hull extension in progress with pics

[oops!]

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

wow....i cant believe how far weve come in just a few short days....

i was just looking at the pics of the last update....so much has been done i dont know where to start.

first of all.....i needed to install one of these.....

that big tube was installed under the base of the rod holder.
the idea here is to have all ship wiring, cables and fuel lines....(remember the gas tank is in the bow on this boat.) go thru this tube...this is to prevent any damage that can occur with standard set up.

this hole was cut for the shifter cables to enter the tube.

you can see here the ships wiring allready fed thru the tube.

 

[oops!]

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

as you saw earlier, the motor was placed in the boat.....

we have made some progress bolting the exhaust on......some battery's were placed in to examine spacing....

we have been having a heck of a time with the front end of the motor....i am using an extremely large marine alternator, because of this...the alternator must go beneath the power steering unit.......no big deal right???.....wrong.....getting brackets for this setup is really hard....pulley alignment is almost impossible....merc only used this configuration for two years... these brackets are the parts that must come from fon de lac.

we tried about 30 different configurations....moving this here....using this bracket with this pully....then changing it around again...!....two full days were spent on the pulleys/brackets/ and alignment of the front end

i was jusy about to order this bracket from florida, when we discovered the pulley alignment was out 1/2 inch on the alternator.....we could only see the mis alignment when it was all bolted up....a mock up didn't show the mismatch....in total....10 different brackets were tried with 30 different configurations.

in this shot you can see the different pullys....the manifold on just the one side.....behind the battery boxes in the middle of the floor...a bunch of brackets...including one in the bilge !

 

[oops!]

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

we finally got that nightmare settled......and went straight to finish the installation of the motor.

the crankshaft alignment is perfect....so it was time to lag in the motor.

first off....as with any hole in the deck.....it must be pre drilled....

then the lag bolts are screwed all the way down.....this is to cut the threads....then they are removed

then the holes are filled with the compound of choice....in this case .....sikkaflex.

then the lag bolts are permanently installed

its always nice to see the sikkaflex squirt out the hole during torquing !

 

[oops!]

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

as i mentioned ......nothing on this boat is easy.....everything must be fabricated,,,purchased or altered.....

this is a dryer vent i altered to attach the blower hose to. the stock blower of this year was a squirrel cage type that went right into the exterior hole....well now days,,,its all different.....so i made this piece and attached it to the underside of the transom cap...

attach the hose to the blower.

then the stack to the blower.....

the exterior exaust vent was installed over the blower hole

then the intake vent was installed

 

[oops!]

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

the 5 mile marker light needed to be installed......the original one was trashed.....so a new perko kit came on board...

the template was placed over the existing hole...

a trick i use is to place a light under the hole....that way the paper template is illuminated.

after the holes are drilled....
then just screw it down.

 

[oops!]

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

one of the things im kinda sad about is ithe bilge drain.....I wanted it in the drivers side....but the big tube left no room....so it had to go on the port side.....

this kit didnt come with rubber gaskets.....so I made some!

the thru hull hole was drilled....

wanna see how thick oops hull is ???

heh heh heh

sikkaflex was used on the gaskets I made.

 

[oops!]

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

one of the other parts we made this weekend was a holder for the battery switch......i left greg alone to think.....and he came up with this.....

he sanded it and rounded the edges...but he wanted more....this is the idea...

after drilling out the holes...greg wanted to glass and gellcoat it.....well that process would take about 4 hours including cure time......so,
we mixed resin with gellcoat....and made a hot batch.

this is two layers of csm.....after we rolled out the air....we added a layer of finishing veil.

a little kick and cure later.....

 

[oops!]

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

with the fun and frabricating over....greg climbed under the dash to wire the gauges.

after a while....horns were honking and lughts were coming on....

tomorrow might be a big day !

cheers
oops

 

[Darren Nemeth]

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

Those light look sharp! When you get a chance snap a few of the boat on the water with those on at night!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

Everything looks great. That pulley business sounded like a nightmare.

 

[NoKlu]

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

Lookin good. Make sure you sand the sharp edges on the pipe cut outs. They will cut through the cable and wire covering in no time.

 

[oops!]

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

we are actually goin to figgure out a "fix" for that.. the steering cable is too sharp a bend....so we have to heat the tube and soften the corner....

we are getting really close to starting it....

 

[erikgreen]

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

Those light look sharp! When you get a chance snap a few of the boat on the water with those on at night!

I agree - definitely show how those look and work. I'm thinking I might need to install some now

Nice work on the battery switch bracket too.. looks almost factory.

Erik

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

Hey oops,
As normal everything looks great. I really like those docking lights in the bow.
I have always liked the looks of them. Would love to see them on the water too. Let us know how well they work. After seeing yours I may have to put them in mine too.
Very nice work and good luck on the engine start.
Bob

 

[willamettejeff]

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

Hi Oops,

Followed your thread for a long time. Glad to see you back and anxious to see your boat on the water. Did the same thing on the two boats I've restored in running all the cabling through a tube mounted in the gunnel. Easier to wire initially and change or add to later without having to undo a bunch of wire ties and provides a great amount of protection. One suggestion that I've done is to use T connectors where cables and wiring need to come out of the tube along its length. Easier than cutting a cutting a hole in the tube and makes for a smooth edge and clean look.

Keep up the great work and please keep the pictures coming.

Hey, perhaps a NW get-together in the future?

 

[NoKlu]

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

Good thinkin. They might even have a 45 T [Y?]for that. I would put an inline fuel filter on it as well just for insurance.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

Hey, perhaps a NW get-together in the future?

There have been a few GTGs in oops and NoKlu land, I think I remember one on opps's boat and a toon loaded with silicone. And to think they say there's no place for silicone on a boat.

 

[sprintst]

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

It is alive. Nice to see her all lit up like.

Not sure if you need anymore parts from the Fond Du Lac area but check out Georgiawatersports. Massive savings on original Mercuiser parts, fast shipping and 55 bucks shipping on a 700 US order with some of the parts being heavy.

I don't think I could send a case of beer to you for 55 with shipping around here.

I'll head over to Kelowna to rip around this summer. Maybe I'll see you fly by on the water

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

Saw oops yesterday.

He's excited again and looks to be close. Wants me to charge up the camera. My boat is a bit out of commission so I may have to ride along in someone else's chase boat, but that would make filming easier.

 

[NoKlu]

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

Re: hull extension in progress with picks

My days off are coming up soon so with any luck I'll be piloting the Bilgeliner for the Big event.