Here are some updated photos of the slowest, longest lasting Hydrodyne restoration project in maritime history. Recent work accomplished: Rub rail installation Rub rail end cap installation (These caps spent the first part of their life on Jim's boat) Helm installation Rigging tube installation Cables/Main Wire Harness, Steering Hoses Splash well boot Electrical switch bus Stern Light Mount Assembly Decals/Stripes Reinforcement fiberglass work (Hull-to-deck) Spare tire carrier has been added to the trailer New guide poles were made for the back of the trailer (the first ones I made too small) The transom support plates should be manufactured and ready to install by tomorrow. They will be 1/4 thick aluminum, annodized and are modeled after DyneBob's (previously Greg's) boat. The tow pilon has been professionally re-polished but I don't have it back yet. I might be getting that tomorrow as well. I'll keep everyone posted (no pun intended) on the progress. Best, MarkBano
BTW I wasn't intoxicated when I installed the bow light. party It is just resting there - not screwed on yet. That's why it is crooked in the picture. Same thing with the gauges - they are not secured in the openings yet so they are not all straight. Wink Also - I forgot to add that the interior gunwale molding has been installed. You'll notice it in the picture of the instrument panel. I purchased this molding from McMaster-Carr. It grips a width of 3/4 inch. It pushes on. I still need to use a heat gun to get it to sit down tight in some areas but overall it looks pretty good. MarkBano
Looking absolutely gorgeous Mark! Absolutely the nicest original 18' I have ever seen. You are doing the complete package to the best quality I have seen. Can't wait to see it in person. Top notch! Greg
Thanks, Tim! I thought I had posted additional pictures yesterday but I see they aren't here so something obviously went wrong. Over the weekend I mounted the throttle, installed the tach harness, installed the port side rigging tube, and installed the hydraulic steering cylinder on the engine. Also - my fiberglass/paint guy brought my tow pilon back. Wow! It looks like it is brand new. He really did a nice job on it. I'll try to get more pictures posted this week. MarkBano
More pictures of the project... 1. Working on mounting the hydraulic steering. FYI - helps to mount the hydraulic cylinder before mounting the engine because you've got to slide the tilt rode into the tilt tube from the side. That can be hard to do in a narrow splashwell. Not too hard to do - just apply 2-4-C marine grease, slide it in, follow the spacing chart for the specific engine, and tighten everything to the torque spec in the installation manual. 2. Steering cylinder installed and bolts torqued to spec. 3. Newly restored and polished tow pilon. Looks like new! It is not bolted in yet, obviously. 4. New annodized aluminum support plates made by M&R Precision of Elk Grove Village. This company is owned by two really impressive high-achiever type brothers who also happen to be pilot buddies of mine - both are aerobatic pilots who fly, among other things, a very nice Pitts. They do pretty darn good metal work, too! In fact, at least one of them used to ski behind a Hydrodyne. What is hard to see and appreciate in the pictures is the finish work on the edges of the plates and the edges of the holes. They really do great work! Yesterday I ordered the new Mercury Smartcraft SC1000 Monitor and data cables. This will provide additional engine performance information and it will provide some redundant digital information to back up some of the analog instruments. It is the same monitor that DyneBob had installed with his new engine. Among other things, it tracks fuel flow, water pressure, oil level, water temperature, back-up pitot pressure (speed), water depth (if you tie it into a transducer), fuel remaining/range, RPM, trim position, etc. It replaces the older four function warning light gauge that came with older Optimax engines. Also, yesterday, I ordered the Adaptor Harness that converts the 8 pin main wiring harness to the 14 pin recepticle that is on the 2006 Optimax powerheads. Mercury has found yet another way to charge for yet another required wiring harness. A real racket, given what they charge for what amounts to a few wires and a couple of plastic plugs. I hope to get the engine mounted on the boat this weekend. I'll try to get some pictures taken during the process to post here. MarkBano
Here is the (mostly) installed tow pilon. The tow pilon as originally installed allowed water to go down through the mounting holes and into the wood subdeck supports under the deck. Silicone has been used in the holes and under the "feet" of the pilon on the reinstallation to avoid this problem.
