Rick's H180 mods

EvilZ · **Posted:** Sun Mar 04, 2012 10:03 am

Cap'n Morgan wrote:

A VHF is always nice to have. Just a thought, consider a handheld VHF instead. They have the same range, and do not need to be mounted. I have one that we take up on the beach when we are not on the boat. When friends hail us, we have the handheld right there to answer their call.

Agreed - I have an ICOM M72 handheld which I take with me on the boat. Never needed it, but it's good for peace of mind.

PDACPA · **Posted:** Sun Mar 04, 2012 1:32 pm

We use the VHF when meeting friends at Egmont Key and leaving from different ramps or during mini-season when we are out and about and looking for bug's or wanting to meet up for some refreshments. Everyone knows the channel number to monitor.

ric · **Posted:** Mon Mar 05, 2012 10:30 am

Well, I ordered a new prop and can't wait to say goodbye to the original 14x19 thing. It's way underpitched and i don't let anyone drive my boat cause of it. Can easily go past 4500rpms without thinking about it. I got a Solas Amita 14x21 off iboats. I'm also looking at new controls maybe later this summer. Does anyone know of anyone that swapped out their stock control to one of these?

http://www.iboats.com/Control-Single-Side-Mount-W-Trim-Teleflex-Marine/dm/cart_id.828704353--session_id.163775221--view_id.169291

I guess I don't have much left to do. Here's my list of things that will be done in the next few months before the big summer boating/parties start going on like Aquapalooza in July.
-New gauges (faria kronos)
-Finish radio plate (aluminum with carbon fiber cover)
-Install radio remote in bow
-Install carbon fiber dash cover
-Tint windows (will do next time I pull boat out to clean hull)
-Add Polk MM691 rear 6x9's under the rear seats
-Fix any issues with interior vinyl
-Un-bypass power steering hook it back up/fix power steering ram seal
-Change plastic thru-hulls for bilge/glove box to stainless

Idea list. Will happen but not any time soon.
-Garmin 441s
-Flooring. Simulated wood style.
-Swim platform
-New Controls
-Camper top add-on for bimini and a door for between bow/cockpit
-Convert driver's seat from folding bench to standard swivel captains chair
-VHF radio

PDACPA · **Posted:** Mon Mar 05, 2012 11:39 am

Rick - I did the tint on mine. They guy did a terrible job (you do not notice it unless up close in the corners) so make sure you have seen some of his work. I do like having it in the summer and gives the boat a sportier look.

Did you buy the gauges? That is my project this summer and I like the look of the Faria ones too (one of the down under guys here on the forums has them). Are they plug and play?

My Garmin is the 546 (441 is the same model but a smaller screen). Go bigger if you can. My buddy has the 441 and there is a difference. Also, mine has a faster processor and better screen resolution.

ric · **Posted:** Mon Mar 05, 2012 1:06 pm

PDACPA wrote:

Rick - I did the tint on mine. They guy did a terrible job (you do not notice it unless up close in the corners) so make sure you have seen some of his work. I do like having it in the summer and gives the boat a sportier look.

Did you buy the gauges? That is my project this summer and I like the look of the Faria ones too (one of the down under guys here on the forums has them). Are they plug and play?

My Garmin is the 546 (441 is the same model but a smaller screen). Go bigger if you can. My buddy has the 441 and there is a difference. Also, mine has a faster processor and better screen resolution.

For me, the Faria should be plug and play. Your newer style gauges, not sure. I'll dig into this project next week when I get the carbon fiber in.

ric · **Posted:** Mon Mar 05, 2012 2:22 pm

PDACPA wrote:

Rick - I did the tint on mine. They guy did a terrible job (you do not notice it unless up close in the corners) so make sure you have seen some of his work. I do like having it in the summer and gives the boat a sportier look.

Did you buy the gauges? That is my project this summer and I like the look of the Faria ones too (one of the down under guys here on the forums has them). Are they plug and play?

My Garmin is the 546 (441 is the same model but a smaller screen). Go bigger if you can. My buddy has the 441 and there is a difference. Also, mine has a faster processor and better screen resolution.

What percent tint did you use? I'm thinking 5% should do it. Thanks for the heads up on the GPS, I'll do that.

PDACPA · **Posted:** Mon Mar 05, 2012 2:31 pm

Was supposed to be 20%. I think you could handle 5% as there is no roof like a car. 5% is Limo. 35% is what you see on the back doors of SUV's.

ric · **Posted:** Thu Mar 08, 2012 7:20 pm

Doing some more snap in cover repair. Had a decent storm last weekend (40+mph wind) and it ripped a seam on the bow cover. Also polished the grill and got the new prop in today! Solas Amita 14x21. Installed it after work, the boat runs sooo much smoother and quieter. My cruise RPM went down to 3000 instead of 3200. WOT is still a little too high on the RPM scale, but we'll see when I have people, cooler, gas in the boat. Turns out the prop on the boat was a 14x19 stainless. Are they worth anything? It needs ding repair.

After I finish the radio/gauges I'm going to work on lighting inside the boat. A bulb worked it's way out of a gauge and gave mood lighting under the helm and it looks really good. Probably get a few of these and roll with that lookhttp://www.walmart.com/ip/Attwood-LED-Horizontal-Vertical-Micro-Light-Blue/14150818

PDACPA · **Posted:** Thu Mar 08, 2012 7:39 pm

I did the lighting last year. I bought a couple of little Pod lights at West Marine (could not find them on the website) and I actually went to the "boy racer" department at Pep Boys for the LED under the gunnel. They come in blue, red, and white. Since the boat has the blue gel coat stripe, I kept with the blue. I am thinking I will add two more pod ones under the rear jump seats for a bit more lighting in the rear. Oh, I had a blank spot on my helm and bought a matching switch wired to my second battery so I can keep them on at night with the engine off and not drain my main battery (not that they draw that much).

P.S. I would think that prop has value, even if it needs some reconditioning. Or, mount it under the deck as a back up (just make sure you have some cotter pins on board too).

ric · **Posted:** Thu Mar 08, 2012 7:47 pm

That's awesome!! It's exactly what I envisioned!!

ric · **Posted:** Fri Mar 09, 2012 9:42 am

Ordered up some new plugs/wires off RockAuto. Time for the yearly tuneup.
NGK BPR6EFS
ACDelco plug wire kit for 1999 Jeep 2.5L (correct wire length/ends + comes with coil lead)

ric · **Posted:** Fri Mar 09, 2012 12:37 pm

Goodbye old propeller and your vibrations! I listed it on ebay. $1 starting bid $15 shipping item # 170799978270.

I dunno what it is, but it's not aluminum. A magnet sticks to it. Part # 3850308 14.5x19

ric · **Posted:** Wed Mar 14, 2012 9:06 am

1999 Jeep 2.5 plug wires worked good! One could be 1in longer for neater routing but it's fine. $7 shipped from RockAuto for ACDelco ones. Gamble 1, overpriced marine parts 0. Boat runs smooooooooooooth now. (forgot to take pic, I'll get one today).

Next tune up I'm actually going to make a set of good 8mm wires using Taylor wires.

Cap'n Morgan · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2012 8:08 am

ric wrote:

I dunno what it is, but it's not aluminum. A magnet sticks to it. Part # 3850308 14.5x19

It is an aluminum propeller. I thought you already knew all there was to know about boats, propeller's etc.
Well you missed this one in your countless hours of google searching.

All "aluminum" props are NOT pure aluminum. They are made from an alloy. Solas uses a lesser
grade of AlMag 356, the better manufacturers use AlMag 535, like Volvo.
So for your physics lesson for today, the Alloy is basically Aluminum and Magnesium. Magnesium is a Paramagnetic
material. They have a small, positive susceptibility to magnetic fields. These materials are slightly attracted by a magnetic field and the material does not retain the magnetic properties when the external field is removed. Paramagnetic materials include magnesium, molybdenum, lithium, and tantalum.
That is why a magnet will stick to your "aluminum" prop.

Class dismissed for this morning.......

ric · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2012 9:13 am

It's the older OMC stainless steel prop part # 3850308, not the newer VP 3850308-2 that's aluminum. Makes no difference really, it's beat up and sold. The boat performs much smoother, quieter and crisper with the 14x21 Solas.

www.iFourWinns.com

Rick's H180 mods

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