smackdaddy53
Well-known member
I guess I should introduce my self, My name is Mac and I recently purchased a used 1997 mercury 60/45 Jet and Im working on a 1981 Polar Kraft 1652 to put it on and make a poling skiff out of it for fishing the flats down here on the Texas coast. Im planning on removing the center seat pods to make more deck space since they serve no structural purpose anyway. Im going to fab a big front casting deck with storage underneath, a large casting deck in the back for storage, a beefed up raised transom to fit my outboard on, a forward center console made of an aluminum pipe frame with a seaboard top box for steering, switches etc and a dry box below it for wallets, phones etc. I figured on making it like a Ranger Ghost console with the pipe legs showing on the bottom half instead of just a full aluminum sheet console with lots of extra welds and more area to have to paint. i already have the aluminum/seaboard poling platform ready to go minus the white running light and a hairline crack in the leg that needs a little welding, I plan on beefing both rear legs up with a section of larger diameter pipe. I will have some pics for you guys soon!
As of right now I have my jet off and all hardware off and I sandblasted it and plan on leaving it raw with a good anode on the back of the foot and just buffing the raw cast with a scouring pad and some wd40. I keep my stuff clean, flushed and on a trailer when not fishing so it will stay corrosion free. I noticed a lot of the outboard jet units have bubbling paint from corrosion, its a great grade of aluminum alloy just like the Merc lower units, the factory paint just sucks. no paint, no way for corrosion to start underneath it and trap saltwater, problem solved. Im having the bearing pressed off and a new set of O rings, seals, snap rings, bearing, etc. done soon. the guy that had it before me used a grease gun and blew out the seals and salt got in the grease tubes and the bearing and salted the grease fitting up so no grease could come out the return grease tube...a big mess!
My impeller is a three blade aluminum and its in good shape, the liner is a bit grooved from the bearing failing and allowing the impeller to drop and lightly scar the liner...only two shim washers behind the impeller so i plan on resurfacing the liner and re shimming to 1/32" soon. i am going to sharpen my impeller but noticed a few of these threads were debates on whether to sharpen the top or bottom, I am still fuzzy on which way is correct...the motor side or the foot/ liner side?
Any input will be greatly appreciated!
So, have I picked up the right information and have a decent idea of what Im doing with this jet tin? I have only had it for two weeks and have never even been in a boat with a jet besides a PWC/Waverunner...Did I do good?
As of right now I have my jet off and all hardware off and I sandblasted it and plan on leaving it raw with a good anode on the back of the foot and just buffing the raw cast with a scouring pad and some wd40. I keep my stuff clean, flushed and on a trailer when not fishing so it will stay corrosion free. I noticed a lot of the outboard jet units have bubbling paint from corrosion, its a great grade of aluminum alloy just like the Merc lower units, the factory paint just sucks. no paint, no way for corrosion to start underneath it and trap saltwater, problem solved. Im having the bearing pressed off and a new set of O rings, seals, snap rings, bearing, etc. done soon. the guy that had it before me used a grease gun and blew out the seals and salt got in the grease tubes and the bearing and salted the grease fitting up so no grease could come out the return grease tube...a big mess!
My impeller is a three blade aluminum and its in good shape, the liner is a bit grooved from the bearing failing and allowing the impeller to drop and lightly scar the liner...only two shim washers behind the impeller so i plan on resurfacing the liner and re shimming to 1/32" soon. i am going to sharpen my impeller but noticed a few of these threads were debates on whether to sharpen the top or bottom, I am still fuzzy on which way is correct...the motor side or the foot/ liner side?
Any input will be greatly appreciated!
So, have I picked up the right information and have a decent idea of what Im doing with this jet tin? I have only had it for two weeks and have never even been in a boat with a jet besides a PWC/Waverunner...Did I do good?