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I also decided to take advantage of the space not being utilized in the optional fuel tank enclosure. It's located in front of the main fuel tank enclosure and of course, underneath the center console. So, I removed all the screws to the console and the t-top, jacked up the console, removed the enclosure lid and cut out the factory installed splash shield. The factory installed spash shield is nothing more than a fiberglass pan, about 1/4 inch thick that covers the opening below. I guess it was intended to keep water out if you decided not to install the optional fuel tank. It didn't work too well though as I discovered that my enclosure was slap full of water. Probably 40 gallons or more in there. Once I vacuumed it out, I decided to cut a hole in the bottom so I could tie into the drain pipe for the forward fish box. Sorry not too many pics of this part of the project. I was having too much fun cuttin stuff up to stop and take pics.
I glued in a snap on
PVC collar to T in the enclosure drain. A PVC nipple will connect the T-Collar
to the bottom of the enclosure liner. I'll fabricate a drain of some sort into
the panel I cut out. Before glassing the panel back in place, I'll re-foam that
void.
The hose sticking out of the piece of PVC at the top of the pic will connect to
the outlet of the freshwater pump. The PVC pipe leads rearward into the main
fuel tank enclosure. I'd guess Mako put them there so they'd have a way to run
fuel lines between the main fuel tank enclosure and the optional tank enclosure.
From the main tank inclosure, I'll install a bulkhead fitting through the floor
right underneath the leaning post. The freshwater washdown hose will live there.
I was a little
nervous when I first removed the glass panel I'd cut out in the bottom. The foam
was wet and I feared a waterlogged boat. Turns out it was only just the very
surface of the foam that was wet though. As I cut out the foam surrounding the
fish box drain, I was relieved to find it all nice and dry.
A friend was kind enough to give me a used 20 gallon fresh water tank.
It will be a tight fit once the fittings are installed but I'm going to try to mount it in that orientation to take full advantage of the space. In the lower right corner of that pic, you can see a wood pad I glued in place to provide a mount for the freshwater pump. The tape is just there to hold it in place until the resin kicks. It'll get 2 layers of 1.5 oz mat and some gel-coat to finish.
While I was at it under the console, I glassed a few extra mounting pads in and cleaned up some half finished work from a long time ago. The mounting pads will be for battery switches and other miscellaneous stuff. I'll also be covering up some wood plugs I'd glassed into the console to fill in old gauge and switch holes and stuff. I'll slap a little mat and gel-coat on it while I'm in here.
The console wiring will also be getting a re-deaux as well. Believe it or not, this is AFTER cleaning it up a bit from factory original. I went through it pretty well a few years ago and improved it quite a bit but will now finish it off cleanly.
I was smart enough to install cable clamps and strain relief on all those wires for the last couple seasons but I'd removed most of that by the time I took these pics...
