Fuel Vent Surfing Sunsetter

[Eagleboy99]

Pretty sure you have to pull upholstery and the gas tank to install the Wedge.  I'd pay $500 for that.  And have somoen else foot the liability.

[NYSKIER]

7 hours ago, Eagleboy99 said:

Pretty sure you have to pull upholstery and the gas tank to install the Wedge.  I'd pay $500 for that.  And have somoen else foot the liability.

I believe you are correct about the gas tank.  I like to do stuff myself but I didn't want to bite of more than I could chew on my first job for the boat.  If I messed something up my wife would kill me

[NYSKIER]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Malibu-Ski-Boat-Wedge-PLate/264475814419?hash=item3d93fcaa13:g:7lkAAOSwxY9dgChI

 

Wedge Bracket for sale, Do I go for it?

[Eagleboy99]

1 hour ago, NYSKIER said:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Malibu-Ski-Boat-Wedge-PLate/264475814419?hash=item3d93fcaa13:g:7lkAAOSwxY9dgChI

 

Wedge Bracket for sale, Do I go for it?

Looks rough but I dunno if that is lack of care or saltwater or what.  Depends on the price.  My only concern would be if the holes were wallowed out.  IIRC there was some guy on this forum that made his own.  Out of stainless maybe?

[gahvey]

I think you need to re-inforce the hull too.  The Wedge puts a ton of extra force on the boat and if the hull isn't set up correctly you could quickly rip a huge hole in the hull.

[Eagleboy99]

3 minutes ago, gahvey said:

I think you need to re-inforce the hull too.  The Wedge puts a ton of extra force on the boat and if the hull isn't set up correctly you could quickly rip a huge hole in the hull.

AFAIK there is nothing special about the hull layup.  IN fact, the Wedge has been installed on non-Malibu boats which I doubt were specially made.  There was a post about holes being ripped in hulls, but that was an impact damage thing.

[Michigan boarder]

My '94 has a wedge that was installed in 2006 and has seen hundreds of wedge-use hours since then.  Some in excess of 30mph by the new owner who didn't remember it was down at the time (no, not me, a friend).

@Chia "Crap, I forgot my chapstick"    "No problem, slide on back here with me..."

The documented hull thickness when I installed STEs:

 

[formulaben]

...and my 2 cents: the transom isn't any thicker at the D rings and they lift the boat by those.