Merc 65hp on a Jet Star? (now with pictures!)

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GLG fishing

GLG fishing

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Re: Merc 65hp on a Jet Star? (now with pictures!)

Gibbles said:
I have been thinking more about the steering setup as I'm getting closer to having everything mounted, and this makes much more sense now.

Input please; my main engine is a long shaft and I now have a 20 in transom, my kicker has a 15in shaft...

I was not to worried about this as I had been running with a kicker mount that held the engine up a bit higher than the 20in transom sits...

Raising up another 2in may be an issue?

what do you think?
Click to expand...

Well it might be an issue as you want as much leg in the water below the hull as possible. I don't know anyone around here running a short shaft kicker. We all run the long shaft ones. Then again most of us have deep V hulls and that might make a difference. Best to try it out and see if it works for you. If it doesn't then look for a long shaft model. In theory as long as the anti-ventilation plate is below the hull you should be good. In practice it's nice to be a few inches lower than that.

Perhaps someone with the same model of boat could answer you question.

GLG
 
Gibbles

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Re: Merc 65hp on a Jet Star? (now with pictures!)

Yeah, thats fine

I'll run it and see what I think, I did see everything I need to convert it to a long shaft if needed at one point on ebay also...

I with the kicker I mostly want it to run me as slow as possible, and as long as it sits low enough to suck water into the power head I'm gtg mostly.

And I drilled and installed the tubes in my transom last night, the port side turned out perfect
the starboard side drilled in just a hair to low, and slid out just a little while rolling the end...

I'll get some pictures soon
 
Gibbles

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Re: Merc 65hp on a Jet Star? (now with pictures!)

And I got my steering ordered, I decided to go with the uflex rotary steering with a 13ft cable

My steering wheel came on saturday, looks great.

I also got the steering link, looks good and I cannot see any difference from the A1 to the A3 PN looking at diagrams...
So hopefully my trying to be cheap paid off this time. :)
 
Gibbles

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Re: Merc 65hp on a Jet Star? (now with pictures!)

Today I'll try and get some plywood for the floors after work, they look to be just over 2ft wide...

forgot to check how long of a section I will need before leaving for work...

I checked online (gotta love slow days), and the boards are only 4ft wide...

I was hoping I was going to get away with having them cut the board in half the long ways but that won't work unless I have a large wasted piece...

off hand, anyone know long the rear section of the flooring is?

I'm hoping to get the rear section done with one board, and I was hoping to have them cut the board to fit in my suv... :p
 
lakelover

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Re: Merc 65hp on a Jet Star? (now with pictures!)

My original floor pieces were 9 feet long, so if yours is the same, you'll need 3 sheets, as the two sides are each over 2'.

You can see what I did on mine on pages 9 & 12 of my thread. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=309879

You will need to butt two pieces together front to back on both sides, just make sure you put the joint on top of a rib for support. You can put the joint wherever you want, but it's best to choose a spot under the seats for less wear and tear from foot traffic etc.
 
Gibbles

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Re: Merc 65hp on a Jet Star? (now with pictures!)

Thanks

looks like my floor was replaced at one point.
I did see that it was at least raised and then wrapped with carpet, and a few screws and rivets hold it down currently.

Right now in the middle there is a very visible joint between the front and rear halves...



And the comment about your Craftsman drill with the chuck slipping the bits...

I'm not sure if it's user error or like your issue, but my 18v Dewalt drill keeps dropping bits on me when drilling several holes...

I'm not sure if I'm doing it while drilling or what... but its anoying. :p

but it's also a hand me down from my dad who got a few new dewalt tools for christmas... :)

I will say this, picked up a dewalt 18v circular saw on ebay for $50

I love that thing, it goes through batteries pretty quick but I did not have any issues going through a pair of 3/4in plywood that had been coated with epoxy. :D
 
Gibbles

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Re: Merc 65hp on a Jet Star? (now with pictures!)

And I'm impressed.

low cost boating store (sorry price diff was pretty major on iboats) sent me tracking numbers, and it looks like it should show up tomorrow!
not bad, I made my order yesterday (shipped out of California) :D
 
GA_Boater

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Re: Merc 65hp on a Jet Star? (now with pictures!)

Gibbles said:
And I'm impressed.

low cost boating store (sorry price diff was pretty major on iboats) sent me tracking numbers, and it looks like it should show up tomorrow!
not bad, I made my order yesterday (shipped out of California) :D
Click to expand...

Gib, I think iboats matches competitors prices, including shipping. Easy to find out, go to the store ^^^^ and use Live Chat.
 
jasoutside

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Re: Merc 65hp on a Jet Star? (now with pictures!)

GA_Boater said:
Gib, I think iboats matches competitors prices, including shipping. Easy to find out, go to the store ^^^^ and use Live Chat.
Click to expand...

Yah, I have done exactly this ^^^ and haven't been very impressed unfortunately.:( Bummer because I'd love to support em.
 
Gibbles

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Re: Merc 65hp on a Jet Star? (now with pictures!)

Well my steering was delivered yesterday.

I came home expecting it on my porch; nothing!

but yesterday was garbage day...

And Talk about service!
The nice UPS guy brought my garbage can in for me and hid the boxes behind it. :D

I have not had a chance to open the boxes to look over everything yet, I just hauled them into the garage.
 
lakelover

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Re: Merc 65hp on a Jet Star? (now with pictures!)

Now that's service!! We have a pretty good UPS guy right now, but we have had some in the past.....hoo boy!

Hope you're pleased with the steering parts.
 
Gibbles

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Re: Merc 65hp on a Jet Star? (now with pictures!)

I will try and go through things today, if I have time I'll remove the cable steering and do a quick fit check.

And they did not seem to rebox anything, the uflex steering was shipped in the retail box, as was the uflex control cable I ordered.

And everything is very loose in the steering box... sounds like a bunch of broken glass when I shake it :facepalm:
but I doubt there is anything in there to actually break.

Right now I have one very long cable that came with the control box that I have routed under the splash well, and up through the port side... :D
The other cable that came with the control set was seized so me being cheap, I bought one new cable at the correct length to get me going :p

I'll probably use that old cable to run the trolling motor throttle until I get around to doing it correct... :)


And that uflex steering setup is supposed to of come with a "free" steering wheel, its up for grabs if anyone wants it since I won't need it... :)
 
Gibbles

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Re: Merc 65hp on a Jet Star? (now with pictures!)

Thanks, I would also like to get a little starmada picture for the sides :p


And I got the steering installed!

I had to go to lowes and get a 3 1/4in hole saw @ $25 :(

DSCF0101.jpg

DSCF0103.jpg


and like my seat frame? lol

I had to slap that together in a day with little to no planning on what the heck I was going to do...

It works pretty darn well and is very stable

the previous owner installed some very rough looking boxes to mount the seats back to back, and secured with a pair of 2x4's screwed in from the underside. So I used those 2x4's as a mount

And at one time someone removed the mounts in front and back for the bench, holes look to be filled in with jbweld.

Anyways I like the steering wheel, and I'm a bit worried about the 13ft cable, its either going to be just right, or just a tad to short...
 
GA_Boater

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Re: Merc 65hp on a Jet Star? (now with pictures!)

Gib - I know I commented on the windshield in an earlier post, but the pics above from the inside really show how nice it fits. Hope I can find something as nice. The Star is looking pretty good (except for the seat mounts - LOL) and the helm is great. When you were looking at decals did you see these? They're about the same size as the plastic logos you have now and 1/2 the price of the ones you posted are which 43" long and have to be a bear to put on straight.
 
GA_Boater

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Re: Merc 65hp on a Jet Star? (now with pictures!)

boatnut74 said:
What a nice guy! Sometimes my packages don't even make it to the porch :(
Click to expand...

That's because he has a candy arm unlike the FedEx guy tossing flat screens over a gate. I think he's looking for a new job. Trash picker-upper seems about right.
 
lakelover

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Re: Merc 65hp on a Jet Star? (now with pictures!)

It's looking good. I'll be surprised if the 13' cable isn't just about right. And the windshield does look good.
 
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