First MasterCraft (Impressions, Pics, Noob ?s)

[rek]

New member long time lurker. Previous boat was a 2006 four winns H180 which we sold and bought this 2003 X9 with 70 hours. The guy rarely used it but rarely cleaned it or did anything else to it so I've been working hard the last couple of months to get it ready for summer.

Here's what I did....

Cleaned and new teak oil (before/after)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0x...it?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0x...it?usp=sharing

Getting 2 drops per second with/without the shaft spinning so did the drive shaft repack with the GFO gortex packing. Bought the 1/4" but it was too big. The 3/16" fit fine. I may need to loosen the packing nut as I saw no drips on the water yesterday after about 2 hours of use.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0x...it?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0x...it?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0x...it?usp=sharing

Dog house had no insulation. So took the glue off (4 hours of hard work) and put 1" thick insulation on foil backing.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0x...it?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0x...it?usp=sharing

New Odyssey battery and replaced terminals, Upgraded 1 of the 2 amps, added 2 cans and replaced with Rockford M262s + LEDs in factory tweeter holes, swapped out the factory 10" clarion sub with an elemental designs 11kv.2 and added bluetooth via hack into the cd change port of the clarion factory radio

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0x...it?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0x...it?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0x...it?usp=sharing

LED trailer lights. Rewired the reverse light to be brake lights so now I have 4 bright brake lights

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0x...it?usp=sharing


Ballast wasn't working. New green impellers. Now the center locker ballast works but the rear under stern seat does not. I think the pump is bad as it grinds and suddenly stops spinning.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0x...it?usp=sharing

Debadged the X9 stickers which were scratched up from docking and I'm not real crazy about the look of these graphics. So, they came off with acetone and a heat gun. 2 coats of 3m polish with my 6" polisher and you can barely tell they were there. (before/after)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0x...it?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0x...it?usp=sharing

Not pictured but replaced the glove box struts and passenger storage struts too.

I like the clean look with the classy mastercraft sticker in the rear. Here's a pic of the family before we headed out for our first time out together.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0x...it?usp=sharing

Despite a windy day, cold water, and a dinged prop on the muddy river bottom we had a blast.

Impressions:

* Going from a carb 4cyl with 135hp to a fuel injected 8cyl with 350hp is HUGE.
* The motor is so quiet the wife loved it. I estimate 20db or so less than my four winns. We can carry on a conversation in the boat and can barely hear a rumble out of the exhaust. The 1" carr insulation is great.
* The ride is very different. It feels like we're just above the water line with great vantage all the way around the boat. Very little bow rise which is awesome. We feel like we're on the water more than "in the boat" if that makes sense
* Trailer is a big step up too. The surge brakes work more often than the old trailer helping my tow vehicle stop the load. It feels more stable and secure on the road despite being 600lbs heavier than the old boat/trailer
* The built in cooler is my favorite feature of the boat lol! It fits 20 beers and 4 waters perfectly
* Fuel injected starts right up vs priming the carb and 10-20 seconds of starting and another couple of minutes of warm up before attempting to get it off the trailer.
* The quality difference. Everywhere there was a screw on the old boat there's a nut and bolt on the MC. The wiring inside is ran through conduit instead of zip tied up to something else. The vinyl, carpet, electronics, motor, etc are all greatly improved going from a retail $20k boat to a $50k boat. I feel like with the right care, it'll be our boat into our 40s, 50s, maybe even longer.

So, I hope the above is a contribution to this great TT forum. Perhaps more so to a new or prospective new MC owner. I have had lots of questions most of which the FAQ and reading other posts have answered. But a few of my noob questions where i could use some help:

1. Drain plug. Which way am i supposed to screw it in? lol From the inside or under the boat from the outside? I've been doing inside.

2. Reverse. I hear, for a lack of a better term, "squalling" sound when i engage the transmission into reverse. No noise in forward. Is this normal?

3. My prop is dinged up. Recommendations on who i should send it into for repair? Seems like there's a forum member that does this work?

4. Tower. The rubber feet between the tower and the boat are actually in pretty good shape for a 11 year old boat. But noticed on the chop that the tower sways a good half inch back and forth on the water and on the trailer. Should I or can I tighten things up?

5. Ballast motor. Upon inspection and replacement of the impeller i did see some rust in the housing so I suspect water intrusion has killed it. Can i repair the motor myself or should i just buy a new motor?

6. Boat buddy pin is slightly bent so that it does not engage into the lock. Can this be repaired or easily replaced?

7. The bow strap tore on the ramp yesterday and ripped off by the time I got the boat home. Glad I had a spare ratchet in the truck. I assume the strap can be replaced easily? Looks like there's a pen that slides out for the new strap to be put on.

8. Any other suggestions on maintenance or upgrades i need to do to this boat? I've drained the wallet in the past few months but want this boat tip top!

Thanks in advance for any help with the answers here. I look forward to following this forum and helping where i can. Thx!

[curver900]

Very nice!!!!!

[TxsRiverRat]

Welcome and great work!

You're going to find a home in the MCOCD thread quickly!

[rek]

More pics now that i've figured out how to insert them:

[mzimme]

Nice work! Sounds like you've already put quite a bit of time into it.

For the bent pin, look into replacing your boat buddy with a Ramp-N-Clamp. There's a thread on here somewhere about it.

How'd you tear your strap on the winch? Were you trying to winch the boat on to the trailer? These trailers are drive on style trailers. Winching your boat will be VERY difficult.

Also, fix that prop before you use it anymore. Did you notice vibration when you were under way? That's a pretty good hit to the prop. That should be causing some serious vibration which can damage other parts in the driveline if not given attention. Send it to OJ, they refurb props very reasonable prices.

[02ProstarSammyD]

that prop needs some love!

[CantRepeat]

Boat looks great!

Yeah, as stated, that prop needs some real love!! I wouldn't even boat with it in that condition.

[lentiman]

1. Drain plug.
Screw in from the inside. You're doing it right.

2. Reverse. I hear, for a lack of a better term, "squalling" sound when i engage the transmission into reverse. No noise in forward. Is this normal?
Yup, that sound is normal.

3. My prop is dinged up. Recommendations on who i should send it into for repair? Seems like there's a forum member that does this work?
You might check locally. That's quite a ding. What did you hit? Might consider getting a spare prop also.

5. Ballast motor.
You can repair the damage depending on the severity of the issues. There's a couple forum members here that stock parts and you could order from them.

6. Boat buddy pin is slightly bent so that it does not engage into the lock. Can this be repaired or easily replaced?
Go buy a Ramp-and-Clamp. You've got a great excuse.

[tcmercil]

1st welcome - -

so many things to say, and I'm sure you'll get plenty of answers to all your questions above.....

- Decal removal - made the boat look 10 years newer.... I don't understand people that still have the tribal decals, I'm guessing maybe the guys that have that Tribal Tattoo that is a bit more difficult to remove.

- Ramp n Clamp - a whole thread on it / toss the boat buddy... honestly they're not worth replacing parts.

- props - look locally, we all have our own thoughts on that.
- Fulton Winch/Jack - both worth the upgrade
- ballast motors - guy on here sells them and will chime in I'm sure.
- vinyl cleaner only for the interior - anything stronger will loosen the threads and you'll start to see your stiches come apart


- thing about this forum, everyone has an opinion, even if you don't want it. Tons of information here and well people willing to really help you out.

oh - and you think it's your last boat.....

[CantRepeat]

1. Drain plug. Which way am i supposed to screw it in? lol From the inside or under the boat from the outside? I've been doing inside.

It gets screwed in from the inside. You wouldn't want anything hanging below the hull

2. Reverse. I hear, for a lack of a better term, "squalling" sound when i engage the transmission into reverse. No noise in forward. Is this normal?

Might be cavitation happening from the bent prop.

3. My prop is dinged up. Recommendations on who i should send it into for repair? Seems like there's a forum member that does this work?

OJ Props, google them. Great people.

4. Tower. The rubber feet between the tower and the boat are actually in pretty good shape for a 11 year old boat. But noticed on the chop that the tower sways a good half inch back and forth on the water and on the trailer. Should I or can I tighten things up?

Check to make sure the bolts are tight. All of the towers sway from rollers.

5. Ballast motor. Upon inspection and replacement of the impeller i did see some rust in the housing so I suspect water intrusion has killed it. Can i repair the motor myself or should i just buy a new motor?

wakemakers.com for all your ballast parts. If you call them they will give you a discount code for purchases over $50.

6. Boat buddy pin is slightly bent so that it does not engage into the lock. Can this be repaired or easily replaced?

Ramp N clamp is all the rage.

7. The bow strap tore on the ramp yesterday and ripped off by the time I got the boat home. Glad I had a spare ratchet in the truck. I assume the strap can be replaced easily? Looks like there's a pen that slides out for the new strap to be put on.

etrailer.com will have the fulton stuff.

[MC25]

The lights in the tweeters is so sweet!!!

[JMLVMI]

Replace that prop with a CNC'ed OJ XMP prop. You'll really like it. That sound in reverse is normal. Get a Ramp-n-Clamp; although I've kicked my Boat Buddy to bend the pin back in and it worked.

Great looking boat!

[CottagerGreg]

Welcome to the forum officially! Great job on your boat!

I think you have all the answers you need... now get out there and enjoy it! (as the last owner did not(

[EricB]

Noise in reverse is normal (kind of a high-pitch whine). Has to do with power transmission through the change of gears to get reverse motion. Besides, you will always know when it is in reverese from the noise.

Nothing wrong and normal. Sure beats the sounds of outdrive gears grinding, doesn't it?

[thatsmrmastercraft]

Welcome to Team Talk. You sure jumped in with both feet. Great looking boat and family.