Joey
06-12-2001, 01:39 PM
I have a JE on an Spectra 18 and I recently bought a Loader Grate from Rex Marine to increase performance. Every knucklehead I talked to said "piece of cake, man. 4 bolts and its done. Its cheat, its easy and it'll make you boat perform better. 10 minute job, tops."
Well, heres the thing, I was on my way to the Lake and thought I'd slap it on since everyone said it was a 10 minute job. Well, the four bolts (screws really) wouldn't thread out. I climbed into the engine compartment (its covered) and figured out the culpret. The existing intake grate doesn't seem to be bolted to the suction housing or the pump at all but rather its bolted through the fiberglass. Now, the other thing is that there doesn't seem to be a plate back on the inside of the boat for added strength.
Needless to say, I didn't r&r the grate for the loader. So, my question is....1) When I make the switch is there any particular type of sealent (silicon) I should use to seal the holes and 2) Should I see about having a back plate made to strenghten the hull where the new loader grate will be (since the loader grate will put more pressure on the glass).
Joey
Well, heres the thing, I was on my way to the Lake and thought I'd slap it on since everyone said it was a 10 minute job. Well, the four bolts (screws really) wouldn't thread out. I climbed into the engine compartment (its covered) and figured out the culpret. The existing intake grate doesn't seem to be bolted to the suction housing or the pump at all but rather its bolted through the fiberglass. Now, the other thing is that there doesn't seem to be a plate back on the inside of the boat for added strength.
Needless to say, I didn't r&r the grate for the loader. So, my question is....1) When I make the switch is there any particular type of sealent (silicon) I should use to seal the holes and 2) Should I see about having a back plate made to strenghten the hull where the new loader grate will be (since the loader grate will put more pressure on the glass).
Joey