Malibu 185 Pod Project

[chris73]

Here’s how the dash came together. Even easier with a CNC machine.

Looks neat and clean. Only problem I see if that Garmin ever fails, you'll lose all gauges at once.

 

[searun]

Looks neat and clean. Only problem I see if that Garmin ever fails, you'll lose all gauges at once.

I can bring them up on my other main HDS units, so have a back up. and, BOAT stands for Bring On Another Thousand, so pay to play.

 

[Rain City]

I can bring them up on my other main HDS units, so have a back up. and, BOAT stands for Bring On Another Thousand, so pay to play.

That's why they call them BOATTs now.
Bring Out Another Ten Thousand

 

[SpringVelocity]

I can bring them up on my other main HDS units, so have a back up. and, BOAT stands for Bring On Another Thousand, so pay to play.

Isn't that the truth.....

 

[Enniberg]

I can bring them up on my other main HDS units, so have a back up. and, BOAT stands for Bring On Another Thousand, so pay to play.

I think this is a great idea. If the plotter/sounder was to fail, I would likely not be using the boat before getting it fixed anyway, besides, getting back to the dock with no gauges is not really a problem.

 

[SpringVelocity]

And we are away. Pulled motor on weekend. Now to pod. More pics to come. I have to admit I couldn't believe how much wiring/mechanical stuff we pulled out.

It amazes how much space the doghouse took up.

 

[SpringVelocity]

Wont miss this.... LOL

 

[Stizzla]

GAME CHANGER!!!

 

[TipUp]

We podded our 185 malibu back in 2015 and installed a fish box in the floor where the doghouse used to be. In the first picture you can see the hatch in the floor. Huge improvement in fishable space with the doghouse removed

 

[SpringVelocity]

Boat goes in Tuesday at dss welding. I ended up getting it done closer to me in the end which was great.

Just pulling out a few things this weekend. Looks like I need to completely reconfigure helm lose some gauges.

Pics too follow...

 

[SpringVelocity]

If anyone needs a malibu doghouse let me know.....

 

[SpringVelocity]

We podded our 185 malibu back in 2015 and installed a fish box in the floor where the doghouse used to be. In the first picture you can see the hatch in the floor. Huge improvement in fishable space with the doghouse removed

That's what I had in mind for transom and hatches....

 

[SpringVelocity]

Here is a photo of transom/boat before I started, and some work in progress pictures of the pod. Fabricator sent me these today.

 

[SpringVelocity]

Just waiting on powder coating to finish, and final assembly. And then to finish off dash, and inside cabinets.

One thing did come up. Transducer. Any thoughts on a in-hull transducer. I have P66 right now I don't have much room once pod installed, and trim tabs. I don't really want to mount it on pod.

I could go with a thru hull but not sure how comfortable I am with drilling holes in hull. Any one have thoughts on P66 in hull transducer?

 

[noluck]

Just waiting on powder coating to finish, and final assembly. And then to finish off dash, and inside cabinets.

One thing did come up. Transducer. Any thoughts on a in-hull transducer. I have P66 right now I don't have much room once pod installed, and trim tabs. I don't really want to mount it on pod.

I could go with a thru hull but not sure how comfortable I am with drilling holes in hull. Any one have thoughts on P66 in hull transducer?

if the pod follows the hull shape , put it in the pod

 

[Brando]

did you go 25 or 30 for shaft length? I put a tab on the outside of my pod for the transducer to bolt on. Can mount uhmw to that and screw in or direct to hull but maybe too late if your in coating already. I don’t see an anode tab welded on, are you just going to drill a hole after? Looking fwd to the finished pictures I’m hoping to get mine back in the water this Sunday or early next week. Lots of little details in these jobs that get underestimated.

 

[SpringVelocity]

did you go 25 or 30 for shaft length? I put a tab on the outside of my pod for the transducer to bolt on. Can mount uhmw to that and screw in or direct to hull but maybe too late if your in coating already. I don’t see an anode tab welded on, are you just going to drill a hole after? Looking fwd to the finished pictures I’m hoping to get mine back in the water this Sunday or early next week. Lots of little details in these jobs that get underestimated.

25 inch length.

That was just a pic above when it was tack welded. There are spots for them with additional brackets.

I wasn't going to powdercoat it I just think it looks better honestly. I have drill holes into mine after the fact with motor etc. It doesn't worry me. I work with powder coating pretty much F/T at my work. I asked for an additional primer underneath, and will paint with epoxy if I have to. This boat is going to be trailered and not moored. It should last a while.

Big thanks to Larry at DSS he has been very helpful so far.

As for transducer I could mount it to pod, but I was trying to avoid that.

 

[Brando]

Good call on the epoxy. Nothing wrong with powder coating if the prep work is done properly.

 

[SpringVelocity]

Good call on the epoxy. Nothing wrong with powder coating if the prep work is done properly.

It's getting powdercoated. I am just putting epoxy on holes if they are drilled after fact. The powdercoating is prepped and has primer underneath. A lot of places miss the primer step....

 

[Rain City]

Good call on the epoxy. Nothing wrong with powder coating if the prep work is done properly.

I always wondered what the difference was. When people say epoxy they just mean epoxy paint instead of power coat right?