For those who know 24Ve rear lockers (pre sub floor ballast years)--check this:

[dakota4ce]

I have completed my "aft-ward migration" of components in the port rear locker to prepare the way for custom sacs. I removed the partitions, relocated the battery isolator on the very back wall of the hull, slid the batteries and their mounting board as aft as possible (and trimmed the board substantially). I then trimmed the rear carpeted wall of the locker to fit and reinstalled it "slid" further back. The result is approximately 6 inches of full-dimension length GAIN in the rear locker. By my math, that's about 125 lbs of additional ballast room. Every little bit counts back in that corner--so I hear from all you guys! Here are a couple of pics:

IMG_4443.jpgIMG_4444.jpg

[dakota4ce]

After the emotional roller coaster of the near RZ2 purchase and subsequent failure, I am more motivated than ever to dial this baby in!

[Ewok]

Looks good! Chpthrill, when dakota orders custom sacs for this application, should he get them slightly bigger than the space in the lockers to make sure every nook and cranny gets filled with the bags?

[retox1]

Just wondering, but why not just remove the back wall altogether so the bags can entirely fill the space right to the transom?

[chpthril]

Looks good! Chpthrill, when dakota orders custom sacs for this application, should he get them slightly bigger than the space in the lockers to make sure every nook and cranny gets filled with the bags?

The dimensions he has at this point are going to fill out the under seat cavity quite well. The main sections is plenty wide, but not to the point that its going to be a lot of force on the engine dividers. The top os taking into account that the end will be under the locker opening and the front will have a little extra height above the deck lip of the locker opening.

[chpthril]

Just wondering, but why not just remove the back wall altogether so the bags can entirely fill the space right to the transom?

That can be done, but there are batteries on the port side and a TAPS motor on the starboard side, that would need to be relocated. Just another layer of modification.

[dakota4ce]

Just wondering, but why not just remove the back wall altogether so the bags can entirely fill the space right to the transom?

Yes, Chpthrill stated the logic as it has worked out--plus the space is very irregular and has lots of jagged edges in the extreme aft area. Lotsa crap back there. On the port side, the space behind this relocated wall is JAMMED with things. 2 batteries, an isolator, and a GRIP of electrical cables and wires. This way all of that is contained nicely and there is a smooth surface for the aft wall of the sac to press against. Plus batteries are kind of solid ballast anyway as I see it. And, well, it looks kind of nice. I really cannot relocate my batteries, because in 2006 there is huge exhaust manifold crossover silencer thing (what the heck is that, BTW?) that eats up all the space behind the motor.

On starboard, I have done something similar. I dismounted the TAPS motor/bracket and turned it sideways, then shoved it way to the back in a similar fashion. I will be able to narrow down and move my rear wall even further back on starboard. There will actually be some "air" back there, but the plan was to put some solid ballast back there to max it out--sort of to match the batteries.

Without tearing the floor up, which isn't possible on my boat in a practical manner anyway, I think I am getting about as much as I possibly can back there given the limitations of 2006. Port side should be 1500-1600 lbs of real weight plus batteries. I thought I could also sneak another 100lbs into the activity center compartments too.

After that, I will have to go with a couple "husky" friends.

[retox1]

I was just wondering since I know that's what I did and a few others here have done as well. Moving batteries and the Taps wasn't bad for me, but my RZ2 might have a different amount of room back there (put mine aft of the engine). I do agree that there are a lot of jagged edges back there. I spent a considerable amount of time smoothing sharp edges, and screws and bolts and then covering everything. In my case I'm not running custom bags, just 1100lb sacs but they actually fill pretty full. I opened mine up as much as possible in the hopes of adding custom sacs in a year or two. Your looks good though. Glad to see another guy tear straight into the boat after getting it. It's half the fun.

[chpthril]

I was just wondering since I know that's what I did and a few others here have done as well. Moving batteries and the Taps wasn't bad for me, but my RZ2 might have a different amount of room back there (put mine aft of the engine). I do agree that there are a lot of jagged edges back there. I spent a considerable amount of time smoothing sharp edges, and screws and bolts and then covering everything. In my case I'm not running custom bags, just 1100lb sacs but they actually fill pretty full. I opened mine up as much as possible in the hopes of adding custom sacs in a year or two. Your looks good though. Glad to see another guy tear straight into the boat after getting it. It's half the fun.

Aft of the windshield, the RZ and Ve boats are almost identical in terms of storage size/shape and of fitting ballast sacs.

[dakota4ce]

I was just wondering since I know that's what I did and a few others here have done as well. Moving batteries and the Taps wasn't bad for me, but my RZ2 might have a different amount of room back there (put mine aft of the engine). I do agree that there are a lot of jagged edges back there. I spent a considerable amount of time smoothing sharp edges, and screws and bolts and then covering everything. In my case I'm not running custom bags, just 1100lb sacs but they actually fill pretty full. I opened mine up as much as possible in the hopes of adding custom sacs in a year or two. Your looks good though. Glad to see another guy tear straight into the boat after getting it. It's half the fun.

If my MP 340 did not have that huge exhaust crossover, I would have room galore for relocating batteries to the centerline (I know WABoating did this--and others)--I guess it is likely removable? Maybe a future project...anyone want to chime in on what that is exactly? A silencer of some sort? For all of the 10 minutes I have driven my boat before dismantling, I did note is was really quiet....

[dakota4ce]

Sorry, please excuse my idiocy. It is a muffler. Hopefully it holds up...now, since i am in there, should I remove it and create the room?

Opinions please....I have all winter. And I already own the FAE yet to be installed.

[talltigeguy]

If you have the FAE, then I would get rid of the muffler. It is no small task to do all of that, but you seem to have the energy for it. If I were intent on getting an extra 200 pounds in there, I would make friends at the local gun range or tire shop and collect a bunch of lead, melting it into 40 pound bricks. A 40 pound brick of lead is about the size of a small cake pan for brownies. Just don't give yourself lead poisoning in the process.

[retox1]

If my MP 340 did not have that huge exhaust crossover, I would have room galore for relocating batteries to the centerline (I know WABoating did this--and others)--I guess it is likely removable? Maybe a future project...anyone want to chime in on what that is exactly? A silencer of some sort? For all of the 10 minutes I have driven my boat before dismantling, I did note is was really quiet....

Any chance you have a pic of the exhaust piece in question? My 07 also has the MP340 but my exhaust has nothing aft of the engine. It goes forward at the risers and then drops down and goes straight out the rear. If it's a muffler, mine must have been removed at some point or was never there. It would explain why my boat is so loud, I guess. An FAE is on my list of things to do over winter.

[dakota4ce]

I have completely different risers, it seems. Mine go backward, then enter into a horizontal tubular muffler chamber that is located high, behind the engine (just in front of the rear entertainment center compartments) which is 7-8" in diameter. That chamber then drops two verticals down that curve out the back at the normal exhaust ports. The whole apparatus fills the entire space behind the motor.

It sure is quiet, though. Wonder if this was some strange "super quiet" option or something. I mean.....look at this behemoth!

IMG_4445.jpgIMG_4446.jpg

[retox1]

Thats pretty different from what i have. Mine is a year newer so maybe they made some changes. Heres a pic of how mine is. You can see the tray and where i moved the batteries and taps to rear of the engine. Excuse the mess of hoses and cables. Making all that alot neater and cleaner is on my winter "to do" list.20141109_231137.jpg