Milk creates; they are the perfect height to use as a seat under the boat while hanging the tube.
Drill bit, I went one size bigger than the bolt, and it helped a lot.
Bolts, I used inch and a half in length, I feel I should have used 1 inch instead. What I used was too long for a socket to go all the way, when tighten from the bottom. This then forced me use the socket from the top. This was further compounded as an issue due to the limited space from the bottom of the rib too the flooring. And I had a hard time keeping the socket on top of the bolt due to angles you are in due to a lack of space between the toons. A plug socket will not fit due to the rib and floor. Also you should have two people tighten the bolts, one on the socket and one on the wrench, I did it myself and this caused it to take much longer. As an example, the second morning I had to redrill 4 holes took 2 minutes tops, bolts through the four holes and then tighten up all the rest of the nuts, took 2 hours ten minutes. I think I could have had it done in 50 minutes or less if I used the 1 inch bolts and 2 people?
Used only one locking nut and gave up, due to the issues listed above with the bolts and how hard the locking nuts were to tighten. I then used normal nuts to hold the tube up. Due to pounding from the water, I do not trust the single nuts to hold on their own. I did not use lock tight on the first nuts. I have since added a second nut with lock tight to hold the first one in. I know it’s over kill, but I now have zero worries about anything coming loose. The second nut was not an issue going on due to the length was now shorter on the bolt, and they went on very fast using just the socket.
For a wrench, use a good quality one, I used a cheap one to start out and I stretched it out very soon, and had to get a second one out of the tool box.
Gloves, you will need them if you use a socket from the top side as I did. Your hand is scrapping the top of the flooring and your hand will get roughed up and bloody fast.
Due to size and shape of the toon, and the angles do not bother in buying an off-set drill unit. Will not work, due to the length of the drill, puts you right back to square one. If you can cut the drill to make it say ¾ of an inch long, you may get away with it????
Very large nails 3 to 4, new with sharp points. I used them to score the metal for lines, used to punch a start holes for the drill to bite into, and used them in lining up holes to put the bolts in, very handy.
Costs I did not factor in. Steering cable I need one, due to motor is back a little further ($180.00). Same with the throttle lines ($40.00 each), for the same reasons.
Order one early in the year to get it in, I waited 2 weeks longer than I should have, and had to make a May 17th date for tune up and re-hang the motor, still waiting as of today to get it back.
Guy and Sonja
1986 Harris 24 foot
85 hp Force
Saab turbo convertible (it's a Bimini top for cars....no gaint Hot Wheels truck here
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