Ride Plate Help Please!!!

Discussion in 'Inboards' started by Jmills3191, Apr 12, 2017.

  1. Jmills3191
    Joined: Apr 2017
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    Jmills3191 New Member

    I'm normally not one to randomly post in forums but I am STUCK! I recently obtained a 1995 Sea Rayder Z-16 with a Mercury Sport Jet 120 Motor. The classic disaster occurred before I obtained the boat, of starting it without water and causing a backfire. Of course this means the ride plate was mangled. I attached pictures. I need any and all advice on what to do here. I can't seem to find a dealer that can locate the new ride plate, so I'm going to attempt to bend it back into shape. Is this a good idea? Any pre-warnings I should know of. Any safety steps or any do's and do not's would be greatly appreciated!
     

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  2. hoytedow
    Joined: Sep 2009
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    hoytedow Carbon Based Life Form

    Welcome, Mills.

    Have you checked any salvage yards?

    Before bending, make a fitting jig of its final shape out of oak so you don't overbend it. Better to bend a little at a time than to push it too far.
     
  3. Jmills3191
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    Jmills3191 New Member

    Thank you very much. I purchased a new kit after hunting down the part number through Mercury. I still am going to attempt to bend this back though. When you say oak, are you referring to making a template for the angles?
     
  4. Jmills3191
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    Jmills3191 New Member

    No, I haven't checked salvage yards. I'm new into boating and was unaware that boat salvage yards were a thing. Any recommendations there? Again, I'm going to attempt to bend this back because returning the $594 part kit that I just purchased seems like a better idea than just installing it and not trying to repair the old one.
     
  5. hoytedow
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    hoytedow Carbon Based Life Form

    Keep the part until you have done the repair on the old one. If you can't restore it you will need the new part. A boat is a hole in the water into which you pour money. Keep the new part until you are sure the restoration was a true success after sea trial.
     
  6. hoytedow
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    hoytedow Carbon Based Life Form

    I do mean that you should shape it to accurately match the original angles of the damaged piece. Good luck.
     
  7. Jmills3191
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    Jmills3191 New Member

    Thank you VERY much. Yes, I have heard that B.O.A.T. stands for "Bust Out Another Thousand." I was prepared for that just not this soon haha. I will keep the new part handy until I am able to either confirm or deny that I did an adequate job. Thank you for all of the input!
     
  8. hoytedow
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    hoytedow Carbon Based Life Form

    With boats, it is important to know the consequences of mistakes before they are made. We have all made mistakes so think of the dollars as tuition.

    One members sign off is that the only mistake you can't learn from is your last one so try to avoid that one. :cool:
     

  9. Robert Yeager
    Joined: Apr 2021
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    Robert Yeager New Member

    I had the same thing happen to me last year, and was able to repair it just as described. To be safe, though, I annealed the ride plate in my self cleaning oven. I used blocks of wood and a hammer to shape it back quite well.
     
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