Tour Boat

[RichieW13]

This boat had only been registered as a US Coast Guard Commercial boat. I looked into trying to update that in case I wanted to ever sell it in to a commercial operator and the cost was exorbitant with back fees since it was last registered in 2010.

AZ Game and Fish at first said that registering it would be no problem but then a lack of a discernible regular Hull ID number threw a wrench in things, it's only got a serial number from the maker. I ended up having to get an officer from AZGF up to Page to inspect the boat and make a report. After that I was assigned a new hull registration number and then I could register the craft and get my tags. With that I was able to obtain insurance and lastly now I can overpay GCNRA on the new tiered annual Canyon Pass fee schedule giving the Feds the extra proceeds to probably piss away somewhere else. (not here at Powell, Grrr) But, I'll be legal, Gotta love dealing with the Government! At least it's done.

Planning on getting back to Page this weekend to take advantage of unseasonable good working weather and to tie up some loose ends on this boat, getting close to a dunk test
View attachment 31761

Looks like they threw in a Sam's Club membership. Nice!

 

[RichieW13]

Thats Ridiculous, why should you have to pay back fees if it wasnt operating?!

I've dealt with that registering off-road vehicles in California. Bought a motorcycle that hadn't been registered in years. I wanted to be legal, so I tried to get current. They wanted me to pay for all the unregistered years.

I understand that NOT charging for the unregistered years could create a loophole where you don't pay your registration and then "sell" the motorcycle to somebody else, who could get the registration current. Then he could "sell" it back to you.

But it's still dumb, because it discourages people from trying to comply. Seems like there should be some sort of middle ground.

 

[Marina Bum]

Looks like they threw in a Sam's Club membership. Nice!

Yeah, lol, I used it to hide my personal info in my registration card.

 

[Marina Bum]

Thats Ridiculous, why should you have to pay back fees if it wasnt operating?!

IDK but it was over $10,000, not worth in IMO. Az said that once I went with their registration that it permanently kills the current incantation of the Coast Guard registration. People I know who have dealt with the annual Coast Guard inspections for boats registered to haul people for profit with over six passengers all say that it's a nightmare, like a survey on steroids. I guess it should be to protect the public but they say it's overly strident, a paperwork nightmare. I'll pass

 

[RichieW13]

Yeah, lol, I used it to hide my personal info in my registration card.

FYI - your address is still showing at the bottom.

 

[CATD8RII]

FYI - your address is still showing at the bottom.

Well, I guess we know where the party is tonight!!!!

 

[Marina Bum]

FYI - your address is still showing at the bottom.

Oh no, Thanks. I checked it out, that's my mailing address, my office.

 

[Marina Bum]

Well, I guess we know where the party is tonight!!!!

My 88 year old mom is home with my two young adults, I'm on my houseboat at Wahweap. Tomorrow, more work on this rig at the Yacht Club yard in Page.

 

[Marina Bum]

Well another hard fought couple of days on the tour boat. I was able to put a lot of the parts back that had been scrounged off if it by others over the years. Some were onboard others I had to buy or build. It was windy on Saturday but Sunday was just amazing weather to work in. I got a lot of my check list done including reinstalling the high pressure fuel pumps and a test fire of both motors. It was a super productive weekend but my list grew in other ways. I discovered that I need a gasket on one of the heat exchangers and I have to remove the unit to get the gasket under it, two steps forward and one step back is sometimes how it goes.

Maybe in my next trip I can wrap up my list and test dunk it,

 

[CATD8RII]

Well another hard fought couple of days on the tour boat. I was able to put a lot of the parts back that had been scrounged off if it by others over the years. Some were onboard others I had to buy or build. It was windy on Saturday but Sunday was just amazing weather to work in. I got a lot of my check list done including reinstalling the high pressure fuel pumps and a test fire of both motors. It was a super productive weekend but my list grew in other ways. I discovered that need a gasket on one of the heat exchangers and I have to remove the unit to get the gasket under it, two steps foreView attachment 31803View attachment 31804ward and one step back is sometimes how it goes.

Maybe in my next trip I can wrap up my list and test dunk it,

That's always how it goes!!!! Way to keep sticking with it!! Keep at it and your chin up!!!

 

[Jan Hertzen]

Well another hard fought couple of days on the tour boat. I was able to put a lot of the parts back that had been scrounged off if it by others over the years. Some were onboard others I had to buy or build. It was windy on Saturday but Sunday was just amazing weather to work in. I got a lot of my check list done including reinstalling the high pressure fuel pumps and a test fire of both motors. It was a super productive weekend but my list grew in other ways. I discovered that I need a gasket on one of the heat exchangers and I have to remove the unit to get the gasket under it, two steps forward and one step back is sometimes how it goes.

Maybe in my next trip I can wrap up my list and test dunk it,

View attachment 31805
View attachment 31806

I remember having energy like that. You're doing a great job!

 

[C B]

Do both motors rotate the same? I'm kinda assuming yes because jets.

 

[Rivergoer]

Passing Wahweap launch ramp aboard Yachtzee we saw the infamous “Tour Boat” doing a test fire tonight.

It was definitely running! Saw the jet blast but too far away to tell if one or both engines firing.

We would’ve stopped for a chat but we were chasing daylight and needed to look for a campsite before nightfall.

Congratulations Marina Bum good job!

 

[Marina Bum]

Passing Wahweap launch ramp aboard Yachtzee we saw the infamous “Tour Boat” doing a test fire tonight.

It was definitely running! Saw the jet blast but too far away to tell if one or both engines firing.

We would’ve stopped for a chat but we were chasing daylight and needed to look for a campsite before nightfall.

Congratulations Marina Bum good job!View attachment 31891

Awesome, thanks Rivergoer for the shout out. Yes, we finally got to the point of dipping the transom for a run and float test. Since the jets provide water flow for the heat exchangers and the bearings in the jets are cooled by emersion that is the only safe way to really test the engines. The results were a success but a mixed bag. The hull had a few holes drilled through it that I couldn't see to fill so we took on water; right then I knew we weren't getting off the trailer.

The engines ran well but I have a fuel delivery problem. The fuel tank can not be removed unless I pull the engines so I had siphoned the old fuel out of them, put 100 gallons in on top of whatever was left and plumbed into the tank to the motors through a new water separator. I'm going to have to re plump into two separate footed filters and see if I'm getting good fuel flow, both engines staved for fuel. From what I could see the fuel coming out of the tank was clean and clear. I went back to the outboard tank and the engines were happier.

But on the upside both engines ran for an extended period of time and and the drives make thrust and sound great. I was told this boat had a frozen drive, IDK if that was true and someone fixed it or if the yard I bought it from had bad information. Either way it's great news that both engines run and both drives work so far.

I took the boat back to the Yacht Club yard and came home last night. On my next trip I'm going to investigate further the fuel tank and re-plumb my set up I rushed through into two separate supply lines with separate footed filters for each engine. I could have a bad lift pump too, it's not unusual to have something electro-mechanical fail right away even if it works initially after it's been sitting in the desert for five years.

I've decided I like the boat enough to go to the next level with her. I'm going to scrap the ugly gull wing top before I take her back to the lake. I'm going to give the boat a good deep cleaning and pressure wash too. I'm chasing my leaks and my fuel problems and hope to try another test on the ramp and possibly take her out for a hot lap in the next two weeks,

I want to name her the Nani Go Go in tribute to Art Greens old low freeboard tour boat that ran before the dam from Lees Ferry to Rainbow Bridge. She is an old tour boat with a somewhat similar shape and I like the shortened version. Mr Greens boat was called the Tse Nani A Go Go Atin. One of his Navajo employees named it, apparently in the Navajo language it meant "The path to the rock that goes over." Rainbow Bridge is the rock that goes over

If all goes well I'll pull 3/4 of the bench seats in the back and deck the floor. I'll keep the boat for my personal use as a multi purpose people hauler, personal tour boat/party barge camping platform. I'd like to add a head but that's all a long term project, I need some time with it on the lake to evaluate its best use.

This boat had been stripped of so much that even though the engines and drives were mostly there it was a lot of work to replace all the missing accessories. The list was huge which included but was not limited to rewiring the boat, reinstalling and re-plumbing the bilge pumps, reinstalling and ducting the blowers, re-plumbing all the fuel lines, replacing some specialty parts on the Motors and drives and about 50 trips to the hardware store for missing bolts and screws and dozens of hours of research looking for all the parts.

Many thanks to my dock friends Tanner and Rory for their help with my dunk test. They helped me out in a big way and then fed me a steak dinner in the marina on one of their boats, Gotta love Lake Powell people!

 

[FishnFly]

Awesome, thanks Rivergoer for the shout out. Yes, we finally got to the point of dipping the transom for a run and float test. Since the jets provide water flow for the heat exchangers and the bearings in the jets are cooled by emersion that is the only safe easy to really test the engines. The results were a success but a mixed bag. The hull had a few holes drilled through it that I couldn't see to fill so we took in water; right then I knew we weren't getting off the trailer.

The engines ran well but I have a fuel delivery problem. The fuel tank can not be removed unless I pull the engines so I had siphoned the old fuel out of them, put 100 gallons in on top of whatever was left and plumbed into the tank to the motors through a new water separator. I'm going to have to re plump into to seperate footed filters and see if i'm getting good fuel flow, both engines staved for fuel. From what I could see the fuel coming out of the tank was clean and clear. I went back to the outboard tank and the engines were happier.

But on the upside both engines ran for an extended period of time and and the drives make thrust and sound great. I was told this boat had a frozen drive, IDK if that was true and someone fixed it or if the yard I bought it from had bad information. Either way it's great news that both engines run and both drives work so far.

I took the boat back to the Yacht Club yard and came home last night. On my next trip I'm going to investigate further the fuel tank, the fuel in it and i'm going to reply my set up I rushed through into two separate supply lines with separate footed filters for each engine. I could have a bad lift pump too, it's not unusual to have something fail right away even if it works initially after it's been sitting in the desert fir five years.

I've decided I like the boat enough to go to the next level with her. I'm going to scrap the ugly hull wing top before I take her back to the lake. I'm going to give the boat a good deep cleaning and pressure wash too. I'm chasing my leaks and my fuel problems and hope to try another test on the ramp and possibly take get out for a hot lap in the next two weeks,

I want to be her the Nani Go Go in tribute to Art Greens old low freeboard tour boat that ran before the dam from Lees Ferry to Rainbow Bridge. She is an old tour boat with a somewhat similar shape and I like the shortened version. Mr Greens boat was called the Tse Nani A Go Go Atin. One if his Navajo employees named it, apperantly it the Navajo language it meant The path to the rock that goes over. Rainbow Bridge is the rock that goes over apparently.

If all goes well I'll pull 3/4 of the bench seats in the back and deck the floor. I'll keep the boat for my personal use as a multi purpose people hauler, personal tour boat/party barge camping platform. I'd like to add a head but that's all a long term
project, I need some time with it on the lake to evaluate its best use.

This boat has been stripped of so much that even though the engines and drives were mostly there it was a lot of work to replace all the missing accessories. The list was huge which included but was not limited to rewiring the boat, reinstalling and re-plumbing the bilge pumps, reinstalling and ducting the blowers, re-plumbing all the fuel lines, replacing some specialty parts on the Motors and drives and about 50 trips to the hardware store for missing bolts and screws and dozens of hours of research looking for all the parts.

Many thanks to my dock friend Tanner and Rory for their help with my dink test. They helped me out in a big way and then fed me a steak dinner in the marina on one of their boats, Gotta lave lake Powell people! View attachment 31936View attachment 31937View attachment 31938View attachment 31940View attachment 31941View attachment 31942 View attachment 31943View attachment 31945View attachment 31944

How many boats do you own at this point? I feel you have a new boat about every 6 months. Very cool to read about all the ideas that you have for these old boats. Super impressive that you stick too it and make them a reality!

 

[Marina Bum]

How many boats do you own at this point? I feel you have a new boat about every 6 months. Very cool to read about all the ideas that you have for these old boats. Super impressive that you stick too it and make them a reality!

Thanks, I have three project boats right now, all three are large trailerable boats. One is a tri toon tiny houseboat, (Maverick) one is an open air pontoon houseboat (Day Tripper) and then there is this one (Na Ni Go Go)

The Maverick is mechanically restored and in a slip at Wahweap, it's getting a cosmetic interior restoration this summer.

The Day Tripper is being refit for new motors and involves welding aluminum so it's at a shop for that now. (beyond my scope) but when it's done I'll hang two 200's on it. (maybe 3, whatever it takes)

And in the meantime this boat fell in my lap. One or two of the boats may have to go eventually but I won't know which ones to keep until they are all three finished and I see what's best about each one. I don't spend a lot of money on any of these, I also have my fuel boat and a pontoon runabout plus 1/2 interest in a larger Houseboat, I have less invested in all six boats than most guys have in one medium priced surf boat these days and on the upside mine are all worth more than I have in them. I would make money on each and every one if I sold any of them. It's a hobby, maybe even a passion, I do it because I can. Plus time on the lake makes for great Family Time!

 

[FishnFly]

Thanks, I have three project boats right now, all three are large trailerable boats. One is a tri toon tiny houseboat, (Maverick) one is an open air pontoon houseboat (Day Tripper) and then there is this one (Na Ni Go Go)

The Maverick is mechanically restored and in a slip at Wahweap, it's getting a cosmetic interior restoration this summer.

The Day Tripper is being refit for new motors and involves welding aluminum so it's at a shop for that now. (beyond my scope) but when it's done I'll hang two 200's on it. (maybe 3, whatever it takes)

And in the meantime this boat fell in my lap. One or two of the boats may have to go eventually but I won't know which ones to keep until they are all three finished and I see what's best about each one. I don't spend a lot of money on any of these, I also have my fuel boat and a pontoon runabout plus 1/2 interest in a larger Houseboat, I have less invested in all six that most guys have in one medium priced surf boat these days and on the upside mine are all worth more than I have in them. I would make money on each and every one if I sold any of them. It's a hobby, maybe even a passion, I do it because I can. Plus time on the lake makes for great Family Time!

Very cool to read about! None of this projects are projects that I would even consider trying. Not for lack of interest but more for time, money and skills.
I enjoy reading your posts!

 

[FishnFly]

Thanks, I have three project boats right now, all three are large trailerable boats. One is a tri toon tiny houseboat, (Maverick) one is an open air pontoon houseboat (Day Tripper) and then there is this one (Na Ni Go Go)

The Maverick is mechanically restored and in a slip at Wahweap, it's getting a cosmetic interior restoration this summer.

The Day Tripper is being refit for new motors and involves welding aluminum so it's at a shop for that now. (beyond my scope) but when it's done I'll hang two 200's on it. (maybe 3, whatever it takes)

And in the meantime this boat fell in my lap. One or two of the boats may have to go eventually but I won't know which ones to keep until they are all three finished and I see what's best about each one. I don't spend a lot of money on any of these, I also have my fuel boat and a pontoon runabout plus 1/2 interest in a larger Houseboat, I have less invested in all six that most guys have in one medium priced surf boat these days and on the upside mine are all worth more than I have in them. I would make money on each and every one if I sold any of them. It's a hobby, maybe even a passion, I do it because I can. Plus time on the lake makes for great Family Time!

And that last sentence in your post is the priceless statement!

 

[Marina Bum]

I went up to Page again for another long weekend to work on the old tour boat. My main objective was to remove the old custom aluminum top and air conditioners that had been added. I didn't like that it was so low you couldn't walk around under it or how it fit. It was well made, better than I could build but it was home made and didn't fit exactly right.

I had some help and we used a carbide blade made for cutting aluminum in a skill saw. We had the top removed in about four hours and I really like the results. I was pleasantly surprised how quickly it came off! After that was done I pulled all the cushions and did something I'd been waiting to do since I brought the boat home. I gave it a good two hour heated pressure washer blow out, it was full of dust and dirt. (Well, Page dirt aka sand) It was dark by the time I finished so I quit for the day.

I picked up the next day with my lengthy punch list. Things like filling holes in the boat, resealing the transom penetrations at the jets, wrapping up lots of minor details and re-plumbing the entire fuel system with new lines, separate remote footed filters with double hose clamps everywhere. The fuel system took a long time and once the fuel injection system was again plumbed and flushed I tried to fire the engines again.

I had the same problem as last time, the engines ran but were starving fur fuel. I bled the fuel rail again and it was just full of air. I grabbed a large fluid extraction pump and connected it directly to the lines coming from the fuel tank. I pulled about a quart from each bung and I drew very aerated foamy fuel. I had the cap off the tank and could hear air sucking into the pick up tubes in the tank. By then it was Sunday afternoon and Teds Marin supply is not open on Sunday at this time. By then I'd put in around 30 hours in three days and I knew I needed new pick up tubes in the tank. I felt a bit defeated that I wasn't going to be able to re-float the boat that day and possible take it for a hot lap around Wahweap bay.

Just then I had a great offer from a friend in the marina to go down and have dinner with him and his wife aboard their new Nimbus boat. He is in from Senoita Az and together they own a winery down there with food service. He's also an amazing cook and that sounded a lot better than sticking around the boat yard and eating out of my microwave again so I showered and ran down. It was good to see my friends and to get away from the boat for the evening.

I had to go home Monday afternoon so I hit the boat yard again with a plan Monday morning. I pulled the fuel pick up tubes and headed to Teds Marine Supply. They had some in stock but not exactly like mine. I had to hit the hardware store and find some suitable brass adapters. I tried inserting the new pickup tubes but there was a box beam under the helm preventing a direct insertion of the hard nylon half inch tubes.

I have limited options at this point. To pull the tank you'd have to pull the engines so that's out. I could heat the tubes to try and get them soft enough to bend but that could weaken them or destroy them or just shorten their life once in the tank. Or I could notch the beam above the bungs just enough to give me straight access to insert the pickup tube directly. I grabbed my cordless reciprocating saw with a fresh metal blade, popped on a fresh battery and squoze off a bust of the blade. Then I paused, It was mid afternoon by then and I still had to pack up my tools, vacate the borrowed shade and re-park in my space over at the Yacht Club and then drive home to Flagstaff.

I realized I had missed the window for a relaunch today and that what I was about to do, cut into the box beam at the rear bulk head was permanent. I decided to retreat and sleep on any other ideas/options or to at least really consider what I was about to do.
I cleaned up thuroghly in the borrowed space, put away my tools, loaded my truck, fueled up and drove home. Fourty hours or so in four days, now back to work in Flagstaff tomorrow through Friday. Maybe next week

 

[Marina Bum]

So another four day weekend up at the Yacht Club Boat Yard working on the tour boat. Last week I left convinced that the boat had a fuel pick up tube issue. I returned this week with a bore scope and discovered that the half inch nipples coming out of the tank are actually the ends of thick gauge threaded aluminum tubing welded into the tanks. There was no nylon tube to decay and leak.

I investigated further and after testing my lift pumps I discovered they were working intermittently. It was hard to tell because they share a bracket with the high pressure fuel canisters/pumps. Since they are on the same bracket they both vibrate and buzz together, So I decided that the air I had in the fuel must have been caused by air leaking into fittings and faulty fuel line connections.

On Friday I gathered parts, two new carter lift pumps, (Napa) lots of brass fittings, lots of 1/2 and 3/8 inch marine fuel line, bulk bags of stainless hose clamps, (Ace/Page Lumber, Teds Marine Supply) It took all day, Napa had one pump in stock and had to order one for Saturday morning delivery. The shielded super thick walled marine grade fuel line is tough to work with when it's new and somewhat pliable but once it ages in the desert environment it has no respect for barbs and clamps. I took apart, replaced and resealed every old fitting and piece of rubber hose. I also added two separate footed spin in fuel filters and replaced and re-plumbed both lift pumps.

The weather was cold on Saturday, I woke up to snow on the hills surrounding Page. I was able to secure the indoor space again and had brought an LP propane heater with me The metal building leaks air but keeps the wind and rain off of you so I wasn't overly worried about fumes. I picked up my second pump from Napa around 9:00 and got to work. It took hours and like most projects required more trips to the stores.

I didn't make as much progress as I wanted and had swore to be home for Easter. I decided to keep working on it until it was finished, by then I had every part I needed. I haven't pulled an all nighter in many years but by the time the sun was coming up it was finished. The motors would fire and idle without starving for fuel. The heater kept me going without freezing and I had to be careful working all alone climbing up and down a rickety old aluminum ladder all night when I was alone, fatigued and punchy. I kept my phone in my pocket but if I fell and hit my head it wouldn't do me much good. When I was ready to go to bed I sent my wife a delayed delivery text telling her that this project was finally done and that I'd be home after I grabbed some sleep.

On Sunday the planets were kinda lining up, it was a calm and sunny day and I had a friend in town who was willing to help me launch and test out this boat. Given its large size and as an untested craft it's a bit more than I'd be comfortable with self launching although I do that a lot, I needed a hand. Also I had other guys I knew who were on their houseboats with runabouts in the water who were also willing to come give me a tow if it went that way. I decided to go dunk the boat again Sunday evening. I called and told my wife that I thought this was a good opportunity to finish this phase of the project and she agreed. I spent most of Sunday trying to rest and wake up while readying the boat for launch. I put my tags on the boat and my Canyon Pass too. I also made sure I had all the legal stuff onboard, life jackets, air horn, throw ring/pad, insurance card etc. in case Park Service got involved.


I towed her out to the Wahweap launch ramp and met up with Tanner. We dunked the transom and both motors ran. The starboard motor had an overheating issue right away. I thought that might cause another no go for a hot lap. We disconnected the hoses from the inlet of the jet forward and they all bled water but the heat enchanger seemed to take some time to fill. After bleeding the system the engine cooled down. We had some water intrusion from the transom, need to reseal the penetrations I guess but the bilge pumps were staying well ahead of it so we decided to get her off the trailer and see what happens. Fingers crossed we backed it out and headed for a hot lap around Wahweap Bay. it was around 6:00 pm and we had the place to ourselves, it was almost dead calm.


After a few laps at 3,000 rpm's or less testing the controls and the hulls handling we were very pleased. Someone had reversed the cables on the steering so left was right and vice versa. that was hard to get used to. My impressions were that she was big, slow to turn and underpropped perhaps. on our last lap we opened those 8.1 EFI's up to max RPM and got on plane and according to GPS hit 36 MPH and we were gaining as we were approaching the Marina. We shut it down and put it back on the trailer with smiles on our faces, it was dusk. (Many thanks to Tanner and my other friends who helped me out on this project)


We retreated to my houseboat and had dinner and talked about the boat. I sure felt good that I finally got the EFI and all the mechanicals sorted enough to get her on the lake, Now what to do with such a big aluminum jet boat? IDK, the options are kinda unlimited. She'd make a great fishing boat if you took out all the seats, re-decked the floor and put in a center console, If it's allowable it could be a great boat for below the dam to Lee's Ferry? Or you could leave the first few rows of bench seats, redeck the rear and make a personal tour boat/party barge. Or you could build a one room studio cabin on the back kinda like the European river rat barges? A fast up lake boat camper? IDK, I'd welcome input or ideas about it???

After driving around for half an hour (not enough time to fully evaluate) my impression is that it's big!? Its bottom is fairly flat and it kinda drives like a smaller version of a 60 foot Somerset on steroids. I'm not at all sure how she will do in the channel or if the cavitation that sometimes showed up in the jets will be cured with a heavier load or by re-propping or both. She was made to hold 50 people so a load of some 3 tons, running around empty seems to have her a bit off kilter? IDK, I'll have to fix the steering, get a few volunteers in life vests and go shake it out in the channel a bit before I can figure it out. I'm not really a fisherman (too busy working in boats I guess) but the best local use may be on the river between the Dam and Lee's Ferry. I've never done any of that but I have been down the river from the dam once on a commercial tour. Do they allow boats this big? Could you anchor somewhere and spend the night onboard? Is there boat storage available anywhere near Lees Ferry?