skipce

Hi all,
My first post to the group but have been reading the posts for several months now. Because of all of you I decided to buy a 2004 1800 Pulse CC with a 115 Johnson 4 stroke. A little underpowered but it's OK. I bought this over a 17 Mako with which I am familiar.
I have only put it in the water 3 times now but I think I made the right choice. Thanks.
Do any of you know of a way to make the windshield and the grab rail a quick release or foldable or something?
I am in Tampa Fl and will use the boat 2/3 times a week all year long. It's just 8/10 inches to high to fit under the garage.
Thanks.

gf

Heck, if it's a bunk trailer just move each of the sides out a little so the boat sits an inch lower on the trailer. Actually, you can probably do that with the roller trailers too.

ChillOutfishing

Skipce, congratulation on your boat and welcome. I think with the right prop your 115 4stk should be fine. When I was debating which eng to get (4stk 115 vs 2stk 150 carb) the salesmen said either was fine, but I cared for the extra 10 mph and smoke and slightly more fuel usage. Any way regarding your windshield and rail, my std garage clears the Plexiglas but not the railing. So I took it off and on days that I have 3 or more folks it Takes me 5 painful minutes to assemble and unassembled! I am sick of it now, and will be taking the rail to a marine t-top shop or rail/weld shop to have it cut, connector and pinned so I can have it off and on in a painless snap (note painless).
And believe me I tried some silly ways (e.g. dropping the tire pressure and carrying a air pump). The trailer and tires are also key to resolving this problem. I specifically wrote on the buyers agreement that the boat had to be within the specific measurements needless to say they changed the entire deal and I resorted to attorney and legal route, the next day we settled for half of the diff and when I took it home I found that it did not fit. They could have ordered the trailer with small fat trailer tires and axle to support, but now I have to deal with the situation by modifying the rail.

It would be nice to hear Key’s (Mckee) ideas on resolving this. I am not sure that by cutting and sleeve the grab on rail will it lose its integrity and fail when I need it the most?

flycaster

Congrats on the boat. I'm also a new Mckee Craft owner (Marathon 184). I've put about 3 hours on it with a Yamaha F115. Seems like a perfect match to me. Planes quickly and plenty of speed. Havn't really had a chance to see what top end is.
Anyway, a fold-down console/windshield option would be a great option. I plan to remove mine for winter storage in the garage. I have seen boats with fold-open consoles but don't recall the manufacturer.

Jeff

skipce

Hey flycaster,
With my wife and I ,full fuel the boat hits 40 mph going downhill.
115 in the brochure is listed as minimum HP. I think that a 150 would be the right power. Although with the price of fuel today I'll stay with the 115.
Sure hope someone can come up with a solution to folding the grab rail.

skipce

Hey ChillOutfishing,
Thanks for the welcome.
I did E-mail the factory but no word yet from them on a solution to lowering the windshield/grab rail. No way I'm crawling under there each time to put it back up.
I do believe that McKee monitors this Forum, so they may be waiting to see if anyone comes up with an idea.
Skip

flycaster

Hi Skip, you've got a point -- the right power depends on typical usage. For myself, I do alot of solo and 2-person inshore fishing and plan to run with a half-full tank (~30 gals). Also like to minimize the motor weight and gas consumption.

Jeff

skipce

Well I guess no one has come up with a quick take down type of thing for the grab rail and windshield.
Can anyone recommend a good fabricator in the Tampa Fl area?
I need to get this done.
Thanks