Recent content by rlb2252

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    Your Boating Econmic Class

    In this time of harsh economic realities how would you define your financial class: Are you affluent or upper middle class, easily able to afford the boat you desire and its operation without a significant dent in your disposable income? Are you middle class, able to pay for the boat and its...
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    Mechanical Emergency Toolkit--Necessary?

    I?ve read a lot on this site about the need to always have a tool kit on board for a mechanical emergency. I?ve read debates on what exactly one should carry for such an emergency. Spark plugs. A spare prop. A set of wrenches. Gas filter. Oil, etc. I?m wondering whether any of you have...
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    Boating & Your Significant Others

    Has boating helped or hurt your relationship with your significant other? What about with your children? Your friends? I haven't bought my first one yet. But the boating life I envision defintely involves the little lady as my first mate. I'm a loner in many aspects of my life and am...
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    End of Season/Winter Purchase Decision

    Especially for you cold weather climate skippers: What?s the latest in the season you?d ever consider buying a boat? Last month or so of the season? Very end of season, with barely a chance to check the boat out and have a few days of fun? What about winter? Ever purchase a boat you have...
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    How Far From Shore/Safety Do U Venture?

    (Hope this hasn?t been asked recently. Did a search but didn?t find anything.) What?s the farthest from shore/safety you've ever ventured? How far from land does your average outing take you? Aboard what type of boat? What about any future plans for far-out-of-sight-of land adventures, such...
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    Why Aren't Self-Bailing Boats The Norm?

    Why aren?t all boats self-bailing? Or at least most. To the extent I understand what self-bailing is (and in reality I just discovered the definition a few minutes ago), it would seem that any boat larger than a canoe or kayak or flat bottom fishing boat would benefit from this feature. Are...
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    Magic Minimum Number

    I have heard?on both this board and others?marine sages state emphatically that the minimum vessel length to take on big water starts at some magic point. They insist that to venture off-shore aboard a vessel of less than a specific length is not only foolhardy but quite possibly suicidal...
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    The Limits of Mercruiser 260 Power

    I?m most interested in buying a mid ?80?s Sea Ray cruiser. The boats from this era tended to come with the Mercruiser 260/Alpha 1 combo, apparently quite a successful pairing. The range of vessel lengths and weights powered by this setup is somewhat surprising going from 21 foot Cuddy?s to the...
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    Your Boat's Gender

    What gender is your boat? Are you a traditionalist?bowing to the American traditional of referring to sea vessels as female? Or are you more daring, boldly referring to your boat as a ?he?? I understand that in some countries boats are traditionally considered male. Makes sense to me. It?s...
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    Camper Top Rough Seas Protection

    In rough seas does a full camper enclosure give you extra protection from water flowing over the transom and sides?
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    2 vs 4 Barrel Carbs

    A question regarding the Mercruiser 260. Does it come in both a 2 barrel and four barrel configuration? And if so, is there a note worthy mpg disparity between those two variations?
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    Engine Boring Definition

    What?s the significance of an engine that has been modified, bored out, I think the expression is, to increase horsepower. Does that automatically mean that fuel consumption is increased as well. Are you wary of this kind of mod? Any special precautions you?d take if buying a boat with this mod?
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    Personal Security Paranoia

    How safe do you feel on the water? I don?t mean from the usual boating tragedies, such as capsizing, collisions, accidentally toppling over-board. I mean how safe do you feel from the public at large? I would love to overnight someday. But I grew up in the big, bad, crime ridden city. Even...
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    Weekend Boating Price Tag

    What does your typical boating weekend cost? Include the type of boat. Fuel, eats, beverages. And any non-fixed costs such as launch fees, docking fees, pottie pump out, etc.
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    Boat Reliability Vs Auto Reliability

    (First, let me say that I hope the following is not true because I definitely expect to buy my first boat this season and I?m not mechanically inclined.) I?m getting the impression?and perhaps it?s an erroneous one?that boat reliability is vastly inferior to that of autos. In my search to buy...
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