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Finally, the motors were swapped, and the boat has reliable power!
There was a hole drilled thru the transom where Ron mounted the intake for the aerator pump. The screen keeps the pump from sucking up debris. To the left is what happens when someone mounts a transducer and uses steel screws.
The ice chest was built into the front of the console into a livewell. It is utilized this way because of weight considerations, and the ability to run hoses and electrical wires needed for the installation in a built in conduit under the deck.
Ron has designed a neat fitting which is built into the trim tabs that will hook a speedometer tube to that will feed the livewell while underway. The other end of this system [that sticks into livewell] is yet to be designed.
A live well is a must for serious salt water fishing. It is important to keep the bait frisky all day. Constantly changing the water is the best method found to this point.
The motor I am using [1986 Johnson GT150] has a VRO oiling system. I moved the battery location to the console for weight and accessibility considerations. The VRO reservoir is mounted where the battery used to be. I replaced the old hose for reliability. The lift out tray that is supposed to go here is missing. I will make another one of stainless. It will lift out to access the oil reservoir.
Does anyone know who the mfg. of this courtesy light might be? Looks like it only needs bulb and lens.
Here is a picture of the courtesy light again. Notice the bulb in place [.74 watts w/festoon end caps]. The lens is not the right one, but a little silicone on the mating edge will hold this one on until the exact replacement can be found. The light is a Perko, and is listed as a flush mount stern light. Its possible this is the discontinued model. A complete new light can be bought, but at $65.00 apiece, that's a little pricey for a courtesy light.
Here is the completed job. The lens has been secured with silicone. The bulb can be accessed from the rear by removing two screws. The silicone makes the light completely waterproof from the front where it is exposed to salt spray.
This is the only purely cosmetic modification I will probably make. My 14 year old grandson brought this steering wheel to my attention twice when we were at the store looking for other items. He said it was "cool". Today it popped up right in front of me. I want a "cool" boat so I brought it home and installed it. When my grandson got home from school he proclaimed the whole boat "cool" now. I feel like my efforts have been well spent now that I have a "cool" boat!
The fish box drain was connected to a through transom drain fitting. This fitting had a cutoff valve on it in case a leak developed in any of the hoses. There was an offset between the fish box outlet and the inlet for the drain valve. It had what looked like a formed radiator type hose attached with non stainless hose clamps. It was beginning to rot.
Ron said he tried for two weeks to come up with a way to attach the new livewell drain and the fishbox drain together. He was opposed to drilling any more holes in the transom. Every effort [pvc pipe, h/d vinyl tubing, etc] failed. This is what he came up with. He connected a pump to the fish box drain. The way the old drain was set up, if you forgot to plug the drain from inside the fishbox, you would get outside water in it, which would melt ice in short order. This has been solved with the pump. You can also see how the live well drain is connected to the through transom fitting.
