What did you do to your boat today?

[Ronnie]

To one of my Waverunners, technically still a boat, not today but yesterday I reattached the end of a keel guard. For context, I installed the current keel guard two seasons ago (it was a free replacement of one that developed a tear). I didn’t remove all of the old adhesive so I used a lot of 3m heavy duty double sided tape at the end of the keel guard. Well the tape didn’t hold so the last 16” of the guard were just hanging off the bottom of the waverunner.

To make sure it stuck this time around, I used a heat gun and a wire wheel to remove the old adhesive and double sided tape from the hull and keel guard. This took about 2 hours. I coated both the hull and keel guard with 3m5200 then “fabricated” a jig to put pressure on as much of the loose keel guard as possible while the 5200 cures. I held the jig in place against the keel guard with a bottle jack. Creating and fitting the jig took about an hour. It’s no @zipper creation (which are often works of art themselves) but it did the job.

total time on task, about 4 hours. I’m sure it would have taken me twice as long if it “simply” replaced the keel guard with a new one (they are very hard to remove and clean up after completely).

 

[zipper]

@Ronnie I hope you chose fast cure and not 7 day cure. 4200 is rated for below the waterline and will come off easier if you ever need to do it again. What you did with your jig looks like it worked well.

 

[Ronnie]

@zipper , thanks. I used 5200 fast cure. My son asked me why the strong stuff and why I put so much effort into this repair while I was under the waverunner, perspiring, sore from the position I was in and covered in adhesive and fiber glass dust. I told him because I don’t ever want to F’ing do this again.

 

[Ronnie]

I installed a new sound system (speakers anyway) in/on mine in less than a minute and removed it even faster.

The speaker was on sale for $100, originally $200. It also floats. The ram mount consists of a ball with a threaded end attached to the speaker, another ball mounted to a plate attached to the waverunner and finally a short connecting rod, total cost is under $20.

 

[ericoask424]

Towers and sub speakers and amp installed. Definitely worth the upgrade.

 

[ericoask424]

Towers and sub speakers and amp installed. Definitely worth the upgrade.

And why the hell does it keep posting my pictures sideways??

 

[tdonoughue]

Some people are just naturally crooked?

(ducking and running)

 

[ericoask424]

Some people are just naturally crooked?

(ducking and running)

Or sideways. One of the two

 

[Ronnie]

I installed a new sound system (speakers anyway) in/on mine in less than a minute and removed it even faster.

The speaker was on sale for $100, originally $200. It also floats. The ram mount consists of a ball with a threaded end attached to the speaker, another ball mounted to a plate attached to the waverunner and finally a short connecting rod, total cost is under $20.

I got to use this for the first time yesterday and loved it, so much so that I ordered another for my second waverunner. It’s loud enough even at WOT that I could hear it clearly. I used the ski without it for just a few minutes and realized I should have done this to both skis years ago.

 

[sunbyrned]

Speaking of boat tops, when I got a local quote for $700 to replace the seriously moldy bimini on my 18’6” Sea Ray, I walked out and said “rip-off artist!” on my way out the door. Then I went to Jo-Ann fabrics, bought 6 yards of light beige waterproof canvas, a spool of “Dual-Duty” buttonhole thread, some #18 needles, asked one of the sewing instructors to show me how to make an overhand fabric joint, got some snaps and an installation tool at West Marine, and made my own top in an afternoon. I have a 60’s vintage hand-me-down cast iron Montgomery Ward sewing machine that’ll take the punishment of anything I throw at it, and if I didn’t already own one, I’d watch for something similar on garbage night [hint, hint]. Was the top I made show-quality? No, but I spent 50 doll hairs on materials and it’s still keeping the sun off the cockpit 18 years later. With a little practice on a sewing machine, anyone with some patience can repair their tops too. You’ll never know all the things you can do/make with an old sewing machine. Easy-peasy lemon-squeezey!

Any chance you can provide pics? I may try this. Thanks!

 

[2kwik4u]

Any chance you can provide pics? I may try this. Thanks!

Check out this thread. @zipper and his wife makes some GREAT stuff using a machine from Sail-Rite.

 

[Troch1]

I got to use this for the first time yesterday and loved it, so much so that I ordered another for my second waverunner. It’s loud enough even at WOT thatI could hear it clearly. I used theski without it for just a few minutes and realized I should havedone this to both skis years ago.

Can you provide links to your parts list? I want to copy!

 

[anmut]

And why the hell does it keep posting my pictures sideways??

Does that for me too when I post from Safari on my phone.

 

[Ronnie]

Can you provide links to your parts list? I want to copy!

Here are screen shots of what I bought. The speaker price has gone up since I last bought it. The plain threaded ball was not available this morning so I bought one with the round plate the second time around.

 

[Outnumbered212S]

Named my boat. Put a new bow roller and a tire cover.

 

[Joshua Miller]

Got my CIPA mirror in the mail. Man this thing is massive but saves me from turning around so much to watch the boys on the tube or boards.

 

[WetWillie]

Broke the trailer winch strap at launch; had to tie a good knot to retrieve at the end of our outing and order a replacement...

 

[sunbyrned]

Broke the trailer winch strap at launch; had to tie a good knot to retrieve at the end of our outing and order a replacement...

At launch? Did you do what I did and back out without detaching first?

 

[WetWillie]

No I generally let about 6’ out to get the boat off the bunks but not totally free of trailer in case engines don’t fire for some reason and boat is out too far from trailer to retrieve. No issues with this method for 3 years... Today it apparently had enough and the belt just snapped about the 4’ mark. I’ve been less and less impressed with shorelander trailers over this ownership; boat’s been great trailer is cheap and shouldn’t be under a $60k boat IMHO

 

[HangOutdoors]

Took forever to come in. The registered trademark symbol didnt come in with letters so I still need to order that.