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Post by Admin on Jan 23, 2020 19:30:24 GMT
Moving onto the next problem…of which there seems to be a never ending supply. What to do about the muffler? Supplied with the fan cooled Rotax 18 horsepower two stroke engine was a water cooled muffler. Well, you know pretty much what happened to the internal baffles over the years as the craft sat. Shaking both mufflers pretty much sounded like a baby’s rattle tenfold:
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Post by Admin on Jan 23, 2020 19:31:16 GMT
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Post by Admin on Jan 23, 2020 19:32:26 GMT
Now as I’m sure a lot of you know, this water craft was pulled from the market within two years of its release. Numerous problems developed that were addressed from Bombardier as they arose. Initially the 1968 Berkeley turbine was driven with a multi V-Belt drive (4 belts). Because of slippage problem of the belts associated with water, a mid production solution was to change to a flat belt drive with square teeth. Cooling problems of the engine, because of its closed environment, were addressed by adding clam shell vents to the deck in the front and rear. Personally, this visually interrupted the original clean lines of the craft and was archaic at best for increasing the cooling capacity of the original problem.
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Post by Admin on Jan 23, 2020 19:33:24 GMT
I decided to delete the clam shell vent holes to maintain the original lines. Cooling of the engine and ventilation of gasoline fumes problems were addressed by adding a blower system inside the craft. Air intake ventilation for the blower was somewhat hidden by mounting the vent grill in the seat pedestal near the driver’s leg, creating a less obtrusive appearance: The blower duct runs toward the engine producing positive pressure within the semi-enclosed compartment which should aid in gasoline vapor ventilation and engine cooling. The blower switch was hidden by mounting it underneath the seat:
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Post by Admin on Jan 23, 2020 19:34:13 GMT
Within the picture, one can see an Attwood Sahara Bilge pump which replaced the archaic vacuum siphon bilge tube system. The black bilge pump drain tube runs toward the back and exits through the bottom of the rear engine hatch cover maintaining a clean exit appearance. Hopefully this will aid in better engine cooling and ventilation capacity along with bilge water problems:
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Post by Admin on Jan 23, 2020 19:35:00 GMT
Had some trouble with the wood grain dash vinyl that was eventually incompatible with the final finish. It necessitated complete disassembly of the dash and application of a more compatible wood grain vinyl. Overall, I prefer the new look.
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Post by Admin on Jan 23, 2020 19:35:47 GMT
The trailer with which this craft will be towed was customized to fit both the ’68 Sea Doo and the ’59 Volksboat. Took some special words, however they both ride well. Volksboat will be finished shortly.
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Post by Admin on Jan 23, 2020 19:36:40 GMT
Final touches were added. The original rub rail was functional however weather cracked. The decision was made to go with 25 feet of new rub rail which finished off the craft nicely. With no clam shell vents, the sleekness of the original design was well preserved.
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Post by Admin on Jan 23, 2020 19:37:17 GMT
Tried some of the generic covers for PWCs and they just didn't fit tight enough to travel at highway speeds. Decided to have a custom cover made with a soft felt liner next to the painted surface to prevent chafing. Fits like a glove with a ratcheting strap that pulls a strap tight underneath the rubrail. Doesn't slap at highway speeds.
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Post by Admin on Jan 23, 2020 19:38:05 GMT
Finished up a few more concerns with the ’68 Sea Doo…I only hope that I can check its performance out prior to autumn. Originally, the paddle for the Sea Doo was just placed within the inside of the craft. Didn’t really like that idea for the potential of the paddle bouncing around and possibly jarring or knocking something loose. The solution was to lock the paddle in place via two tool handle holders. The holders wedge the paddle in place on the inside starboard hull without it budging an inch.
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Post by Admin on Jan 23, 2020 19:38:47 GMT
The original 1968 Sea Doo came with a vacuum formed plastic tool compartment for holding extraneous engine tools. Well, you all know what happened to the vacuum formed plastic that was new some 44 years ago…it was long gone! Now what to do with carrying some pliers, spark plug wrench, spark plugs and adjustable wrench without them bouncing all over the place. Build an aluminum tool box for the extra tools. The next question was to determine where to mount the tool box. The perfect place was under the seat plywood, but you all know what eventually happens when humidity and wave bouncing interacts with a somewhat heavy tool box…it eventually pulls the course threaded wood screws right out of the seat plywood base. The final solution was to un-upholster the seat to be able to insert blind mounting nuts (70’s old school terminology) in place of wood screws.
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Post by Admin on Jan 23, 2020 19:39:51 GMT
This allowed for a snug attachment of the tool box to the bottom of the plywood seat: And then shut the tool box for a secure and rattle proof enclosure thus having the problem solved:
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Post by Admin on Jan 23, 2020 19:40:52 GMT
The cliché of "better late than never" appropriately fits this thread. Late as defined here, consists of 7 years since first posted, but the video has been completed. This restoration project was truly a labor of love because of the fascination developed since first seeing a 1968 Model 320 tied up to a public pier back in 1969. Enjoy: Click Here
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