Aluminum jon boat improvements

LFADAM · Posted: Mar 23, 2005 5:05 pm Post subject: Aluminum jon boat improvements

Hey,
I got a 14 foot aluminum jon boat with bench seats and an outboard. (Yea its bad Twisted Evil

, tops out at uhh...Twenny two.) And the paint is startin to look bad on the inside. I bought it 2 years ago and it was painted blue by the previous owner. The outside looks Okay, but there are a few drips, nothing to ruffle your feathers about. Its a jon boat. But the inside is chipping and stuff. I tried to pressure wash it to get some of the paint off and it got a little, but there is still a lot left. I dont want to buy chemical stripper and I could sandblast but I would prefer not to. Should I sand it down. (By hand of course...) or what.

Also the boat has metal supports running down the sides of the boat and where they go into the front seat, there is a gap where wasps go into and nest. What should I use to plug the hole. 1 hole is just like 1/8th of an inch wide by around a half an inch. I think I could just hot glue that. But another is about an inch all around. What should I use to plug that? I could use a bunch of hot glue but it would look sloppy unless i sanded the excess away.

Lastly, What can I do to make it faster? Its a 7.5 HP "Gamefisher" (sears brand basically) outboard. I have found that there arent any performance parts for it. I was thinking maybe of buying a hydrofoil for it but my dad doesnt think that will help because the boat all ready is so high in the water that the hydrofoil wouldnt be able to get it much higher and just add drag. Any ideas on that or engine mods, etc? Thanks for all the help!

vawakemonster · Posted: Mar 23, 2005 5:27 pm Post subject:

are you suggesting a slider boat or a wakeskate boat or what?

Chad H · Posted: Mar 23, 2005 5:48 pm Post subject:

does it have livewells?

LFADAM · Posted: Mar 23, 2005 6:05 pm Post subject:

vawakemonster, not really any wakeboarding. It is gonna be driven daily for fishing and cruising etc. I would use it for boarding but it would stress the engine.

Wakeboarddrumma, Nope, but I ghetto rigged so rod holders. (PVC and safety wire.)

LFADAM · Posted: Mar 23, 2005 6:06 pm Post subject:

O yea, and when I spray paint it, do I need to clearcoat it etc, or can I just do 3 coats. I wouldnt prime it but Im not sure about clearcoat or whatever.

ExtremeMarine · Criminal Joined: 31 Jan 2005 Posts: 65 City: Twinsburg

I built an aluminum boat and I'm going to spray rhino liner on the inside. It's real durable and won't chip. This may not be the best case for you since it will add some weight. It would be nice to powder coat it, but that could get expensive. If you are going to paint it you should use marine primer and paint that is made for aluminum. Also a clear coat will add life to your paint job.

ballywho · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 05 Feb 2005 Posts: 1725

LFADAM · Posted: Mar 24, 2005 7:55 am Post subject:

ballywho, Thanks for the info, Where can I find lower unit grease and what exactly do you put it on? The prop connection?

Right now the trim is all the way up (aka the thrust is pointing out of the water a little but helps for the holeshot) Ill try it a notch down though and see what happens.

ballywho · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 05 Feb 2005 Posts: 1725

To change the lower unit grease while the boat is out of the water look on the side of the lower unit, there should be 2 screws, one up top on down low. Get an oil tray and put it under the engine, unscrew the bottom one (dont worry alot wont pour onto your hands) Then undo the top one. There should be a stream of grease comin out. When it's done take the greaseand attach the nozzle to the bottom hloe and pump it in until it comes out the top. Now put in the top screw and take away the nozzle. Almost no oil should leave. Put in the bottom screw and your done. If it was OK then it should be clear witha tint, if it wasn't then hold on. Very Happy

You should do this every season, for heavy use engines, like mine, twice a season. As always even if it's clear you should still change it.

You can find it at any ships store. If you have any problems please ask. I don't want you messin it up and me feelin like it was my fault.

Just remember the 2 set screwsshould be at the top and bottom of the lowe unit. I'll post a pic of them on my boat tonight.
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LFADAM · Posted: Mar 24, 2005 8:19 am Post subject:

ballywho, is this the stuff? http://www.go2marine.com/g2m/action/GoBPage/id/85415F/hiLiteSku/85415/?df=70

That should help because the lower unit grease hasnt been changed in at least 2 years and I run the boat about an hour or 2 a day in the summer.

ballywho · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 05 Feb 2005 Posts: 1725

That's it. You will need an oil pump too.
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LFADAM · Posted: Mar 24, 2005 8:21 am Post subject:

Whoever put the frowny face, whats that for. Confused

I am 13 years old. I Have a small boat to dink around in and I just wanna make it look and run a little better, got a problem with that?

ballywho · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 05 Feb 2005 Posts: 1725

Apparently some people dont like insruction. Confused

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Erik · Posted: Mar 24, 2005 8:38 am Post subject:

joedirt00 · Posted: Mar 24, 2005 9:05 am Post subject:

smlparksguy133,

Does your boat have enough balls to pull a wake skate?

I thought about this before, because we have lakes here that are 10HP and under limit. They are like glass all day long. Theres people in canoes and fishing out, but usually pretty empty.

LFADAM · Posted: Mar 24, 2005 9:31 am Post subject:

joedirt00, I think yes, my dad thinks It would stress the motor. We have pulled a tuber once and we topped out at like 15 with the tuber's weight. I think a 9.9 with my boat could definetly do it though. We have a lake with the 10 HP limit right down the river from ours. Like 10 miles but there is a dam in the awy and I dont have a trailer for the jon. Would be sweet though because there is never people on the smaller lake.

Erik Jernberg, Thank you, someone sees it the same way as me. Too bad many dont, look at the post "Rating System" and you'll see what I mean.

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

smlparksguy133, I wakeboarded behind a friend's boat in college which is very similar to the one you have. It had a 20hp motor and it could get to about 20mph at WOT with me wakeboarding (185 lbs). It took me 45 seconds to get on plane with a wakeskate. If you tweaked out a 10 hp engine you could probably make it up to wakeboarding speeds.

LFADAM · Posted: Mar 24, 2005 9:52 am Post subject:

Wakebrad, first off, what is "WOT"; With out trouble? And yea, I might be able to wakeboard with it if I tweaked it a little but as you can see in this thread, there isnt much I can do. I was thinking better Air Flow, so I go to look at the air filter to take it off or see if I can get a better one but its an open butterfly valve, so no more HP out of that, etc. 20 hp is almost 3 times what I got, thats a big difference. I cant afford a new engine so I'll hafta try what Ballywho has recommended.

Liquid*Force*Rider · Posted: Mar 24, 2005 10:03 am Post subject:

Make a sick little tower for in and put a stereo in it. Screw what it looks like. Twisted Evil

joedirt00 · Posted: Mar 24, 2005 11:36 am Post subject:

LFADAM · Posted: Mar 24, 2005 12:53 pm Post subject:

joedirt00, haha I remember that. I think we should send a message to "Pimp my ride" and have them have a special where they "Pimp smlparksguy's jon boat" If Anything, Ill have a Jonibu or Malijon. I dont have a welder so I would hafta think of a way to make the illusion tower without welding. Actually, its possible, but the Titan may be tougher.

ballywho · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 05 Feb 2005 Posts: 1725

WOT is "wide open throttle"
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LFADAM · Posted: Apr 11, 2005 3:25 pm Post subject:

ballywho, ah thanks. BTW, I was just browsing ebay and saw some 9.9s and 15s for under 500$ (One 15hp was buy it now at 450!) and I was wondering if it would be worth it to buy a new engine or just save a really long time for a waverunner? Or in other words, how fast (approximately of course) would a 9.9 get me, a 15?

Thanks in advance

Powaman · Outlaw Joined: 04 Jul 2004 Posts: 170 City: escanaba

I say save up for a jetski..much funner....By the time your 16 you'd have enough for a used one.

wesgardner · Posted: Apr 12, 2005 4:07 am Post subject:

Hey smlparksguy133,

Try some of that expando-foam to seal up your holes and cracks (it'll act as floatation as well) very ooy-gooy stuff, it'll stick to EVERYTHING.

Don't know much other than what's been mentioned about getting more out of your motor.

How 'bout this - I know there are lots of folks who use those motors for pushing small pile driving rigs, work boats, etc. around which certainly puts a load on it...I'd go ahead and pull whatever you want, just keep an eye on the temp. (take the shroud off and feel/smell things, you'll know...)make sure your lower unit oil is good, etc.

Go have some fun and never look back...I'm not sure a 9.9 would be a significant improvement, but a 15, hey now that's a whole new world!

I had an alu. boat with a 5, I'd sit on the middle seat wit ha stick as a tiller extension, this gave it a bit more speed than when I sat in the stern.

For interior paint, you may just want to try some liquid sandpaper and patio/deck paint. Here's the deal - get it VERY clean with acetone or sim. to DEGREASE things, then go at it with the liquid sandpaper, then the deck paint. Make sure things are DRY before painting - you can shake a little sand in the paint for non-skid...

Take pictures when done...
Wes