I have my Silent Thunder off doin some stuff and I am thinking of removing the Ladder ....I think it would look cleaner ...I use the top of the outdrive and can pop right up .....any thoughts ?

Formula Outlaw is Exempt from this thread .......

I agree - dump it, easier to climb up drive or tab. if it isn't resting against the drive its useless anyways.

I exempt myself from this exemption.

"Gusman" got the starboard motor pulled, got the broken bolts out, and motor back in and realigned the drive. Everything back together ready to bolt up new manifolds. Now I gotta get those 3 inch spacers. It never stops.

Anybody got 4 EMI Thunder aluminum spacers???????????

Haaaa, you kill me Outlaw!!!!

I do agree with the ladder thing. What in hell was Formula thinking putting the ladder directly over the drive. Heaven forbid you forget the ladder after several hop and barley beverages. Clunk clunk clunk, there goes that nicely polished, labbed and balanced piece of stainless that costs way too much, not to mention the pretzel-shaped ladder you now have.

Wait, sounds like I'm speaking from experience here. I f^&&$#ng am speaking from experience.

How much engineering rigor would it have taken to design the ladder into the middle of the board?!?!?!?

While I'm at it,,,,,,,,,,,, a couple of other piss-offs:
Step pads????? Hello, there is no good way to board my 311.
Cabin door latch?????? What the frick is that thing?
Anchor locker???? Please! Who is going to drag an anchor thru the cabin.
Gage lights?????? You've got to be nocturnal to see those things!!
Head compartment????? Yeah, maybe for pigmies (or the Porter family, I understand they're a pretty short bunch)
Sliding side compartment doors????? Those things are like guillitines. If you stick your finger in the hole it gets lopped off when you close it.

OK, I'm done with my morning tirade. I've just put myself in a great mood to foster teamwork with my colleagues.

What are you planning to do to cover the bolt holes? The platform has a pattern in it, so you would have to match that as well as the color.

To add to Third:

The only time my guage lights work are when the engines are not running. Go figure.....Why would I want to see the guages when the engines are running. Another wonderful idea. Must be a ground backwards or something. Just another item on the endless list.

I'm also going to yank my fridge out. Never used it, door doesn't close properly, the seal sucks. I just use a cooler.

Is everybody elses engine hatch cover as friggin heavy as mine is? I couldn't believe that sucker when Scott and I yanked it off yesterday morning.

Mike: I am leaving the windshield on. You can breath now

I have a glass guy doin some minor repairs underneath but was thinking just stainless round head bolts to cover the holes ..for now ...

Outlaw
Those engine hatches are more than meets the eye. A real athletic event to get those suckers wrestled off. My 357 with new material still took three of us to safely get off the boat. And I these gauges have lights?? Huh, who would have guessed!!

Why are they sooooo heavy? I was thinking mine might have absorbed some water into the seat foam, but if everyones is the same, maybe they're made out of cast iron?

My hatch weighs a ton too. I have to get in perfect position and brace myself to manually open it.