Drilling hole for Paddle Wheel

[jedgell]

I'm thinking about finally installing the paddle wheel for my Perfect Pass. I installed the PP last winter, but decided to wait to install the paddle wheel, since I mostly slalom. I was also a little scared to drill a 2" Hole in my boat! Before I do this, do any of you have any suggestions? I have a '95 Ski, and was planning to drill the hole about 5-6 inches to the right of the plug, (looking back from the front of the engine). Is this OK, or should I put it somewhere else. Is there anything special about installing this, or do I just drill and install? All your help is appreciated, the last thing I want to do is screw up my boat!

[Edwin]

RE: Drilling hole for Paddle Wheel

The paddle wheel servers no function for PP in slalom mode. Slalom mode is rpm based. I'd put the hole saw away for the winter if slalom is your game.

If you need the paddle wheel for the other functions, make sure you keep the paddle wheel positioned in clean water. 5-6" from the drain plug should do just fine. Make sure you keep the clearance required to prevent the paddle wheel from getting crushed by a trailer bunk.

Measure twice, drill once. Good luck...

[Rick]

RE: Drilling hole for Paddle Wheel

Measure twice drill once in a practice piece of plywood or something else. Test fit the paddlewheel in the hole you drilled. Remember a hole to large will ruin your hole day...

[Grant_West]

Ok lets just start by saying Im a Expert at dilling holes in Nautique's.
LOL. Serious I have drilled quite a few transome Remote's and when I was done the remote fit so perfict there was little or no use for silicone, The Key is a Adjustable whole saw. It looks nasty and look like it will tear the **** out of your gell coat but trust me it wont

Do it like this.

1. Look at another nautique where they have there perfict pass wheel take some mesurments as a guide where yours is gonna go. See if your boat has anything in the way on the back side where its gonna pop threw.

Then when you know exactley where the perfict pass wheel is going to go mark the center of the hole with a marker.

Then get the adjustable hole saw and cut a sample hole on a 3/4 in peice of wood. Make the adjustments in the hole saw so that the perfict pass wheel fits perfictly into the sample hole in the wood, It usually takes a few try's to make the perfict size hole, But who cares its only wood. Once you have a hole size that fits your perfict pass wheel your good to go.

The center mark on you boat will be your guide,

Make sure you drill the hole at the angle of the bottom of the boat. You want the hole on the same angle as what ever your drilling into so it sits flat

[Laptom]

Not trying to hyjjack the post, but I have got the same questions about a SAN. Does somebody has any pics and measurements of the paddle wheel placement??

Thanks

[G-man]

On my 206 Perfect Pass recommended drilling the hole to one side of the drain plug. That is to far forward. Nautique recommended it go in the engine compartment opposite of the depthfinder thru hull. It ended up just under the belt of the engine. It work's great there.

[EchoLodge]

Installation of the Paddle Wheel From MBO

http://www.malibuboatowners.com/modu...rder=0&thold=0

[jedgell]

RE: Installation of the Paddle Wheel From MBO

Thanks guys, this makes me feel better about drilling a hole in my boat. I'll probably try working on it around Christmas.

[TwinTip]

RE: Installation of the Paddle Wheel From MBO

Even if you are only into slalom, the paddle wheel will also provide you with water temperature. It's a nice option if you don't have a water temperature sensor in your boat. If at some point in time you go into tricks or wakeboarding, you will need the paddle wheel to adjust speed.

The paddle wheel should be installed in a location where the water flow of the hull will not disrupt the flow of water. At the drain plug and perpendicular to the centerline of the boat is usually a good location. 5 to 6 inches should be fine but make sure that you have a flat surface at this distance. Pay attention to the ring on the paddle wheel that will be mounted flush with the outside of the hull. If you pick a location that is too far from the drain plug, the hull might not be completely flat and the ring on the paddle wheel might not sit flush with the hull. Measure from the outside and once you find a good location for the center of the hole, measure from the inside and confirm you don't have any obstructions. Remember to consider the diameter of the hole, not the center of it. You will also need enough space to also install the plastic nut on the inside of the hull.

Once you find a location for the paddle wheel, make sure that you have enough clearance inside the engine compartment. Note that the paddle wheel will sit flush with the outside of the hull but you will have a couple of inches sticking out into the engine compartment.

I agree to "warm up" by drilling into some wood before you work on the boat, especially if you are new to working with a hole saw. Before drilling on the boat, put some tape on the gelcoat. This should cover the circumference of the blade on the hole saw. When you start drilling, don't put a lot of pressure on the drill, let the saw slowly cut into the gelcoat. Since you are drilling into fiberglass you don't need to put a lot of pressure on the drill, go soft and let the saw come out slowly on the other end. This should give you a very clean cut.

Its easier than it seems. Just double check your measurements before you drill.

[FixerOstuff]

RE: Installation of the Paddle Wheel From MBO

The safest location on your hull, is 1-2 inches forward of the drain plug, in the middle of the first rise from the keel. Roughly 5-6inches off keel. The paddle DOES work for slalom mode for speeds of 24mph and slower. Make sure you have the two inch paddle wheel and not the 1 3-4'' before you go and drill. You should not use a standard hole saw bit. It is to agressive and will chip gelcoat. The bits we use to cut holes in the boats are called Starret whole saw bits. You can find them in the Granger catalog. The 2'' paddlewheel has a sleeve that threads the sensor into the housing. The 1 3/4'' has a pin that secures the sensor into the housing. Check, because I made this mistake once. Any further questions you can catch me at work. bbennett-wccc@cal.net