265 Express Upgrades

[Fowl Hooked]

Now that I've figured out how to resize and post photos I thought I'd share a few from some of the off-season projects on my 265 over the last two winters. A lot of the work was wiring and is out of sight but it was a rat's nest under the dash and in the electronics boxes. I now know and have labeled where everything comes from and goes, redid all the small gauge wire connections on actual terminal bars and redid all the connections with adhesive shrink wrap crimps.

Added some USB charging ports, couple in place of the original 12v plug and a couple new ones in the overhead compartment on a mounting base made of some leftover starboard from what was one of the bigger projects, a replacement for the starboard overhead door that used to house a switch and the original VHF. The original VHF migrated over but I added another one (that has its own GPS built in) as well as a wired remote for the stereo and a new switch panel, only using a couple so far but I've got plans for most of the others eventually. The door is still hinged and can open (I've since replaced the old broken hinges) but the big screws on the bottom transfer the weight to the frame and keep things from bouncing around at all.

Replaced the blown cockpit speakers with a pair of JL M650s and added an amp to push them, great sound and easily heard while running. As seen in the other post, I replaced the net pocket in the cabin with another starboard panel and mounted the amp and stereo on it.

Added two rod holders in the transom door before I had the door resurfaced. Great holders for storage while running or if I need to shift rods to make space for landing a fish, I'd like to add a couple more.

Replaced the pump on the head and installed a new wash down pump. The ball joints on the seacock pull rods had both rotted away and after a lengthy search I found a perfect replacement - in stainless steel this time. Replaced the nav, cabin and spreader lights with LEDs. I also did the conversion on my trailer to electric over hydraulic and that has been fantastic.

Brett

 

[eppem]

Thanks for sharing and it looks great - where did you find the replacement ball joints in SS? I have the same boat and will need to replace in the near future as well - thanks!

 

[Fowl Hooked]

Got mine from Midwest Control Products (midwestcontrol.com), part number is SQI-312 for the 5/16-24 thread that was a direct replacement. Cost me around $32 for the pair.

 

[Skelly]

Now that I've figured out how to resize and post photos I thought I'd share a few from some of the off-season projects on my 265 over the last two winters. A lot of the work was wiring and is out of sight but it was a rat's nest under the dash and in the electronics boxes. I now know and have labeled where everything comes from and goes, redid all the small gauge wire connections on actual terminal bars and redid all the connections with adhesive shrink wrap crimps.

Added some USB charging ports, couple in place of the original 12v plug and a couple new ones in the overhead compartment on a mounting base made of some leftover starboard from what was one of the bigger projects, a replacement for the starboard overhead door that used to house a switch and the original VHF. The original VHF migrated over but I added another one (that has its own GPS built in) as well as a wired remote for the stereo and a new switch panel, only using a couple so far but I've got plans for most of the others eventually. The door is still hinged and can open (I've since replaced the old broken hinges) but the big screws on the bottom transfer the weight to the frame and keep things from bouncing around at all.

Replaced the blown cockpit speakers with a pair of JL M650s and added an amp to push them, great sound and easily heard while running. As seen in the other post, I replaced the net pocket in the cabin with another starboard panel and mounted the amp and stereo on it.

Added two rod holders in the transom door before I had the door resurfaced. Great holders for storage while running or if I need to shift rods to make space for landing a fish, I'd like to add a couple more.

Replaced the pump on the head and installed a new wash down pump. The ball joints on the seacock pull rods had both rotted away and after a lengthy search I found a perfect replacement - in stainless steel this time. Replaced the nav, cabin and spreader lights with LEDs. I also did the conversion on my trailer to electric over hydraulic and that has been fantastic.

Brett

Can’t see the pics!

 

[Saltyone]

Can’t see the pics!

probably deleted, 8 year old post you replied to.

 

[Fowl Hooked]

Skelly, I'll try to repost or DM you pics of those upgrades sometime this week. Looks like they came from a smugmug page that we had years ago and have since abandoned.

 

[Fowl Hooked]

Some photos of where things are today. Have made a lot of upgrades over the years, many you can see here and more that are hidden, happy to share details of anything in particular that you might be interested in.

Storage for long rods.


Full electronics upgrade with new MFDs, wi-fi radar, dual sounder modules, autopilot, FLIR, and a networked radio. The Standard Horizon is kept standalone but does feed AIS receive into the network so contacts pop up on the chart, new 'carbon fiber' ABS dash and instrument panels, all new switches.


Panel from the first stereo upgrade where the mesh net pocket used to be, repurposed for the Fusion black box but on the list to be redone. Could hide it somewhere but it seems that everything below deck just gets moldy and nasty.


Windlass upgrade and the electric over hydraulic conversion for the triple axle trailer.


Transom gate with four zero degree rod holders, I try to only use them for storage or temporarily while fishing if I need to clear a side, puts a lot of torque on the top of the gate and I think that contributed to the delamination I'm experiencing.

 

[Skelly]

Some photos of where things are today. Have made a lot of upgrades over the years, many you can see here and more that are hidden, happy to share details of anything in particular that you might be interested in.

Storage for long rods.
View attachment 34698View attachment 34700View attachment 34699

Full electronics upgrade with new MFDs, wi-fi radar, dual sounder modules, autopilot, FLIR, and a networked radio. The Standard Horizon is kept standalone but does feed AIS receive into the network so contacts pop up on the chart, new 'carbon fiber' ABS dash and instrument panels, all new switches.
View attachment 34693View attachment 34694

Panel from the first stereo upgrade where the mesh net pocket used to be, repurposed for the Fusion black box but on the list to be redone. Could hide it somewhere but it seems that everything below deck just gets moldy and nasty.
View attachment 34695

Windlass upgrade and the electric over hydraulic conversion for the triple axle trailer.
View attachment 34696View attachment 34697

Transom gate with four zero degree rod holders, I try to only use them for storage or temporarily while fishing if I need to clear a side, puts a lot of torque on the top of the gate and I think that contributed to the delamination I'm experiencing.
View attachment 34701

Thank you!!

Some photos of where things are today. Have made a lot of upgrades over the years, many you can see here and more that are hidden, happy to share details of anything in particular that you might be interested in.

Storage for long rods.
View attachment 34698View attachment 34700View attachment 34699

Full electronics upgrade with new MFDs, wi-fi radar, dual sounder modules, autopilot, FLIR, and a networked radio. The Standard Horizon is kept standalone but does feed AIS receive into the network so contacts pop up on the chart, new 'carbon fiber' ABS dash and instrument panels, all new switches.
View attachment 34693View attachment 34694

Panel from the first stereo upgrade where the mesh net pocket used to be, repurposed for the Fusion black box but on the list to be redone. Could hide it somewhere but it seems that everything below deck just gets moldy and nasty.
View attachment 34695

Windlass upgrade and the electric over hydraulic conversion for the triple axle trailer.
View attachment 34696View attachment 34697

Transom gate with four zero degree rod holders, I try to only use them for storage or temporarily while fishing if I need to clear a side, puts a lot of torque on the top of the gate and I think that contributed to the delamination I'm experiencing.
View attachment 34701

Oh man… these mods are money. I just got my 265 a few weeks ago and it has had some nice upgrades but I am super excited to really get after it and try to spruce it up and update it. I am a tinkerer, as it seems you are! Thank you for sharing these pics again! Love it!

 

[Skelly]

Interested in the electric over hydraulic brakes. My trailer is a very nice 2017 triple axle trailer with 6 disc surge brakes. I have towed it once about 90 min with my f 150… (i know). The trailer was custom made for this boat and it actually tows pretty good without full tanks but once I filled both tanks… it’s borderline. I got the boat about a week before a big salmon fishing trip we do every year so I did it but I will upgrade to 3/4 or 1 ton before I start doing that very often. I won’t need to tow it anymore this year. BUT- what are your thoughts on the electric over hydraulic? My buddy has that setup and he says it’s a game changer For his big aluminum (hewescraft style) boat in alaska, where he trailers same distance as me routinely. I called the trailer manufacturer and they were pretty strongly against it. They said out of the thousands of trailers they build, they do e/h on maybe 2 per year and said it’s only beneficial in certain circumstances and more stuff to go wrong. To me it seems like it would be really slick. What are your thoughts?

 

[Sea Shift]

E/H is definitely a game changer. However! Be very intentional on the system that you install. They are not all created equal. I will give you the main achilleas heal of some systems. The Battery Backup. MAKE ABSOLUTLY SURE THE FAILSAFE IS THAT THE BRAKES WORK!!!!!!!
Sorry for the all caps. But there are manufactures that do not do this. So ask this question, What happens to my brakes when the "emergency backup battery is dead?" The answer MUST be that your brakes work just fine. Do not get me wrong, one should never tow without the emergency battery in case of a drastic disconnect. That is what stops the trailer in that situation. But if by chance you are towing and do not notice the dead battery before hitting the road you STILL WANT BRAKES! Feel free to PM me for more.

 

[Fowl Hooked]

It's tough for me to say anything against surge brakes, they're on the vast majority of trailers and have been for a long time, they're mechanically straight forward and reliable if, as with all things, they're maintained. For me it was just personal choice, I'd not had any issues with my surge brakes, also on a triple axle trailer with disc brakes all around, I just didn't like the feel of the surge. I tow with a 3/4 diesel and the Titan system I installed integrates with the OEM brake controller that allows me to adjust the braking gain and delivers very smooth and controlled braking. I don't trailer the boat more than a few times a year so I keep the dual backup batteries in the shop on trickle chargers and install / test them each time I go, it's on my checklist so I don't forget. On my setup the pump is powered through the connection to the truck and the batteries are truly only emergency backup and it functions without them, would definitely avoid any system that relies on the batteries alone for power.

 

[Fowl Hooked]

Thank you!!

Oh man… these mods are money. I just got my 265 a few weeks ago and it has had some nice upgrades but I am super excited to really get after it and try to spruce it up and update it. I am a tinkerer, as it seems you are! Thank you for sharing these pics again! Love it!

Thanks, enjoyed doing most of these upgrades. I'm really happy with the dual MFDs but making that first cut to enlarge the dash opening was something I sat and pondered for quite a while. I've got pretty decent records of what I did and where I sourced things so let me know if you'd like details on anything in particular or have any questions about what was done.

 

[Sea Shift]

It's tough for me to say anything against surge brakes, they're on the vast majority of trailers and have been for a long time, they're mechanically straight forward and reliable if, as with all things, they're maintained. For me it was just personal choice, I'd not had any issues with my surge brakes, also on a triple axle trailer with disc brakes all around, I just didn't like the feel of the surge. I tow with a 3/4 diesel and the Titan system I installed integrates with the OEM brake controller that allows me to adjust the braking gain and delivers very smooth and controlled braking. I don't trailer the boat more than a few times a year so I keep the dual backup batteries in the shop on trickle chargers and install / test them each time I go, it's on my checklist so I don't forget. On my setup the pump is powered through the connection to the truck and the batteries are truly only emergency backup and it functions without them, would definitely avoid any system that relies on the batteries alone for power.

Fowl Hook is correct. As long as the backup batteries are charged no big deal. But if they are not then MAJOR deal. The truck brake supply will try and apply power to the backup and brakes at the same time causing no power to the brakes. Again this is not all systems. Just beware is all im saying.