Finished Some Projects
 

I can't leave anything alone. I only had this boat out 3 times since I bought it, but knew it needed a few changes.

First up were some HPI mufflers. Minnesota has a very strict 84dB limit and where I boat on the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers it's also strictly enforced. Before, my wife and I couldn't have a conversation while cruising at 3500 RPM. Now, it's no problem. I still plan to install some custom turn-downs as well to really get it quiet in the no-wake zones. GGB is making them.

Everything stored in the V-berth kept ending up on the floor. The solution was a white Pro-net tailgate net.

The passenger side was a little drab. Plus, only I could see the GPS speed. Starting with an updated dash panel, I added a Gaffrig digital speedo that is tapped into my Garmin. A blue bezel and grab handle finished it off. Here's some before and after pics...

Finally, those white plastic steps had to go! I had Eddie Marine custom-make some steps for me. They are the same large steps that others have, but with different rubber inserts.

Can you take a picture from the other side to show how you mounted the net. That looks great. I put all the floats in that area then while running down the lake they end up everywhere.

Sure, I used the hardware that came with the Pro-net and bought their accessory "Speedclips" to make removal a snap.

The boat looks great!

I put a cargo net from a GM car trunk in my V-berth opening. I just used the stick on 3M hooks from Home Depot, as I was too nervous to drill. They worked well all season.

I also used a trunk net in my 31. The pronet with speed clips is genius! Wonder if it comes in yellow, would be good for keeping squirmy kids in the v berth overnight.

Damn, no yellow

The Original Performance Series Pro Net - Three sizes, for full-size, mid-size and compact pickups. Constructed of heavy-duty 22 oz. vinyl-coated polyester fabric, with stainless steel mounting hardware. Available in blue, red, black, white or gray.
Full-Size - 18" H x 59 ¾" W
Mid-Size - 17" H x 55 ½" W
Compact - 15" H x 49 ¾"

Thanks Plum Crazy I'll be doing that to mine this spring.

Plum - looking good......I just recently added the step plates myself, purple of course. I also painted the port dash panel and added a 10.4" chart plotter. I am real pleased with how it looks. I like your idea of the cargo net.......going to look into that in spring. Hey - your original exhasut tips - do you still have them? are they in good condition? Would you part with them?

I'll take some pics and send them. As thanks for the demo ride, if you want them, just pay shipping and they're yours.

One more project checked off the list. I replaced the rub rail insert. The old one had lots of marks and had yellowed badly from the exhaust. Now, it's time to get ready for Christmas. Merry Christmas, everyone!

I have to due the same thing, I know the insert is easy to change out but what about the holder? Mine has some gouges in it and want to replace it to. Did you get the rub rail from Sonic, was it reasonable in price?

Since the rail itself is aluminum, I would just fill in the gouges and repaint. A 2-part putty like PC Metal would work well. It's easy to sand.

I can't remember the exact cost, but the insert was under $200 from Sonic.

I did mine too (Christmas present last year!). Sonic price was average. They charge per foot. I couldn't locate it any where else. Makes a huge difference in how the boat looks

I thought the holder for the insert was plastic?

I suppose they might not all be the same. Mine is definitely aluminum.

Another project done. I plan to slip the boat next summer, so I wanted locking gas fills. I bought these from Get Real Performance. Installation turned out to be a messy job since I had to enlarge the holes 1/4". The base on this gas fill is bigger, even though it's for the same size hose as the stock unit.

Fuel fills look great. I checked the web site but couldn't find them. Do they make them for the fresh water and waste also??
Thanks.

I just found them under new products. I'm going to E-mail to see if they make the other two fills.

CP Performance sells them on their website. But, for some reason, they have the 2" locking fill at $145. I asked CPP if that was a mistake and the response was no. So, I bought them directly from GRP for $120 ea.

I wouldn't mind matching waste and water fills. Let me know what GRP says. Even if they don't make them, it might be possible to adapt their 1-1/2" gas fill with a step-down fitting for either water or waste. Maybe we could get them to change the engraving on the cap.

I got an E-mail from them. Yes they make water/waste/fuel/gas/ and diesel. I guess they want to offer all types of fuel fills with your choice of labeling. They said their new web site will be up next week.

Great, more crap the boat couldn't possibly run without.:angry-smiley-038:

http://www.getrealperformance.com/NewProducts.aspx
How much are they?

Sweet, thanks for checking.

They didn't tell me how much. I'll let you know when I find out.
Iknow they will be better then the one I have now (Seadog).

The standard non-locking 1-1/2" gas fill is $90. I imagine the price would be close to that. When I spoke with GRP, they said you could get it anodized in colors, too.

Their prices are reasonable. Colors would be a little different.

Thanks for the info PC.

One more project checked off the list. The original owner of my boat actually carried a small dinghy on the back of the boat. That must have looked awesome! To do this, he installed these brackets. I didn't get a before pic, so I just placed them where they used to be. I found a great marine body guy who just finished a bunch of work. He removed the brackets and the ladder from the swim platform and you can't tell they were ever there. I also had him fix the only scratch on the hull and various chips in the cockpit and cabin. The guy was amazing. You cannot tell where he worked his magic. The boat is looking almost new.

I'm getting there on my exhaust. I had two goals with the turn-downs. I wanted to meet the strict Minnesota 84dB limit and keep the transom clean. So, I had GGB build these custom turn downs that are bolted onto the end of the HPI mufflers. I knew I would have a tie-bar clearance issue in the trailer position, but it was far worse that I originally thought. Imco is building me custom saddle mounts for a lower tie-bar that will move the bar very close to the end of the drive. Then, it will clear on the outside of the pipes.

Check out their new web site.http://www.getrealperformance.com/products.php

I dig the trim tanks, but check out the product description.

Hey Plum any tips on installing the new rubrail, when I pulled my old it had silicone around the bottom of the insert. I was able to clean my holder with acetone and wet sanded the light scratches out, buffed with some polish it looks great.

Soak it in a bucket of HOT water to make it more flexible. That really helps. I believe the pros have a special tool to push it in. But, I just inserted the bottom lip and pushed the top lip in with a flat screwdriver.

Jim a buddy of mine and I installed a new insert in the 45 in a hour and a half, including a six pack. get a large flat bladed screw driver and a bottle of spray soap (spray nine works) and a dead blow hammer. Start the insert in on the bottom use the screwdriver to line it up on the top, give it a spray and hit it with a NEW (no dirt or grease) light weight dead and it will pop right in.

I spent $50 on a heat gun, heated 3', pushed it in with the palm of my hand, had the wife holding the excess so it wouldn't pull out while I heated the next section.
Makes a HUGE difference in how "clean" the boat looks.
When I look at a boat I look at the rub rail and the skegs. If those are good, the rest of the boat will be too.

Well installed the new insert today after I used acetone on the holder sanded the scratches out and buffed the holder. It looks great but it kicked my butt. Dont try and do it by yourself it sucks... :drink:

Yea, it definitely sucks. But, I didn't want to tell you that before you started. :)

Yup, it sucks. I had the wife help hold it.