1987 Power Play XLT-185 - floors, stringers, and upholstery

[Reserector_]

I'm sure brakes were not required for that boat/trailer combination, so the manufacturer opted to keep costs down.
My 4 cyl powered 1750 and trailer is in the neighborhood of 2,700 lbs. I was upgrading spindles during a repair, and came across a deal on a disc brake kit, so I now have brakes. It's a nice upgrade. Necessary? Who's to say? Like you said; if you feel like it's pushing you around...

 

[todhunter]

Well I was going to pay a guy to buff the rest of the boat but got stood up 2 weekends in a row. So I sucked it up and finished the starboard side of the boat today. My arms are sore, but nothing ibuprofen and alcohol can't fix. I also was able to add the remaining decals to the starboard side and install the bilge pump's thru-hull fitting. Maybe next weekend I'll wash/wax. Here's a before and after. It looks great from about 3 feet away. Upon closer inspection, I did a terrible job with the wet sanding - LOTS of swirls on this side that I did not get sanded out. Oh well, learning experience and I'm just going to run with it this season.

 

[sopwithcamel74]

Still looks pretty awesome from where I sit.

I'm far from an expert, but a good cutting compound might get those swirls out...

 

[91marada]

Man. What an awesome restoration. Boat looks great. I plan to start restoration on mine soon and looks like a lot of work but defintly big payoff in the end. Especially if it comes out as good as yours. Great job.

 

[todhunter]

Washed and waxed the boat today, got the trim limit switch and trim sender set (trim up button works now!), and since the 15 day forecast shows a low of about 39F for my area, I decided to de-winterize. It's so nice to hear that rumble again:

 

[chevymaher]

It is time. I went down and got my tags for the landing and tags on the boat 2 days ago. I got to start it but like you said it a tad chilly still.

 

[todhunter]

It is time. I went down and got my tags for the landing and tags on the boat 2 days ago. I got to start it but like you said it a tad chilly still.

There's always the slight chance of a cold snap again by the end of April, but I couldn't resist. I'll re-winterize if I've got to, but I think we're good. Hoping to practice at the boat ramp a few times on weekdays in the coming weeks.

 

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

I want try my other carb so bad, but there is too high of a chance for below freezing weather here yet, so I'll have to follow you and pretend it's me doing it, lol.
We had snow the first week of May last year

 

[todhunter]

I want try my other carb so bad, but there is too high of a chance for below freezing weather here yet, so I'll have to follow you and pretend it's me doing it, lol.
We had snow the first week of May last year

Snow in May? Brutal! Hopefully 3-4 more weeks and you'll be able to fire it up!

 

[todhunter]

Took the boat and wife to the ramp today and spent about an hour letting her practice backing up a trailer. She did great, but we confused a lot of fishermen by backing the boat all the way to the edge of the water and then pulling out and going around for another shot.

 

[zool]

Took the boat and wife to the ramp today and spent about an hour letting her practice backing up a trailer. She did great, but we confused a lot of fishermen by backing the boat all the way to the edge of the water and then pulling out and going around for another shot.

Nice, i still have to teach mine to parallel park

 

[Pulse186]

The Powerplay XLT 185 is a rare and badass little boat. You did an amazing job bringing this one back

 

[todhunter]

The Powerplay XLT 185 is a rare and badass little boat. You did an amazing job bringing this one back

Thanks man! I've really grown to love this boat. I wish I could say I sought out an XLT-185, but I was just looking for something cheap to get me on the water and my brother found it on CraigsList and said I should get it, so I did. I feel lucky to have ended up with such a cool boat, when I probably would have literally bought anything with an IO.

 

[todhunter]

Today we had our first day on the water this year. We took the boat up-river 25 miles and then back (50 mile round trip). It did great. Wife did good backing the trailer up, and I didn't forget to put the plug in! Full disclosure...I did forget to trim up as she pulled the boat up the ramp and we dragged the skeg about 2 ft before I hollered for her to stop. Nothing more than a minor scrape, though. Today was a good learning experience - starting to figure out how drive trim and the trim tabs affect handling of the boat.

 

[chevymaher]

Nice. The skeg just sharpen the bottom with a med file and spray it with satin black rattle can. Once it is in the water once nobody will ever know.

 

[Reserector_]

Your rear seat passenger looks cold.
If you find a fail-safe reminder to raise the lower unit and not drag the skeg, let me know.
If you ever consider a Skeggard, I will personally endorse that brand. I thought it was allot of money, but it has saved (what's left of my) skeg twice already.

 

[todhunter]

Haha, I asked her repeatedly if she was fine and she kept saying yes and refused to switch seats with my wife.

Glad to know I'm not the only one to drag the skeg!

 

[todhunter]

Took the boat out on the lake yesterday for Mother's Day - all went well. Water's still a little chilly for swimming, but it was nice to just be out.



Today I worked on a project for a cell phone holder on my dash. I use the Navionics app for charts, and trying to balance the phone on the dash or have my wife hold it and read the chart to me isn't working like I want. There was no off-the-shelf solution I found, so I pieced it together myself from Amazon. It's a camera mount base that screws to the dash, a short "magic arm", and an aluminum cell phone clamp mount. I also wired in another USB port under the dash, made a bracket, and feed a short USB cable up through a drain hole in one of the cup holders to keep the phone charged while using the charts. The magic arm allows the phone to easily be adjusted into virtually any orientation and it's very solid when you lock it all down.

 

[kcassells]

Nice work!

 

[chevymaher]

Your lucky here the river flooded again. I went today and checked it out. Trees everywhere, still supposed to rise 10 more feet. That is actually into the streets.

Good job on the phone holder. Great minds think alike. I got the same set up. And it you remember I added a cig lighter and dual usb for charging. One is run right where the phone and charts are.

I am sweating it is late here for going out. Last year i been out 5 times by now. This year cold and rainy. I got it waxed and clean but haven't started it.

Looks good enjoy.