ZO Conversion kit

[thager]

If you have a 2002 and up SN 196 with the Excaliber 5.7 engine and a little mechanical ability you can now do the conversion without driving your boat across the good old USA. Inboard Solutions LLC of Montgomery, AL with Tim White

at the helm has just helped me convert my 2002 SN 196 to E-control and Zero Off. Install was very easy for me and done over a few weeks time at my leisure. Nothing but ice on the lake anyway. Operation was mostly remove and replace with Tim providing written guidance and answering any of my questions via phone alone the way. He is old fashioned customer service with many years of experience in the boating industry and specifically inboards. For more info see his new website at Inboardsolutionsllc.com

[thager]

Put my 02 196 in the lake yesterday for the operational checks. ZO rocks! Had my usual early season water cooling problem

and had to reseat the water strainer bowl but seems to be taken care of now. Will recheck today before I ski if this dam wind calms down. I ski on a public lake.

[Old MS Accout]

Good luck with the wind. If this keeps up, I am selling everything and will take up kite boarding. The good thing about the wind is that the lake is already over 60f after the ice leaving last Friday.   

[thager]

My lake was 56 degrees and the ice just went out Tuesday night.

[rq0013]

Yeah here in southern WI the lake temp is 54, up from 42 degrees the same time last year. This wind is really helping

[thager]

Finally got a nice calm day and my driver to try my ZO conversion in the course. I must have done a great job with the conversion because it kicked my arse!!! Ran 8-10 passes at -22off@ 34.2 and only ran about 2 of them worth a dam. Main problem was lack of a good start through the gate. No angle, narrow and straight at one ball didn't add up to a good run. When I got the gate shot right it was easy ,early and wide. Was embarrassed to even try -28 or -32. At least a bad day skiing beats a good day at work every time!

[RichardDoane]

Skiing behind older boats with PP/SG, and then behind a new boat with ZO is a totally different world, and one of the reasons I decided to update my Mastercraft.  Now I'll just have to get some CC stickers to keep MS happy if he ever gets his arse to the Pacific NW.

[thager]

Maybe I'll join him. I can bring the shift knob for you!!!

[robscholl-OF]

That would be cool, come on out....OF

[ForrestGump]

Tim at Inboard Solutions is a good guy. I bought a bimini from him last week and it arrived in 3 days and was so well wrapped, it probably took me longer to cut out of the plastic than it did to install. LOL

[Old MS Accout]

I will get there but I need you guys to rev up the global warming first.

[Gern Blanston]

RQ0013 - where in southern WI are you?  I'm in Muskego.

[ripa38]

I have an 03 196 with key ignition that fits the criteria for the upgrade kit to E-control and Zero Off. I have not talked to anyone that has done this and this thread kind of died with only one example of someone doing the conversion. I would love feedback from people that have done this project themselves. I have emailed Time at Inboard Solutions, but I am still a bit nervous about pulling the trigger.

[ripa38]

Sorry, meant Tim, not Time

 

[Gloersen]

Almost complete with the '03 conversion here. Had it been just the conversion to E-controls DBW & ZO; not too formidable. Tim is very helpful & provides excellent feedback. Most of it is intuitive, transpositioning the throttle cable requires mounting the new bracket with potentiometer on the left front of the intake manifold.

 

Pull the trigger.

[thager]

@ripa38 If you can read, understand instructions, have basic mechanical skills, and take your time it is not rocket science. Mostly unscrew or unbolt and then replace with a similar item. Tim is there for any questions. Call me if you like. At least the 03 has the large instruments so you don;t have to mess with special mounting,

[thager]

@Gloerson What is the story on your noggin? Ouch!!!!!!!

[Gloersen]

@thager - result of user error. I apply Velcro to heel of Reflex to prevent lateral boot slide, had an unrecognized partial Silvretta release from mild tip stuffing but Velcro kept heel in place, felt clicking on next pass, ignored it; big mistake.

[MattP]

@gloersen make a heal cup out of bondo. The boot will slide right out I'd it if it releases.

[Gloersen]

Pics for assistance in mounting bracket installation. Exchanging the wire harnesses is straight forward.

 

ECM bracket mounting

 

throttle cable/potentiometer bracket mounting.

 

"U" shaped bracket for fuse assembly

 

 

[Dutch]

What does the final price tag come out to for the parts and such if you do the install yourself?

[skier2788]

Inboard solutions kit starts 3600

[Dutch]

@skier2788 thank you. I may look into this option for a '03 196

[skier2788]

@dutch only know thay cause I looked into it with the help of Thager for my 2002 196. I live in Fort Collins. Saw you were in Denver. If I get it done or vice versa let me know wouldnt mind seeing the kit.

[Dutch]

@skier2788 I'll let you know if I pull the trigger