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  • Surf Gates

    Macdaddy

    By Macdaddy

      • Year: 2007 Brand: Malibu Model / Trim: 247 LSV Device Type : Hinged Gate Style Surf Device Material: Fiberglass / gelcoat Control: Powered via Switches (no controller) Cost: $2000-$3499 Platform Type: Fiberglass
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    In the process of making my gates, I took a lot of previous posts from members here and applied this process to my boat.

    1. I made the pattern out of cardboard and taped it to the area where I thought it should go.  A benefit that I had is I had the wicked wake surfgates for both sides and used those for my mock ups.

    2.  Once the pattern and size where decided and cut (cardboard), I used the pattern and cut the gates  out of coosa board.  Worked great.  Once cut out, I sanded them down.  I placed the SS hinges on the gates and set them where I thought they needed to be.  I drilled the holes out and on the outside of the gates, I drilled bigger holes so the bolt heads would be buried and not shown on the finished product.  I used a marine epoxy from menards and secured them so they would not twist out.

    3.  Next, I mocked up where the gates were going to go on the boat....use lots of blue painters tape so you not scratch your boat.  Marked the holes that needed to be drilled.  Countersunk all of them...a bit nerve racking, but after the first few....went pretty easy.

    4.  As others on this site, I did use lenco actuators... The newer faster ones...pretty nice too!  Decided where they needed to go and drilled the gate as well as the boat.

    5.  Sent the gates off to be fiber glassed and gel coated.  I have to be honest...this is where the budget went bye bye.  I had no idea how much this would be and all I can say is the place I took the gates to could match the color to my boat...which was a plus...but they had 19 hours of labor in my gates@ $117 an hour.  You do the math!!  Not saying they did not do a great job....but more than what I wanted to spend.  Also got surf gate emblems off eBay to make it to look as factory as possible.  They do look fantastic though!!!

    6.  Got the gates back, assembled hinges, mounting brackets for the actuators, and mounted to the boat.  It did require 2 people to do this.  Used 3m marine sealant 4200 fast cure.  Sealed on both sides and as the pics show...I did make backing brackets for the backside.  Some say you do not need them, but you can not over engineer in my mind.

    7.  I did run manual switches up by the dash to operate the gates.  I will add a pic later to show this. I may look at a controller in the future, but this will do for right now.  

    8. I may raise the swim platform in the future, but I want to see how it does.  One reason I did not is because I have the Malibu ladder mounted underneath the swim platform.  I did relocate the ladder because it originally mounted where the gates are.  I will add a pic to show what I did.  I still want my kids to able yo use the ladder...another reason I have not raised the swim platform yet.  We will wait and see.

    9,. I think this is all at this time.  If you have question, pm me and I will try to help.  I will update if more mods are needed for this project.

    10.  I have added pics of the switches I added near the dash.

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    • Like 3
    • Thanks 2
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    Rugger

    That looks awesome @Macdaddy.   Really looks factory or even better.    Love the you took the time to cover the screw heads as well.   Those little details are a great investment.

    Yup, fiberglass labor is expensive.   If it makes you feel better.... I did mine myself and it was a PAIN in the ass and took 10x longer than I though.   If you saw my build thread progress in shop talk I had many problems during the process.   Included all the problems I could so the next guy would hopefully avoid them.    

    Again, nice job and thanks for posting it on Wake Garage.

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    Macdaddy

    Number 9 - I bought it a while ago for a different project...bought it off ebay.  It was just 1/4" plastic.  I wanted something that would flex and mold to the back of the boat.  Worked pretty well.  I know the pics of them are not flattering, but no one will ever see them.  My carpet pulled off pretty easy and I am going to take adhesive and glue it right over the top of these backing brackets.  Going to put the boat in the water and make sure there are no leaks first!

    Edited by Macdaddy
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    grantgibson99

    hey guys I am very interested in doing something like this on my 23 lsv, but not looking to break the bank. I'd really like to do it for as cheap as I possibly could but i still would like to have a clean look. Any suggestions? Seems like I can get away without a controller and without the cost of fiberglass work. My hull is black too so that kinda helps. Does anyone have a part number for the actuators? Tell me if i'm crazy, but I feel like I can make this work for around 600 bucks. thanks

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    Rugger
    6 hours ago, grantgibson99 said:

     Tell me if i'm crazy, but I feel like I can make this work for around 600 bucks. thanks

    Yes if you use hdpe like macdaddy said.   Fiberglass and gel coat cost more in both material cost and definitely time.   I ran black hpde (king starboard) most of last summer until I finished the fiberglass ones.  Honestly if you have black or white gates you’re in luck.  I think hdpe still looks good when down right. Obviously no performance difference

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    Rugger
    25 minutes ago, grantgibson99 said:

    yes, I think the hpde is going to be my best bet. As for actuators are you guys just using the lenco 102s with the 4.25 inch throw? Also as far as wiring goes, how are you running the switches? thanks again

     

    Yes most commonly.  Check some of the threads in shop talk, there are a few overviews and a ton of answers for general questions as well.  There’s a faster lenco option you’ll want to get.  In fact, if you build some, feel free to start a thread in shop talk for projects in progress and you’ll get help along the way. Great group of guys here to help each other

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    grantgibson99

    Thanks Rugger. I just read some of your forum posts and that answered most of my questions. I think I am gonna grab the boat from storage this weekend and look over some things. Ive got a 2005 23 lsv and it looks like me and macdaddy have the exact same platform,  so I hope I can get away without modifying it. As far as wiring the 2 momentary switches to the lencos, how would you guys suggest doing that?  thanks.

     

    Edited by grantgibson99
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    Macdaddy

    Grant - Here is the info i have.  I went through mmimarine.com  They have everything you need.  Switches, mounting brackets, actuators...everything.  I went with the Lenco stroke fast actuator .  Part number is LEN 15130-001.  With wiring, they ahve all the diagrams and quick connects to make it very easy.  For me, I wired the switches directly to my battery with an inline fuse.  Seems to work great.

     

    Mac

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    grantgibson99
    On 3/30/2018 at 9:24 AM, Macdaddy said:

    Grant - Let me know if I can help in any way.  Not saying i am an expert, but I will try to help.

     

    Mac

    Thanks Mac I did have one more question. So if I order the 2 actuators and the same switch plate that you have, is there anything else that I will need, in order to get the actuators working? No control module or anything? thanks.

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    Macdaddy

    Yes I did.   Grant, I finally got my batteries in the boat tested the gates and did not work.  After several hours, the quick connectors on the extension cables did not work.  I ended up cutting them out and directly wired the, to the acuators and all works well now.  Giving you a heads up.

    I think if you get it from mmi...you will be fine and I can't think of anything else you will need.

    mac

     

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    Rugger
    On 4/15/2018 at 5:18 AM, Macdaddy said:

    Rockerswitchpros.com. Again, trying to make it simple, but look factory.

     

    Ok, I'm a terrible admin/moderator...  I went to add "Rockerswitchpros" to our Resources page so others could easily find it --- and then realized it was already there, the first one listed.   haha

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