Search results

  1. M

    Advice on a layup schedule.

    Hey folks. It's almost time to lay the transom and I need help with the layup. I have questions about 2 parts of my restoration. The transom and the stringers. The transom will be the 1.5" ply adhered to the outer skin with 2 pieces of half inch on either side. All gaps and edges will be filled...
  2. M

    Why would tracker do this?

    This is an 89 Tracker 1800 TF bass boat. The main transom is 1.5" ply as expected. The two panels to either side of it are made of scraps. They took small chunks of 1/2" plywood and filled the gaps with what looks to be resin and glass dust or cabosil. Then they glassed it all in. Is there a...
  3. M

    Polyurethane glue for transom laminate?

    It's getting close to time to build a new transom. I have the cap off and most of the flooring out of my bass tracker fiberglass 18 footer. I will need to laminate 2 pieces of ply. I see some use PL but I'm worried about gaps with that. I have used polyurethane glue (gorrilla glue) on other...
  4. M

    My little merc let me down at the worst time

    So I decided to show the wife how much fun the little boat is and show her some real fishing. The motor had different plans. She still had fun though but she laughed at me. She caught her first largemouth! Must have been at least a pound! Its a 1983 18HP mercury belgium motor. It has run great...
  5. M

    Questions for the Gel coat experts.

    I'm getting ready to re gel the hull on my 18' bass boat. I have questions for the gel coaters. How do you know how thick you are spraying? I have a "dump gun" or "cup gun". Is this better or worse to use than an HVLP with a 2mm nozzle? Can I spray some poly resin on a test piece and have it...
  6. M

    How is this done?

    On my boat and many others, the hull is multiple colors. How do they get the stripes and graphic look while spraying this into a mold? There must be clear gel over the whole thing, right? Its perfectly smooth between colors. I cannot feel a noticable transition from 1 color to the next. I want...
  7. M

    What is this stuff?

    Its a bondo like substance used to attach the transom to splashwell and also was used to bond the main cockpit floor (which was part of the cap) to the stringers. First assumption is that its marine grade body filler but that is pretty expensive stuff and tracker used this stuff pretty liberally...
  8. M

    xr2 cowling on my xr4?

    I've been looking to pick up a new cowling for my xr4 since mine is pretty beat. If it just had scratches or whatever then I'd paint it, but it's cracked and chunks are missing. Looks like a beaver ate it! Anyway, I've found a couple cowlings. Cheapest is an xr2 cowling but there is also a blue...
  9. M

    Is automotive body filler suitable for a boat?

    Hello, I'm doing some custom work to a jet ski. Pictures will follow, but it's going to be pretty cool. What I want to know is if I can use a high quality plastic filler to smooth and blend my work into the existing fiberglass or is there something else I should use? The main structure of what...
  10. M

    Anyone use a chopper gun?

    I am getting ready to do a floor and transom on my bass boat. At the shop we have a chopper gun, plenty of gun roving, and a sprayer for the resin. Anyone have any experience with this? I have never done it. I've fiberglassed a ton, but never used the gun. Better or worse than csm? I imagine...
  11. M

    Polyester VS Epoxy

    Hello. I'm getting ready to do the floor and transom of my 89 Bass Tracker. I spent some time on the phone with the engineer from the composites place that we get our resin from and he said that I should use polyester. He said that although epoxy is better, there may be adhesion problems with...
  12. M

    How much does my 150 blackmax weigh?

    I need to pull my outboard from the bass tracker so I can pull the cap off the boat. I do not have an engine hoist available for this operation so I'm hoping that me and a friend can do it by hand. Doable? How much does this sucker weigh. Its an 89 150 Blackmax. Thanks! Adam
  13. M

    Black max buzzer schematic?

    Hey folks. I ordered the oem mercury manual for my 89 150 blackmax, but it's not in yet. I was hoping to get some troubleshooting done on my project boat. I have no beep on startup and I assume no warning beeps either. I've read about the control module but I want to rule out the buzzer first. I...
  14. M

    Should I run it?

    Hello. This is a new to me 89 Blackmax 150xr4. When I bought the boat I didn't bring my compression tester with me because I didn't think it worked. It's a really cheap POS but I tinkered with it and it does work. I dont' trust the accuracy of the numbers, but I believe the consistency between...
  15. M

    Speedometer question.

    Hello. I recently aquired a boat that needs a bit of TLC. Mostly electrical which is fine for me as I'm good at 12volt. How does the speedo work? This is an 89 Bass Tracker 1800TF fiberglass with a mercury 150 xr4. In a pile of parts in the bottom of the boat I found 2 fishfinders (Bottom Line...
  16. M

    Where did my thermostats go!?

    On my 89 150 blackmax I'm diagnosing a "no pee" scenario. Ordered the impeller kit and got new thermos. Went to put in the thermostats and the bottom part is gone. The part that sits in the housing is still there, but the whole spring assembly is missing. Should I pull the jackets and see if...
  17. M

    How a boat is built.

    Hey guys. I'm looking at purchasing a 89 bass tracker fiberglass boat. I know nothing about how fiberglass boats are built so I was wondering if you could point me in the right direction. I'm quite a hany guy, so I figure if I know a bit more about how a boat is constructed, I'll know more what...
  18. M

    Opinions and expertise request

    Hey there. I'm sure I'm one of the 10,000 folks to ask these questions, but I wasn't sure exactly how I'd search this. If there is a FAQ on this please point me there. Anyway, I'm looking at an 89 bass tracker fiberglass with a 150 mercury. I'm more comfortable with aluminum because I can pretty...
  19. M

    Can a prop "slip" and still be OK?

    I have a 1442 G3 jonboat with an 83 mercury 18 horse. I have a 6 gallon tank, 2 group 29 batteries a bow mount minn kota and 2 200 lb guys. I just put a new OEM mercury 10 3/8 diameter 13 pitch prop. My question is if a prop slips on the hub due to an "event" is it junk or is it ok to run? Will...
  20. M

    How can I tell if my motor has Sonar?

    I bought a used Minn Kota and the owner said it had universal sonar. He really seemed clueless about the motor so I don't know. How can I tell? I don't see any extra plugs, but I haven't taken the covers off yet. It's a 55lb bow mount foot control electric steer. Thanks!
Top