Spur's new catmobile.

[EricM]

Wait on the height change until you get a tach reading.

 

[Bubbakat]

Spur you mentioned you crossed the battery cables at one time. I would check the voltage reg or if it has the recetifier on it. When you cross those batteries like that it should be designed to burn the recitfier out to keep from burning the stator. I am not that familer on 4 strokes so I may be talking out my pants leg here but I know it does on a 2 stroke. If that is burned then the tach won't work.

 

[SpurHunter]

Not sure if that would be it Bubba, since it torched the fuse right away, so I assume that would have protected the rest of the system. My old tach worked (I think) after all that mess as well. I am not 100% convinced this new tach is compatible with the Honda. I am goign to take it back and verify that it will today. I am also going to have my old one tested to see if it was correct prior.

 

[Bubbakat]

good idea. If you could find some one with a tiny tach to test your system on it may help. Ole wrenching may have a test tach. Give him a ring.

 

[wrechin2]

Bubbakat - 3/4/2011 12:19 PM good idea. If you could find some one with a tiny tach to test your system on it may help. Ole wrenching may have a test tach. Give him a ring.

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YepI do! I have a test tach, a new 10K tach, a fluke 88 with a RPM 80 tach lead, and a tiny tach. He is welcome to use my test tach or tiny tach any time he wants. I am in chatt every day during the week if you want to run by and get it spur. emoToast emoToast I would suggest the tiny tach as it is a lot easier to deal with just clip it on any plug wire and done and I don't know what setting it has to be on for the 4 stroke. emoBigsmile emoBigsmile </p>

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[SpurHunter]

Gosh been a while since the last update.

I found out my old tach was working properly, so I am using it for now. I got the new prop on and got the motor lowered again so I am really optimistic about the next results.

Started building the cabinet for the sink, Im really happy with how its coming out so far. I am covering it in a polymer sheeting and it will have PVC trim on the corners as well as the kick-plate on the bottom as shown.

I made the counter top out of 3/4" ply and just routed the edge slightly. I put a coat of primer on it for now, but have not made up my mind about what its going to look like when Im done. Im probably going to paint it with a nice oil paint and then coat it with Spar Urethane which is what I used on my counter tops in the kitchen last year. It dries hard as a rock and is UV resistant.

I left enough length on the back side so it hangs over the edge of the boat just slightly so when I am spraying it down it will drop right into the water and hopefully not down the side of the boat.

I am really excited to get it installed this week and hook up the water. I am going to use a simple bilge pump for the water supply on the faucet. I will also have the high pressure sprayer for bigger clean-up jobs too.

 

[Bubbakat]

Looking good spur. If you can find you a pump out of an old travel trailer or motor home they work best. They are 12 volt and will give you a better pressure. You will need a good size bilge pump to pump the water up.

 

[SpurHunter]

It wont need any real pressure for the faucet, just running is all I need. Since I will also have the sprayer available too, that should suffice I hope. LOL

 

[SpurHunter]

I hate prop issues! I am about to pull my hair out over this.

When I was on the water two weeks ago I had the new prop on, been testing the motor height at different levels, got a working tach on it, and still no good. New 13 pitch prop gets it higher, up to about 4100 RPM, but then cavitates badly so I get a whoping 13 MPH with a couple folks on the boat.
emoBang emoBang emoBang emoBang

Heading back to talk to Tim and see what he recomends now.

 

[SpurHunter]

Still working on this prop issue. My motor is rated for peak at 6K+ RPM, so I have to get this figured out. I have been told by my neighbor, elvis, who works at Cleveland Boat Center, to try a double-cupped 11 pitch. Tim doesnt get back to teh Prop Shop untill Thursday, he would have to cup it for me.

So for now I am stuck. I really think I have had it mounted at the correect height, here is where it currently sits. Any thoughts would be great!!!!!!

 

[SpurHunter]

STILL fighting with props.

I got a 15p with a cupped edge that is giving me a great deal of low end torque, but no top end. It would not turn over 3600K but it got me to 19MPH with 3 guys on the boat last week.

I still have that 13p that is blowing out badly at about 4100RPM, so I am going to try a 13P 4-blade today and see what that does for me.

 

[SpurHunter]

OK, not sure anyone is lookig at these udates, but Im gonna keep making them if for nothing else that I may have a record of the build.

Update on Tach and Prop:

I am now using a 4 blade 13P. So far its seems to be the one, BUT I just last night got a new tach installed. I have been pulling my hair out trying to get a new one to read on this motor. Everyone had been telling me it must be defective tach's untill some great folks on the Honda Facebook page of all places, helped me out.

Turns out there is some tricky wiring that needs to be done on a Teleflex brand tach, and a 1996 90HP motor. They supplied a diagram with color codes and she works perfect now. It helped i had the Senile Old Coot to come help me sort through the wire mess.

I am looking forward to getting accurate readings on this new prop. The old decrepid tach showed 5800K and a shade under 20 MPH the last time out. I still do think there is some room to grow as the old 16P turned 3500K and pushed me 23MPH. I guess with the new tach, I can finally get it narrowed down all the way.

 

[SpurHunter]

Some additional items that have been completed are:

I installed the factory gas tank after emptying it out and cleaning it up. There is a shelf that fits right above that space, and it will be used for all kinds of storage.

I caught a sale price at Cabela's on a nice radio package that included the weather-proof enclosure and two 5" speakers for $79.00 CD payer and MP3 jack as well, so far the family really likes this feature.

Although the sink is not 100% complete, it is plumbed enough to use it as is with the cutting board I made, and since I installed a 12v DC outlet I have an electric knife that makes short work out of crappie and some cats a few weeks ago. The picture show the basic set-up but I have since installed dorrs on it, adn about to install a Nice Moen single handle faucet. Cant wait for that to be done.

I just got the high pressure sprayer that been on backorder for a month. I looked it over last night and will get it installed this week I hope. Will be very cool to spray down fish slime, guts, sand, etc.

I also added a few LED lights in various places, installed all new switches in the panel, although I am going to creat a new panel out of a white material I think, got the navigation lights and anchor light hooked up, bolted down the trolling batteries. Installed a two-battery meter to monitor teh back and front power. Hooked up and installed the gas gauge, but I have a bad sending unit and it jumps all over the place. I have a replacement for that to swap out.

I will say this has been a fun project, but looking forward to getting some finishing touches completed and relax a while.

 

[EricM]

Wow, ol' EricM is sure a great guy to help you like that!!!! emoThumbsup emoWorthy emoWorthy

 

[Bubbakat]

Looking good spur. Good additions. After that senile ole coot left did you check to make sure is magnetic hands didn,t stick to your new toys? LOL j/k ericm

 

[SpurHunter]

Still more progress on the ol boat.

I ordered a set of new wheels and tires from Bbass, he hooked me up on the deal. Since the previous owner had neglected the hubs and bearing, I bought and replaced all four hubs and bearings, then ordered the replacement dust caps on line that my SuperLube system uses. no more greasy, dirty hubs or wheels for my ride!


I also in stalled the new high pressure pump and sprayer system. Man this thing works awsome! It will spary about 30 feet, so some folks better watch out this summer. LOL
I can also run my new faucet on the sink with it when I get a T fitting from Cabelas, for now I can just swap the quick disconnect.
I had a pickle trying to get the pick-up tube secured since I dont have a bracket welded to the port side log right now. I red-necked it by drilling a hole in a bracket I fashioned, slipping it over the draing-plug houseing, then using a pipe clamp on the housing. I cinched a second strap over the first one to build the profile and add a little scurity to the first. I drove about 10 miles on the total yesterday and it is right where I put it, so I am happy with it right now.

I also installed the grill, that was a priority yesterday!
I added some folding handles on the deck and then ran a ratchet strap to secure the front and back as shown. It works great for now, but I want to add something a little classier in the future.
We broke it in yesterday with the family and friends, grilling up some shirimp kabobs and Italian sausage later on. The bottle opener is a cool add-on! LOL

Plus lots more little stuff, new straps to secure the main battery boxes, had to reconnect some wires for the running lights that were not holding up, added the anchor light to that switch, a light in the console storage area, finally added the bow stop on the trailer, I wasn't sure how to make it work like I wanted, but I think it came out very well in the end.

 

[EricM]

It's coming along well, bud! emoThumbsup

 

[captXtreme]

Erik, Very nice! I know from experience all the hard work that you have put into your "Cat-Mobile". There is nothing like fishing on a good pontoon boat with your family and friends,</p>

I have the bass tracker she runs great, let's plan some fishing soon. take care tell the Family hello. see ya at the Cat-Cave, emoAngler </p>

 

[SpurHunter]

Oops, missed the pic of the grill earlier. </p>

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[Bubbakat]

emoBeer emoThumbsup