Power Wheelchair User with 1969 Hydrodyne Flat Top in Minnesota. Suggestions on changing console?

Discussion in 'Hydrodyne Flat Tops' started by Mark Felling, Apr 20, 2015.

  1. Mark Felling

    Mark Felling New Hydrodyner

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2015
    Messages:
    4
    Boat Model and Year:
    69' Hydrodyne Flat Top 20' 140 HP I/O Straight-Six
    I just picked up a 1969 Flattop with a I/O since I am an electric power wheelchair user. I thought of it as an alternative to a pontoon. Open the front bow section the floor seems to soft for the heavy wheelchair but the main deck seems okay. I think I am going to have to have someone check the bottom hull, but do you have any suggestions for the best way to diagnose?

    Also, I would like to replace the center console and essentially move it further forward, so I can get my wheelchair between the engine cover and the console. It looks like I am going to need to get a whole different console on eBay something that I can get my feet and knees underneath. Has anyone done this replacing/extending the steering and throttle and extending the wiring? How bad of the job might it be? Any suggestions for closing of the hole where the console used to be? My friends are really concerned and encouraging me to bring the boat back and get a pontoon. I wish I could just do the work myself!

    Finally, just had it out of the water for the first time today doing some testing, noticed that the throttle was very hard to control to get it into neutral, essentially had to pull it a little bit into reverse to get it to pop into neutral and very touchy. Same coming out of reverse into neutral and to go little bit into forward, then pull back. Can this be just an adjustment or do I need a whole new throttle cable assembly, etc.? Something on the engine?

    And one other thing I noticed was that the trim solenoid seem to be going bad, does anyone know where to get one? Would click but not move. Sometimes if we tapped with a screwdriver, suddenly it worked.

    The whole floor seems pretty solid except in the back corner on the left side under the live well. Would it be possible just to cut that back corner section of the glass floor, replace the plywood underneath and then glue back down the fiberglass on top of the new plywood and seal with silicone or something?
     
  2. jim

    jim Hydrodyne 18 Specialist

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2006
    Messages:
    2,321
    Location:
    FL
    Boat Model and Year:
    77 Dyne 18 I/O converted to Outboard
    Hi Mark, and welcome to the forum,

    I am going to give it to you straight and say that your friends are right. If you hire the work done, it could cost you more than a new boat.

    The flat top would be more fun than a pontoon, but way more problems too. I really hate to say this to you, but I could not in good conscience recommend that you take this on unless you just have to have a Dyne and are willing to spend $$$$.

    Sorry, jim
     
  3. tj309

    tj309 Composite Specialist

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2010
    Messages:
    399
    Location:
    LA (lower Alabama)
    Boat Model and Year:
    1972 18' Hydrodyne
    Ski Team:
    Former Hodag Water shows
    A 1969 will have hidden problems I guarantee. Mark your best bet would be to find a more modern deck boat that you could easily modify for your needs. All you need to do to research what I just said is go thru the restorations threads on this forum and you will see how much work is involved to bring a 69 back to life. Pay particular attention to teardowns and what was found and how much work it takes to correct. Judging from your initial post I think if you tore down that boat you will find major issues as every other restorer in this forum has found and have to deal with it. With a boat that old the only thing salvageable is the shell of the deck and hull.

    Sorry to rain on your paraid.
     
  4. tj309

    tj309 Composite Specialist

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2010
    Messages:
    399
    Location:
    LA (lower Alabama)
    Boat Model and Year:
    1972 18' Hydrodyne
    Ski Team:
    Former Hodag Water shows
    They also make pontoon boats that can go pretty fast. Some have 3 pontoons instead of 2. After re-reading your initial post I think you need to bring the Dyne back and consider something else. Right now there are alot of minor mechanical issues with the Dyne and it will only get worse as you dig into the systems and then the old hull.
     
  5. jim

    jim Hydrodyne 18 Specialist

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2006
    Messages:
    2,321
    Location:
    FL
    Boat Model and Year:
    77 Dyne 18 I/O converted to Outboard
    Hurricane make a nice deck boat.
     

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