Broken jet housing below clean out hose.

[BT06ar230ho newbie]

OK, I'm new to jet boats in general and just bought a used 2006 AR230 HO. Engines ran well. Boat looks great. It was in Salt water though.
I pulled both clean out plugs. One split in half. Fixed it. Here's the problem. While inspecting the clean outs, I noticed a small metal piece sitting in the clean out tube/hose. I removed the hatch and the port hose came up with the hatch. The section the hose clamps to is shattered. Above the jet intake, below clean out hose. What is this? How do I replace it? It's next to the muffler. I'll try to get a pic.

 

[Marvin willis]

Can you point at what you’re talking about.

 

[BT06ar230ho newbie]

It's actually starboard side.

 

[Marvin willis]

Ohhhhh. That’s not good

 

[14SX190]

Wow, that looks like it sat in salt water.

I tried looking up a part but this is all they have. there is no mention of that part

 

[Marvin willis]

Let me try and find it

 

[BT06ar230ho newbie]

Ya, I can't find it either...

 

[Marvin willis]

Nope.

 

[Marvin willis]

Even tried eBay.

 

[BT06ar230ho newbie]

I don't even know what it's called to be able to look for it.. ?

 

[Acard7]

It’s like it would be called the clean out port housing, it’s made of rubber right?

 

[BT06ar230ho newbie]

No.
Metal

 

[Acard7]

Sadly looks like you’re going to need to find a salvage boat or fabricate something yourself to replace it being we can’t find anything on it.. I just skimmed through 500 pages of my service manual not finding it at all either..

 

[BT06ar230ho newbie]

Ya... I'm on page 235. No luck.

 

[zipper]

I believe that is part of the tunnel that houses the clean out lock is built into the boat and a replacement is not available at parts sources. That aluminum is corroded. Someone maybe able to weld a plug over it, no cleanout plug after, other than that, a salvaged part as said above.

 

[BT06ar230ho newbie]

Actually, I just reached out to a certain oilfield aluminum fab shop... they said the same thing.

Anyone see an issue with welding a cap or plate over the hole... other than cleaning access?

 

[BT06ar230ho newbie]

I'll send pics of the final... incase someone else has a similar problem later. Can't afford a salvaged parts boat.

 

[Ronnie]

I think that is the metal part that actually holds the clean out plug. It’s molded into the hull, very difficult to replace. Short of that or moving everything to a different hull, I recommend you epoxy/weld/glue the clean out plug in place to get you in the water if at all possible.

 

[drewkaree]

I would say your first concern, oddly enough, is to verify and fortify (if necessary) the other one, as that will likely need replacement as well. Even if it's good, I'd look at this project as HAVING to fix both, but the better one isn't as vital, just yet.

Closing it off would turn it into the same as every other jet boat without topside access, so yes, it'll work, but how do you weld something to it without damage to the surrounding fiberglass, or having the cover plate corrode in short order as well?

As long as you're going in there, I'd look at replacement, or as @Ronnie says, Epoxy of some sort rather than welding, and go with something non-metallic

 

[BT06ar230ho newbie]

Thanks.
I agree on doing both.
Likely weld a colar around the outside of the existing colar and seal weld it.
Then seal weld a plate on top to cap it.
Aluminum welds at low temp (relative) with less slag. A little fire blanket goes a long way too.

It'll never see Salt water as long as I own it. So if I coat the Aluminum-corrosion will be a non- issue.