A boat a motor and a trailer

Discussion in 'Boatbuilding' started by Dave T, Nov 9, 2011.

  1. Dave T
    Joined: Sep 2011
    Posts: 250
    Likes: 14, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 158
    Location: Anamosa Iowa and North Buena Vista on the Mississi

    Dave T Senior Member

    boat progress

    Got back from vacation. Left the boat in the water all week, the paint appears to have held up real well. I got a heavier 5/16" 12 foot steering cable and I'm going to re-gear the steering it's a little too quick the way it is. I'm going to build a lifting device to go on my skid loader to be able to take the boat off the trailer and turn it over easily. I'll post some pictures when I get it done. I'm real happy with the way this project has turned out she's real stable, takes large waves with no problems, has a lot of deck space for a small boat, with the railings and aluminum skirt people feel safe moving around and with the 30 horse it's fast enough for now.

    Dave T
     
  2. Dave T
    Joined: Sep 2011
    Posts: 250
    Likes: 14, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 158
    Location: Anamosa Iowa and North Buena Vista on the Mississi

    Dave T Senior Member

    boat progress

    Got the heavier steering cable installed and the steering re-geared. Had to extend the dash panel 2 and 1/2" to clear the new gears, have that done and just waiting for the paint to dry. here are a few pics.
     

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  3. Dave T
    Joined: Sep 2011
    Posts: 250
    Likes: 14, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 158
    Location: Anamosa Iowa and North Buena Vista on the Mississi

    Dave T Senior Member

    boat progress

    Got the boat back on the river. The new steering gears made steering much easier. Took our longest voyage so far, went up river past Cassville Wisconsin to what we call million dollar beach it's on the main channel where all big high dollar boats go. The river was really rough from the wind but the Julie Ann did real well. We stayed on the beach a couple of hours drinking beer and enjoying the scenery and then headed back down stream went back to the camper drank more beer and watched the Bristol race. I plan on taking the boat back up next Thursday and staying Through the Labor day weekend. Got part of the lifting device to go on the Skid loader done no real hurry on this unless I get major damage to the bottom of the boat. Have to make better tail light brackets for the trailer to handle the vibration on the road.

    Dave T :)
     

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  4. Dave T
    Joined: Sep 2011
    Posts: 250
    Likes: 14, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 158
    Location: Anamosa Iowa and North Buena Vista on the Mississi

    Dave T Senior Member

    boat progress

    Had the boat back on the Mississippi labor day weekend it was crazy on the river lots of boats making big waves. The Julie Ann did real well. Got the trailer light brackets redone but had problem with the carpet on the trailer bunks. The river is real low do to the drought this summer so the boat ramp is real steep. The skegs on the bows caught in the carpet and ripped it. I jacked up the boat removed the bunks and took off the carpet. I then replaced the carpet with a treated 1x8 with a 6' oak 1x4 inlaid at the front with a little grease this should allow the boat to slide on and off with out damage. Hope to be back on the river this weekend and see how it works.
     

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  5. Fanie
    Joined: Oct 2007
    Posts: 4,604
    Likes: 177, Points: 63, Legacy Rep: 2484
    Location: Colonial "Sick Africa"

    Fanie Fanie

    Well done and interesting boat.
     
  6. hoytedow
    Joined: Sep 2009
    Posts: 5,857
    Likes: 400, Points: 93, Legacy Rep: 2489
    Location: Control Group

    hoytedow Carbon Based Life Form

    Indeed.
     
  7. Dave T
    Joined: Sep 2011
    Posts: 250
    Likes: 14, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 158
    Location: Anamosa Iowa and North Buena Vista on the Mississi

    Dave T Senior Member

    boat progress

    Thanks for the replies guys. A friend of mine gave me this deal called a Power Up made by MinnKota it's kind of mickey mouse the way it was designed the lift arm was bent when I got it mainly because it had to be mounted too far from the motor which put too much twist on it. I fixed the lift arm and tried it, it worked but not real well. I took it apart and moved the motor to the left side so I can mount it closer to the motor and I'm going to redesign the lift arm so it can be straight which should help. It was probably designed for a smaller lighter weight motor. I don't know if they still make these any more if anyone has any experience with these let me Know.

    Dave T
     

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  8. Dave T
    Joined: Sep 2011
    Posts: 250
    Likes: 14, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 158
    Location: Anamosa Iowa and North Buena Vista on the Mississi

    Dave T Senior Member

    The dogs first boat ride

    Got the boat back on the Mississippi. The re-design of the trailer bunks worked real well. Have to remember to keep the motor in gear and the throttle open when loading or unloading otherwise the boat slides right back down the bunks. Took our dogs for their first boat ride. The dalmatians name is Kacie she just turned 4 this month the other one is an 11 year old Yorky named Moxey. They both did real good. This may be our last time on the river this year depending on the weather. Have to cut wood and start getting ready for Winter.

    Dave T :)
     

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  9. Dave T
    Joined: Sep 2011
    Posts: 250
    Likes: 14, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 158
    Location: Anamosa Iowa and North Buena Vista on the Mississi

    Dave T Senior Member

    Minn Kota power up rebuild

    Re engineered the Minn Kota power up unit. When they made this thing they had a good idea too bad they didn't design it a little better. The main problems with it are the pivot arm joint it was just a 1/2" bolt through a hole in a piece of 1-1/2" 14 g square tube with no bushings sloppy and really subject to wear. I re-designed this by machining and welding in a tube and installing brass bushings. The next thing that had to be done was eliminate the 1/2" bolt and make a pivot shaft otherwise the bolt would turn in the aluminum casting and wear the hole. The other problem with these is the design of the lift arm extension. This was what had failed when my friend was using this. I had repaired it by welding a bolt to the end of it but decided to make a custom one for my motor. The unit works ok now just have to run the wiring and install the switch in the dash. I would like to find another one of these for spare parts being they don't make them anymore. If they had designed them right to begin with they'd probably still be selling them.

    Dave T :)
     

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  10. Dave T
    Joined: Sep 2011
    Posts: 250
    Likes: 14, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 158
    Location: Anamosa Iowa and North Buena Vista on the Mississi

    Dave T Senior Member

    boat progress

    Going back to the Mississippi this weekend the weather is supposed to be real nice in the 70's. I want to try out the power trim to see if different trim angles help the boats speed. I'm going to get a hydrofoil and see if it helps and I want to have some accurate data to compare to. I'm looking at an SE 200 the reviews on these sound good has anybody had any experience with them or other hydrofoils ? Probably won't be able to try this until next summer.

    Dave T :)
     
  11. Dave T
    Joined: Sep 2011
    Posts: 250
    Likes: 14, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 158
    Location: Anamosa Iowa and North Buena Vista on the Mississi

    Dave T Senior Member

    Winter Storage

    Had the boat on the Mississippi for the last time this year. Tried out the power trim and found out that when it was trimmed all the way down with just me aboard I could do 26 mph according to GPS. The boat planed up level with less than 2" in the water. Now it's time to store it for the winter. I'll put muffs on the motor and flush it with clean water and pull the plugs and put some oil in the cylinders. I would like some opinions or suggestions on storing a boat motor for winter it's a 2 cycle 30 horse Suzuki it will be stored in an unheated shed. Is it best to run the carb dry or use something like Staybil. I'll use my left over mixed gas for chainsaws and get fresh gas next Spring. This boat has been my obsession for the last year and a half since I started building it and I would like to thank all of those who have helped with suggestions and for all that I've learned from reading posts on this forum.

    Dave T :)
     
  12. lewisboats
    Joined: Oct 2002
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    Location: Iowa

    lewisboats Obsessed Member

  13. PAR
    Joined: Nov 2003
    Posts: 19,126
    Likes: 498, Points: 93, Legacy Rep: 3967
    Location: Eustis, FL

    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    I use to agree in that a stabilized full fuel tank was the way to go, but now don't. With older engines, too much damage occurs and the ethanol in the fuel tends to separate out, but worse is what it does to gaskets and rudder fitting in the fuel system, especially the rubber nose on most float needles. It'd rather fog the engine and fuel system with an anti corrosive spray and drain off the fuel. This sprays can be used in small portable engine tanks too. If possible disconnect and plug the fuel line at the tank and leave the valve open so the tank can drain off moisture, so it doesn't accumulate (metal tanks). Plastic, just fog and close it.
     
  14. hoytedow
    Joined: Sep 2009
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    Location: Control Group

    hoytedow Carbon Based Life Form

    We need to get ethanol out of our gasoline.
     

  15. PAR
    Joined: Nov 2003
    Posts: 19,126
    Likes: 498, Points: 93, Legacy Rep: 3967
    Location: Eustis, FL

    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    Ethanol is here to stay, though with the conditions in the mid west this summer, maybe a shot at reduction of it's use, if only for the costs involved. Engines built in the last several years are safe and have ethanol compliment gaskets, seals, etc. that don't break down, but older engines, before wide spread use of ethanol are still prone to issues. I've seen this all too often in recent years: fuel lines deteriorating from the inside out, leaving little balls of broken down rubber in the float bowl, jamming the needle open or closed, plugging passageways, etc., rubber O rings that turn into gummy piles of goo, gaskets that leak, fuel pump diaphragms that melt and a sorted lot of difficulties. In fact, the first thing I check when folks say they're having problems is the contents of the bowl on the carb(s).
     
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