https://continuouswave.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2703
I picked up an 11-footer last year to keep behind the dock, and it was a bare hull. The exterior was painted, interior had wood removed, and old cable steering holes were everywhere--a real project boat.
Fig. 1.
Once inside and thawed out, I started the interior wood fitment. intending it to be a tender with a tiller engine.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.
When temps warmed up, I sanded-off the bottom paint and the cheap paint on the hullsides, and custom-mixed a gelcoat color that was sprayed the hull. The reason I used gelcoat is this boat will live behind a dingy dock, and gelcoat is easier to repair; paint would be a hassle.
I bought a cheap 1995 Johnson 15 from a lake, sprayed it with urethane, and applied new decals. I wanted a Yamaha 15, but they don't hit the market in my area often and seem to get bought up right away.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 5.
Fig. 6.
Fig. 7.
The interior needs a little more love and patching of the old screw holes, Previous owners slobbered on epoxy to seal, which kept water out, but the repairs looks unsightly and need sanding and buffing.
After a summer of cruising around the harbor and shallows, I'm tired of steering with the tiller and would rather face forward. With 15-HP and two people aboard, the boat isn't that peppy, so I started thinking of using one of the Yamaha 25-HP two-stroke engines I've had for years. After looking into steering systems, I wanted to use the Teleflex NFB system, but learned that the 11 Whaler with its bowed transom and notch for the engine has an interference fit and needs modification; I didn't want to go that route.
Instead I decided to go with a hydraulic steering system. I had to put some thought into this setup. The Yamaha 25 tiller-steered engine was not intended to have remote steering the way I'm installing it, and they call for leaving the tiller setup installed, but it looks clunky and serves no purpose. I removed the tiller and found that a Yamaha 90-HP steering hook fits perfectly and integrates to the hydraulic ram perfectly.
Fig. 8.
I'll modify the hook so there's no additional material sticking out and it's flush with the connection. Next the engine will get a starter and I'll build a small, custom, side console. Wiring will not use the standard Yamaha 10-pin harness since it's clunky , and I'll fabricate a minimal harness. To keep weight to a minimum, the battery will be a small Lithium Ion battery under the console.
The engine I'm using is a 100:1 mix, but I have another Yamaha 25 that is oil-injected, next year I may swap over to that one so I can run straight gasoline and not deal with mixing oil. Currently running a 3-gallon fuel tank under the front seat, which seems fine since I don't burn much gasoline.
More to follow.
D-