Hi all.
Been a while since my last update.
My Mercury mechanic mate decided he needed a full foolscap page of parts to refurbish the twin 200hp 2.5 Mercs, so it took a while to amass the parts.
He has since pulled everything apart, I've two packed all the black bits, and they're almost back together again now.
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Took a while to finalise the hydraulic steering and tie bar, but I'm happy with the results.
Tried to fit the controllers and all the gauges to the dash, but it was never going to look factory, so I built a mould for a better more practical dash, stripped out the old version and laid up and fitted a new dash:
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Pretty happy with the results. Plenty of room for gauges and GPS & Fish finder screens, switches,fuse panel etc.
While I had the spray gun out, I modified the rear deck, which was holding dirt and grime. Literally ground out a place for water to flow out from, on both sides. The photos were taken before top coat was sprayed on.
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I fitted the electric trim tabs, after a bit of modification. They didn't hold their shape as well as I'd like, so we strengthened them and set up a teak block on each tab to set the ram at the correct angle, given that the hull has such a deep V, the semi pod encroached where the ram needed to be. It now does the job properly without binding up.
We welded studs to the tabs so no bolt heads protruded. Mainly because it wasn't that hard and because we had to fill a couple of holes which were no longer being used.
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Another little project was to remove the cockpit floors and get rid of the outboard S/S fuel tanks and the Alloy centre tank.
I never liked the idea of 3 tanks, so I think I'll go for a 400litre plastic centre tank, and keep the outboard voids for live bait and/or kill tanks, or storage or flotation or something...
Also, I really disliked the fact that it only carried 80 litres of fresh water, so I fitted a 120litre Vetus rubber (?) triangular bow-tank.
I fitted it all in, but the 120 litre Vetus will only let out 90 litres. Admittedly, that was gravity feed and not being drawn out bu a pump.
I may just bite the bullet and glass in the fore-peak and form a larger built in tank. I think I can get over 150 litres which will give plenty of weight forward to compensate for the twin outboards and will give plenty of water for showering...
Just spent the last few days working on the interior paint prep. It's a horrid job and I have been putting it off for so long, as my poor old bod doesn't like all the odd angles and tight spaces.
This is the 3rd highbuild that I've rubbed back. and it's now coming right. Just takes a long time to rub it back properly.
And then there's the problem with painting it. The cabin itself will be easy enough, but the bathroom presents difficulties because it's very tight and I'm kinda ... large...
Hopefully, more soon.