Hey everyone, this is a 1978 Miller 454 BBC Berkley. Pics are just cell phone. Below is the story of getting and owning this boat for all of 2 days now. Plus some about me.
My career is a boat mechanic in the Parker/Havasu area. I love working on boats and see myself doing it for a long time. I have the knowledge and the tools (most are Matco) to keep doing what I am. I always get to work on the customers boat, or go out on my friends or family boat. I have wanted my own boat for as long as I can remember it was going to be a small jet boat. Now this isn't exactly what I was looking for but the deal was good and I had the cash to get it. It's so close to what I envisioned I just couldn't say no. I wanted more square back (stern), a 460 BBF, over the transom exhaust, a droop snoot/diverter setup, and a hull with more then 1/4 stringer.
Well thru some good fortune and a ton of help from my friend I purchased this. The things that bothered me: Chevy, meh, at least its not a olds. Snoot/diverter not on it, I can get it. The back of the hull looks good. Its full stringer which is awesome, and the exhaust can be capped and i can do over the transom. So after getting it, checking the oil and putting gas in (20 gals, EEP! hittin' every gas station) and running it on a hose we take it to That Beach and give it a go. Plug in, check. Floats and doesn't take on water, check. Bilge pump test check good. Start and adjust carb after warm up, check. Jet pushes on trailer, check. Shifter and throttle attached checked and working. Off the trailer and out I go to test to see if it will go. YAAA BOY for about 30 seconds until my hat flies off. Throttle back, check for boaters behind and to the side to flip around for it, and i stab the throttle for a go fast corner. Boat wont move, NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! I look back giving the foot throttle action and see the throttle at carb is not moving, first thought is broken cable after sitting so long. Idle back to shore and i try the gas again, nothing but i do notice.... the throttle plate pulled out of the floor not letting the cable to move but letting me think i was pushing the throttle. Back on the trailer and home I go now knowing its gonna move and its gonna be quick but I have some things to fix.
Get the boat home and I decide what the plan of action is. First go the stores for all the necessary boat and trailer equipment. List will be done tomorrow when I have more time. Purchase was saturday, test and shopping sunday, and tear down inspection today. This boat has to be Good to Go for this weekend. No particular reason its just that first trip itch lol. So with needing to know what the sub floor looks like for throttle repair and the carpet being basically powder and smelling of animal my friend and I pull the seats ((they need to be replaced soon but will work with towels), all new hardware will be necessary for reattachment). All the seats and carpet out, oil changed, debris swept out of boat its time for the pressure washer. First the inside to get all the dirt and carpet glue off and out. What a mess it was.
With the washing the inside done, I check it over. Damage (probably from anchor) on the stringer by driver seat, the sub floor has been screwed and fixed more then once, the battery platform needs redone, and a piece of fiberglass resin has come loose. Otherwise it looks great. I will fix the sub floor and the resin that has come off but leave the damage on the stringer for now. I have time in the winter to fix stuff. Right now my girl and I want to boat but powdery carpet and throttle had to be fixed. Well in the process of taking the throttle apart to get the cable out to buy a new one, the ugly monster known as corrosion reared its head and the foot throttle is not usable. No biggy we already found a new one (picking it up on wednesday) and the cable I am getting from work. Replace that, more securely mount the shifter, remount the seats with that new hardware I mentioned and I am on the water this weekend.
There is 5 stress cracks on the top section some as small as 1/2 dollar and another about 6" round. And 2 bigger chips I will fix. I will deal with the stress cracks at a later date. No big deal. Well I will let everyone know tomorrow what all I purchased and will purchase. What my plans are for this other then what I mentioned. And more pics as I go along. If you read all that awesome. Thanks.
Let me know what you think and any other Miller owners in L.H.C. area want to go out this weekend. Well as long as everything goes as planned.
Jumpoffbridge89
