Recent content by Milemaker13

  1. M

    Day Sailer 1?

    Cl has a Day Sailer 1 for only $300 on a trailer. It all looks pretty rough, no sails but looks like there is a mast. What do you think? Pass for something cleaner with sails, etc? Or go for the project aspect? But now, aren't we back to basically building a boat from nearly scratch? Hmm...
  2. M

    build a sail boat from near scratch?

    I went on a sail boat trip last summer on lake Michigan. We're going again this summer. We have a nice older powerboat, which is great, but man , sailing is just SO AWESOME!!! :-) :-) Of course when I got home last summer I immediately went to Craig's list to find a small sail boat. Well, the...
  3. M

    fuel gauge accuracy?

    Hello, I have a 78 cobalt trihull. I'm wondering how accurate the fuel gauge may be. We filled the boat up, gauge said full. Went out, gauge says half tank... All day, start to finish. Afterward, filled tank back up. Like ten gallons in a thirty gallon tank (I was told, I saw the tank but...
  4. M

    porta potty on board?

    Thinking about buying a small porta potty for on board our 18' tri hull run about. For long cruising, just me, wife and dog I would remove one rear jump seat and replace with the potty. I think I can find one to fit well in the space between the motor box (I/O) and side wall, where the jump seat...
  5. M

    How high is too high? (tilt/trim question)

    I have a 165 in line six with an MC-1. Wondering how high I can raise the out drive in gear. Can I, for example, raise it high enough to run at lower RPM thru low water areas?
  6. M

    where/how to get canvas top for 78 cobalt

    We have a 1978 cobalt trihull, TH 18. Right now we have the original canvas driving top with the "fast back" rear curtain. I'd like to have the full "camper top". I doubt I'd be able to find it OEM, but can something like this be made? How would they do it? I mean, do they take my boat to make a...
  7. M

    clear hose from fuel pump to carb replaced with fuel hose

    I replaced the clear plastic tube that connects the fuel pump to the carb. I'm told this is a safety feature in case of fuel pump failure. I replaced it using standard fuel line, black rubber hose. Is that ok?
  8. M

    safe to install battery switch in engine compartment?

    I'm not sure if my new dual battery switch is ignition protected. The booklet doesn't say much, just "make before break" and "don't switch to off while engine is running. " Is it safe to install this switch inside the engine compartment? I just want to double check so we don't have an accident.
  9. M

    safe to install battery switch in engine compartment?

    I'm installing a second battery using the 1-both-2-off style switch. Can this switch be safely installed inside the engine space? Are these switches considered ignition protected? All it says is " make before break operation" and " don't switch to off while running". The brand is "seaflo". I...
  10. M

    fueling the boat... leaded gas? Grounding concerns?

    I have an in board fuel tank in the fiberglass tri hull. What is the procedure for adding fuel on the trailer? I am used to setting my plastic tanks on the ground for filling. Do I need to worry about grounding? Also, my engine (165 mercruiser straight six) has a sticker that says to use leaded...
  11. M

    vacuum line from intake/carb

    hose barb on fuel pump I have a hose barb on the bottom of my fuel pump, but no hose attached. I don't know what this connection is. The engine runs like this. I was thinking it may be a vent? If it is a vent, should it be routed out of the hull? This is the 165 hp straight six. I have a...
  12. M

    Lower unit lube- 165 hp mercruiser

    How should I go about checking lower unit lube level? I've read that there is an upper and lower section, and the lower section will stay full as long as the upper section level is maintained. What say you?
  13. M

    First time out with an I/O. Any advice?

    First time owning an inboard sterndrive boat. There is a 165 hp mercruiser in an 18' Cobalt tri hull. 1978. Everything looks like its in good shape, runs well. What should I double check before heading out on the water? So far I have refilled the tilt/trim pump using the recommended 5w20...
  14. M

    Can you explain the cooling system of my 165 mercruiser?

    I am new to the inboard/outboard drive system, and want a better understanding of how it all works. I understand the cooling system consists of a seawater and fresh water section. That makes sense, like exchanging your air cooler radiator in a car for a water cooled heat exchanger on the boat...
  15. M

    battery charging hook up

    I have an older evinrude 25hp. I'll have to go out and get the serial number. Late seventies if I remember correctly. Anyway, it is electric start, but I don't have any of that hooked up now. I'd like to know about the charging of a battery. How does that all work?
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