Post a message

Muskie Discussion Forums

Search | Statistics | User Listing

You are logged in as a guest. ( logon | register )

Posting a reply to: '89 Ranger 680T Rebeautification Project (Graphic Intense!)

Muskie Fishing -> Muskie Boats and Motors

You are replying to:

lambeau

Posted 4/1/2004 8:42 PM (#102549)
Subject: '89 Ranger 680T Rebeautification Project (Graphic Intense!)

well, the work is all but done...and in fact i was able to get my new-to-me boat out for the first time last weekend. this was a big event after the last month in which i was re-doing the whole interior and attempted to blow up the engine when i reversed the polarity on the battery.

this was much easier than i thought it would be; i just took my time and measured twice before cutting and laying the carpet. i did not keep the old carpet for a "template" - i used the actual lids and for the floor i made a template by taping together paper grocery bags. worked fine. i used a spray-on glue - this cost more (it took 4 cans total) but was much easier to control, especially on the lid edges.
i also cut a piece of plywood and added it underneath the bowpoint where the trolling motor mounts. the holes in the fiberglass were stretched wide - i just used longer screws for the motor mount and ran them threw the bowpoint and the plywood, wide washers underneath the nuts to snug the board up tight and my mount no longer has any wiggle. the isolators were long enough that they ran down into the plywood as well, so that helped.

i'd estimate start to finish (carpet, glue, new seat posts/bases, lid hinges) it ran me $350.

1) i think this is the original carpet - thin, worn, dirty
2) no going back now...it mostly pulled right up; scraped the rest
3) the area under the bowpoint was a wet disaster; cleaned it out so it could dry
4) acetone is magic for scraping off glue-gunk
5) i used paint sticks and c-clamps to hold the carpet to the lid edges as the glue set
6) used T-hinges to re-mount the lids; much simpler than monkeying with continuous hinges and i like the look too
7) Knick the dog thinks she's got potential (note the old seat bases are out)
8) new pedestals and bases; cleaned the seats with bleach and then armor-all to shine up
9) the "new" front deck
10) ready for the water
11) first time getting wet: March 27 below the WI Dells dam
12) hmmm...i heard there's a 56" tiger muskie swimming right here...
12) would it be wrong to hook this up to a quick-strike rig???