Nitro NX 882 DC Facelift and Improvements

[waterhazard]

Well,  I have been anxious get started on this for about a year now but I have finally taken the plunge on several improvements and upgrades to my NX882 DC.    It is a 2003 Dual Console model with a Merc 150 Xr6.

I debated long and hard about selling it and buying another boat.   However, I figured I would probably buy a used one and I would end up having to do everything I would do to the one I already had to the new one.   Besides I love the color of this boat and I get a lot of compliments on it.   So here is a list of the things I am going to be doing over the Christmas break.

1)  Install New Motorguide Tour Series Digital 82# Trolling Motor - I fished with a buddy who had it on a 21 foot Champion and I loved it.  My current pro-series 67# is a peice of crap and I wore it out using it in tournaments last year.   I broke the front of the Gator mount off, the itermittent switch is broken, the bearings in the shaft are shot and the motor makes a taping noise.    Needless to say this was a requirement and I wanted some more power to help handle the wind, etc.

2)  Install new Humminbird 798c Side Imaging GPS/FF Combo with the Navionics Bundle.     I am a little anxious about this one.   I think I will like it a lot but also wondering if it is worth the investment.   A friend of mine has one and really likes it but it takes some getting used to.   My current machine is a cheap GPS/FF combo from walmart and it was a waste of money so I decided to get a quality machine this time.

3)  Install Teleflex BayStar Hydraulic Steering    This is the same setup as Sea Star but about $450 cheaper as it maxes out with 150hp.   Decided I needed this when I hit a bridge piling while idling through a turn because of some stiff Rack and Pinion steering.    I had Sea Star on a flats boat a few years ago and really liked it.

4)  Re-Carpet the Boat - www.bassboatcarpet.com  I went with Midnight Star for the color.   The current stuff is wore out and stained pretty bad also faded so bad that it doesnt match anymore.

5)  New Seats - I went with llebroc industries    http://pilotchair.com/pd-201.cfm I went with Charcoal with Yellow Accents.  The current seats are literally falling apart.  It was less expensive to purchase new quality seats than to have the old ones recovered.  I am only using the buckets and will not put the center seat back in.   I am still contemplating how what I should do with the center step that will be there when I remove the middle seat.

Below are the pictures of the boat in its current state, or nearly current anyway. (The seats are not torn in the picture but they sure are now so it is time to replace them).   I will try to post before and after photos along the way.   Hopefully my experience and posting will help any of you thinking about doing any similar improvements or upgrades.   

The total price tag for all of the above is about $3500.   I took advantage of Triple Rewards Points at BPS this week so I actually got about $150 in gift certificates for purchasing the TM and the GPS/FF from them.   Another good part is that only the seats and the carpet would have to go with the boat if I decided to sell it later.    I will keep everything else in the attic to sell with it if needed later.

[Dan929CDX]

When you put the new carpet in I would install a different base for the pedestal seats. The ones that come standard I dont like because the bolt to the bottom of the seat and it is either all or nothing and they can seize up in the hole and be a pain in the butt to pull out.

[Dan929CDX]

Sorry, my first post seems somewhat arrogant, what I was trying to say was when I recarpet my 929 I will be replacing the pedestal seat bases with the tin threaded version. I like this version better because it is easier to remove the seat. The current version I have seizes up and I have to use a pipe wrench to remove the seat. I think it gives you more options. Just something to consider. Also I had a motor guide and switched to Minn Kota and love it, only draw back is the foot pedal does not fit in the recess but i can fix that with troll eze. I have been able to power through grass that I wouldn't have ever even attempted to with my motor guide, I also jumped from a 67 to a 101 but that is besides the point. I would at least consider the switch I have been very happy with my switch. What about turning the space under the 3rd seat into storage. I think it would be easy. Again food for thought.

Danny 

[nmanley]

Sounds like a good SMART project on a great looking boat.   

I love the color scheme of your boat. 

[waterhazard]

When you put the new carpet in I would install a different base for the pedestal seats. The ones that come standard I dont like because the bolt to the bottom of the seat and it is either all or nothing and they can seize up in the hole and be a pain in the butt to pull out.

I have had that problem and I believe I may just put the adapters in there to keep me from having to buy all new pedastals and screwing them in.   I havent figured out yet what that would take but I will obviously know more when I peel back the carpet.      I really do hate those OEM pedastals.

[waterhazard]

Sorry, my first post seems somewhat arrogant, what I was trying to say was when I recarpet my 929 I will be replacing the pedestal seat bases with the tin threaded version. I like this version better because it is easier to remove the seat. The current version I have seizes up and I have to use a pipe wrench to remove the seat. I think it gives you more options. Just something to consider. Also I had a motor guide and switched to Minn Kota and love it, only draw back is the foot pedal does not fit in the recess but i can fix that with troll eze. I have been able to power through grass that I wouldn't have ever even attempted to with my motor guide, I also jumped from a 67 to a 101 but that is besides the point. I would at least consider the switch I have been very happy with my switch. What about turning the space under the 3rd seat into storage. I think it would be easy. Again food for thought.

Danny 

No offense taken on the previous post.   I am far from thin skinned on those things.           I went with the motorguide based on personal preference but I found with it that the pedal doesnt fit the recess tray either!    I have an idea on a mod that I can make to allow it to sit in there.   I will try to put some photos up of it once I am done.    I thought about storage under the step, was thinking about one of those hatches with the non-skid on it but those things are well over $100 and I don't think I need the storage that bad.     I found some non-skid tape that is not the gritty sandpaper  kind that I may use on there or I may just carpet it and put a peice of rubber trim on the front.

[Dan929CDX]

I would be careful altering the trolling motor if that is the route you are taking. I think that would void the warranty and that might be something you would want to hold onto. I have heard of guys altering the recess a little but i would just order the troll eze. Its $79.00 but i think it would give you a nice finished look and i just ordered mine and im going to paint it so it looks a little more stock since I have a white hull boat. Also do you plan on mounting you depthfinder in the console or off to the side. I currently have mine mounted off to the side but like the finish look of having it in the console. Just wandering if it is a big project or something pretty easy to do.

[waterhazard]

I would be careful altering the trolling motor if that is the route you are taking. I think that would void the warranty and that might be something you would want to hold onto. I have heard of guys altering the recess a little but i would just order the troll eze. Its $79.00 but i think it would give you a nice finished look and i just ordered mine and im going to paint it so it looks a little more stock since I have a white hull boat. Also do you plan on mounting you depthfinder in the console or off to the side. I currently have mine mounted off to the side but like the finish look of having it in the console. Just wandering if it is a big project or something pretty easy to do.

I wasnt planning on modifying the motor or the pedal.   All I had to do was notch out a bit of the recess tray for the front ears of the pedal.    When I install the new carpet I will fiberglass those small notches and carpet around them.    The cool part is that it kind of keeps the pedal in position without screwing it down.   This allows me to remove the entire motor when I got to tournaments overnight, etc.

As far as the new fishfinder.   I already had a Humminbird with the same pattern and I just put it back where the old one was off to the side.   The unit is too big to mount in the dash and the dash panel is pretty flimsy.    I acualy thought about mounting my smaller depth finder in the center slot of the dash but it wouldnt fit.      I just mounted it underneath the other one.     This allows me to have a bottom finder on while running on plane as you cant really do that with the sidefinder due to the size and position of the transducer.    I will post pictures tomorrow of the mounting of the transducer for the sidescan and how I mounted the two fishfinders.   

Thanks for all the comments and recommendations.

So far I have finished the following.

Mounted the new trolling motor.
Installed the new Humminbird Side Imaging and transducer
Instaled the hydraulic steering.

I have had it on the water since these were installed and all worked really really well.   The steering was well worth the investment, what a difference.

The only issue is the screws on the trolling motor tend to work themselves loose.  I will need to put some locking nuts on the underside of the rubber mounts to keep that from happening.

I will be starting the carpet tear out and installation tomorrow.    Hope to have it completely done in a couple of weeks.

[Dan929CDX]

I had the same issue with my motor guide and did fix it with locking nuts and never had an issue after that. I saw something on bassmasters this morning on tv, I cant remember the pro's name but he had his fishfinder on a ram mount so he could turn it and see it from the bow while he was up fishing and then turn it around to see it while running. After seeing that I think I will leave mine out to the side. Look forward to seeing the pics.

[waterhazard]

Holy Crap,

Recarpeting a bass boat is for the birds.   I now know why they were going to charge me $900 to do it.   What a messy job!

I go the front carpet down on the area that is not covered by the storage hatches.    That was very tricky and awkward.  The floor of the boat was relatively easy and straight forward.    I can tell you the the best thing I found to use was Laquer Thinner and pour it all over the carpet.   Let is sit and then just peel it up.   It is nearly impossible to scrap the glue off without some sort of solvent.     

You mentioned the ram mount for the fish finder but the 700 series side scan has a gimble of sorts that rotates 360 and also adjust up and down with the tilt.     The other day while I was fising an open water area I found myself wanting to look at the side scan and I just turned it toward the bow.    I didnt think of it at the time but I am glad I did it that way because of this.

Anyhow.   I should, should have it all done, except for the new seats by tomorrow night and if so I may be able to get some pictures posted.   

So far so good but very messy and a lot of hard work.   

[waterhazard]

BTW - once I pulled the carpet up I looked at the pedestal base and decided that I would go ahead and take it out and replace it with a 3/4" pin type.     However, I have made the decision that I will have the metal exposed and on top of the carpet.    The factory had the base bondo'd in and I didnt feel like going through all of that.     Besides, I see that the bushings on those are nylon and sometimes they crack.   If I ever need to replace it I dont want to have to take the carpeting back out.

I did find that the rear base is an offset type and I am going to have to find one of those to fit.

[Dan929CDX]

Yeah I think when I do mine I will strip the carpet myself then have someone else install it.

[waterhazard]

I can tell you that I spent a lot of money on supplies and if they arent going to charge make you provide anything more than the glue and the carpet you will be better off having them do everything.    Stripping it was the worst part, your boat gets messy because of the adhesive you are melting down with laquer thinner etc.     Its a big mess.     I am going on my 4th day of work and it's not done  yet.     All of the carpet is installed and we only have one peice of molding to put back on and then we need to screw in all of the lids, etc.     

I was able to find some non-skid strips to put in place of the middle seat.    I wasnt going to do that because I didnt think they made any without the sandpaper type surface but I actually found some that are just a hard rubber non-skid at our local boating supply shop.     The seats should be here today but I said that yesterday.

[waterhazard]

The Project is COMPLETE.  Thank the good Lord above and a wonderful patient wife down here below!    Below are a few pictures, all pretty self explanatory.

Front to back view.   You can see the new MotorGuide Digital Tour Series 82# mounted.    It nearly planes the boat out

Seating area

Cockpit (showing how i mounted the sonars)   The top is the side imaging and the bottom is just a small fish finder that I use at high speed because the transducer is in the hull.

This shows where I mounted the side imaging transducer

enjoy guys.   If any of you are planning to do any of these improvements please feel free to give me a shout on email and I will provide any helpful hints that I came across.     The first one that I will offer is to hire someone to do the carpet work!

[crawdad18]

The boat looks great.  Congrats on a job well done.

[Dan929CDX]

looks great! nice work, just be careful with bleeding fish.

[fishin geek]

The boat looks great!  Where did you get the carpet edge trim, and was it diffficult to install?

[waterhazard]

thanks for the compliments.

The carpet edge trim was already on the boat and I just reglued and re-riveted it back in place.    However, bassboatcarpets.com sells it in 20ft sections I think.    Its not to expensive and if you get it brand new  it comes with a 3M adhesive backing.     Just put it on rounded side up and dont be afraid to push it down on the carpet fairly firmly.     You will need to rivet the corners in, especially the sharp turns but that is easy enough.    The factory had it riveted so I saw no reason not to do it.

John

[bassackards]

hey smallmouth,
I have almost an exact nx882 with tan carpet.  I just purchased a humminbird 798c and am a bit confused on the transducer location because of the transom design.  With the location you chose,  does it work well (give depth) a high speed.  And have you experianced any problems with your location as to operation of the unit?   If not, could you send me a more detailed pic and measurments of the location.  I would appreciate your repy to .
thanks, gary

[KM9E]

 ~c~Nice job on the NX882! Looks awesome.  I am getting ready to redo carpet & seats in my 99 NX882DC.  The front & rear decks don't look too difficult, but I am concerned about the center floor area of the boat.  Any suggestions on how to do the center portion?  Doesn't look like the consoles come out.  Any suggestions on how you measured & layed the carpet in this particular area of the boat?  Thanks ..... Rick, Indpls, IN

[BassBUFF]

Waterhazard hasn't been on the board for a while. You might want to send him an email by clicking on the envelope icon under his name!

[waterhazard]

Hi Guys,

I havent been on for a while.   Been busy coaching football!    Anyhow, there were a couple of questions that deserve an answer.    First - the transducer location I chose is about the only choice for a Side Scan transducer on this boat and it works great but not at high speed.     Typically the side scan doesnt work well at high speed anyway and the issue with mounting that transducer below the water line is that it has too much displacement and pops up.     Mount it where I have mine and get a Y cable to connect another transducer (Down only) and glue that one to the bottom of the boat just beside the drain plug hole.

Second - as far as carpeting the floor of the boat.   The very best thing I can tell you is to use some sort of laquer thinner and soak the floor carpet in it.    While it is still wet peel it up in one piece.    You will then be able to make a template out of it.    That is the best decision I made when doing the carpeting.    Use the old stuff for templates/patterns.


Hope that helps

Tight Lines

[juanio1980]

Hi, congrats on those Improvements, i have the same boat and I want to ask you about the performance of the BayStar Steering system, I talk to the people on Teleflex marine and they don't recommend that system for any Optimax 150 HP, I want to know you point of view since you have it on your boat,  thanks for any reply.

Your boat looks really nice.

Tight Lines

[m28ogie]

How does the baystar hydraulic work on your boat? I am thinking about putting it on a 130HP Johnson.

[theBaitBar]

Great job! I love the yellow.

www.thebaitbar.com