Already planning updates for the Reaction

[EddieB]

I have not even owned my Reaction 19 for a week, and I am already planning updates for it. I will likely replace all the gauges and controls in the console, upgrade the sound system, add a bimini, add a gps/chartplotter, and in the not-too distant future, maybe even repower. I would appreciate everyone's advice on where I can look to shop around for this equipment, creative advice (layout, manufacturers, engine model and horsepower, etc.), and anything else you may be able to add for my plans. I want to strike a good balance of quality and value. Thanks in advance, everyone.

[EddieB]

Some pics of the new ride...

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[EddieB]

Anyone? I would really appreciate your guidance here, guys. :)

[EddieB]

She is coming along. Here is a pic from the shakedown yesterday. New gauges on the way, and will be re-doing the whole console. Floor painted and non-skid applied. Motor tuned up and painted.
259303

[dazigg]

Sweet Reaction! Love those rides. Keep us updated.

[action17]

She is coming along. Here is a pic from the shakedown yesterday. New gauges on the way, and will be re-doing the whole console. Floor painted and non-skid applied. Motor tuned up and painted.
259303

Looks good man! Unfortunaely we are finished with baseball for awhile so I will probably be out this weekend.

[Brabender]

Here u go. Gl w it and keep us posted
http://www.eddiemarine.com/

[JustMercMe]

She is coming along. Here is a pic from the shakedown yesterday. New gauges on the way, and will be re-doing the whole console. Floor painted and non-skid applied. Motor tuned up and painted.

Looks good bud! Been working on mine also. What guages did you go with? What kind of stereo system you going with? I just added the Lenco performance series polished trim tabs, Been debating doing the whole livorsi throttle swap. Just got the Pro XS decal kit in for the motor today. Livorsi orange cup holders will be ordered this week. Next on the list is a Garelick ladder and an orange sunbrella bimini to match the boat. May upgrade the stereo this winter by adding (6) 6.5's and an amplifier. The (4) 8's I have now do a great job......Rather have to much than not enough tho! :)

Pic of mine from this past weekend.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l195/itchysnrvous/Reaction/IMAG0285.jpg

[EddieB]

Looks good man! Unfortunaely we are finished with baseball for awhile so I will probably be out this weekend.
Sorry to hear your team is done for the season. See you at Ski Island tomorrow?

[EddieB]

Here u go. Gl w it and keep us posted
http://www.eddiemarine.com/

Thank you - exactly what I was looking for. Plus, the name of the site is fantastic!:thumbsup:

[EddieB]

Looks good bud! Been working on mine also. What guages did you go with? What kind of stereo system you going with? I just added the Lenco performance series polished trim tabs, Been debating doing the whole livorsi throttle swap. Just got the Pro XS decal kit in for the motor today. Livorsi orange cup holders will be ordered this week. Next on the list is a Garelick ladder and an orange sunbrella bimini to match the boat. May upgrade the stereo this winter by adding (6) 6.5's and an amplifier. The (4) 8's I have now do a great job......Rather have to much than not enough tho! :)

Pic of mine from this past weekend.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l195/itchysnrvous/Reaction/IMAG0285.jpg

Thanks - same to you! I got these Livorsi gauges (with SS bezels behind them) which we will hopefully install soon:
260747

I am not yet sure on the stereo, but I am leaning toward JL. Sounds like what you have in store will sound great. How do you like the trim tabs? Helpful?

[EddieB]

So, I took my dad out on the Reaction today on the Butler Chain. It was his first time out since recent heart surgery, and it was great to relax on the water with him today. Our timing was right on, because just as we were pulling the boat out of the water, it started storming like crazy with HAIL.

Having spent some time on the boat, I have become aware of a couple of issues I need to address (this never ends, right?):

1. My gauges are currently inoperable, so I don't know exact numbers, but around 20-25 knots, the boat porpoises considerably, even when trimmed all the way down. This is a 1985 hull with the fuel tank above deck in the console and the batteries at the stern. When I get to about 3/4 throttle (maybe 35 knots or so), the boat settles in, but it is really annoying cruising any slower than that. Any suggestions here? Have other owners had the same issue and addressed it successfully? Trim tabs maybe? FYI, I have a 200 Johnson Ocean Runner on a hydraulic jackplate. Raker 3-blade prop (I don't know the pitch).

2. This boat has very little storage - a (wet) compartment under the deck at the bow, and a small shoebox sized cubby in the side of the console. That's it. The fuel tank takes up most of the space under the console, including under the front seat. Any suggestions on how to "create" storage on this boat?

Thanks, all.

[dazigg]

So, I took my dad out on the Reaction today on the Butler Chain. It was his first time out since recent heart surgery, and it was great to relax on the water with him today. Our timing was right on, because just as we were pulling the boat out of the water, it started storming like crazy with HAIL.

Having spent some time on the boat, I have become aware of a couple of issues I need to address (this never ends, right?):

1. My gauges are currently inoperable, so I don't know exact numbers, but around 20-25 knots, the boat porpoises considerably, even when trimmed all the way down. This is a 1985 hull with the fuel tank above deck in the console and the batteries at the stern. When I get to about 3/4 throttle (maybe 35 knots or so), the boat settles in, but it is really annoying cruising any slower than that. Any suggestions here? Have other owners had the same issue and addressed it successfully? Trim tabs maybe? FYI, I have a 200 Johnson Ocean Runner on a hydraulic jackplate. Raker 3-blade prop (I don't know the pitch).

2. This boat has very little storage - a (wet) compartment under the deck at the bow, and a small shoebox sized cubby in the side of the console. That's it. The fuel tank takes up most of the space under the console, including under the front seat. Any suggestions on how to "create" storage on this boat?

Thanks, all.

TTT, these are such sweet riding center consoles! How big is the fuel tank? Could it be relocated under the leaning post to clear up space under the console?

[EddieB]

TTT, these are such sweet riding center consoles! How big is the fuel tank? Could it be relocated under the leaning post to clear up space under the console?

Thank you - I am enjoying it and learning in the process. The tank is 50 gal - big cube shape and won't fit anywhere else. I understand that the later models had a 35 gal tank mounted under the deck. I met Bobby Pazos out at Ski Island today, and he didn't seem to think there was any other option for that, either. But, he had a good idea - put a net on the anchor locker up front for dry stuff, and store the anchor under the deck with the ropes, life jackets, etc. - thanks, Bobby.

In better news, I installed the windshield today and did a little trailer work. Boat ran well, and the hull seems to like to move. The more throttle you give it, the happier it seems to be. I had it strung out in the Banana River and hit a pretty solid wave. The boat ate it up fine, but in one shot, my buddy's sunglasses hit the deck, we lost his hat and my cooler lid overboard, and I knocked the switchplate out of the console - haha! Fortunately, we were able to retrieve everything and get rolling again. I need to put in some grabrails for the sanity of my passengers.

[EddieB]

Windshield installed:
260792

My eyes are much less watery now.

[EddieB]

Earlier photos from application of non-skid in place of splatter paint-

Before:
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After:
261356

[dazigg]

Grab rails for passengers for sure. Maybe a dry bag of some sort for other items.

[dazigg]

Reaction Porn:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XX_lXUSXv8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[JustMercMe]

Having spent some time on the boat, I have become aware of a couple of issues I need to address (this never ends, right?):

1. My gauges are currently inoperable, so I don't know exact numbers, but around 20-25 knots, the boat porpoises considerably, even when trimmed all the way down. This is a 1985 hull with the fuel tank above deck in the console and the batteries at the stern. When I get to about 3/4 throttle (maybe 35 knots or so), the boat settles in, but it is really annoying cruising any slower than that. Any suggestions here? Have other owners had the same issue and addressed it successfully? Trim tabs maybe? FYI, I have a 200 Johnson Ocean Runner on a hydraulic jackplate. Raker 3-blade prop (I don't know the pitch).

Mine was the same way, Trim tabs will solve this problem.
I went with the Lencos. Easy to install, only issue I had is that you have to order a switch seperate from the kit.

[EddieB]

I just fixed the photos in post #16

[EddieB]

My first "running" shot from out in the Indian River a couple of weeks ago:
261357

I was trying (with little success) to keep up with my buddy's Stryker with a 383 in it.

[baja200merk]

Get a leaning post that flips up and has a storage box under it. Thats the best dry storage in my paramount nice ride! :thumbsup:

[Tom Foley]

Get a leaning post that flips up and has a storage box under it. Thats the best dry storage in my paramount nice ride! :thumbsup:
Duh ...... I make those !! All PVC foam , fiberglass tray insted of cheezy plastic, rod holders , backrest and footrest available . Much better than some of the junk out there .:D

http://i47.tinypic.com/34i5j4l.jpg

[hemi2005]

Duh ...... I make those !! All PVC foam , fiberglass tray insted of cheezy plastic, rod holders , backrest and footrest available . Much better than some of the junk out there .:D

http://i47.tinypic.com/34i5j4l.jpg

Tom, that is artwork there. :thumbsup: Very nice!

[EddieB]

Duh ...... I make those !! All PVC foam , fiberglass tray insted of cheezy plastic, rod holders , backrest and footrest available . Much better than some of the junk out there .:D

http://i47.tinypic.com/34i5j4l.jpg

Wow - now that is nice work. I look forward to chatting with you at Lake Jackson next weekend.

[ultrafast]

Mine ran best with tabs. You can always bring them up to run. Also ran a small 1" angle off the trailing edge which seemed to get the boat to break loose. ran a best of 83 with a modded omc. I think it is in the keys now somewhere. Miss that boat.

[EddieB]

The beginnings of what is to become my new gauge panel:
261519

[action17]

The beginnings of what is to become my new gauge panel:
261519
Nice!! when are you heading over again? I have a prop i think you should try.

[EddieB]

Nice!! when are you heading over again? I have a prop i think you should try.

Thanks - the panel will be painted white with these gauges:
261525

I am heading down to Lake Jackson next weekend, and may be out your way sometime over Labor Day weekend. I appreciate the offer to try the prop.

[EddieB]

Gauge panel is painted:
262103

[action17]

nice! call me again I wrote your number down wrong!

[EddieB]

Now it just needs to be wired up and put in:
262348

[paramount 200]

WOW that looks great I cant wait to get some things going on mine.

[EddieB]

WOW that looks great I cant wait to get some things going on mine.

Thanks! That Paramount of yours is great and has a ton of potential.

[EddieB]

Got the new gauge panel in today. The good news - the gauges and panel look awesome and go great with the rest of the boat. The bad news - can't get the tach to register. Played with the dip switches, tried the gray wire from the harness, ran a new wire to the motor, nothing. Will get it figured out next week. Anyway, the pics...

Console before:
263216

Console after:
263217

263218

[baja200merk]

Hell yea, looks awesome bro!

make sure the Livorsi tach setting is OFF OFF ON. If the factory tach works something is wired wrong on the new gauges.

Now you need these :D

https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRS8dXYesSMl84xWtBvP8e3mL28Der0LkCTSdBIZmVJwTSznwLWdg

[EddieB]

Thanks - I think there are 6 dip switches on the tach and I set them to V6 at indicated on the sticker. The existing tach never worked, so...? I need to buy those old Gaffrig controls from you so my buddy can clean them up at the shop and put them in!

[EddieB]

Finally solved the non-functioning tach issue - voltage regulator was shot. Ease of starting should also be improved now. I also got a water-resistant case for my iPad to mount between the gauges and control box - going to try that out with the Navionics app for GPS. Hopefully hitting the Butler Chain Saturday for the first time on the water this season - I will do my best to get some material for the Hot Girls with Boats thread!

[paramount 200]

Finally solved the non-functioning tach issue - voltage regulator was shot. Ease of starting should also be improved now. I also got a water-resistant case for my iPad to mount between the gauges and control box - going to try that out with the Navionics app for GPS. Hopefully hitting the Butler Chain Saturday for the first time on the water this season - I will do my best to get some material for the Hot Girls with Boats thread!

Haha awesome can't wait to see some pics.

[baja200merk]

There you go eddie :cheers:

[dazigg]

Yeah Eddie B! If ya don't know it, our man Eddie B is the PLAYBOY! Better believe it!

[Action Dave]

Bring that Reaction to the Keys next weekend! Don't know if you've tried a four blade prop yet but it makes all the difference in the world on those boats when it comes to ride.

[EddieB]

Turned out to be a nice day on the Butler Chain yesterday.
277418
277419

[paramount 200]

Man....
that thing looks great I am going black with the paramount from the rub rail down and white on the rest.

[EddieB]

Man....
that thing looks great I am going black with the paramount from the rub rail down and white on the rest.

That will look mean - I like.

[EddieB]

Just listed her for sale in Hulls up to 20.