Hot foot on Trimate II

[1979checkmate]

Hey everyone, i am considering installing a hotfoot on my '79 Trimate II. However, as many of you know, the natural place to mount a foot throttle is not on the boat floor, but on the actual hull with Trimate II's, and i would rather not drill into the hull and balsa core...just not worth the risk. I was considering mounting it so my left foot controlled the throttle rather than right, but i think that might be unnatural, what do you guys think. Any other trimate's our there with hot foots? How did you guys do it?

 

[Big Red]

Stick the steering wheel on the other side, thats what I did in the jetboat

 

[1979checkmate]

haha..i suppose i could..but that would be alot of time, effort..and most importantly "$$"

 

[ezflyer]

haha..i suppose i could..but that would be alot of time, effort..and most importantly "$$"

hey 1979 cm you could get you a piece of 1" thick ply or a piece of hard wood the size of your hot foot. then cut out your carpot and fiber glass the board in the place you want the hot foot. becarful not get screws longer than the tickness of the board you put in place. this will allow you to screw down the throtle asembly and not get into the balsa core.

 

[Big Red]

haha..i suppose i could..but that would be alot of time, effort..and most importantly "$$"

Cost me 20 bucks and 1 evening in the shop. The cables are the same length. Let me see a pic of your dash

 

[1979checkmate]

boat is stored about 4 hours away, so i cant get pics until i go home this weekend (away at school.) anyways i guess what i think would be the greatest expense is fixing the holes in the dash where the steering is now and figuring out a way to mount a steering wheel in a big rectangular hole from the glove box. I suppose i could just put diamond plate over both sides and redrill holes... it would either look great like that or totally redneck. I mean i am redneck but i have limits, haha.

 

[TheNerd]

Best/Easiest plan is to glass a block to the floor and mount to that.

 

[merc245]

I mounted mine on the left about 12 yrs ago thru bolted it in the ski locker then ran the cable thru the floor into the locker and back the engine totally out of sight. Never had a problem with it in 12 yrs. And as getting use to it. Your already driving on the wrong side aren't you. It takes two seconds, never had anyone complain about either.

 

[175checkmate]

Installed the hot foot on my trimate 2. Had to install on the left side. When I redid the boat I built a tapered ( to the hull) mount for the hot foot to mount to. Also installing the adjustable hot foot mount made it real easy.

 

[aqua]

I agree with glassing a plywood block to the hull. I also used "T-nuts" to fasten the hot foot, so it could be easily removed in case I needed to work under the dash.

 

[1979checkmate]

And as getting use to it. Your already driving on the wrong side aren't you. It takes two seconds, never had anyone complain about either.

Good Point! One more question, this is an all-purpose boat for my family (only boat) what kind of effect does a hot foot have on watersports, i know tubing would probably be minimal, but as far as keeping a constant speed skiing and whatnot, what are your experiences?

 

[groundloop]

I too installed a foot throttle for left-foot use because there was no other location which would work out, and was concerned about how it would feel. Turned out to be a non-event. As far as pulling skiers etc., IMHO you'll like a foot throttle better than a hand throttle. You've got to constantly be making small throttle adjustments to maintain speed as you turn etc., with a foot throttle it's no different than driving down the road and holding 60 mph, as you go up a hill you have to ease in more throttle to hold speed.

 

[merc245]

Its Great, For tubing it frees both hands so you can work the wheel back and fro. And you have instant throttle response to save any potential manuver. Holding a constant speen for sking no proplem either!