The Fruits of my Labor (215 Explorer Cleanup)

[Unclebob]

The gunnels and cabin still need a bit more work because they were REALLY chalked out, but the hard part is done.

Anyone have any advice on getting the boat onto blocks for trailer work/bottom paint?

[fabuck71]

Can he come to Tampa, I'm ready to do mine!  

[wingtime]

The usual method is to lower the trailer tongue, place your blocks or stands under the transom as far out as you can, (under the chines)  Raise the tongue,  that should leave the back of the boat on the blocks/stands...  The next tricky part is supporting the front of the boat and moving the trailer forward.  Keep in mind most boats CG is toward the back third of the boat.

[seabob4]

Back her up to a stout oak and tie off the stern eyes before pulling forward...

[wingtime]

Back her up to a stout oak and tie off the stern eyes before pulling forward...

Yeah I left that part out.  :)

[Unclebob]

Havent messed with the bottom paint yet. Decided that bottom paint isn't too important in the general scheme of things right now.

Electronics are done. Trying to work with what little cash I have while we sell our house and get ready to move..

Raymarine A57 Combo unit.
Standard Horizon GX1700 VHF with internal GPS
8' Shakespeare 5101 on Hard Top
JVC 50Wx4 head unit with Bluetooth/remote
Blaupunkt 700W Amp
Four MTX 7.7" Marine Thunder Speakers
Rod Holder Blue LED under-gunnel lights for bling


Got my EBAY cover in yesterday. 12.5oz, with zippered access and velcro antenna flaps. Fits like a glove, and is pretty frikkin nice cover for the $300 it cost me. I've spent way more for less cover than this.



I'm sure the old girl is happy to get out of the sun again.

The steering hoses are ran but not connected, as I havent replaced the old rigging tube yet. That's priority for this weekend. Then maybe ready for the water?

[wingtime]

What was the Ebay seller that you bought the cover from?  How do you think it will work with out riggers and such on the hard top?  I've been planning on building a custom cover for my 245 but I'm stacked up at work for a while.

[Unclebob]

http://stores.ebay.com/elitemotoronline ... b=12869872


I paid $309 for mine, plus $28 shipping..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/150710178625

Pretty sure it's the same dang cover my buddy has for his Sea Hunt 232, that he paid nearly $800 for.

It has velcro flaps for antennas. You dont remove your outriggers? If you look around at his ads, you'll notice multiple price points for the same size cover, just with a different "designed to fit specific model"...

Anyhoo, it's a lot of cover for the money. I usually get 2 years out of the Generic 6oz budget covers, and usually spend $250 on those..

[wingtime]

That looks like the same Ebay seller I was looking at.  It looks like the one that will fit my boat runs about $349.

OH I take my riggers off but the mount has a few feet of pole on it that can't be removed. They do not extend past the hard top.  I have a VHF antenna and a GPS antenna up there plus the rocket launchers.  How long did it take to get it?

[Unclebob]

Shipping was 12 days. Slight delay due to not having mine in stock, but seller communicated quickly and efficiently. Worth it!

[wingtime]

I went ahead and pulled the trigger on one.  What the heck.  At least it will give me a pattern to build one down the road out of some Sunbrella.

[Circle Hooked]

Can't beat the price on those covers, great find  

[wingtime]

The cover showed up Thursday!     After cleaning the heck out of the boat and decks Sunday I put the cover on.  the cover looks nice but the instructions that came with it sucked.  They were a black and white photo copy that looks like it was a copy of a copy.  Couldn't see the photos at all.  The cover fit good once we cut the webbing tie downs to size and adjusted it a bit.  I spent some time sticking on the doubler fabric where the cover might get a hole rubbed thru it by the outriggers and such.  Mine fits about like yours does.  Just below the rub rail in around the bow and down to the lower corners of the transom.   Overall a good cover for the money and quick shipping.  I think I'm going make a few minor changes to it.  I think I'll add on some more straps at the base of the pulpit and make a velcro opening at the front for the anchor to stick out of.

[Unclebob]

You got instructions?  

Maybe ya can tell me what the little plastic hooked ratchet piece is, that looks like it could be used to tighten the cinch ropes?

I havent done anything with the doubler fabric yet. I'll stick some on next time I fit mine. Mine could stand to move back a foot or so still..

Glad you thought it was a worthy cover too. I've never felt like a got a good deal on a cover. They always seem to cost me much more than I think they're worth. But this one is obviously better made than the 6oz el-cheapo covers I've had in the past.


On a related note...on Saturday I hooked up and bled my new steering lines. Replaced the engine rigging tube, and did a few odds and ends here and there. Ran out of good weather before I could dip the boat. This weekend, hopefully.

[wingtime]

HA HA no instructions?  LOL  The plastic ratchet thing is for tightening the cinch rope.  The problem is you really need two of them for it to work right.  What are the black webbing tabs sewn on the cover a few feet above the tie downs for?

Thats cool about the steering lines.  Can't wait until you splash her.