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Winter Upgrades
Who is planning some cosmetic up grades this winter. I know I am. Here is my list:
1. Remodel rear seat to include built in cooler, enclosed sub-woofer enclosure and replace cracked vinyl seat cushions 2. R&R motor. freshen entire engine (rings, bearings, seals). Upgrades to include MAG/HO intake, Big valve heads, roller rockers, roller lifters, roller cam, bigger oil pan. Re-Map ECU and increase rev limit from 4400-5200. Install EMI headers with captains call diverters and CORSA oval (OEM) tips. 3. R&R outdrive. freshen all seals and bearings. Im going to polish to a mirror finish the lower unit and powder coat the upper pieces factory mercury gloss black. Install new 28p props. 4. Install swim step from Swim Platform Super Store. Weve ordered the latest design (dual corner ladders)l 88" wide and 36" deep with LED lights underneath 5. R&R windshield. Im powder coating all the frame work white to match the boat for a more "current" styling effect. Ill be tinting the windows slightly as well. 6. Some sort of color above the water line. Don't know what it's gonna be (paint or vinyl wrap) or how mild-wild it will be either. (this will be the last thing before spring next year) I have to say without a doubt this is the nicest boat weve ever owned. The wife is very happy it's never broke down on us and just about every time were out in it, we get a compliment. |
Re: Winter Upgrades
That's an ambitious but doable list over the cold months. Hope it all goes well!
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Wow! all I can say is post tons of pictures. You have my dream boat and just keep making it better so at least give me somthing to look at! :D
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Im probably going to ditch the micro, build a pair of matching doors as below the fridge and use the cubby where the micro was for something. the micro has NEVER been used and dont think we ever will. The storage space to me is more important.
My wife said we could display the 300 bottle of sunscreen we on board. |
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Definately shoot pics Oregon.
I'd love to see her custom appointments as I'm sure alot of other members would :) Larry |
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Ill be documenting it's transformation every step of the way
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Just curious...how much is the corsa system gonna run ya? Corsa quoted me a few months back like $1,000 for the diverters with Y pipe. I already have the hull tips, wiring, and switch installed, so I just need the diverter and Y pipe.
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Im trying to piece it together used. Im shooting for under $750 total.
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Oregon
I noticed in a gallery pic you have what looks like a frig were the TV goes was that there when you got it or did you add it? I'd like to remove the microwave and add frig. where do i find one and how was the install I'd ask someone this question before but can't find the reply |
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When you remove that fridge, can you post the make and model specs on it? That's a pretty small one and could be a good option for those looking to add one to their cabins!
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My boat project is about to begin.
Removed the windshield and ordered a new one. Once received, the frame will be powder coated semi gloss black and the glass lightly tinted a smoke color before re-assembly. Next the motor/outdrive will be removed. The outdrive will be rebuilt top to bottom with XR parts. I'm going to polish the lower unit, install my new (mirror polished) props and replace all the zinc's. The motor is being replaced for a built 502. I'm hinging on a 540ci (500+ hp) kit. Naturally aspirated with MAG intake, EMI Thunder exhaust, thru hull captains call and custom AZ speed & marine re-map. Lastly a new rear cockpit mooring cover. Thinking a more Light weight material since ours sits with the full cover on it when parked on the trailer. It would be more for that occasional overnight mooring 1-2 a year. The rear seat will be revamped. I plan to move it forward 12-18" and extend/enlarge the sun deck. The rear seat will incorporate a built in cooler. Im going to use one of the posts from the rear table and build a corner table of sorts that will sit behind the drivers seat. the table will as well have built in cup holders (there arent enough in these boats) I've made a templet for the passenger side dash jockey box to have mfg a corian type lid with built in cup holder. Ill be doing the same with the rear sink as well (removal and covered with plastic with cup holders). In the mid cabin the micro will be lost and matching doors to those under the fridge will be installed and the space used for more storage. LED lights will replace all the incandescents throughout. If I have any money left over I might be able to put gas in it and go boating |
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Damn ......I thought my 4.3 build is getting expensive.
Ain't it funny how one project turns to 2 , then 3 , then 4 !! LOL Doubt we'll even have water in the lakes this year for boating! Make sure you shoot us photos , ought to be very interesting.:wink_thumbup: |
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and of course...invite the rest of us along for the ride. :yes_grin: |
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So far I've found and purchased a MAG intake, gen 6 heads, roller rockers, guide plates and a whipple charger.
Looking for a gen6 502 bottom to build. Have a couple in the works, nothing bought yet. I'd really like to build all new and sell or store my original 454 |
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So much for naturally aspirated huh... sweet.
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My plan initially is to remarket the blower locally (got a couple of peps I know that would probably give up lots of possessions for it), then if that dont work, Ill post it on Craigslist regionally (Oregon/Washington) and a variety of power boat forums. Twice I have been out bid (so to speak) on this same blower kit at over double what I paid for it so Im sure I wont get hurt. That would give me all the extra money I would need to build the 540 ci motor I really think I need (hehehe). |
windshield is gone
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rear seat be gone
getting read to pull the motor and rerig the engine compartment
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...365227066E.jpg http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/.../IMG_27371.jpg |
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one of my big projects this winter will be to re-rig the engine compartment and all it's wiring. look at that mess over the batteries...yikes
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Have you got enough batteries??? i'm sure you could find room for just one more... :yes_grin:
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Hehehe.
2 of those are connected to the inverter to run 12v items (like a blender, micro, fridge, etc.). 1 of the grp 27's is just for the stereo (4000 watts - 10 drivers and 2 subs), the grp 24 is the motor battery so we can make it back home. I had them wired so I could run just the grp 27's all day and never worry about anything. they get a lil low, flip over to the grp 24 and fire up the engine. During the re-rig, Ill be going to 4 grp 27s and cleaning up the wiring mess you see. |
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I hope you've got a good taste in music!!! you wont be naming your boat "stealth" then... |
The boats name is Billable Hours (a pun based upon my wife being an attorney).
Of course with (2) 12" subs in the back and almost 1000 watts driving em, it's pretty hard for us to hide from anyone when's its playing loud. I've got 2 kids (girl 15 & boy 9). Both love music LOuD. I'm all about clarity. It's gotta be clean long before volume. I like all kinds of music as long as it moves me. My wife likes anything with lyrics she can understand (no rap) and a good dance beat. |
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i've got just the one, a 13yr old daughter. she's into that teen pop phase of life (taylor swift, jessie J etc!)
It's a bad day if we pick up the wrong ipods!!!:oh_huh: we play my music in the boat and if she plays up i'l cruise down the river to some led zep or black sabbath.......:yes_grin: |
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got the supercharger today via UPS. Those S.O.B.'s dropped it (argh). bent the pulley and probably the input shaft now. good thing I paid for insurance. Im gonna let UPS pay to have Whipple rebuild it now.
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I just got my seat substrate via UPS today. Going to drop it off at upholstery guy tomorrow. I'm using 1/2" King Starboard spanning over 25x19" and its supported on its edges only. I put it in place an stood on it. I'm 215lbs an didn't really flex it. If you are looking from some bulletproof substrate for your seats I'd highly recommend that stuff. If I knew how strong it was going to be I would have got got the Starboard lite and saved some weight at the same strength ( or so they advertise). The best price I found was on eBay by a guy called Scapplastics. In case you were lookin for ideas!
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Looking kinda strange with NO windshield
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...d/IMG_2697.jpg No interior and up comes the floor for cleaning. http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...r/IMG_2711.jpg Barely fits in the shop http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...1808682129.jpg |
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Ill be fitting the new windshield tomorrow before tinting the glass
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Can't wait to see the tinted glass in it. That is going to look sharp.
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after seeing how ckolek tinted windows turned out, I cant wait either.
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I know I am in the minority, but i'm not a big fan of the tinted windows. I can recall last year being caught 30 minutes down the lake when a storm came out of nowhere. Having to drive back in that storm with pelting rain made me happy that I could actually see through the windshield as opposed to having to take it on the chin the whole way back. Looking forward to see your progress on everything though.
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I'm going to tint them the lightest I can. For me it's more of an appearance effect then anything.
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Re: Winter Upgrades
spent 14 hours working on various parts of my winter upgrades. First and foremost was the windshield.
let me tell you a story.....bout a man named Jed. Opps, wrong story. Now all I need is the drivers side windshield glass. Taylor doesnt make any longer and to have one custom made is over $5,000. Many of you know that Mariah sold the 27 & 30' molds to Challenger. Figuring the Z302 and FPS302 look almost a like (cosmetic changes), the windshields have to be the same, why would they change that ? I bought one of those from Great Lake Skipper for over $2k shipped to my door. Glancing at it, all looks the same. WRONG. Thank gawd I assembled it and did a test fit install. First the Challenger windshield is slightly wider then the Mariah and significantly shorter as well. So off to work I went trying to make it fit. After plans A,B, C, D, E & F all failed, I said "lets just completely disassemble both window frames and see what we can make from the two and get it to fit the boat" So I installed both curved pieces. Being the Challenger is 2" wider, I had to remove that 2" from the center folding window. http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...17D9894856.jpg http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...17F4B2CFC8.jpg Next we found the profile of the side of the boat are different from that of the Challenger. So we used the angled frame piece from the Challenger, the lower rail from the Mariah and the top piece from the Challenger to form side window frames. Here you can see how much "shorter" the Challenge windshield is then the Mariah one. Dave is holding the Mariah side window up to the Challenger curved window. http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...1797FC9452.jpg The height of the windshield is now 6-7" shorter which im totally digging. Much more sleek look. http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...17C99857A3.jpg Then we got into the mid cabin. This past summer I had water building up and saturating the carpets slightly. Figuring I have a drain that is clogged. Left in the driveway on a HUGE slope, it would empty after a couple of days. So we pulled the mid cabin floor to clean it out. This is the dirt stain (toilet bowl ring) that was left behind. On man does it stink too. AARrrgggg http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...17D220C752.jpg Last thing was working on the engine rigging. I pulled all but the two main batteries. On each side of the motor are cavities ( there the dirty troughs you see in the pic. Does anyone know why they are there ? They have drains in the bottom, but arent deep enough to hold any real liquid. Each of them had fiber board covers over them, but still it created a recessed area. http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...t/IMG_2713.jpg http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...t/IMG_2712.jpg http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/...4D85FC261A.jpg My plan is to cut a pair of UHMW sheets to cover both so that I have a completely flat area to mount batteries, etc. to. Looking tonite I will be moving all the batteries, chargers, bilge fans, etc to the drivers side of the boat totally cleaning up the passenger side of the motor for storage of play toys Gotta drop off the window glass and newly modified frames to the glass shop on Monday. Then install this next weekend. |
Re: Winter Upgrades
Found out today you cannot re-cut tempered glass. However, new glass cut and tempered was cheaper then I had thought it was going to cost to cut mine. Win Win for me.
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That is a lot of work. I really like the lowered window look. Maybe lowered is not the word... How about streamline!
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Tonite we removed the micro, overhead nets and center mounted reading lamps. Im going to build a pair of doors that match those under the fridge and use the space for storage instead. In 3 years, weve never used it once. I plan to buy a nice BBQ and mount in the passenger rear corner perko pole holder. Im making cover plates from matching black acrylic to cover overhead lights. We counted and there are 14 lights in the mid cabin area. Wayyyyyy to many then are needed.
Next was the rear sink. Weve never used either sink, so I removed the facet in the main cockpit, leaving the sink as a "junk" collector. Im covering the facet mounting holes with matching black acrylic as well. Im leaving the lower sink in tack. My plan (probably not this winter, but next) would be to install a small rigid 3-5 gal tank in the engine compartment area and an electric pump and replace the facet with something a bit more useful. the whole "water" bag idea it had didnt thrill me much. I made a pattern of the passenger side dash junk collector. Im having a piece of clear acrylic made with 2 drink holder hole cut out. When in place, youll still be able to see whats inside the cavity and well as a place to house your beverages. It kinda strikes me odd, that as much thought as Mariah put into these boats and their tag line "Built like no other boat in the world" that there is only the 2 cup holders on the drivers dash and the one behind the sliding door and NONE in the rear of the boat at all. With a seat that is designed to hold 4 passengers and no where to set your drink down at. Well, Im fixing that. My next project in the rear of the boat will be build a small table. Im going to relocate on the table holder floor sockets to just behind the drivers seat. There I will design and small table (with drink holder holes) that is routered out in the center leaving a ridge around the outside keeping stuff from just "falling" off. Nothing that BIG, but enough space to place a bucket of KFC or a meat/cheese platter on. |
Re: Winter Upgrades
Oregondunes,
Would you mind sharing who is making your acrylic cover for the passenger side junk collector? I have tried to have one made once and it failed miserably. If you had somebody with a pattern I would definitely pay good money for one. I couldn't agree more with you about the cupholders -- somebody was sleeping in the design room on that deal. I finally bought one of these at the Chicago Boat Show last month just to have something. Cup Holders | SeaSucker Good luck with the mods. You always have such awesome ideas and the ambition to take them on. Thanks! |
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