Pride Or Pried From The Jaws of Neglect

[James Thompson]

So its been a year and a month since I jumped in head first into boating with a rotten beat to sh*t 85 Checkmate Eluder with a problematic 89 Merc 150. To say the least I've learned a lot about how dirty rebuilding floors is and how frustrating Mercury electronics can be. I've had the boat out 4 times so far it would be more but as many of you know the best days to go out are usually when one has to work. Of all the things about the project the motor was the most challenging and I'm not sure I would have been able to get the thing going without the help of this site The old engine's kind of grown on me now that it runs the way it should. Sometimes I'll go out and start it just to hear it run and smoke up the back yard On the water it does great it's a rare satisfaction after all the money, time, and work to be cruising along with that hum behind you and the wind in your face. My son said something that day we were out that made me proud. My wife commented about the stink of the exhaust and he said 'No, that's 2 stroke perfume'. It seems we got it going just in time for winter, I'll probably be tarping it soon. Next year though...

[NICE PAIR]

Attachment 360957 Attachment 360958

[rock]

I'll bet there were more than a few days early on you must have thought you had made a big mistake. Now it looks like the best investment of your life and I am not talking about monetary value. Good job.

Rock

[Turborr]

Wow! What a transformation. Way to see a diamond in the rough.

[frank jackson]

you will remember the grief of all the work for a while , the fun part will be rememberd far beyond , your son will remember for the rest of his life . Boys job well done !!

[Glasstream15]

Beautiful boat, handsome young man. And it looks like there will be some great memories for you both.

[Bodhi]

Great restoration job! I'm glad you stuck with it got it done. It gets addictive, I don't usually buy a boat unless it has some vegetation and wildlife living in it.
Glad to hear your boy is a 2 stroke fan...if it ain't smokin it must be broken

[W2F a V-King]

Really GREAT job done there ...And LONG after the boat is gone years and years ahead....You not only restored a boat with your son...you made memories you and he will share with his children one day !!!

Love the father son projects more than just about anything else...

Congrats on a job well done!!!

James

[stokernick]

A labor of love and love your labor, enjoy many happy moments!

[James Thompson]

Thanks for all the compliments guys, it means a lot to me. I wish I could snap my fingers and make it spring! I can't wait to get the ski pole back on and a tube out behind it with my kid hanging on for dear life. Still have a few questions on the 150, going to get some pics up in the next few days. We hope to get out this holiday and maybe get into some drum or stripers. Happy holidays everyone!

[Krazymaan]

I'm thinking you need to cut down the pine tree perpetrators. They have been talking to the pigeons.