Recent content by ErikF

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    Mercruiser 165 (GM 250) starter issue questions

    Hello Everyone, I have an issue with my starter/starter solenoid (and possibly more) that's giving me fits. I've run through all my wiring and nothing seems amiss, everything matches up nicely to the diagram in the service manual. When I start the engine with the key switch is will start...
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    How much to discount for worn upholstory/aesthetics?

    Hey Everyone, I'm working out the budget for a boat I'm currently restoring and it's looking like my best option now is to sell another boat I have to free up some fun money so I can get the current project finished and back on the water. The boat I'm considering selling is a ~30 year old...
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    Trim tabs worth it (21' Starcraft Chieftain)

    Hello Everyone, I've read quite a few positive testimonials for trim tabs on the forum. However I've never really looked into them myself and I'm honestly not completely clear on what they do and whether or not they would be beneficial on my boat, a 21' Starcraft Chieftain aluminum cuddy...
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    No tach ...yet, is this safe?

    Hey Everyone, Apologies in advance for posting a question in the prop forum without all the necessary information. I have an 18' Blue Fin Sea King, it's an aluminum boat very similar in design to a Starcraft Holiday, it has a maximum horsepower rating of 120. I recently picked up a 1973...
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    1973 115HP tach question

    I picked up this outboard last week and have been working on getting it running on my boat, an 18' Blue Fin Sea King, I have the motor bolted up and running but when I get out on the lake I feel like it's not getting up to full RPM. The outboard came with a tachometer that looks like it wires in...
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    Did I get a good deal? (1973 115HP)

    Hey Everyone, I haven't posted much in the part of the forum since I was looking for advice on rebuilding my hydro-electric lower unit... That project was shelved a month or two ago when I stumbled upon another project boat and diverted my efforts and attention to the new toy. Now the...
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    Smallest boat you could comfortably live aboard?

    I've been reading some threads about living aboard both houseboats and cruiser type boats on the forum. Living aboard is something that has interested me for years and I'm beginning to think is something I want to seriously pursue. My first question is how small of a boat do you think one...
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    Advice on replacement floor

    Hello, I'm getting ready to replace the floor in my 21' Chieftain and have a few questions before I dive into the project. First, what materials are recommended. I'm looking for the sweet spot of price/performance, basically I don't want to spend double on better wood that may last 10%...
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    1971 21' Starcraft Chieftain (eventual restoration)

    Hello Everyone, With luck this thread will follow and document my eventual restoration and repair of my newly acquired 1971 21' Chieftain! This boat followed me home at the beginning of last week soon after I discovered it on Craigslist. I bought the boat as a non-runner in somewhat unknown...
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    Where to buy gauges?

    Hello, I need to buy two fuel gauges for my boat, the dash panel is original to the 1971 Mercruiser and all the original gauges work fine (no fuel gauges in dash), I would like to find something that will match the style pretty well as I'd rather not replace the entire dash to keep things...
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    Anyone have a 21' Chieftain with water bonnet bimini?

    Hello, I'm trying to get the water bonnet figured out on my new to me 21' Chieftain. I have the main bimini figured out but I'm not getting anywhere with the other covers (side, rear, etc...) To make matters worse the boat came with multiple covers and I'm having a heck of a time...
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    Troubleshooting a coil

    Hello, I'm working on a Mercruiser 165. The motor has been sitting a long time and I'm working to get it going again. Right now I'm trying to get the ignition system working. I found the old coil to be bad and replaced it with a new one. However I still cannot get a spark, with the key in the...
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    Chieftain windshield question

    Hello, I'm a new owner of a 1971 21' Chieftain that has some cracks in the lower plexiglass windshield. Is there a better way to fix this than going to a shop and having a new piece of plexiglass made up? Ideally I would like to use a material that's tougher, easier to clean, and more...
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    Back in the Starcraft owners club!

    Hi Everyone, I bought a 1971 Starcraft Chieftain 21' last night. It's a nice project boat, it needs work, but it should be quite nice when it's done. The engine is a Mercruiser 165 straight six and looks very clean. The boat has been sitting under cover for close to 20 years and doesn't look...
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    What am I looking at here (1972 Chieftain)

    Re: What am I looking at here (1972 Chieftain) I've attached the only picture I have of the outdrive, does this give any clues?
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