Finally got the boat back home We were happy with the boat and how it performed. The wiring looked some what dodgy but nothing that could not be fixed. The floor was also very flexible under foot and we should have lifted the flooring prior to the purchase. But the excitement got the better of me and we jumped on it. After all this was the best platform we had viewed in over 6 months.
We took the boat home and gave it a massive clean up which is was well overdue for. We planned the 400hr service and booked the mechanic in. Then came the time to start spending more and more cash to do it up. With over $1000.00 spent at Road Tech Marine in the first week on safety gear, wiring, trailer parts and a pair of new/second hand seats. The fit out commenced.
Unfortunately it was short lived as we decided to pull the floor up and strip the wiring out. This is where the surprises started, as the "new alloy floor" wasn't done very well at all. In fact that may even be an understatement. When lifting the flooring we found that the carpet was not wrapped around the edges, there was no additional bracing applied (kinda important when replacing 12mm ply with 2.5mm alloy sheet). We then noted that some off cuts of alloy had been slid under there so some sections were 5mmm alloy. We noted a cracked fuel breather hose near the console and the wiring issues were far worst then I first thought.
Cleaning began This is the boat when I first got it So I called my good mate John (DEEPBLACK from North Shore Reel Servicing) and asked for some assistance in planning our next step. We just could not put it back together the way it was. He arrived with a 4 pack of jacks in hand (well under stocked given what he was about to see). Then his jaw hit the deck and clearly stated were gonna need more Jacks.
A few plans and measurement later and we had the boat in the shed. Then a few more trips to the alloy shop and the work began. We started by building a whole front casting deck level with the base of the gunwales. This included fully bent bulk heads and additional upright bracing applied. The welding began and it was somewhat starting to take place.
Front deck almost welded out, and starting on the second bulk head for the step up and more underfloor storage.
Then we moved further back on the boat welding in several pieces of box section to give the floor some bracing as we wanted to keep the alloy floor. So hours and hours of work later and the floor bracing was completed.
Then came the carpeting of the floor sections after further trimming of the pieces took place. We then carpeted the entire floor and planned for some rod lockers to be fitted at a later date. Having placed the floor down and starting to see what the final project would look like. We started to get excited. The fun did not stop there, John being the handy man that he is went back into his workshop on a Sunday with a few loose measurements and returned 3 hours later with an awesome electric motor mounts fabbed up ready to be welding into place. He also returned a jigsaw puzzle of alluminum which with some harry potter magic would eventually turn into the best seat mount a man has ever seen (well this man anyway)
We then took to cutting off the sh..ty bow rails and have since made some customs items which will work in with the rear ones already fitted. We havent got them welded on yet but it is coming.
With the casting deck sorted and no further work able to be done without some piano hinge. I put a call into a couple mate that are keen fisherman. With some bribery on my part combined with their need to kill fish. A time was arranged for them to attend my shed and complete some wiring given I was unqualified for the job. Auto/Marine sparkies / fridgies to the rescue. Well 2 days and 3.721 cartons of beer later along with around 450 bucks in electrical wiring and another 300 worth of Deutsche connectors the boat was wired up. I fitted the LED lights and mounted the Bilge pump also. fitted the new sounder and ran wiring with blanked plugs for Deck wash, spot light and electric motor. Also have an isolator fitted for when the batteries are sorted and we mount the 24v system.
From this To this Some of the hardware used, some might say its overkill but I only plan on doing this once.
I am wrapped with how it all turned out and cannot wait to his the water with it. 24v Motor guide XI5 arrived today also from In & Outboard which was well cheaper then anywhere else I searched. Great service from the guys there also. Bring on the run off.
A massive thanks is due to John for all his assistance.
Luke and Stuart for the wiring.
Tight lines people.
