Build thread: Lux Marine Welded Aluminum

[seabeyond]

i would put in 2 gas tanks, one for each outboard and drop the motor hp by a notch which will save a ton of weight. does the boat really need 500HP on tap ? i dont think so. a 225HP will weigh less and give you 450HP on tap which should be plenty. i would also dump in a bbq+table for fresh fish grilled on the boat after catching them.

I have a pair of tanks in a similar hull to this. Works good, but we decided to go with a single for a couple reasons on this build.

You're right Zurk. The hull could run on 225s, but the 225 seapro is the same v8 engine and the 250s were on hand. The weight difference down to the 200 mercs isn't considerable either and we load the boats pretty well. I run 300s on the other boat and find all the v8 mercs preform the same for our application (225-300s offer same results until you get above 40mph).

I do like the barbeque thought. I have considered a mount.

 

[seabeyond]

It’s a personal preference but if I was fortunate enough to be custom building a boat from scratch I would try to incorporate an overboard drain from my cleaning table.

100% will have a drain out the back and some slope to the table. Certainly helps keep things clean.

 

[Aquaholic]

I've been through 2.5 kickers in 5 years (bought an engine just for the leg instead of spending 4k on a leg last year). Here's my experience on annual kicker/ control items:
-set of new cables every year (maybe 1.5 sets)
- control box every 1.5 years
-1.5 control trim switches a year
- major leg issue every 2 years
-A couple service calls a year for random items (clogged vst/ tstat/ cables/etc) .
- couple added boat pulls to deal with kicker maintenance

I am tired of the noise. I will happily pay the extra 4 grand a year (when you factor in th kickers aint free either). I will also need the available amps coming off the main to feed the seakeeper. Everything is a compromise.

The noise is a big factor. My combo is smaller, but on days where the kicker is struggling to keep up, or the currents and traffic at Sand Heads, trolling on the main is a gift. Fishing friends say the kicker is a quiet one compared to their set up, but the long day of noise still adds up.

 

[seabeyond]

The noise is a big factor. My combo is smaller, but on days where the kicker is struggling to keep up, or the currents and traffic at Sand Heads, trolling on the main is a gift. Fishing friends say the kicker is a quiet one compared to their set up, but the long day of noise still adds up.

I am tight to the kicker as I run a rear steer port transom. I'm sure it hasn't helped my hearing over the last decade. Would be better if the rear helm was on the cab bulkhead but we use that space as a guest seat (prime seat)

 

[BC Coast Pilot]

I've been through 2.5 kickers in 5 years (bought an engine just for the leg instead of spending 4k on a leg last year). Here's my experience on annual kicker/ control items:
-set of new cables every year (maybe 1.5 sets)
- control box every 1.5 years
-1.5 control trim switches a year
- major leg issue every 2 years
-A couple service calls a year for random items (clogged vst/ tstat/ cables/etc) .
- couple added boat pulls to deal with kicker maintenance

I am tired of the noise. I will happily pay the extra 4 grand a year (when you factor in th kickers aint free either). I will also need the available amps coming off the main to feed the seakeeper. Everything is a compromise.

It is indeed a compromise, I wonder how many hours those kickers gave you. Hours that will now be on the mains, It will be interesting to see at the the end of a couple of seasons. In hindsight I should have put hour meters on my kickers. But welcome to the club, it is indeed a game changer on the mains, I certainly enjoy the quiet and control.

 

[seabeyond]

It is indeed a compromise, I wonder how many hours those kickers gave you. Hours that will now be on the mains, It will be interesting to see at the the end of a couple of seasons. In hindsight I should have put hour meters on my kickers. But welcome to the club, it is indeed a game changer on the mains, I certainly enjoy the quiet and control.

We put about 600 hours a year on the kickers. So it should add around 300 hours a year to the motors (alternating trolling engines). Other school of thought is to hour up one engine and keep that one as a parts motor at repower time (sell the 1200-1500 hour motor). I suspect merc will update the v8 in the next 3 years (been the same since 2018) so the parts motor option might become irrelevant. I plan to alternate to keep the oil chnage intervals the same on both engines.