The Eastern Rebuild Page 3

The Rebuild

The Eastern rebuild was going to be a simple fix, replace the internal leaking, under floor mounted, gas tank and fix a small spongy spot in the floor. Upon cutting into the floor it very quickly turned into much more. This boat was made very cheaply and hacked together with scraps and inferior NON marine products by the factory, no marine lumber here, cdx plywood and pine untreated framing 2x4's. From scrap wood, pine framing lumber, car mats, nails and poor construction, along with the lack of a bilge pump and drain plug turned everything into major rot factory. The boat is a 22' Eastern, 1988 vintage, and there was only 1 owner before Tunuts (a family member) and is 100% original. No modification, changes or additions have ever been made to the boat from the day it left the factory, heck not even a dang cup holder, in fact the motor that came with the boat when new, a 115 Merc of the same vintage, had the original spark plugs and has no more the 200 hours total.

Fuel Tank Update

A new fuel tank was ordered by Tunuts through Eastern themselves, in the beginning of December. Last week it came in at Eastern but they said we could not buy it now because they had none in stock and they just got an order for a boat. They informed us they would order us another one that would take another month or more to come in. This is as bad as customer service can get! The order was canceled and we ordered a tank through another dealer and it is expected to arrive in less then 3 days. It's a good thing we had the common sense to have Eastern order us a new tank before we needed it, because they would not have had one in stock for themselves, something does not sound quite right when you do not carry any inventory of a custom item like this.

The 115 Mercury Motor

The motor has been gone through, all fuel lines have been changed to ethanol safe lines, the carburetors have been gone through along with all filters on the motor. The lower end has been removed and the water pump has been replaced along with all seals in the entire lower end. The trim cylinders have been fixed as their seals were also leaking. New sparkplugs and a new ignition pack was installed as only 2 cylinders were showing spark when tested. The lower end is still off at the moment because we are waiting to hook up the controls up first so the shift linkage can be set properly.

Please note that when this boat was originally "built" the Eastern boat company was owned and run by different owners then they currently have. The new Eastern boats are completely different and the build quality is far superior, so we were told. Remember this boat was slapped together 23+ years ago.

All photos were taken with android cell phones on the spot and at the time of discovery, that is after we stopped laughing and shaking our heads. (if you notice weird colors on some images it is from a heater we were using to help cure some areas)

	The peanut butter work is all done, and has been put away as it will not be needed again.	Another view.	1.25 Gallons of resin down
2.5 Gallons of resin down, just over a gallon to go but it will wait until tomorrow, we killed enough brain cells for today.	Filler tube detail.	Work Area. stainless table is for mixing, makes cleanup easy, plus it was free.	After using @ 60 -70 mixing cups, this view was very common. Buying them online in bulk is the only way to go, also using Ziploc bags as pastry tubes for applying peanut butter instead of buying empty caulking tubes @$3.00 each is also a big money saver, plus they are easier to fill and use.
Glass work is 100% done, sanding has been started.	Glass work is 100% done, sanding has been started.	First coat of paint on the sides and the floor.	First coat of paint on the sides and the floor.
Second coat is the final coat for the walls, floor will get 2 more coats of a darker shade with sand in it, also the base for the console is installed.	Another view.	First coat going on the floor.	First coat on the floor is done
Close up, the floor paint has sand in it.	Final coat of paint is on the floor.	Close up.	Another view.
Another view.	Bare console as it came from the factory in 1988 soon to be filled.	The holes have started in the console.	Even more holes.
Console is installed.	The rats nest begins. The Teleflex cable that is seen here is not the one that will be used, there will be a new one, this one is only to see if the length is good.	Everything has been run through the tube.	Rear cleats reinstalled.
Front hatch reinstalled.	Everything is run through the tube.	A little more progress on the console and the front cleats are reinstalled.	The Teleflex and wheel are installed.
The 6 rod holders are installed.	Fuel line is installed.	New rollers on the trailer and the bottom paint on the boat is done. The boot stripe might be removed sometime as it is in poor shape, and they are also tacky, like putting pinstripes on a truck.	Batteries are installed and all the main wires are done.
Battery switch is done.	This view shows the bottom of the cup holders mounted in the top of the console, notice they have drain tubes (clear tube) that run to the floor.	Both antennas are installed. Tomorrow more will get done, but we plan on going to the Tackle Show in Providence in the afternoon.	Boot stripe is gone, the boat looks so much cleaner!
All the electronics are installed and running, just the gauges are left to do on the console, and then zip ties will tidy everything up.	Transom is all tidied up with the exception of the transducer.	Speakers are installed and sound great.	Side of the console. We are taking a few days off to do some personal things that can not be put off any longer, will continue Thursday evening.
Transducer is installed.	Wiring is all tidied up.	Gauges are installed and that wraps up the console.	Leaning post is reinstalled, cushion is original and needs replacing as it has shrunk overtime, but it's good for now.
Almost done, a little cleanup and reinstallation of the custom swim platform is about all that is left.	Swim platform is done. That brings a wrap to the rebuild, tomorrow the boat is getting dragged out of the shop and the motor will be tested, from there it heads to the water.

All Righty Then!

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Last Updated: January 31, 2013

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