New member just purchased
 

Hell everyone,

My name is Paul I just picked up a 302 with a 40 hour 8.1 merc HO with bravo III
I'm in NJ boat is red 1998 I have some work to do I'm sure like all of you.
I have to say I love the layout of the boat and is the main reason I bought it plus the new power.

Well i have to meet the marine electrician to clean up a few issues this morning but had the boat out a few times and it still turn heads and gets thumbs ups. Ill try and post pics and do before and afters.


I'm sure I will have questions and would like to meet up in any of you are local.
So glad I found this site



Wish me luck!!

Re: New member just purchased
 

Welcome aboard Paul. So you bought that boat? We've been discussing it here in our "Boats for Sale" forum. It does look like you have got a 'bit' of work to do. :) I'm sure she will look very nice when you're done. Keep us updated on your progress?

Re: New member just purchased
 

Congrats on the boat. Looking forward to pics as you clean her up.

Re: New member just purchased
 

Yes I do LOL!!!
I love the 302 layout its perfect for me. I wanted a baja/ fountain type but also a people friendly day boat the combo gives me both. its my first real boat. The fact that it has a repower with a 496 HO Merc and I did a trade for her made the condition palateable. Had her out a few times and she runs strong and turns heads.

She out now getting bellows and shift cable replaced and manifolds and risers done and a new starter and bildge pump while there in there in case !

Hatch and rear seat vinyl need replacment and the fact that the previous owner put some type of aftermarket clear finish hurts the cosmetics but went for motor work first to keep motor solid. I need a way to get the remaining aftermarket finish off going to wet sand again myslef to see if that helps and try acetone then wax to get it to shine better.

Ill try to keep the forum posted if you guys are interested. Doing some electronics updating today

Was on this site till almost 3 am last night getting ideas thank you all very much for posting it really helps!!

Re: New member just purchased
 

Please keep us informed on how the restoration is going!

Re: New member just purchased
 

Ok done for the day. The temps reached over 97 car said 104!!! i installed new vhf radio and antenna removed some vinyl graphics old boat name and the gold swoosh and although i had to use a lot of elbow grease acetone is working to take off 90 percent of the aftermarket gloss finish which was looking like bad oxidation. Found out that the retractable anchor light still works and bulb is good a little dated looking but cool I think. When I do the second stereo in console ill see if retractable antenna works.

Does any one know if the keyless ignition was standard there is one on this boat have know idea if it can be made to work the way it's mounted inside it seems factory.


Also I can see the trim system is going to need a new control. Some of you may take issue With removing the graphics but the gel coat finish needs work. The checker board graphics are on there tight but should come off still on.

the emblem and logo seem workable and in decent shape. Engine work starts Monday
. wiring needs to be cleaned up but started to do that while working on VHF. Oh forgot Installing new horn half complete need to enlarge hole little more but too hot.

Does anyone have or know where I can get a replacement panel for the rotary switches for anchor light and dimmer that's mounted next to ignition under steering g column or if someone can send me a picture so I can fabricate one. I'd appreciate that. Hope someone else finds this interesting besides me if not im sorry i need to keep up the enthusiasm a lot of work and want to document it .

Re: New member just purchased
 

Hi Paul

Yes, the keyless ignition was standard on the Z302 and we have a manual for it in the Original Manuals & Supplements section. There are a few members here, including our admin, that has the keyless unit so hopefully they'll chime in with any help.

A replacement power rear nav lite is still available but you'll be hard-pressed to find a replacement power antenna.

Here's a short blurb on how to troubleshoot your trim motor.

That rotary switch/dimmer has been a sore spot for a lot of our members. Here's a short thread with a link discussing that problem.

Graphics/decals & shields are available here thru one of our members if you are looking to replace any of them. One of our members (Oregondunes) has a '99 Z302 w/out the graphics. You might want to look at his pics in the Gallery.

Be sure to take some before & after pics!

Re: New member just purchased
 

Latest update al was fine untill a few day ago I started to smell fuel mosty in the mid cabin the marian told me I have a ad tank UGH this will put the boat in the not worth fixing catagory if its the tank. They say its 8000 to do and illstill need the manifolds and outdrve work has any one every removed the tank Was or hear of other problems such as the vent leakeing

Re: New member just purchased
 

Not sure what all is involved in the 302 to pull the tank, but 8 grand seems VERY steep. Should be an aluminum tank, and if it is, any metal shop should be able to repair it (after all the fuel is out of course) I hope you get her up and running, these 302's are getting harder and harder to find!

Re: New member just purchased
 

We've had a couple of members with larger boats ( a 280 and a 240) do the fuel tank removal. You can read up about what they went thru here and here.

Re: New member just purchased
 

I just read my post Sorry about the spelling errors posted from my smart phone standing next to my boat aggrevated as hell!

Thanks again for the hel thep boat and i going thru a tough time right now!!

Re: New member just purchased
 

I'm a new owner as well. Hopefully you can fix your tank and not have to scrap the boat. Ive been doing all the work on my boat so far and am very impressed with how easy they are to work on. Granted mines not as big as yours but still.

A little tip on your trim issue. Make sure you check all your grounds. Mine is a 1994 and my ground block was coroded just enough where when you hit the switch the relays would click but nothing happened. after about 15 minutes of looking around and trying a few things I cleaned the ground plate and all the contacts and now it works like new.

Re: New member just purchased
 

If it is a bad tank, which I find very hard to believe considering the wall thickness of the tank it can be removed by unscrewing the center flooring and probably one of the seats bases. Most likely it is a fitting on the top of the tank causing your problem.What did the mechanic do to diagnose that it was the tank? There is a drain pipe that goes under the tank and the main cockpit area that runs from the engine bilge area to under the flooring in the cabin area. Look at one of my old posts and you can see pictures of what I found in that area. You may have a leak in the engine compartment and the fumes and or gas has made its way to under the cabin flooring.

Re: New member just purchased
 

OK just got back from meeting at Marina and Boatcrazy your right the fuel sender was missing screws and was pretty banged up the Mechanic felt the same thing. Since boat was out of the water the tank is now on an angle and overfilled so fuel started leaking out of sender holes. So we are crossing our fingers that’s all it is. New sender going in and gasket Yada yada. Outdrive was off bearings good just bellows shift cable trim sender and new paint job the barvo Three duo Prop is the one with the auxiliary cooling tubes kind of cool to have the better drive. Tomorrow new cast iron manifolds and risers replacing the aluminum and new starter and bildge pump work being done. Kind of excited because the few times I had her out she was great. So its coming along. A little more than I bargained for but with Mani and bellows I’m good for 5 years with proper maintenance which I’m into.
I would do more myself but limiting it to electronics, cosmetics, and basic repairs for now so if I ever trade out this boat it will be solid with Marina backup and receipts.
Thanks for the Drain pipe heads up. Im aware of the drain because I pulled the floor hatch out of the cabin myself because of the smell I felt the bildge had backed up and left a little fuel/ oil crud which it did but not the issue. Well I wanted to see under there anyway and pulled all the cushions and backrests from the interior for a real good cleaning the vinyl there is in great shape. I’m also replacing all of the screws and finish washers as they were a hodge podge holding the floor in and other areas and because im nuts! Thanks Again

Re: New member just purchased
 

Hello again members

I've been busy but here's an update for those who care lol

Boat back in water and running and looking great first major cleaning had fantastic results inside and out wow was this boat neglected but it's a testament to Mariah build quality how this took a licking and now looks great.

Well all of the graphics are off except the Mariah name and large medallion which Ive already ordered new from a lead on this site thanks! they are more than presentable but the new ones will do her proud.

Gelcoat shines (red is tough) minimal holographing from old decals without wet sanding I highly recommend maGuires products simply blows away 3m on this boat. Vinyl came up to like new condition other than a few rips I'm not embarrassed of her but new vinyl is In the works for the off season. The power bolster seats really look and work great! Oh new bottom paint too.

Engine is now bulletproof new manifolds, risers, hoses, alternator, motor mounts, buldge pump, float switch, pulleys, starter, fuel vent, fuel sender, tank pumped and cleaned. The 496ho with thru hull exhaust sounds awesome captains call switch makes her sound tamer. (don't use it much,)

VHF in, new antenna in , bought inreach gps satellite communicator from ( check it out it does more than it says) and iPad based nav system,weather, radar and tide apps with cool mount. I also worked up a system that sends via blue tooth iTunes to a 4 channel amp feeding the on deck speakers. The existing Sony still in cabin for the second system. still have more to do in audio but to be able to send iTunes wirelessly makes a clean dash mount. I think I'm going to work around this concept to complete the audio, gps, and possible engine monitoring systems. The merc has the smart tech output connector that feeds engine data via nema standards. Well I'll take pics soon I've been leaving the marina exhausted and keep forgetting.

Thanks for listening

Paul

I'm sure there is more but heading out tomorrow to aquapalooza she could use a little more detail, cleaning work but I'm going. To all of you who checked her out when she was on eBay you would, swear its not the same boat,,

Re: New member just purchased
 

wheres all the pics of your progress ?

Re: New member just purchased
 

X2!!!