Official 215 Express Thread

here is the insect screen for the cabin door.....when not in use it rolls up and stores nicely behind the cabin door....set up only takes a couple mins....this works very well to keep the bugs out when we camp and leave the cabin door and deck hatch open to allow a breeze through the cabin......the screen attaches via velcro strips around the perimeter of the cabin door opening


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that is all the pics i will post for now although i have many more...i don't want to come off as being 'self indulging'....that is not my intent for posting the pics....if anyone wants details about any of the mods i posted or wants a complete list of the mods just let me know at the contact info i posted in an earlier post...

cliff
x7572
 
What a little imagination can do. I'll be interested in seeing more. Being able to stay out more than overnite would be great.Looks like we might still have room for a coffee maker.
 
EDMAN said:
What a little imagination can do. I'll be interested in seeing more. Being able to stay out more than overnite would be great.Looks like we might still have room for a coffee maker.
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here is what we do for a coffee maker.....let me know if you want pics of any of the other stuff....

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Cliffa, that is a fantastic job! Could anyone please provide me with the correct wiper arm for my 1998 215. The previous owner took it off. The motor works, I just don't have the arm or blade. I really appreciate anybody's help. BK.
 
Laketime said:
Cliffa, that is a fantastic job! Could anyone please provide me with the correct wiper arm for my 1998 215. The previous owner took it off. The motor works, I just don't have the arm or blade. I really appreciate anybody's help. BK.
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here is the Sea Ray part number and description for the wiper arm and blade from my parts manual if this helps any.....

cliff

0129791WIPER ARM, 10.75"-15" BLACK
0129759WIPER BLADE, 16" FLEX BLACK
 
Has anyone installed Nauticus smart tabs on their 215? I would like to plane at a slower speed with a lower deck angle. I have read some good reports on these.
 
Draddog said:
Has anyone installed Nauticus smart tabs on their 215? I would like to plane at a slower speed with a lower deck angle. I have read some good reports on these.
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i have the Bennett trim tabs. Came with the boat as a factory option. Usually the only time i need to use them is to compensate for uneven side-to-side weight loading, or to help plane off when i have full load of adults on board. They do a great job. The addition of a Stingray hydrofoil on my outdrive helped to rasie the stern and lower the bow significantly on my boat. The 'hole shot' is also better as well as the ability to stay on plane at slower speeds.

cliff
 
Draddog said:
Has anyone installed Nauticus smart tabs on their 215? I would like to plane at a slower speed with a lower deck angle. I have read some good reports on these.
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Those will not give you the result you're looking for. If you do not have trim tabs now, I know from experience, that the only thing that may help, with the 5.0L is some Bennett hydraulic trim tabs.

Start a thread with "Tabman" in the title and he'll come like BatMan to the Batlight.
 
I purchased the 10 1/2 x 12" -90 Nauticus tabs. They work great. They are much cheaper than the hydraulic. On plane faster at slower speed and faster top end. I've only tried them on the center position. They worked very well. This spring at splash I'm going to try the most down position. They are a little bit of a challenge to change in the water. I was a little leery of the mounting but it turned out to be very easy. Measure 6 times drill once. Directions easy to follow. I'm sure the Bennets work better and I would like to change them on the run but for the savings I'm very satisfied. good luck
 
Just to toss in my experience with Smart Tabs... I know my boat isn't a 215 Express but it's close in size, weight and power. I have the 5.0 MCM carb version and added SX-80 tabs 2 years ago. They made a huge difference in hole shot, time to plane, lower plane speed, way less low speed wander, etc. Best investment I've made to date in my boat.
 
Thanks for the input guys.

I'm in the process of replacing a bow rail who met the unfortunate fate of an a couple of good sized bends due to an errant bow line wrapped around it that found its way underneath the trailer tire at about 10 mph. Had to remove three stanchions, peel back carpet, find someone who could weld ss and someone brave enough to try to bend the rail back, as i am not that brave! So far, rail was fixed by local body shop guy. It's about 95%. Very pleased, you can hardly tell. and only $50 cash. Hope the welded stanchion turns out well and I can get her all back together. Updates to follow
 
Just finished up replacing my fuel tank in my 215EC due to a mishap involving a mis-guided drill bit.....:smt101 .....i thought I would make this post in case anyone else happens to have a need to replace their tank....the tank is still available from Moeller....it is their model #4807-2....it is a 48 gallon tank......you have to go through a Sea Ray dealer to order a new tank since this model tank is a Sea Ray specific design.....i owe a big thanks to Dennis (aka 'Lazy Daze') for helping me order my new tank.....my cost was $472 for the tank and $58 shipping from Sparta, TN to Lancaster, SC....one good thing that came from this was I had the chance to really clean out the bilge floor under the tank and inspect the area closely for any 'surprises'....fortunately everything looked good and the tank compartment is almost as clean now as it was when the boat was new....we are fortunate that the design of the 215EC allows for easy access to the fuel tank....removal and installation of the tank was relatively easy.....if anyone has any questions regarding this job just let me know....

cliff
 
Hi,love this boat;but I have two questions.1, the small compartment you step on when you enter the cabin is always wet ,my old boat 1977 220 v searay had a drain in it that went to the bilge area ,my 99,215 ec does not.anyone out there have a drain in theirs?always fills up with water.2,my cabin door leaks maybe skylight too,anyone come across these problems and have solutions,thanks,Jim
 
Jb167 said:
Hi,love this boat;but I have two questions.1, the small compartment you step on when you enter the cabin is always wet ,my old boat 1977 220 v searay had a drain in it that went to the bilge area ,my 99,215 ec does not.anyone out there have a drain in theirs?always fills up with water.2,my cabin door leaks maybe skylight too,anyone come across these problems and have solutions,thanks,Jim
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there is a drain (opening) in the bottom right corner of the helm that allows water to drain out from behind the helm onto the cockpit deck and eventually into the bilge.....you may be surprised how much water leaks around the dash panel and other areas that allows water to drop and collect behind the helm...if this drain becomes clogged the water level behind the helm could become high enough so the water would spill over into the cabin and get the cabin step and carpet wet....i regularly clean this drain from both in front of the helm and from behind the helm by accessing the rear of the helm through the access door in the head compartment....

the cabin door should not leak if it is in the proper position and not cracked....there are no gaskets or seals involved in the control of water off of the door, only channels molded into the design of the doorway....why do you think your cabin door is leaking?

if your deck hatch is leaking to repair it properly you will have to remove the hatch and reseal it....several threads in the archives regarding this...as a temporary measure you may get by with caulking the outside edges of the hatch frame with some 3M 4200 caulk/sealant....

good luck....

cliff
 
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Cliff,thanks for the info,I did not no there is a drain on the helm,I will look for that.i believe my window hatch is good.only have the boat a year,but had wet cabin cushions all of last season(near sink,cushions near bow are dry),sink area all wet,floor near door and always collect water in the inside step box.i am going to figure out some kind of weather seal for around the door.thanks Jim
 
Jb167 said:
Cliff,thanks for the info,I did not no there is a drain on the helm,I will look for that.i believe my window hatch is good.only have the boat a year,but had wet cabin cushions all of last season(near sink,cushions near bow are dry),sink area all wet,floor near door and always collect water in the inside step box.i am going to figure out some kind of weather seal for around the door.thanks Jim
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you may have a leak around one or both of the porthole windows....usually you can see the evidence of a water leak around the windows due to a brownish stain the leaking water leaves on the fabric that lines the cabin....that leaking water would follow gravity and end up running down from the window to the side storage shelves and/or the base of the seat cushions....i just resealed both of my porthole windows with 3M 4200 caulk....i just recaulked them from the outside, i did not remove the portholes...

you may also have a leak in the sink drain or the sink supply line from the fresh water pump....that would keep the floor wet around the galley.....run some water through the sink drain and feel the drain pipe and water supply lines/fittings to the faucet with your hand or use a piece of tissue paper....if any leaking water is present you will feel it or see it on the tissue paper....

you may want to be sure the thru hull fitting on the side of the boat for the sink drain is sealed properly....if not water could be coming into the cabin from around the thru hull fitting....

finally you may want check the boat hull on that side to be sure there are no cracks or deep gouges in the gelcoat that could have penetrated the hull enough to allow water to seep in....maybe a previous owner accidentally drilled a small hole in the hull and did not know it.......

cliff
 
CliffA said:
you may have a leak around one or both of the porthole windows....usually you can see the evidence of a water leak around the windows due to a brownish stain the leaking water leaves on the fabric that lines the cabin....that leaking water would follow gravity and end up running down from the window to the side storage shelves and/or the base of the seat cushions....i just resealed both of my porthole windows with 3M 4200 caulk....i just recaulked them from the outside, i did not remove the portholes...

you may also have a leak in the sink drain or the sink supply line from the fresh water pump....that would keep the floor wet around the galley.....run some water through the sink drain and feel the drain pipe and water supply lines/fittings to the faucet with your hand or use a piece of tissue paper....if any leaking water is present you will feel it or see it on the tissue paper....

you may want to be sure the thru hull fitting on the side of the boat for the sink drain is sealed properly....if not water could be coming into the cabin from around the thru hull fitting....

finally you may want check the boat hull on that side to be sure there are no cracks or deep gouges in the gelcoat that could have penetrated the hull enough to allow water to seep in....maybe a previous owner accidentally drilled a small hole in the hull and did not know it.......

cliff
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That all sounds like good advice;what I do have is a leak around my rubrails.I can see the stain (black,brown,water marks) all around the cabin from where the boat seems together down.i cleaned it last year and after a week with a good couple of rains it came right back.when I pull the boat in the fall I am going to take the rubrails off and seal with 4200 or even a cheaper silicone being its above water line and covered by rails.i think that's one of my cabin problems.i know the other one is my door,my cabin lock never secured the cabin.When it is locked,if you put some force into the slider handle lock,it pops right open.i purchased a new door lock handle ,same thing,returned it and put a padlock and hasp,now it's secure (hated drilling holes in that door).I have been in the cabin during a wind changing rain,it comes in through the door,I am going to make sure those Channels are clear and will check out that helm drain,thanks for the input
 
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