Recent content by Joolz

  1. J

    Ok to shorten trailer's arm?

    As seen in the pics, my boat just barely fits in its space - and that's after carefully angling it. Needless to say this is a major headache given its weight and how I must wrestle with it on gravel, which makes things that much harder. This back-breaking process could be made slightly less...
  2. J

    Is my trailer compromised?

    Should I be worried about this gap in the frame? Got the boat last year and have been doing some repairs to it. At some point some years ago someone welded a makeshift fender in place, welding it to the frame. This was a very heavy piece of 4mm thick metal bent to resemble a mud flap. Eventually...
  3. J

    Too far past the bunk ends?

    In order to lighten the tongue weight a bit I moved the boat rearwards from the trailer 6cm. Was this a mistake? Given all the weight on the transom (this is an outboard) should the boat be flush with the end of the bunks? If this was an error and you folks think it should be moved back to its...
  4. J

    Should I use a support bracket as the owners manual recommends?

    Having recently acquired a 17' Starcraft runabout with a 97 Force 120HP that came with all the manuals, I came across this page of the motor's owners manual that has me wondering how I should tow the boat on the highway. With my old boat that had a 115hp Johnson, I towed it with the motor fully...
  5. J

    Mystery dry spark plug

    1997 Merc Force 120 ELPT running Champion surface plugs UL77V (manual calls for L76V). Came across an odd issue with one of the spark plugs. When in doubt, ask away, so here I am. Got this boat last week, yesterday did a compression test and all strong within a 10% margin. But as I removed the...
  6. J

    I enjoy OBs. Will I regret switching to sterndrives?

    Current boat is an outboard. In the market for a replacement boat and I see a few good deals on I/O sterndrives. Kinda hesitant to consider these due to added maintenance, more weight, extra costs. Am I right to be hesitant? Or would it be a mistake not considering an I/O? Boats I'm looking at...
  7. J

    Should I buy this boat that was left uncovered?

    The obvious answer should be NO! However this Larson Flyer 166 does not have any wood stringers, floor or transom, as far as I'm aware, that would rot since no wood is present in its construction. But as seen in the pic, the upholstery is in poor condition, I imagine from spending a lot of time...
  8. J

    OK to reverse polarity?

    Have a Shakespeare Glider 32 trolling motor that is used regularly in the powerboat, transom mounted. Would like to use it my wooden boat, bow mounted. Instead of switching the head around (would need to be done each time I switched boats) could I just reverse the polarity? Today I run a quick...
  9. J

    Making a custom trailer guide-in - could use advice

    As is the case with many here, loading the boat onto the trailer is often difficult in the best of days, a real chore with even the lightest of breezes, and an exercise that often ends with the wife yelling at me angrily despite my best attempts to speed things up. Can't blame her, our northern...
  10. J

    How to replace rivets on a FB boat?

    The soft top in my 15' FB boat is attached by pressing rivets together. Several are missing from the fiberglass. Is there a tool/kit or some way for the do-it-yourselfer to replace these or must I bring the whole boat to an upholstery shop? Would rather do it myself but no idea where even to buy...
  11. J

    Johnson 115 OB, what's the plug order?

    Just did a compression test in this 1983 Johnson 115 4V outboard and realized that I don't recall where the spark plug wires go (same length, fits on either the upper or lower hole). Please refer to the pic. I would think that the upper wire (left bank pictured) would connect to the upper spark...
  12. J

    Johnson outboard charging system no longer working

    Johnson 115HP model no. J115TLCTE (not sure the year, maybe someone could specify based on the model and pic below?) Late last year I noticed the battery wasn't being charged anymore. Didn't think this would matter much as I could just charge it at home. But planning a 5 day camping/boating trip...
  13. J

    Wet wood - do I have a disaster in my hands?

    This is kind of a follow up to this thread: http://forums.iboats.com/forum/boat-...a-listing-boat Figured I started a new thread as to stay on topic but wonder if the wet wood is possibly coming from the keel damage as discussed above. Issue: today as I checked the boat for possible soft spots...
  14. J

    Attaching a transducer to a listing boat

    Just got me a Humminbird 596c HD fish finder, the 640x640 5" screen model with down imaging, duo beam and all the fancy stuff. Purchased from a local boater that bought a new boat that already had a fish finder installed, so he sold me his old rig as a complete set - which means it needs to be...
  15. J

    Towing with a Bronco II

    Just got a 16' deep V on a heavy duty trailer (total weight 840kg / 1750 lbs) and not happy towing it with the minivan. For one it's automatic, anemic going uphills despite the Nissan 3.2L with plenty of ponies. But the bigger issue is docking, in order to get the boat off the trailer the...
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