Fixing up my 14ft MFG Niagara. w/pics

[matt9923]

Re: Fixing up my 14ft MFG Niagara. transom rebuild w/pics

Re: Fixing up my 14ft MFG Niagara. transom rebuild w/pics

Yep i'm getting the motor tomorrow at around 12:00. Yes i am using the rub rail screws to mount it to the sides of the hull. I paint it a few times probably a reddish cause that's all i have of stain....idc.
Matt

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Fixing up my 14ft MFG Niagara. transom rebuild w/pics

Re: Fixing up my 14ft MFG Niagara. transom rebuild w/pics

.... MDF doesn't rot...

That is OSB, not MDF

matt992s: Why can't you mark the bracket location on the boat, then take off the brackets, screw to boat, and reattach the plywood parts? For one thing, that will let you get some finish under the brackets, for another, it will probably be not much different for time than drilling a bunch of holes. Bonus, no holes to stare at on the visible side.

Another thing: Stain is merely thin paint- doesn't have the same build or durability as paint. Even deck stain won't last as well as paint on the very toothy, absorbent, OSB. Just a thought. If you have to stay with stain, I hope it is oil based- put at least two coats on, preferably three. Let the first one dry well to create as much of a primer barrier as possible.

 

[matt9923]

Re: Fixing up my 14ft MFG Niagara. transom rebuild w/pics

Re: Fixing up my 14ft MFG Niagara. transom rebuild w/pics

That is a great idea thanks.. I will screw it to the boat then to the wood. My brain works 1/2 the time if that... It is thick stain/paint. I did 1 coat on the trailer in the pic and its still holding up after a year. I am going to do another on the trailer but 1 did well. I will do at least 2 on the rack. I have seal type varnish stuff if that is better the clear stuff. I like the paint/stain tho. This is relay just a temporary mock up until i get some PT plywood and figure out my paint colors. I just need some quick storage and this is it. Took me an hour to make and didn't cost me anything.
Matt

 

[matt9923]

Re: Fixing up my 14ft MFG Niagara. transom rebuild w/pics

Re: Fixing up my 14ft MFG Niagara. transom rebuild w/pics

Well the motor is not ready so i'm not getting it until next Saturday O well i need more time to finish getting the little things done.
I painted the ski rack and took off the lower rubrail sanded and painted it with some good sealer/varnish. Looks good.
I am going to make the other rack today. And i drilled the holes in the brackets i made.
Then i glued a piece of pressure treated 2x4 to the back of the control consul so i can mount the control box.

 

[*EdC*]

Re: Fixing up my 14ft MFG Niagara. transom rebuild w/pics

Re: Fixing up my 14ft MFG Niagara. transom rebuild w/pics

Matt
Looking good! You could use a "T" nut or a Truss nut on top and bolt them from underneath. That way the wood can rest on the brackets. Also, I'd spray that steel with some spray on Gal-vie

Regards,
Ed

 

[matt9923]

Re: Fixing up my 14ft MFG Niagara. transom rebuild w/pics

Re: Fixing up my 14ft MFG Niagara. transom rebuild w/pics

Ya i am going to paint the brackets.
Matt

 

[matt9923]

Re: Fixing up my 14ft MFG Niagara. transom rebuild w/pics

Re: Fixing up my 14ft MFG Niagara. transom rebuild w/pics

Here are the ski racks and rubrails with 2 and 3 coats of paint on them.
As well as the brackets painted.

 

[matt9923]

Re: Fixing up my 14ft MFG Niagara. w/pics

Well i am hoping to get back to work on the boat tomorrow, been busy as well as rain Sunday and today. I plan on getting the ski racks tomorrow as well as getting the rub rails back on which came out a lot better then i thought.
Matt (hope to get the motor Saturday morning)

 

[matt9923]

Re: Fixing up my 14ft MFG Niagara. w/pics

Well i got some more work done. 68 degrees. But i got distracted putting a new top end in my play dirt bike, xr100....
I got the rub rails on and put 1 ski rack on then got distracted and didn't put the other one on.. I used all your ideas and mounted the brackets first and mounted the ski rack on top of the brackets. Its plenty sturdy.

Here is the other side with brackets on but no ski rack.

I am getting the motor Saturday so i'm exited.

Here is my distraction....

.......
http://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=7903321#post7903321

 

[matt9923]

Re: Fixing up my 14ft MFG Niagara. w/pics

I got the motor today. So i have been screwing around with it all day. The control wiring needs to be hooked up so the place i got it from is going to come to my house tomorrow and hook up all the electrical. Its an hour drive on his day off, now that customer service.
I took a good amount of pictures. So ill describe as i go.

Here are some shots of the motor after i routed all the wires and cables under the splash well.

I got the steering hooked up to. He thought i needed it setup for pulley/cable type steering so he welded on the bracket. But i got the new uflex system so i had to drill a hole and taped it and grinded a bolt down to fit inside as well. So it has the aluminum threads as well as the bolt threads.

Matt

 

[matt9923]

Re: Fixing up my 14ft MFG Niagara. w/pics

He included a nice Nisan control box with new shift cables.

I also got a fuel/water/dirt separator for $20, when he was showing me it i thought it would be $70 so when i herd $20 i couldn't say no. I want to make a permanent tank soon like Mark42 did.

 

[matt9923]

Re: Fixing up my 14ft MFG Niagara. w/pics

Here are some pictures of the boat/motor.

Matt

 

[Mark42]

Re: Fixing up my 14ft MFG Niagara. w/pics

Matt, boy you sure been busy. Looking good. Nice touch adding the ski racks. In my Niagara, the console is a major support for the front end of the rack. Its what the outside edge of the rack "hangs" from. If I remember right, there is a simple support in the rear. Might think about adding a leg at the rear of the rack straight down to the floor to give it some support. My kids liked to stand on mine and lean over the edge. Now I need new plywood in the bottom of them.

How soon before you hit the water?

 

[matt9923]

Re: Fixing up my 14ft MFG Niagara. w/pics

Thanks Mark. The ski racks should be sturdy enough for now. They came out well, i caulked the plywood joints so no water can get in anywhere. Each rack has 3 coats of paint. I got some relay good clear marine caulk the shop uses. $22 a tube tho.. My goal was to have the ski racks hold poles and that work perfect. I caulked the rub rail up really good so no water is getting in. To my surprise the outer parts of the transom are wet but inside is really dry so i think i will get threw the season. The bolts for the motor are sturdy and that motor is part of the boat now. I also caulk the H out of the bolts so that should be pretty sealed.

The guy i got it from is coming out tomorrow to figure out the electrical controls and the river is low and doesn't show any singes of rising but you never know. SO if he gets it going i will be in te water this week when the river rises or maybe tomorrow.
Matt

 

[matt9923]

Re: Fixing up my 14ft MFG Niagara. w/pics

I just got back from the maiden voyage with the new motor!!!!
The mechanic was here since 2:00 on his day off helping me get it running and getting the controls all set up. He came with me and adjusted some things and made sure it was all set.
It ran great and is plenty of power for that MFG. It plained good and i have electric tilt so i just hit a button. The transom was solid with no flex or any noise. So i was exited i will probably get another season out of it.
He brought a whole parts motor with him so he gave me all the ignition electrical pieces and another prop. So i'm very happy. That thin moves with a 40hp!
Matt

 

[Mark42]

Re: Fixing up my 14ft MFG Niagara. w/pics

The hull only weighs about 600 lbs, so a 40hp outboard gives you a good power to weight ratio. It can be a lot of fun to just carve up the water doing figure 8's and donuts! I have cut a tight circle at about 10-15 mph, then push the throttle all the way forward and the back end slides around like a muscle car. You can counter steer to get it back under control. Lots of fun, just be sure to have a PDF on and be in shallow water just in case something goes wrong!

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Fixing up my 14ft MFG Niagara. w/pics

matt9923: Hi- what year is your Niagara?

I just discovered some stuff about mine and researched a little and it turns out mine is a 1964, not a '72!! Anyway, if it isn't trouble for you, could you post a snapshot of your bow deck and dash top for me?

The 1964 brochure lists a 520lb weight for a Niagara Custom and 500lbs for a Niagara Deluxe. 40 hp does zip it right along. Glad you are happy with your motor.

BTW- in the '60s boat motors were rated at the powerhead- 40HP at the powerhead is about 35hp "at the prop." Not exactly 35hp and there is a bunch of math and stuff better left to others along with a lot of assumptions, but "modern" boat motors are rated at the prop. So your 40hp Mariner probably performs more like a 50hp would have when your boat was new. So yes, 40hp is pretty quick on our boats. I have clocked 32.x mph on a GPS with my '85 Suzuki. With the old '64 Johnson the best I managed was 26mph which I clocked using landmarks on a map, dividers, and a stopwatch.

You're doing great with the project- glad you are going to enjoy it. But looking forward to seeing photos someday of your boat completed along the lines of mark42's boat.

 

[matt9923]

Re: Fixing up my 14ft MFG Niagara. w/pics

Lots of fun, just be sure to have a PDF on and be in shallow water just in case something goes wrong!

PDF is int that a document format? Lol ya i usually have mine on when i'm driving or something in case a fall smack my head and drown.... I have a fishing vest/PFD so i use it to fish and be safe.
Matt

 

[matt9923]

Re: Fixing up my 14ft MFG Niagara. w/pics

You're doing great with the project- glad you are going to enjoy it. But looking forward to seeing photos someday of your boat completed along the lines of mark42's boat.

Hmm.... umm ya that's a dream. maybe someday far away. If i had another 2500 to spend on it i could get it looking like that maybe.
Matt

 

[Landscaping Wiz 808]

Re: Fixing up my 14ft MFG Niagara. w/pics

That boat is looking sharp! That gray paint is pretty cool too, kinda makes it look like a mini PT boat. Sounds like you found yourself a good mechanic too!

Lets get some action shots of the boat in the water!

BOB