Ribcraft 545 project

[Stewy]

Somehow ended up buying a OCA cover set aswell.

[kevinsc]

The rib is looking really smart

[Stewy]

Well that's it all rigged up and running.

Still waiting on the smartcraft dongle thingy for the engine.

And not getting full travel on the remote, throttle hits the cinsole before. So need a spacer. Mercury want £90 + vat. So I'm going to 3d print one.

[Iron Dials]

Hi Stewy,
I’ve been enjoying your build thread, thank you.
Can I ask if you’ve rigged the cables yourself?
There’s a threaded barrel shaped mount that sits in a receiver on the engine for both gear and throttle cables, if it’s not fbw.
You can adjust the thread on the throttle “pickup point” with the threaded mount and likely avoid a spacer.
I used to have Mercury 150 3.0l and dropped the threaded part into the great unknown so learned through necessity…

Hope this helps, may be completely misinformed, in which case disregard all after line 2.

[Stewy]

Originally Posted by Iron Dials

Hi Stewy,
I’ve been enjoying your build thread, thank you.
Can I ask if you’ve rigged the cables yourself?
There’s a threaded barrel shaped mount that sits in a receiver on the engine for both gear and throttle cables, if it’s not fbw.
You can adjust the thread on the throttle “pickup point” with the threaded mount and likely avoid a spacer.
I used to have Mercury 150 3.0l and dropped the threaded part into the great unknown so learned through necessity…

Hope this helps, may be completely misinformed, in which case disregard all after line 2.

Thanks, yes I rigged it. I followed the manual to set the cable adjustment. There's a small arrow that says it has to line up with something else, it's not very clear.

I was cautious about tightening the barrel to much and maybe increasing idle?

I've printed the spacer now. So will have another play around with it.

[Oliver_ribfan]

Originally Posted by Stewy

Got all of the cables and pipes finally ran and through the appropriate holes.

Happy with my homemade manifold, although not the prettiest, haha. Have still some wire surcuring and the fiberglass well cover.

Trailer ready in Tuesday and aiming for engine on the following Monday.

Very nice build! For me the beauty lies in the functionality.

I like the manifold idea and the deep bilge. The feedthroughs will most likely never touch any water and if so it can pour off easily.

[Stewy]

Hopefully most of the fittings should be sealed. But we'll see.

Fitting the spacer, now have loads of travel and full throttle.

But the stupid twaty yank mercury doesn't use a standard m5 metric thread on the remote rubber nut insert thingys, like the longer m5 bolts I bought...

Always something.

[Stewy]

Maiden voyage

[Oliver_ribfan]

Congrats! Looks amazing!

Do you have an estimate about the weight of your combo?

[kevinsc]

Looking very smart on the water. All the hard work has paid off.

[Stewy]

Cheers guys

Originally Posted by Oliver_ribfan

Congrats! Looks amazing!

Do you have an estimate about the weight of your combo?

I plan in taking it to a weighbridge at some point. It doesn't feel overly heavy.

Everything worked great, christened the new engine hitting a log... only some paint off the skeg .

Now to play with props, managed 38 knots so far, but not hit the rev limit.

[beerbelly]

Originally Posted by Stewy

Maiden voyage

well smart you must be chuffed

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Stewy

Cheers guys



I plan in taking it to a weighbridge at some point. It doesn't feel overly heavy.

Everything worked great, christened the new engine hitting a log... only some paint off the skeg .

Now to play with props, managed 38 knots so far, but not hit the rev limit.

I have a Solas 4blade 19p prop on my DF140. Lightly loaded with 1 up, I can hit the rev limiter. With my normal load and 2 pax onboard it's right in the sweet spot. I get 1.1nm/litre at 20-25 kn. Tops out around 38kn. Mine is quite heavy due to the 180l inboard tank/twin batteries and Ullmans. Fully loaded and ready to go she's around 1100kg

[A1an]

Looks good, there’s something satisfying about using a boat you’ve restored/modified yourself even if it that feeling is sprinkled with a little bit of apprehension.

[Oliver_ribfan]

Originally Posted by Stewy

Cheers guys

I plan in taking it to a weighbridge at some point. It doesn't feel overly heavy.

Everything worked great, christened the new engine hitting a log... only some paint off the skeg .

Now to play with props, managed 38 knots so far, but not hit the rev limit.

Must have been a great feeling to be on the water after all the work. Now with the first scratch I would say "it's completely yours".

38 kts is pretty decent for the first trial so your 1st prop choice can't be that wrong.

[Stewy]

Got afew hours on it now. Prop is a 4 blade stainless mercury rev4 19x13.75

I've got a 17x13 4 blade to try and I need to order the standard mercury prop it's meant to be supplied with.

Thinking a 21, as it'll be a standard 3 blade aluminium.

[beerbelly]

Originally Posted by Stewy

Got afew hours on it now. Prop is a 4 blade stainless mercury rev4 19x13.75

I've got a 17x13 4 blade to try and I need to order the standard mercury prop it's meant to be supplied with.

Thinking a 21, as it'll be a standard 3 blade aluminium.

looks pretty good . mine went very well with a 21x14 spitfire 4 blade alloy but it lost a bit of midrange punch for an extra 2 knotts top end over the 19x14 spitfire

[Stewy]

Few jobs todo before the rib rendezvous.

New hatches, the front deck hatch has always leaked. Unfortunately it's an odd size. So this new hatch is quite abit bigger.

I've always wanted some form of storage for inside the main console. I've ordered these milwaukee packout boxes to try, one is a milwaukee first aid kit, but there's enough room to customise it and add other bits and bobs. They are apparently ip67.

I've had a problem with the radio screen misting up, not ideal when you can't read the screen. I contacted Marine superstore who I bought it from, they quickly arranged collection and replacement. Well recommended.

Finally after ordering the prop that was meant to come with my engine, in October! My prop arrived last week.

A 14x19 4 blade spitfire, hopefully I'll have time to test it out.

I still plan to buy a 14x21 spitfire aswell at some point.

[beerbelly]

where did you get the hatches and what sort of prices you will need plenty of storage for the rib rendezvous for your petrol money

[Stewy]

Originally Posted by beerbelly

where did you get the hatches and what sort of prices you will need plenty of storage for the rib rendezvous for your petrol money

Osculati Flush Inspection Hatches

380mmx280mm £30 ebay

520mmx465mm £55 force4

Yeah not looking forward to the fuel bill for the weekend! I filled 2 cans up afew weeks ago, so atleast my average will be slightly lower haha