/09
lol mate...it might also be
lol mate...
it might also be the only way i can get troy out of my boat!!! i might be able to catch the biggest fish then
fisho-ron
Posts: 2539
Date Joined: 26/09/09
hi guysnot having alot of
hi guys
not having alot of time latley with the new job, things have slowed down on the rebuild side off things, with the last
couple of weeks off, we have managed to get some things happening...sort off!!!!!
to start of with we had to get our injector pump rebuilt......
now im all for giving work to local people, so we get a quote........$1800-$2000....WTF??
we ended up posting the pump to the UK, got it rebuild and returned post at under $1000, Post was a good chunck of the $1000 as well!!
anyway..pump is back on and she is running sweet, a few other small bits and pieces and it was off for a water test.
down to maylands first thing and she is a dud???? turns out we put the impella in backwards....DOH, back home to change it around
and back to the ramp.
first things first.....have to make sure the supplies go in the tub this time, could be a long day???
well what you know...it floats!!
well what you know...it goes!!
we are not getting any good speed out of it, seems either the impella is worn or we have some air leaks in the jet unit.
we have to do some measuring on the impella, fix a couple of air leaks and do anther water test, but at least we are moving forward...slowly.
get it running good and then spend time and money on some other things
cheers ron
dont fail me now im thinking!!
Vinesh87
Posts: 2751
Date Joined: 02/04/11
haha sweet as, good progress
haha sweet as, good progress !!
joel231
Posts: 107
Date Joined: 18/09/12
Awesome work fellas ! Any
Awesome work fellas !
Any more updates on the project?
Cheers Joel
Stratos-Fear
Posts: 61
Date Joined: 27/03/13
Looks sweet will keep an eye
Looks sweet will keep an eye out for it on the water. By the way the Stena Clyde is the biggest shit heap rig ever. Enjoy!
catchalittle
Posts: 1875
Date Joined: 04/09/08
Will keep following your work
Will keep following your work in progress will be good to see the end product
Nathan
paul83
Posts: 97
Date Joined: 13/12/12
What a thread, had me from
What a thread, had me from the start
Looking forward to following the progress
Pick it up, put it down....
jewish
Posts: 22
Date Joined: 01/08/12
Nice tub fisho Ron. Bit of
Nice tub fisho Ron.
Bit of history for you. As you probs know its the fRC off an oil rig called stena Clyde. The stena Clyde has been out on the NW shelf I think since the 70s. I worked on it and in about 2007 the stena Clyde had a massive fire that gutted it. The Frcs and life boats were deployed. It probs that FRC that was used. So unlike most of the safety gear around its served its purpose. It great to see you giving it life again.