Mercury 340 EAD advice

[bartdog]

Hi,
I have recently acquired a Mercury 340 air deck, an as new Yamaha 2006 15hp 2 stroke and a small Yamaha 3hp Malta (pics attached hopefully). The set up is for generally messing about and plenty of fishing. An inflatable was required due to using the boat whilst away caravanning.
I am in the process of fitting some transom wheels prior to my first outing and noticed that the air floor does 't seem to fit very well at the back. It seems to ride over the locating blocks on the transom when inflated, causing a bow in the floor.
It looks to me these blocks should be a little higher and sit on top of the floor to hold it down....is this correct ??
Were these blocks left up to the first owner to fit prior to use or factory fitted?

In the pics shown the floor is only partially inflated and tucked under tabs, but seems very tight and not fully under blocks.

Any thoughts welcome

Before anyone says anything, yes the engine is in my lounge..... seems a shame to put it in the garage ha

[Max...]

Very, very nice outfit, looks brand new. The blocks are factory fitted and typical of Quicksilver and Zodiac design.

I know you pictured it deflated but when it was inflated are you sure you have the floor sitting correctly fore/aft and most importantly have you ensured the proper and full pressure is in the floor and measured with a gauge - it will need 11+ psi. Lastly the keel will need to be properly inflated. Make sure when you have done this you walk along the inner sides of the floor next to the tube to seat everything down properly.

However, until it is all properly pressurized it will not all sit right.

[bartdog]

Hi Max thanks for the reply. In the pics I have tried to pull the floor back under the blocks a little to stop it riding over them. I was concered about them rubbing from underneath as it was before. I tucked them under and partially inflated but the floor looked pinched under the blocks. I will try inflating the whole lot and see if there is any change. I havent got an independant gauge but use the one on my hp bravo unit.

Cheers
Mick

[Max...]

The HP one should be fine but when fully inflated the floor should be tight right into the bow.

When the keel is inflated it will push down to give some shape to the hull but if the floor is not fully pressurized to the last 0.5 psi it will push up more too causing a central bow. Even when fully inflated you will get a slight rise in the middle of the floor, nature of HP floors.

[Fenlander]

If it helps here is a picture of the air floor at the transom end of my previous Zodiac 360FR air floor. The blocks are plastic and smoother but basically seem to be in a similar place to how yours are related to the air floor.

Also pic of the bow end where it should be similarly tight as Max says.

[Fenlander]

To expand... With the Zodiac air floor fully up to pressure it was effectively trapped under the tubes as the sides and the blocks were more to affix the fabric tabs... it didn't need the blocks to keep the floor down.

[bartdog]

That makes sense as when it was pulled backwards under the tabs the floor was not fully located at the bow as it should be.

Just need to sort the wheels now. Looks as if I am going to have to remove one of the Trems in transit to stop it impeding the tiller whilst turning sharply or buy different wheels and sell these....not happpy

[Fenlander]

Any pics of the wheels from behind? I've always managed to get the Trems onto a variety of SIBs.

[bartdog]

I will try and post a pic tomoz, I have moved the wheels as far outward on the transom as possible whilst still allowing the tyres to swing outwards without catching the tubes.

I may have a solution in removing a wooden plate off the rear of the transom and replacing it with a thin sheet of stainless. This would allow the engine to come forward half an inch on the transom and alleviate/reduce the tiller catching on the wheel.

I will post a pic tomoz and see what you think


Cheers

[bartdog]

A few pics of my newly fitted trem wheels and issue with tiller catching slightly. As mentioned previously suggested remedy fitting of thinner transom backing plate to allow motor to sit a tad further forward

[Fenlander]

They look about the right distance apart for most outboards... even if the tyres would clear the cones a little further out then you would be getting near needing to cut into the spray flaps for them to fully raise.

See this thread of mine...

http://www.rib.net/forum/f50/transom...ded-67350.html

In post 1 I linked to an image of another members setup with the same wheels.

In post 7 I included an image of mine on the current Zodiac 340 when they were too far in and the outboard tiller fouled the raised wheel leg.

In post 9 you can see how little I had to move them out so the tiller cleared.

In post 11 it shows how far apart they were fitted by the previous owner of the Avon they were last on.... way out to the sides as the cones were so short in that 80s design the wheels swung up at a point the cone had tapered away so it all cleared OK.

Don't know if any of that helps??

[ACWYAM]

thats a very nice yamaha - what age is it?

[bartdog]

Thanks Fenlander, think I may have got then 1/4 wider due to the amount of lateral play in them. I am gonna try the transom plate mod and bring the engine forward a tad. I should then just about be ok. If not might just fasten some rubber to leg where tiller touches (should have nearly full movent by then hopefully)

[bartdog]

Engine is a 2006, was only run a couple of times before being stored apparently