My '95 2530

[gw204]

I like it...Anything you can do to create easier access to things makes your life a LOT easier.

Amen to that!!!

 

[warthog5]

We'll.....Then you'll like this too.


We have no more 2 Stroke. The order went in today for the latest DF-300 Suzuki has to offer. Claimed 14% better fuel mileage than the older DF-300's....This is the APX model we ordered.

Motor off and back home for some more work.

Here is the easier access. The Stainless marine piehole cover is gone....Good riddance to that damn thing that has to be silicone sealed to peak in the bracket tub. Replaced with a larger "8in" Armstrong piehole.

Find center of bracket. With a drawing compass make a templete. In this case a circle that is 8 3/4in. Center it and draw around it.

Cut with jigsaw and bimetal blade. Use a drum sander with 80gt on it to clean up the saw marks.

Anyone recognize this area?

That's right the spot that no matter how many times you wash it, it's always dirty.

This is what I do to cure that.

I drill drain holes to let the soap and water drain. This is the 4th bracket I've done this to. I'd only do it if you were going to recoat the bracket.

There are some holes where the kicker bracket was bolted and had stainless bolts in them and were not isolated from the alum. We'll the only thing that does is cause corrosion.

This bracket is coming off. It's getting the holes welded up, sandblasted , primed and painted. Then reinstalled for the new motor.

 

[Megabyte]

Sweet !!! 8)

 

[miky2884]

Looking good Wart! Jealous of the new power!!!

 

[DaleH]

That's right the spot that no matter how many times you wash it, it's always dirty. This is what I do to cure that. I drill drain holes to let the soap and water drain. This is the 4th bracket I've done this to. I'd only do it if you were going to recoat the bracket.

...and here I thought that I was the only one to do that! But get this, I did it 8-years ago without re-coating my bracket ... and zero issues.

NICE power my friend!

 

[warthog5]

I bet it has no issues, because the alum has created it's own barrier due to being exposed to air.


That dirt/water holding area crap is one of my pet-pieves.

 

[warthog5]

Bracket removed today. Holes being welded, Blasted Primed and painted.

Boat will have bottom paint stripped this week.

A floor jack, Fein Multmaster, Debond and some wooden wedges to get the bracket off.

Boat looks short now.

 

[Megabyte]

Jack is going... WTF?

 

[warthog5]

HeHe.....That poor boy has Arthritis in both front elbows. He was born the day Hurican Ivan blew thru. He's 8+yrs now.

 

[DaleH]

Dang, she looks like a 'stubby tubby' with that bare transom ...

But I can't WAIT to hear about the performance with that 300 Suzi ... go out NOW and buy a 4-blade PowerTech prop for it ... fhugghedabout Suzi 3-blade wheels ... call Ken @ PropGods pronto!

 

[warthog5]

Yea.....Pretty sure I'm going to deal with Ken on this.

The dealer already told me we'll stick a 3 X 16 X 21 on it. I had my doughts.....And that was confirmed by a guy selling a '91 2520 w/ '07 DF-300.


Dale.....You do know that the DF-250 & DF-300 have different gear ratio's.....Correct?

 

[warthog5]

We took the boat to the boat yard. They jacked it up off the trailer and put it on stands and Blocks. Now the Fun begins.

Striping the Dang Bottom paint. BLAH!

I figure that a boat with bottom paint on it is worth about $3000 less than one without it.

Now it is needed on some boats. But a boat stored on a trailer or Dry Stack...Then No. Never mind the Ugly and how much Bottom paint makes a hull less slippery and hurts the fuel mileage.

Damn My Body hurts after 7hrs of messing with this today. I figure we are 50% there.

Another coat of Stripper tomorrow and I think we will be close to having a "Smooth Babies Bottom".

My Son Brad has been a Super Help.

 

[Megabyte]

Hard work indeed.
Why not soda blast?

 

[warthog5]

Have you ever actually seen what the finish looks like with other blasting? Around here anyway, It look's like the alum bracket after being lightly sandblasted. It has a rough texture. i want it baby bottom slick, like when it was new and without any coatings.

The finish....that I've seen is perfect for a barrier coat to cling to.

 

[Megabyte]

Baby bottom smooth works for me!

 

[Brent]

Which paint are you using to paint the bracket? Early you mentioned an aircraft paint using on landing gear .
Or another paint. ? I am interesting in the details thanks

 

[warthog5]

If a boat sits in the water all the time..... It will need bottom paint. But if it’s living on a trailer, lift or Dry Stack you don’t want bottom paint. It’s Ugly and will slow the boat down slightly.

Now this is the first one I’ve stripped the bottom paint on. I knew it was a ***** to do. Some would say Soda Blast it, but I’ve seen the rough surface that it leaves. It’s Great for repainting, but not to have a factory baby bottom smooth.

I ran the numbers.... It’s worth every bit of $4K to do this job.

2 guys @ $100hr for 24hrs.... + $100 to set it on stands.... + $100 to drop it off the stands back on the trailer.... + $17 day for yard fee.... + 5gals of Stripper @ $65gal.

This is for a 25ft boat.

 

[gw204]

I can't wait to see this one come together! Keep up the good work Bobby!

 

[warthog5]

More Progress today. Primer is Deft 02-Y-40A this is a zinc Cromate Epoxy Primer that has a Mil Spec and is used on the Fighter aircraft landing gear. It is tenacious as Hell. That will get topped with Awlgrip 545 and then Awlgrip "Egg Shell white" is the closest match to the gellcoat.

More stripping on the bottom....I'm getting so tired of Duck walking under this thing.

And one my Son took of me the other day.

 

[Megabyte]

Very nice work.