The official "What did you do to your jet boat today" thread.

[jEt_jAk]

Added some simple storage under seat (saw it on here!) easy great idea to organize things.
Also, made a make shift board slots on the Bimini with some bungees

Which net did you use for that one?

 

[Troy JK]

Removed the ballast bladders from my X model. Also removed the bladder dividing walls in the port side storage Then moved the batteries back. Won’t ever use the bladders so might as well get the storage back.

 

[drewkaree]

Oil and spark plug day

View attachment 144306

I'm guessing those red hoses are silicone? I like the look, where did you find them? Got a link?

-Installed the tall VeVe trailer guides and added the blue covers w/foam for rub protection. I decided to go with the under-frame option and just forward of the boat buckles. I matched the width to the boat’s 102” beam for a snug guide, since the foam and flex of the posts should provide enough wiggle room at the widest point.

I thought the same thing when I first installed mine. First time I was bringing the boat back in, I ended up having to winch the boat back on because I felt I was going to snap the guides due to them being too close. IIRC, mine are 3-4 inches away after I moved them, and they work great at that distance. My launch is relatively unaffected by wind, but still have to contend with it at times - you'll have to decide for yourself, but I think you're going to find yourself wanting them a bit further away.

It also turned out to be a giant PITA when trying to get the cover on when they were so close, so there's one more thing to consider. Nothing like getting rained on while struggling to get the cover on, and then having the guides as the last sticking point to getting the boat all wrapped up.

Here's where they were originally, and just what I was pointing out (that rain story is personal LOL)




Here's where I set them after my first recovery, and I've never felt the need to move them in or out from this point:

 

[jgourlie]

I'm guessing those red hoses are silicone? I like the look, where did you find them? Got a link?






I thought the same thing when I first installed mine. First time I was bringing the boat back in, I ended up having to winch the boat back on because I felt I was going to snap the guides due to them being too close. IIRC, mine are 3-4 inches away after I moved them, and they work great at that distance. My launch is relatively unaffected by wind, but still have to contend with it at times - you'll have to decide for yourself, but I think you're going to find yourself wanting them a bit further away.

It also turned out to be a giant PITA when trying to get the cover on when they were so close, so there's one more thing to consider. Nothing like getting rained on while struggling to get the cover on, and then having the guides as the last sticking point to getting the boat all wrapped up.

Here's where they were originally, and just what I was pointing out (that rain story is personal LOL)

View attachment 144329


Here's where I set them after my first recovery, and I've never felt the need to move them in or out from this point:


View attachment 144330


View attachment 144331


View attachment 144332

I like the snakes as well, seems like another interesting story?

 

[drewkaree]

I like the snakes as well, seems like another interesting story?

Trees all around me. Birds would congregate and shit all over the cover. Stopped at the dollar store, bought myself $6 worth of snakes, and no more birds. They don't even hang out in the trees NEXT to the boat anymore.

 

[jEt_jAk]

I'm guessing those red hoses are silicone? I like the look, where did you find them? Got a link?

That is the fizzle blow off valve. Fizzle Blow Off Valve Kits for Yamaha

 

[drewkaree]

Also, on the head-on shot above, you can see the "boobs" on the bow. When trailering, you're not supposed to leave the poles in, but the wind would shove the cover down into the bow, and after getting caught in the rain twice and having to bail/pump the water out of the bow, I decided to tow with two beach balls in the bow. They don't allow the cover to get pushed down into the bow seating area as much, and they "give" so the cover isn't stretched (that's supposedly the reason not to tow with the poles in). They work so well, I haven't used the poles since I got the beach balls.

Intex 42" beach balls - 2 pack

I do the same with a 5' beach ball, which can be seen in the rearward shot. Again, there's just enough there to keep the cover from flapping or getting shoved down by the wind, and enough give not to stretch the cover out. At the very worst, I figure the wind is beating the hell out of the cover and stretching it out just as much, so worst-case scenario, I feel this one is a draw. I have this air pump - LINK which works very well, if I were to need it for trailering away, but I'm blessed that I just store the beach balls, inflated, while I'm using the boat for the weekend.

The 5' beach ball has a Boston valve. If that had the "regular" type of valve, I doubt I would use that thing. If you can find some beach balls with Boston valves, those would be the best way to go, and you should link them up here somewhere on the forums for others to buy. As it is, all of them work just fine for me. On the smaller 42" pair, a pen in the valve will keep them open for deflation once you unpack, and it'll give the wife something to do so she's not bugging you while you're getting yourself settled in the boat. If you can suss out what size the hole is, some poly tubing (like the stuff for a water line to the refrigerator) of that diameter, stuck in the valve, would let you deflate those things lickety split. Same goes for ANY inflatables on your boat, if they don't have a Boston valve.

 

[drewkaree]

That is the fizzle blow off valve. Fizzle Blow Off Valve Kits for Yamaha

Nice find. I don't have need for it, but I like the way it adds some bling to the engine. I did silicone hoses for a few cars, mainly because I had to replace the hoses and they would help me identify stuff later on.

 

[Sidarousmg]

took longer than expected, it was actually a bit of a pain, but got the supercharger removed and off to PWCmuscle for a rebuild....

 

[ZippyBoater]

It finally got warm enough to install the SeaDek.

 

[Bizywk]

Also, on the head-on shot above, you can see the "boobs" on the bow. When trailering, you're not supposed to leave the poles in, but the wind would shove the cover down into the bow, and after getting caught in the rain twice and having to bail/pump the water out of the bow, I decided to tow with two beach balls in the bow. They don't allow the cover to get pushed down into the bow seating area as much, and they "give" so the cover isn't stretched (that's supposedly the reason not to tow with the poles in). They work so well, I haven't used the poles since I got the beach balls.

Intex 42" beach balls - 2 pack

I do the same with a 5' beach ball, which can be seen in the rearward shot. Again, there's just enough there to keep the cover from flapping or getting shoved down by the wind, and enough give not to stretch the cover out. At the very worst, I figure the wind is beating the hell out of the cover and stretching it out just as much, so worst-case scenario, I feel this one is a draw. I have this air pump - LINK which works very well, if I were to need it for trailering away, but I'm blessed that I just store the beach balls, inflated, while I'm using the boat for the weekend.

The 5' beach ball has a Boston valve. If that had the "regular" type of valve, I doubt I would use that thing. If you can find some beach balls with Boston valves, those would be the best way to go, and you should link them up here somewhere on the forums for others to buy. As it is, all of them work just fine for me. On the smaller 42" pair, a pen in the valve will keep them open for deflation once you unpack, and it'll give the wife something to do so she's not bugging you while you're getting yourself settled in the boat. If you can suss out what size the hole is, some poly tubing (like the stuff for a water line to the refrigerator) of that diameter, stuck in the valve, would let you deflate those things lickety split. Same goes for ANY inflatables on your boat, if they don't have a Boston valve.

Great idea! I already have a couple on the way. Thanks. I usually have the guests in the boat when we cover, and they often struggle with the poles and support strapping. This will be much easier for them.

I really liked the pump too - that automatic shutoff would be great for us, and we're going to buy a pad this year so this may be the one. Wish it had the vacuum side available though. We use the vacuum side to fully decompress towables & inflatables while on the water for better storage without the old "sitting on the suitcase" maneuver.

 

[FTBS311]

Added Boat Name and SeaDek Cooler Cover to New Boat Cooler. Now we wait for warmer weather. Currently waiting on Doomed Reg Lettering and Audio install to occur next.

 

[drewkaree]

Great idea! I already have a couple on the way. Thanks. I usually have the guests in the boat when we cover, and they often struggle with the poles and support strapping. This will be much easier for them.

I really liked the pump too - that automatic shutoff would be great for us, and we're going to buy a pad this year so this may be the one. Wish it had the vacuum side available though. We use the vacuum side to fully decompress towables & inflatables while on the water for better storage without the old "sitting on the suitcase" maneuver.

Someone around here bought a Ryobi ONE inflator (maybe @WiskyDan ?) that had the switchable hose things. I already had this, AFAIK they didn't have the Ryobi at that time. I use the poly tubing for easy deflation. Cut about a foot or two of tubing sized for the nozzle and put it in to hold the stupid flap open and allow the air to escape easily. Just make sure you don't shove it inside the item, that's why I say AT LEAST a foot, makes it harder to lose! LOL

The wife got a small plastic Sterilite container to hold everything in one place, the Ryobi may just fit inside there too!

 

[TexAg2010]

@drewkaree thanks for the insight and pics. My setup looks more like your “after” pic of the trailer guides, with room to maneuver a cover in the gap. Looks like the 25 series have a bit of a waist amidships, and that makes me think I may end up wedged in when that widest point is in the water at a lower spot on the guides than I was using on the trailer as a reference. I’ll reassess after taking another look next visit to the storage unit.

 

[AZMark]

Removed the ballast bladders from my X model. Also removed the bladder dividing walls in the port side storage Then moved the batteries back. Won’t ever use the bladders so might as well get the storage back.

Curious why you got the X model? That ballast equipment was a big part of the cost.

 

[AZMark]

Changed spark plugs for the first time yesterday @ 50 hours before going to the lake.

Only difference I noticed was the engines fired up immediately now instead of cranking for a few seconds before starting.

I couldn’t believe how rusted & stuck the plugs already were on a 3 year old boat in a dry climate. I put a little anti-seize on the new ones and just dropped the torque a touch to compensate (I know this has been debated elsewhere). CHANGE YOUR PLUGS!

 

[Troy JK]

Curious why you got the X model? That ballast equipment was a big part of the cost.

because That’s what wifey wanted. I told her we could save several thousand with The SE but she didn’t care. It had to be that color with those graphics and that sound system And that exact upholstery.
So the X it is ?

 

[Jason Kloehn]

Made a carbon fiber sand anchor. Cleat is adjustable depending on water depth. Haven't tried it out yet. Hopefully it warms up soon!

 

[mrcleanr6]

The head counter top is really useless from the factory. Anything you put on it will just fall right off so i fabricated and painted this bar to retain 3 storage bins that will sit on the counter top.

 

[haknslash]

Trees all around me. Birds would congregate and shit all over the cover. Stopped at the dollar store, bought myself $6 worth of snakes, and no more birds. They don't even hang out in the trees NEXT to the boat anymore.

A fake owl also works