2004 RL210 - Deck Boat!

[JDBlaine]

Been searching like a few others here, for info regarding the Benny RL210. Of course, I’ve come up empty handed. I’ve resigned to the fact that there will be no support documents, manuals, etc.

So what does that mean? It means anything goes! I just picked up a trade in at work (I work as a tech for a Powersports dealer here in St Augustine, FL), and the boss gave me a great deal on it…so, in goes the order for new gauges, depth finder/fish finder, bilge pump, aerator for a live well, batteries. This thing has sat for over a year, and my reputation here is that I can make anything run. Only downside is, I’m gonna yank ALL the wiring and start from scratch. I love electronics and wiring, so this will be like a fat kid in a cookie store. First things first though…get the motor to fire. It’s got a Mercury 2.5l 200 hp V6 2-smoker.

I‘m on the lookout for a good used bimini top for it, as the one that came with it was trashed. So the sales guys tossed it in the dumpster before I got the chance to get ahold of it. Coulda’ used the frame, I’m sure…

I‘ll post pics as I go….oh yea, almost forgot, pretty much every square inch of vinyl upholstery needs replaced. We’re not gonna go with the factory look….I think simple one-tone wrapping will be just fine. I’m trying to get out of this with less than $2k invested. Did I mention the boat was free? Lol….so far, the hardware ordered this morning rung up to $700 my cost. Still gotta buy a decent VHF radio, and all the vinyl for the seat cushions.

 

[Glassbenny]

JD-

Congratulations on the (free!) new to you glass benny! I got my 2004 rl210 in 2011 in southwestern Wisconsin.

I got the manuals (such as they are) with mine. Won't do you much good as they are super basic...no wiring diagrams, etc.

Replacement parts can be difficult now given the relative age and scarcity(when new) of these boats. VERY occasionally you may find parts on eBay (your dash panels for instance) but you will need to be very patient. Steering wheels are very common....as are helm seats.

My 210 is a super sport model, red / off white hull and seats. Power is from a honda 150. All ride on the original bennington stenciled twin axle trailer.

There are a very few others on here with the glass boats. Glad you are here. Welcome...

Glassbenny

 

[SEMPERFI8387]

Check out greatlakesskipper.com for oem parts. You can find some good deals there. Looks like a nice project. Clean it up and it’s 75% done!

 

[JDBlaine]

Thanks guys for the tips. I’ve got new gauges coming in hopefully by Friday, got the depth finder/fish finder and bilge pump today. Starting battery comes in Saturday. First thing on the list is just get the engine running. Hasn’t fired in over a year, so I’m sure fresh gas and carb cleans are in order as well.

Does anyone know much about the Mercury 2.5l (I think?..lol) V6 2 stroke? I can’t find an oil pump or tank anywhere on the boat. Or did they simply run pre-mixed? Either way, I’ll be running pre mixed…just didn’t want to lean it out with too much oil….

Gonna use the shop delivery truck Friday night to get her home so I can get some evenings and weekends with her. I’m hoping to have enough cash left over after bills to order the vinyl so Ari can start on the seats.

I‘ll post pics after I get the dash and wiring started. Have a good night, folks!

 

[Vikingstaff]

Looks like it’s going to be a cool project, and one you have skills and game plan to accomplish. Looking forward to seeing some update pics along the way if you post them. Have fun!!!

 

[JDBlaine]

Stuff that came in today….lol…

 

[JDBlaine]

Got ‘er home today from work. No issues towing….was kinda surprised. Trailer brake is trashed…will disassemble it and see if I can find a rebuild kit for the master cylinder.

Thinking of wrapping the dash in vinyl…maybe a carbon fiber look. We’ll see….as for tonight/tomorrow, gonna figure out why there’s no spark. Pretty sure it’s something simple like a bad kill switch or mercury switch. Either way, I’ll just bypass it to get the thing running under its own power.

I‘ll shoot some pics up tomorrow evening of the rats nest wiring under the dash.

 

[JDBlaine]

Mighta’ been just a weak battery, or something, cos this morning I robbed the battery outta the RV (brandy-new WalMart super-duper 700 cca sparkerator), and we instantly had spark. Ran gas from a bottle, and after doing a quick “Italian Tune-up” on her, she started to sputter to life.
Italian Tune-up ~ Covering the carb throat with your palm while cranking her over….sometimes, it’s just enough short of pulling the carbs, to get her to kick in all 6 cylinders. Took her a few minutes….first, just had 2 cylinders, then #3 and #4 slowly kicked in, then ***PoOf*** 5 and 6 came to life…..after she idled for about 10 minutes (and idled surprisingly well!), it now only takes a couple rpm’s to get it started.

Didn’t get pics of the wiring, since I was too pissed off just looking at it, I just yanked it all out….lol….

‘Here’s the new tach next to the old, along with the condition of the dash.

 

[Glassbenny]

JD-

Glad the project is moving along. In case you aren't sure, your 210 is a super sport... there were 3 color options on the hull- red, blue, and yellow, with interior color stripes to match.

The dashes were not "wood", rather they were a silver color. Looks to me like yours might once have been silver, although faded out now. You might try a light sand and a can of spray paint and clear.

I think also that yours might have been a fish and ski, at least judging by the seat post on the front deck and the 2 post receptacles.

Glassbenny

 

[WVFan4]

Following. I love watching projects like this.

 

[JDBlaine]

GlassBenny - Not sure if the dash has been replaced at some point, but there was remnants of wood grain basecoat under the gauges where it hadn’t been sun damaged. Was this an option on the other models and maybe it got swapped out?

Went back to it yesterday to start working on dash wiring, but it was too damn hot and humid. Got some aft testing done. The live well pump still works good, but the bilge pump is done for. No biggie as I already had a new replacement. The water pump for the onboard fresh water tank is also shot. Went to fire the engine and put some water to it to check the passageways, and forgot, since the dash was gutted, the kill switch and key switch were all inoperable….so, moved on to buffing the exterior.

Will *maybe* get some more done tonight on wiring….we’ll see how I feel after work and walking the dog.

 

[JDBlaine]

Glad the project is moving along. In case you aren't sure, your 210 is a super sport... there were 3 color options on the hull- red, blue, and yellow, with interior color stripes to match.

Thanks for the info on the sub-model. Anything helps since there’s pretty much zero info on these things. Not sure if it’s useful or not, but there is a ski tow rope in the front compartment thats still in good shape.

 

[JP10]

I have essentially the same boat, though mine is a 2006 and branded as Azure. Let me know if I can be of help.

 

[JDBlaine]

I have essentially the same boat, though mine is a 2006 and branded as Azure. Let me know if I can be of help.

Hey there JP - Can you get a close-up pic of the back of your gauge cluster? I’d like to compare to make sure I’m getting close to where the factory setup was. The previous bundle of wiring was so tangled and horrid….I couldn’t make heads or tails of it before I removed it all. Thanks!

 

[JP10]

I'll give it a shot, when down to the boat next time, late this month. Mine is the woodgrain dash, has held up pretty well. I's sand and spray paint it. Only thing our dash's have in common is the gauge cluster layout

 

[JDBlaine]

Well well well….looks life got in the way as it often does. Plenty of good news to share, and no real “bad news”.

A couple months after I started this thread, and started work on the Benny, we were offered a house at a crazy price, with crazy financing options. So, without even discussing with the wife, I brought her up here to Jax to see her new (to us) home. Deals like this never happen to me, so, I grabbed it at the first chance.

After 6 months of remodding the house, I was able to get back to the boat. Oh, add on to that, we got married a year ago today. I figure she’s put up with my sorry ass for 12 years, might as well give the IRS something to cry about.

Got the hull oxidation sanded off, polished up, and looking good. Got a new live well pump, bilge pump, fresh water pump, Garmin installed, little sound system installed, and all the lights and gauges functioning. Even repaired the trim sender.

Had her out 3 times now…first time, was right after replacing the water pump, and I didn’t get the shift rod aligned right, so back home we came. Second time, had a bad plug wire, so she didn’t idle right, and was a nightmare getting on the trailer (high winds, rough current, and shallow water). Third time was a genuine rookie mistake….kept hearing the prop cavitate, so we stayed close to port, did a little fishing, and came back home. Turns out I had it trimmed too high…this was before I repaired the trim sender and got a trim gauge installed.

After all that, got the plug wires replaced, found a bimini top for $50 from a neighbor. Was supposed to go out today, but the Ram/Dodge dealership called Saturday and wanted to do repairs to my truck today…..can’t pull the boat with the wife’s car….dunno of any Chrysler 200 that can tow a 21’ boat…hahahahaaa.

Last thing I need to do is finish upholstering the seats. Got a couple done, but finances dictate doing only a couple at a time.

I’ll get pics tomorrow after work, and let ya see another Benny deck boat that’s back on the water!

 

[Vikingstaff]

Great update. Congrats on home and marriage. Sounds like you are getting close to set with the deck boat. Cannot wait to hear future updates.