Yet More "Upgrades"

Well it's been a very busy week - week nights actually - continuing with various additions, upgrades and repairs.

First, FINALLY got that old strut bearing out - WOW, what a fight! This was obviously the original bearing from 23 years ago and with as much corrosion as was present, all the traditional methods did not allow it to simply "tap out" easily. I'll spare everyone the blow by blow, but suffice to say that I was very close to removing the strut and pitching it across the yard. However It did finally dislodge and I very easily pressed in the new ones thanks to input from this site - So thanks to all for that!



Next came some grab rails to satisfy Momma, being worried about our 6 year old granddaughter. I took that opportunity to swap out the old plastic cup holders with stainless ones and adding a couple new ones in the back next to the hand rails.





Next, all the gauges were replaced with Faria Chesapeake. Although all of the old gauges worked, the had certainly seen a better day. I decided to go with a GPS speedometer, eliminating the need for the pitots and for the second speedometer as well. This opened up a gauge slot, which I used to install the new stereo. I started "hot wiring" the new hour meter so the hours would match the old one, but having it connected to a battery 24/7 it would have taken nearly 28 days to complete and since I really wanted to get the dash complete, I figured I'd just do that part later.




And finally the Stereo.   Going with a gauge styled stereo wasn't really a hard decision as CD's aren't really used much any more. Most all music is either satellite, flash memory or Bluetooth, of which this stereo has all 3 and is upgradable with multiple pre-amp outputs. At this stage I only installed one of the 4 speakers, in the pre-existing hole @ the foot board so I could check the system. And also of course to cover the ugly hole! Lastly, I installed the USB and AUX input in the glove box to protect ones' electronics.






One final note: As I stated above, all the original gauges work, they just aren't very pretty. Neither of the speedometers' adjustment features work, but they've both been verified with a phone GPS to be within 1/2 mile an hour.   If anyone would like any or all of these, they are welcome to them (free) as I know there are those that like to keep everything as original as possible.   Just shoot me a PM with your mailing address and what you'd like, though I'd rather get rid of them as a set.

Guess I should post now that the gauges are no longer available as Gary was the first to speak for them.

By the way nice work....sweet stereo

Paul - Thanks, and sorry the "bum" got there before you did. Seems I misjudged the interest in those gauges - I had several folks PM me about them within a few hours of posting, Gary was just the first

Looks good! I hope those grab rails don't interfere with a slalom rope when towing from the pylon...

JQ

Morfoot wrote: Fixed income with nothing to do so he's gotta have something to tinker with.

Yeah, my wife says that's going to be me in another 15 years. I'm just that kind of person that can't sit on the porch and wave at the folks walking by or watch a bunch of TV and the like so I know where he's coming from.

Tell momma not to worry so much.
My 2 girls have been in the boat since diapers (now 6 & 10) and they both started on a ski trainer at 2. You set the rules and enforce them and there's no issues.

Did you use a reinforcing plate behind the grab rails. Without reinforcement I think you might find cracking around the attachment sight. They are in spots where people will grab them and pull hard to get in the boat. Just my 2cents on this.

MrMcD wrote: Did you use a reinforcing plate behind the grab rails. Without reinforcement I think you might find cracking around the attachment sight. They are in spots where people will grab them and pull hard to get in the boat. Just my 2cents on this.

Yes I did    I personally have never had an issue but have had friends that have. That was the first thing, drilling a 1/4 x 2 x 6 plate to back up from the under side.

desertskier wrote: I think they are a mistake.

I agree plus, they sure aren't original!

Well as far as those handles go, I'd like to know how anybody can think a rope could get caught on any of them.

Smooth rounded curves with nothing at all to catch a rope.

To each his own I guess but I'm with you Joe

PS I like to watch goat rodeos myself

KENO wrote: Well as far as those handles go, I'd like to know how anybody can think a rope could get caught on any of them.

Apparently your not a skier. Try idling in a circle with the rope in the water and see what happens. CC designed our boats without anything that could snag a rope from the ski pylon aft for a reason.

Sorry! Just a purist I guess. My kids grew up in my boat and we never had a problem.

If your your looking for positive feedback on all your "upgrades" you're on the wrong site.

desertskier wrote: If your your looking for positive feedback on all your "upgrades" you're on the wrong site.

Hmmm.   A rather harsh and narrow minded view, besides being inaccurate. While it is true there are obviously a lot of "purists" on this site, in the short time I have been involved I have read countless posts regarding modifications, "upgrades", and added gear. Some like them, some don't. And while those that prefer to keep their CC's completely original may not like or agree with these changes, and even offer opinions, I have yet to encounter a poster berating another for their personal choices ... until now.    

Much to the disapproval of some, I am sure....   I finally finished the replacement of the old, nasty switch panels with carbon fiber panels of my own design.   Not liking the original switch/ resets of the original craft, and the fact that out of the 10 switches, 7 were DOA when I bought the boat and another 2 worked only intermittently, I decided to switch everything over to a Carling style and add a few other extras that I thought - for me - would be useful. Myself liking to "personalize" my crafts, I went with a blue light theme for the dash and cockpit and even went so far as to swap out the standard lights in the gauges to blue LED's.   ( What? Modifying a modification? -- Shame on me ! .... )       

Nice work Joe. It's your boat...do what you want with it.