Mako 171 winter project

Duke S · 11-27-2011, 01:17 PM

bought a 1988 Mako 171, needs some repair.

got the console off, about to pull and re-bed the gas tank.
Any advice there?

Looking for parts-
bow and console access covers (teak louvered)
one (or two) 4" aluminum bow fairlead
windshield, grab rail around windshield on console.
plastic logos for stern quarters
gauges: fuel, tach

no bow rail, think I'll leave it off, any good reason to put one on?

FLbeachbum · 11-27-2011, 01:47 PM

Check out http://www.classicmako.com/

Lots of good info there. I have a 1970 17' Mako. Great little boats.

Make sure to take lots of photos and keep us informed of the progress.

Duke S · 11-27-2011, 02:10 PM

Great site, thanks!
Pictures shortly.

dustyflair · 11-28-2011, 01:34 AM

HEy can I come watch/help? I want to do an older Mako in the future and just like seeing re-working going on. I live near Cordova Park and will travel a reasonable distance...

Duke S · 11-28-2011, 07:24 AM

Dusty, an extra pair of hands would help when it comes to the tank lift. I am just picking at it now when I have a few minutes, so I'm not sure when but maybe this weekend. I am in Gulf Breeze/Santa Rosa Shores. You could stop by anytime to see and talk about it. send me your contact info offline.

X-Shark · 11-28-2011, 08:22 AM

Quote:

about to pull and re-bed the gas tank.
Any advice there?

It will be time for a new one. The tank MUST come out for a close inspection. Looking at the top of the tank is worthless.

The tank is at the bottom of the foundation so to speak. Everything gets built on top of them.

If you paint and rewire and not redo the tank, it can come back and bite you in the ass next year and mess up a lot of what you already did.

New tanks should be well cleaning with wax & grease remover. Then sanded with 80gt on a DA sander. Then cleaned again. Then 2 coats of Coal Tar epoxy to make the new last a LOT longer than the original. Document all this and it will be worth money when it comes time to resell.

I'm one of the original members and moderator's on Classic Mako.

They look like this when done.

Duke S · 11-28-2011, 05:04 PM

Thanks X-Shark.

I was thinking about trying to pressure test the old tank, is there a way to properly inspect it to see if it is worth coating with coal tar-epoxy? or should I not even bother? Can you recommend a tank manufacturer local? fuel gauge sender?

Looks like the console base hasn't been sealed in a while, and has two gel coat fractures on the bow end where someone pried it up in the past. sand and mud underneath, and a greasy substance on top of the tank (?), it isn't mud.

sorry, I got lots of questions!

Ocean Master · 11-28-2011, 07:01 PM

Post pictures of what you are doing. Please do not put the tank back in unless it is cleaned and tested. You can't see the exterior condition of the tank unless this is done. If I remember right there is no access panel for this tank. The price for new tanks are about $10.00 per gallon. For the sending unit measure the distance from the top of tank to the bottom. Write that down and take the old one and the mesurement to whoever you buy one from.

Duke S · 11-28-2011, 11:20 PM

Here's the overall side view. needs a little epoxy work on the bow, looks like it had been beached on gravel a few times. I was told it was mostly used in the Chotawhatchee river, FW = good, but they had put a swivel chair mount on the deck without sealing the bottom of the tube. Had to dig out some wet foam, but got down to dry, going to refill foam and glass over the hole in the deck. Who the @*%$'s great idea was it to fill the below deck with foam on boats <20ft? I had a 1976 Mako 20 before, and honestly was not expecting the foam, but OK, I got it now. view of the console shows the butcher job on the panel. I'm thinking to place a flat switch panel over the vertical cutout, and make a teak trimmed storage box where the abused panel and radio are now. holes where the windscreen and grab bar were attached are on the console. Teak should bleach and clean up OK. Complete rewiring needed, half of this goes nowhere.

Pictures of the swivel chair hole and tank surface coming next... removed 10 gallons of fuel, a little water in it.

X-Shark · 11-29-2011, 06:32 AM

On the Sending unit I use these.

http://www.hardin-marine.com/p-211-2...el-sender.aspx

Pay attention to the drop down box as to the length you need.

No moving parts and no needle bounce on the gauge with these.

11-27-2011, 01:17 PM	#1
Duke S Senior Member Mingo Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 181	Mako 171 winter project bought a 1988 Mako 171, needs some repair. got the console off, about to pull and re-bed the gas tank. Any advice there? Looking for parts- bow and console access covers (teak louvered) one (or two) 4" aluminum bow fairlead windshield, grab rail around windshield on console. plastic logos for stern quarters gauges: fuel, tach no bow rail, think I'll leave it off, any good reason to put one on?

11-27-2011, 01:47 PM	#2
FLbeachbum Senior Member Grouper Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: East Pensacola Posts: 1,179	Check out http://www.classicmako.com/ Lots of good info there. I have a 1970 17' Mako. Great little boats. Make sure to take lots of photos and keep us informed of the progress. __________________ David T. Williams Manager ADTS, Authorized ADT Dealer Pensacola, FL dtwms@cox.net

11-28-2011, 07:01 PM	#8
Ocean Master 31' Ocean Master Custom Grouper Join Date: May 2008 Location: Gulf Breeze Intercoastal Posts: 954	Post pictures of what you are doing. Please do not put the tank back in unless it is cleaned and tested. You can't see the exterior condition of the tank unless this is done. If I remember right there is no access panel for this tank. The price for new tanks are about $10.00 per gallon. For the sending unit measure the distance from the top of tank to the bottom. Write that down and take the old one and the mesurement to whoever you buy one from. __________________ "How I Roll" On 71 "Wheelchair Accessible Fishing"

11-28-2011, 11:20 PM	#9
Duke S Senior Member Mingo Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 181	Here's the overall side view. needs a little epoxy work on the bow, looks like it had been beached on gravel a few times. I was told it was mostly used in the Chotawhatchee river, FW = good, but they had put a swivel chair mount on the deck without sealing the bottom of the tube. Had to dig out some wet foam, but got down to dry, going to refill foam and glass over the hole in the deck. Who the @*%$'s great idea was it to fill the below deck with foam on boats <20ft? I had a 1976 Mako 20 before, and honestly was not expecting the foam, but OK, I got it now. view of the console shows the butcher job on the panel. I'm thinking to place a flat switch panel over the vertical cutout, and make a teak trimmed storage box where the abused panel and radio are now. holes where the windscreen and grab bar were attached are on the console. Teak should bleach and clean up OK. Complete rewiring needed, half of this goes nowhere. Pictures of the swivel chair hole and tank surface coming next... removed 10 gallons of fuel, a little water in it. Attached Thumbnails

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11-27-2011, 02:10 PM	#3
Duke S Senior Member Mingo Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 181	Great site, thanks! Pictures shortly.

11-28-2011, 01:34 AM	#4
dustyflair Member Ruby Red Lip Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 99	HEy can I come watch/help? I want to do an older Mako in the future and just like seeing re-working going on. I live near Cordova Park and will travel a reasonable distance...

11-28-2011, 07:24 AM	#5
Duke S Senior Member Mingo Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 181	Dusty, an extra pair of hands would help when it comes to the tank lift. I am just picking at it now when I have a few minutes, so I'm not sure when but maybe this weekend. I am in Gulf Breeze/Santa Rosa Shores. You could stop by anytime to see and talk about it. send me your contact info offline.

11-28-2011, 05:04 PM	#7
Duke S Senior Member Mingo Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 181	Thanks X-Shark. I was thinking about trying to pressure test the old tank, is there a way to properly inspect it to see if it is worth coating with coal tar-epoxy? or should I not even bother? Can you recommend a tank manufacturer local? fuel gauge sender? Looks like the console base hasn't been sealed in a while, and has two gel coat fractures on the bow end where someone pried it up in the past. sand and mud underneath, and a greasy substance on top of the tank (?), it isn't mud. sorry, I got lots of questions!

11-29-2011, 06:32 AM	#10
X-Shark Senior Member White Marlin Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Pensacola, Fl. Posts: 3,031	On the Sending unit I use these. http://www.hardin-marine.com/p-211-2...el-sender.aspx Pay attention to the drop down box as to the length you need. No moving parts and no needle bounce on the gauge with these.

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