16’ Mantra Tunnel Black Thunder

Fonz69 · Jan 10, 2025

Kachina26 said:
I gotta ask, (because I'm jealous of your energy) are you retired? Or are you doing this after a long day of work? Either way, I'm loving the build and the updates.

Up at 4am and average 10+ hrs. Plus 70+ mile drive one way or more depending on the project site. Come home and try to get something done each night. “How do you eat an elephant?” One bite at a time.

Fonz69 · Jan 12, 2025

Parts going back in. Hopefully for the last time.

Motor back in it’s home.

Max cutting the supports for the center pod.

Marking out the plate for the front attachment point.

Thought here is to install the composite material over the aluminum using the front mount in the floor that was glassed in place when the boat was built. Then attach an angle at the glassed in brace in front of the motor.

Making the rear mount.

Rails in place.

Old center board extremely heavy and has potential to fail soon with rot.

New setup is about half the weight and will last as long as the boat is around.
Mocked up the shifter and wanted it to attach through the top composite with carpet and I’ll use 2 of the fastening points and drill/tap them into the channel below. This will secure the whole panel to the channel and make it removable if we ever need to access below.

Fonz69 · Jan 15, 2025

Battery tray installed and working on alternator alignment. I added some double back reinforced tape to the bottom of the battery tray then a layer of rubber drawer liner in order to protect the hull from any rub spots.

HAP · Jan 15, 2025

Those ARP fasteners are sooo nice to work with...

R,
HAP

Fonz69 · Jan 18, 2025

HAP said:
Those ARP fasteners are sooo nice to work with...

R,
HAP

Yes they are, just wish they would sell even numbers in a pack though I usually find a use for the extras

HAP · Jan 18, 2025

Same here. Having those extra ones usually lead to another order to finish another project

R,
HAP

Fonz69 · Sunday at 10:53 PM

Little behind on updates so here is the alternator going in. Made a turnbuckle adjuster and used the front motor mount. Only took a .050 shim to move the alternator out to line up with the crank pulley.

Again there are several fancy cnc billet brackets out there but this project is on a tight budget so $25 at the hardware store has to do.

Fonz69 · Sunday at 10:57 PM

Time to make a few brackets. Found some scrap around the shop so let’s get creative.

Bilge pump mount. Used one of the taller intake studs to secure it. Not many location options so this will have to do.

Fuel pressure regulator is up next.

Fonz69 · Sunday at 11:08 PM

Now starts the electrical fun.
I want to add a battery disconnect similar to my boat and try to keep the wiring clean as possible. Another trip to Menards and picked up a 6x6 weathertight box and started arranging things until it made sense.