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Hey everybody. I have been a member for a year or so, but have been so wrapped up in researching issues and learning from all of your experiences that I never noticed the new member section. Thought I should properly introduce us. We acquired a 2006 220 in April of last year after having a Sea Ray for 17 years. Our grandkids are getting older and we needed more space plus a little bigger and heavier rides better in busy water. We are lake people and live at Table Rock Lake in southwest Missouri so we have plenty of room to roam. The boat was in good condition and most of our effort has been in updating a few things. Here is the boat as we picked it up. The previous owner had installed SeaDek on the swim deck the year before and we liked it so much that we had the rest of the interior covered by the same guy before we picked it up. We really like it so much better than carpet. I left the Sony radio in for the time being, but replaced all 6 of the Sony speakers with Polk Audio db652’s powered by an Infinity M4555A amp that also powers the Infinity sub I added. It sounds substantially better now. It makes watching a sunset listening to Tedeski Trucks, Keb Mo, Kenny Chesney or whoever very enjoyable. I recently added a JL Audio blue tooth adapter so we can stream now. For whatever reason this model did not have gas struts on the bow storage doors so I added some. That makes it much easier to use the storage.
I have replaced all of the interior lights with leds including the dash. I put red leds in the instruments. I get less glare and night blindness with the red lights, similar to what we had in aircraft. You can’t beat Superbright LED’s. I would like to upgrade the docking lights someday, but that doesn’t look like something I want to do with the boat on the lift in 50’ of water.

So far I have replaced the thermostat housing (cooling problem), thermostat, impeller, most of the hoses on the front of the engine, the drive belt, tensioner, spark plugs, cap and rotor, idle air control valve, onboard charger, steering actuator, motor cover gas struts, etc… as well as fluids and filters. I also had the old style fuel filler replaced with a current style one. The next project will probably be getting a skirt and cover for the swim platform added to the existing cover. And maybe this winter I will repaint the outdrive. I about have it up to standards. It performs well and idles much better now after replacing the IAC valve. My Sea Ray was a Mercruiser so it has taken me a little while to get familiar and comfortable with the Volvo Penta. I love the DP drive and it will get right with it even with the boat fully loaded. It has been great for the week of the summer when most of the grandkids come. This year we had nine.
We are looking forward to many years of enjoyment of the boat and the lake. Thanks for looking and providing lots of useful information.

That's great stuff! Where on TRL are you? Where you at the regatta? Pictures of your struts on the bow seats and what did you use. I have not done mine but will one of these days.

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Awesome post tr220!
Your boat is clean and we have always liked the "blue angel" color scheme. Very nice. Such great pics too. The memories you are making are priceless. Great to see kids with life jackets too.

Again, welcome aboard mate!

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Welcome....glad you're enjoying it here.
Great post. By the way, I accidently discovered Tedeski Trucks Band when I bought a used Mercedes with the memory card left in dash.
There was also a band called Parts & Labor that I liked the one song left.

BBP the hardest part of adding the gas struts was finding the right brackets. I had to settle for plated steel rather than stainless, but they seem to be doing ok so far. I think these are the brackets I used to attach to the fiberglass:
They are only an inch wide so as not to protrude from under the seat back.
I believe I used these on the seat backs: https://www.boatoutfitters.com/stainles ... 2-5-inches
Both are attached with stainless steel screws / machine screws.
The gas struts are your standard Attwood: https://www.iboats.com/shop/attwood-gas-spring-5.html SL36-40-5 40 psi

I mounted the bracket on the seat back first just far enough from the hinge to clear the opening. Then I attached the gas strut extended to both brackets and chose how far open you want the seat back to rise. Mark the holes for the bracket in the fiberglass, drill them out, and attach with machine screws. The other side you can measure to match the holes in the fiberglass on your first hatch and assuming you mount the bracket to the seat back in the same distance from the hinge to the bracket the hatches will open to the same height. Make all of your measurements from the center of the hinge to keep everything the same. You should also check the extended and compressed lengths to double check your measurements. I found it useful to attach a bunge strap or something to the loop of the hatch to keep it open while you work on it. The first time it falls and hits you in the back of the head you will remember this tip.

It is pretty easy and it makes a huge difference in usability.

We are close to point 16 on TRL, just north of the Baxter Marina. We were not at the Regatta. We had company. When you live at the lake it becomes a B&B in the summer. We enjoy it.

Thanks for the tip. I like getting hit in the head. So I'll pass on that. Keeps me on my toes I've been there many of times doing my stereo.
Was there a reason you didn't put them on the outside of the cushion instead?

tr220 wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 11:57 am When you live at the lake it becomes a B&B in the summer. We enjoy it.

Sweet pencil me in for next summer!!

Nice boat looks very clean and well taken care of. Great colors also.

I considered putting it on the outside, but it seemed to fit better this way. It has not been an issue, but I think it would work either way.

Tr220, welcome, and hello from a fellow TRL! Who did the sea deck, I need to get done.

Thank You

MikeBo,
I bought the boat in McKinney, Texas and got it done there. The guy's name was Brandon - Brandon@yachtserviceinc.com. I don't know about local here, but he might. I have been to Stilwell - my grand parents had a farm near Chiles back in the 1950's.

Welcome aboard from a fellow table rocker! I’m at point 1 or Indian point as they call it. Great looking 220!

Welcome and beautiful boat. You need to take those grandkids to the regatta next year and especially the vintage boat event on Friday. Get them educated on quality boats early in their life.