1985 CM23 mid engine v8

[Chachie]

1985 cm23 2.jpg

1985 cm23 3.jpg

All right I'm new to this new forum thing but here are the requested pics of the new (old) CM23 Just picked it up last week.
Needs a lot of TLC, But a good starting point.
Sorry the pics are sideways I'll work on that

[nolaboater99]

Chachie, be sure you are using the "Attachment" tab below to insert your pictures.

If you go into the "Older Models" section and look for a post titled "New Member & My CM23" you can see part of the story of my boat and a lot of pictures.
Shawn

[nolaboater99]

1985 cm23 2.jpg1985 cm23 3.jpg


All right I'm new to this new forum thing but here are the requested pics of the new (old) CM23 Just picked it up last week.
Needs a lot of TLC, But a good starting point.
Sorry the pics are sideways I'll work on that

Turn your phone sideways when you take the pics. I think that works better.

[Chachie]

1985 cm23 1.jpg

1985 cm23 2.jpg

1985 cm23 3.jpg

download/file.php?mode=view&id=8110

[Chachie]

Well Just started it for the first time. The previous owner put a new motor in it about ten years ago and then put it in storage. Purrs like a kitten, minus a little rattle back in the back by the rear bearing. I'm guessing that is the gimble bearing??? Maybe you can me help with that answer. This is my first mid engine boat....nervous!!!

[nolaboater99]

Well Just started it for the first time. The previous owner put a new motor in it about ten years ago and then put it in storage. Purrs like a kitten, minus a little rattle back in the back by the rear bearing. I'm guessing that is the gimble bearing??? Maybe you can me help with that answer. This is my first mid engine boat....nervous!!!

Just sent you a Private Message.

There is not a lot different between a standard Alpha ! unit and the jackshaft model other than the driveshaft (jackshaft) and the parts that connect the shaft to the motor and the outdrive. Changing the gimbal bearing on a jackshaft model is no different than a standard Alpha. How are you getting cooling water to the engine? The jackshaft model does not pull cooling water from the outdrive so muffs won't work and running without water will eat up the impeller in the raw water pump that is mounted on port side of the motor. If the motor hasn't been run in 10 years the raw water pump will need rebuilding anyway.

[AsLan7]

Thanks for the pics Chachie!
Nice to see you starting to make progress on her.

[Chachie]

Thanks for the warning. I have a adapter installed on the water intake valve coming from under the center of the boat. Believe it or not the water pump is pumping good, it's almost trying to suck the hose shut. So far the only problems Iv'e found are that i have no power from my switches to my trim motor solenoids. Have the main power to the relays. However no power to the green or blue when I hit either of my switches on my throttle. and the horn don't work. I have a little soft spot on the floor where the captain would stand. And the noise coming from the gimble bearing. Overall not to bad for a boat that old.

[Chachie]

thanks Aslan Mine won't turn out as nice as Nolaboaters99 His is flipping beautiful. But I'm hoping mine will at least buff out for this season, so we can get it out on the water. We're going to do the minimum to get out there this summer and then this winter try to go through it and try to get at least 50% of what nola has!!!

[AsLan7]

thanks Aslan Mine won't turn out as nice as Nolaboaters99 His is flipping beautiful. But I'm hoping mine will at least buff out for this season, so we can get it out on the water. We're going to do the minimum to get out there this summer and then this winter try to go through it and try to get at least 50% of what nola has!!!

Still, I love the fact that you guys are representing the early Cobalt legacy on our site.
Keep up the great work and picture posts.

[nolaboater99]

Thanks for the warning. I have a adapter installed on the water intake valve coming from under the center of the boat. Believe it or not the water pump is pumping good, it's almost trying to suck the hose shut. So far the only problems Iv'e found are that i have no power from my switches to my trim motor solenoids. Have the main power to the relays. However no power to the green or blue when I hit either of my switches on my throttle. and the horn don't work. I have a little soft spot on the floor where the captain would stand. And the noise coming from the gimble bearing. Overall not to bad for a boat that old.

That soft spot is a weak spot in the floor design. There is not very good support under that spot and I would be surprised if it is rot. I may have just broken down a bit.

If you open the the lower cabinet below the helm there is a built in cooler. Remve the 4 screws that hold it in and the whole unit will come out. From here you now have access to that area of the floor that is soft. I place 2, 11" long pieces of 2x6 on end in this area that solved the problem. To keep them in place I screwed them in from above countersinking the screws. This was before I installed new carpet.

Horns notoriously fail. I installed 2 new ones for $35. The switches could be bad if they were allowed to get wet. We have similar controls. You should try and just touch a jumper from the +terminal to the blue or green terminal on the trim solenoids to see if they are good. My control was filled with brown crud and I just bought a used unit on eBay for a hundred bucks.

Thanks for the kind words....
Shawn

[nolaboater99]

thanks Aslan Mine won't turn out as nice as Nolaboaters99 His is flipping beautiful. But I'm hoping mine will at least buff out for this season, so we can get it out on the water. We're going to do the minimum to get out there this summer and then this winter try to go through it and try to get at least 50% of what nola has!!!

Still, I love the fact that you guys are representing the early Cobalt legacy on our site.
Keep up the great work and picture posts.

When I was at the New Orleans boat show a couple of months ago I met a 30-year Cobalt Factory employee who was a Regional Sales Manager for Cobalt. When I told him what I owned he responded that of all the boats Cobalt has made, Pack St. Clair has stated the 1985 CM23 has always been his favorite boat.
Shawn

[Chachie]

trim.jpg

Shawn,
do you know why I would have a white with purple stripe not hooked up with my trim wires? Is that for my trim limit switch?

[nolaboater99]

I think that is exactly what it is. My wiring diagrams are all on the boat.The switches on the outdrive go bad and it's a pretty good job to replace them....correctly. Many people try to shortcut the job by splicing the wires but that rarely lasts.

The correct way is to run the new wires all the way through the upper end of the gimbal housing. The bolt on the keeper that seals the wire port is pretty tough to get to but it is doable. Best time is when you are replacing the bellows and that bad gimbal bearing. There are a few videos on YouTube showing the procedure.
Shawn