V-Drive Dividers (1999 SAN)

[scarbs]

Just bought a 1999 SAN a few weeks ago. One of the first items of business was to upgrade the ballast. I removed the hard tanks, aerator pumps, valves/vontrols, and associated hose. (Man, was it nasty under those hard tanks). I am getting ready to upgrade to auto ballast using the reversible pumps and Fly-High Sacs, but wanted to get a few runs in immediately so I bought two 750 lb sacs for the v-drive lockers and a rear-seat sac in the ski locker that I've been filling manually. Anyway, when the locker sacks are full, I noticed what a few of you have already pointed out--that the flimsy dividers in the v-drive lockers bow in and push against the risers on the engine. I thought I would share with you some photos of my solution to this problem, which solved the bowing issue and covered the frayed and soiled edges of the carpeted dividers.

While looking for the aluminum plate upon which I am going to mount my new pumps, I discovered Industrial Metal Supply, which is a regional metal supplier that has a bunch of aluminum and stainless steel drops that it will sell to the public for $1.50-$3.50 per pound. When I bought the aluminum for the pumps, I picked up some channel pieces to line and strengthen the dividers. The thinner channel has a 3/4" web. It fits tightly over the carpet and is screwed on with stainless steel screws. The larger channel has a 1" web and slides onto the tops and fore end. The dividers are super solid now and don't appear to bow at all under the weight of the 750s. Total cost was about $35. I then lined the remaining curved edges with 1" split loom.

I am about halfway through my auto ballast upgrade install--intake thru-hulls, vent thru-hulls, and Jabsco pumps are installed. Although there are already many photos of this upgrade, I will add some in a new thread when the install is completed.

[s_kelley2000]

Nice work and thanks for sharing. I think I may do something similar on my 99 this winter. Do the top and bottom sections still separate easily or are they pretty much one piece now? Not sure about yours but I would have a very hard time getting the panels in and out if they were not able to easily split apart, especially once they became stiffer.

What is the semi-circle in the bottom rear of each panel for, mine does not have those? Did you add that for your ballast system or was that there for the factory ballast? Mine did not come with the factory system but I have the same bags as you plus the under bow bag that I filled manually this summer and I hope to plumb everything in this winter.

[scarbs]

They still separate like they did before. Port side (which I remove much more frequently than the starboard side) is still easy to remove and replace each section through the top of the locker. Starboard is also easy, but only possible if I remove the rear seat back and pull each section all the way through. But I did that before as well. I didn't like bending them to get them out the top--I always felt like they might break.

The two semi-circles were where the old ballast hoses came up from the bilge to the factory hard tanks.

[mnwakerider]

Looks great! I like the way it cleaned up the look of them. I know my 2003 has pretty soiled and ripped bottoms from going in and out of the channels. Thanks for sharing!

[s_kelley2000]

Haha I can't believe I never thought to remove the back seat to make it easier to get the starboard panels in and out. I always hated flexing them to get them in and out.

[wake_fun]

Very nice!

[scottb7]

Did you add/where did you get the netting to make those storage pockets...Maybe I should add some to mine?

[scarbs]

The net came with the boat. I believe it was stock for my model and year. I also think they are available at nautiqueparts.com and nautiqueskins.com.

[ers906]

I did very much of the same thing, albeit a bit less elaborate. I removed the carpet from the panels and used spray rubber (can get to seal gutter leaks etc at a home improvement shop - Ace, Lowes, HD) I bolted aluminum channel to the base channel attached to the flooring, which spanned up to the top piece of channel on the top of the Vdrive compartment. Easy cheap and looks good (in my opinion). Next project it to get the shower and heater back up and working. getting cold here in AZ, the 2 mm gave me my first chills of the year. Will add pics soon