Ranger R70 “easy” updates

[Dirtyeggroll]

On 10/16/2019 at 10:05 AM, OnthePotomac said:

You have a real labor of love there and are doing a first class job on everything you have done. You will have a bond with that boat forever as you look back on all you have done.

It has been my goal to take my time and use only quality parts for making this boat into what I want. It has been extremely rewarding and I have really enjoyed the process. 
 

Next up on the docket is adding hydraulic steering. Took me all day on the day before Christmas Eve but, with some help I finally had to engineer a tool to get the steering wheel off. I tried every gear and steering wheel puller I could loan from O’Reilly to get the steering wheel hub removed with no success. Luckily, I have a friend who is a bass boat wizard who helped me fab up the perfect puller and that baby popped right off. I hope to get the hydraulic steering operational before the New Year. I ended up getting the Protech system from Cabela’s because I had a bunch of CLUB points to spend.

 

[NorcalBassin]

Boat is looking great... one heck of a project for you this past year and it's cool seeing all of your progress.

[Dirtyeggroll]

Got the hydraulic steering installed and lines and helm filled with oil.

 

What I didn’t realize was how much turn of the motor I would lose due to the cylinder bottoming out. Boy am I disappointed. I really loved how how the little boat could maneuver at idle and how I could turn the motor to gain a couple inches in the garage.

 

I went from having greater than 45 degrees of motor turn to either side to having far less than 45 degrees on either side.

 

I did everything exactly per the instructions and checked it all multiple times. I think it’s just an artifact of the UFlex Protech system I am using. 
 

Hoping I can come up with something to gain most of my turning back, because the install is pretty much irreversible given the larger hole I had to make for the new helm and the routing of the old steering cable. *sigh*

 

I’ll try to find some old pictures of the previous turning angle to compare to the new.

[jaimeastin]

3 hours ago, Dirtyeggroll said:

Hoping I can come up with something to gain most of my turning back, because the install is pretty much irreversible given the larger hole I had to make for the new helm and the routing of the old steering cable. *sigh*

Dang... I know you will find a solution.  These are just the little things that mess up a great idea in projects.  I don't have a clue to help you right now, but hopefully you will come up with something or someone can chime in.

[Dirtyeggroll]

Installed the MEGA 360!

Now to get the cover refitted to fit over it.

 

The next thing I want to do is remove the “Tracker” stickers from the motor and replace with some silver “Mercury” ones.

[TNHillBilly]

How is the deck holding up with the foot pedal tray?  Did you have to add structural mods to reinforce anything?  I am planning to add the same tray to my 94 R70.

[Dirtyeggroll]

3 hours ago, TNHillBilly said:

How is the deck holding up with the foot pedal tray?  Did you have to add structural mods to reinforce anything?  I am planning to add the same tray to my 94 R70.

No structure support needed. It’s firm up there with plenty of support already. Just make sure to seal the cut edges with fiberglass resin to prevent water intrusion into the wood between the fiberglass.

[Dirtyeggroll]

 

The last upgrade for a while. I added a TuffSkinz motor cover. My vision for this thing has been realized! 

[Dirtyeggroll]

The other day I ran across a guy who said he could fit an 8’ rod in an R70. 
 

He showed me a mod to cut the front of the rod locker so the rods can enter the space up under the bow panel.

 

BOOM now I can fit my Dobyns 867 and other 8’+ rods in my R70!

[jbsoonerfan]

I added one to mine and I love it as well.

[Wisconsinfish]

I have been looking at purchasing a R70 just like this for my husband. How do I find out the overall weight of the boat/ trailer/ outboard/ and full tank? 

[Dirtyeggroll]

Almost forgot to add...

 

Had some fab work done on the trailer because I moved and the garage was only 20’ deep. The boat will now fit in there with the motor up on the transom saver.

 

[Skunked again]

WOW! Very nice !!

 

[Scott5141]

I own a 1995 R70 and I was wondering after you got the recessed trolling motor trey installed was there any give in the front deck? I wasn't sure if it was have some weak spots

[Dirtyeggroll]

2 hours ago, Scott5141 said:

I own a 1995 R70 and I was wondering after you got the recessed trolling motor trey installed was there any give in the front deck? I wasn't sure if it was have some weak spots

No give. No weak spots. No structural support is removed.Works great! 

[Kyle S]

@Dirtyeggroll

What a great looking boat! You've recommended buying an older ranger to me a few times during my posts on here asking for help when I was purchasing my boat. I see why! That thing looks awesome! Love all of the mods you've done to it! Hows that motor holding up!? I Assume its the original outboard that came with the boat?

[Dirtyeggroll]

3 hours ago, Kyle S said:

@Dirtyeggroll

What a great looking boat! You've recommended buying an older ranger to me a few times during my posts on here asking for help when I was purchasing my boat. I see why! That thing looks awesome! Love all of the mods you've done to it! Hows that motor holding up!? I Assume its the original outboard that came with the boat?

Not the original motor. It is a 2001 mercury 125 ELPTO 2 stroke. With regular maintenance it starts on the first turn of the key.

[InfantryMP]

Loved reading this! The boat looks great...good work

[Scott5141]

Awesome I'm going to get one ordered. Wish it wasn't $200 hahaha. I was also going to see if you installed the retractable rod straps? I didn't know if it would get in the way of the wire channels that go through the sides of the boat.  

[Dirtyeggroll]

42 minutes ago, Scott5141 said:

Awesome I'm going to get one ordered. Wish it wasn't $200 hahaha. I was also going to see if you installed the retractable rod straps? I didn't know if it would get in the way of the wire channels that go through the sides of the boat.  

I did not install them but I have taken them off before to maintenance them and they do indeed get into the wire channels. Frankly, I do not like the retractable rod straps and would not put them on the boat again. The area where they clip sits up to high and I am constantly feeling it under my foot. I like the traditional one I have on the port side better.

[Scott5141]

Ok thank you for answering all my questions. I've really liked all the upgrades you done to your boat. I will install the old style instead of the other retractable ones. 

[Gilly]

Where did you get the domed decals?

 

[Dirtyeggroll]

On 2/11/2022 at 9:58 PM, Gilly said:

Where did you get the domed decals?

 

https://www.domednumbers.com/online-store/Ranger-Sport-with-Model-Number-v1-2-included-p157880951

[MidwestBassAttack]

Loving the updates!! Good for you and your giving me plenty of ideas!

 

if you don’t mind me asking, what are you “all in” from $ at this point?

[Dirtyeggroll]

1 hour ago, MidwestBassAttack said:

Loving the updates!! Good for you and your giving me plenty of ideas!

 

if you don’t mind me asking, what are you “all in” from $ at this point?

oh please don’t make me cringe at how much I’ve spent on this boat yaya
 

$5500 for boat

$150 to repair keel / add keel guard

$500 to mod trailer

$200 for seats

$70 for decals

$100 to make deck extension into compartment

$250 for TuffSkinz

$1100 for hydraulic steering

 

Im probably forgetting something 

 

Just assume retail for electronics (graphs, powerpoles, lithium batteries, mega 360 etc)