Troy Gets Ready To Enjoy His American Beauty Weekend. How About You?
It’s Friday and you know what that means. Time on, and in our Woody Boats. It’s a little late for Troy in getting his amazing Cruiser going. It is Maine though, and this weekend may be Summer! No wait that’s Hessel. Maine I think has at least 3 weeks of summer. Anyway, here is Troys story to get you motivated to GET OUT THERE!
Due to family issues American Beauty did not get wet in 2015. This made her very unhappy and she decided she was going to make it us work our pleasure in 2016.
First you have to understand that in 2014 just before we pulled her out her starboard engine quit. While winterizing I could not get the engine to run well, so now in the spring of 2016 it is time to troubleshoot. After changing to Pertronix ignition, some challenges, and starting a fire in both carbs of the starboard WBR engine, I determined that I either had a bad coil or the fuel was just simply too old. I bought a new coil and brought a remote tank of 100LL avgas. Now she would start and run, but would soon backfireand shut down. After texting my guru friend Jim Sewall, I was told that I either had my coil hooked up backwards or was running out of fuel.
Sure enough the carbs were not filling the bowls fast enough. Have I mentioned that this was Tuesday and we are scheduled to launch on Thursday? Late Tuesday afternoon off come all four Zenith updraft carburetors. Sure enough all four needle valves are sticking.
Luckily I have extra parts that I acquired from Jim Staib. It seems he is always bailing me out of one mess or another. Well let me tell you, by 9AM Wednesday morning I am ready to head back to CWC boat yard to re-install the carbs.
After the carbs were installed again she is running smooth as silk.
There ya go Troy, send in photos from this weekend. We all love an American Beauty.
Getting American Beauty into the drink!
The perfect cruiser, now can you get the sky to be blue?
Congrats on getting her wet!. I know how you feel on missing a year…I’ve been doing a new transom on my fiberglass boat for the past 1.5 yrs. Every comment you have posted a picture of her the last few days have got me thinking I need a wood cruiser.
Hmmm do I skip my first “reasonable” wood boat and jump right to cruiser?
Congratulations Troy. Maintaining a piece like AB is no walk in the park, but man, is she beautiful! Hopefully you have all the bug-a-b00s worked out and she’s ready to deliver enjoyment for the rest of the season.
Love the tailgate “workbench”. I was pretty proud of having rebuilt ONE Zenith….but FOUR? I’m not worthy! Congrats on getting her wet.
Bad gas is a big problem these days. Did you add fuel filters upstream of those carbs?
She has spin on filters.
Yee haw! Enjoy her and great work. We are loading up and headed to the water too.
Matt: Of course the three days we spent working in the metal shed were about 85F with a clear blue sky. The waters were calm and beautiful so I have no complaints.
It is a pretty good trip from Damariscotta where we launched to home port so we stopped for dinner at Robinson’s.
Troy: It was an even 100 degrees here yesterday and may make 101 today…would love to be up here with you on AB.
Glad you are finally splashing! Good work. Great Troy vid too….all feet and face!
MATT…..what is with the new deal where you get offered choices on the math problem??? NONE of the choices was the right answer…so I had to post twice….and this has happened before?????
John, just ignore the choices and key the right number. It’s like GPS…take a right and go over a cliff!
We can all relate Troy. Getting our Cruisers in the water and under way is always a challenge, but sure is worth it.!
Gosh Troy, you could have figured a few more days on the road and been splashing into the Chris Craft Rendezvous in Port Orchard, WA this weekend! 🙂 Sometimes is feels as if “re-commissioning” takes as long as restoration…
Congratulations on your recommissioning Troy and Sandy. Didn’t realize you had twin carbs on those “W” twins. You should have named her “Double Trouble”. Would have relished the opportunity to assist with your launch, just have too many work obligations, unfortunately. Will always remember the tour you gave me in “AB”. It was a little sketchy getting out to the mooring buoy on that kayak tho, lol. Btw, we call summer in Maine “6 weeks of bad sledding”. Being in 96+ heat here in Georgia, I’d take a little “bad sledding”.
Looking good, Troy!!! Would love to be there to help. Way to hot in Florida.
I really love those 50s cruisers, wish there were more folks like you who are willing to invest the time and money to keep them going. My fear is most of them will end up in abandoned yards to wither away.
Thanks Gang!
I really appreciate all the encouragement. It makes the trip that much more enjoyable.
Troy & Ron,
Beautiful boats! Wonderful to see the cruisers live on.
Hi Troy, I hope you are coming to the Lake Winnipesaukee Show this year, its on the 30th in Wolfeboro, I won’t complain if you don’t bring AB, she used to be on the Lake. I will bring Comfy to the show, all the Best, Scott
Scott that sounds like a good time. That is our Anniversary weekend, so we may be out on AB for the weekend.
If I remember the details correctly there is a chance that your boat was traded in on American Beauty (originally named CHANCA III) when Mr. Chase Phelps bought her new.