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  1. JASinIL2006

    Engine mount lag screw broke - how to remove?

    I pulled the engine out my I/O a few weeks ago. The lag screws used were apparently not stainless steel, as they were somewhat corroded and very difficult to loosen. One of the screws snapped, leaving a 1/2" stub sticking out of the motor mount. This is what it looks like: I tried a couple of...
  2. JASinIL2006

    Costs of gel coat/snap-in carpet vs. glued carpet?

    I'm replacing the deck in my 18.5' bowrider, and I'm trying to decide between using glued-in carpet vs. gel-coating the deck and using snap-in carpet. (The family has informed me they want some sort of carpeting surface.) Has anyone recently compared costs for these two options? I figure the...
  3. JASinIL2006

    Winterizing pulled engine

    Hi, I have a pulled engine (Merc 350 Mag sitting on a stand in my garage) that I need to winterize. I have run Stabilized gas thru it and sprayed fogging oil into it the last time it was run before I pulled it. The engine is going to be on the stand all winter while I do a transom replacement...
  4. JASinIL2006

    Can't remove steering cable from power steering assembly

    Hi, I am in the process of removing my Alpha One Gen II transom assembly. I am working on removing the power steering assembly, but I cannot get the steering cable out of the cylinder. I've loosened the nut and even banged against it to pull it out of the cylinder, but it seems stuck. I must be...
  5. JASinIL2006

    Fixing upholstery...

    I'm in the midst of doing some major work on my boat, making it non-operational until next Spring. While the boat is out of commission, I was considering having some of our upholstery repaired. We have a '97 bowrider that, generally, has seating that is in pretty good shape. On several of the...
  6. JASinIL2006

    Tips on pulling engine?

    Ok, in preparation of fixing my rotten transom, I'm getting ready to pull my engine. I have a '96 350 Mag in my Larson 186 SEI I/O. The outdrive is already pulled and sitting on a stand I built, so now it's time to start in on the engine. I've never pullued an engine in my life... I've got the...
  7. JASinIL2006

    Transom problems with Larson 186 SEI I/O Bowrider

    Hi all, I have a '97 Larson 186 SEI I/O bowrider, powered by a Mercruiser 350 Mag engine and an Alpha One Gen 2 outdrive. The drive train was replaced within the last year or two and functions great. We bought the boat last Spring (2012). Yesterday, while prepping the boat for an outing, I...
  8. JASinIL2006

    Loose ladder screw/bolt

    Just got back from two weeks at the lake, during which time it seemed that we were accumulating more water in the bilge than normal. In prepping the boat today for a river outing tomorrow, I noticed one of the screws (bolts?) that is under the waterline was loose. I tried to tighten it but it...
  9. JASinIL2006

    Trim up doesn't work, but trailer switch does

    I returned from a day on the river Sunday, during which my boat performed without any problem. When we were putting away the boat into the garage the next night, I was having my son lower the outdrive to relieve pressure on the bellows. In order to raise the trailer tongue to get the bow higher...
  10. JASinIL2006

    Capacity of fuel tank?

    I have a '97 Larson 186 SEi. Anyone know what size fuel tank was standard on these boats? Thanks, Jim
  11. JASinIL2006

    Installing backup bilge pump... ugh!

    I'm normally a pretty handy guy, and buying a boat has pushed me to try my hand at a number of new types of projects. The worst by far, though, has been installing a second bilge pump, with float switch, in my little bowrider. Following an idea I read about here, I epoxied both the pump and...
  12. JASinIL2006

    Need to wait full 7 days for 5200 to cure?

    Hi all, I am adding a transom-mounted transducer to my fiberglass boat. I created a mounting block out of poly board for this and future transducer mountings. I drilled two holes into my hull, filled them with 3M 5200 adhesive (not the quick curing variety) and then I back-buttered the poly...
  13. JASinIL2006

    Bimini sizing question

    Hi all, I've read about a hundred old threads on bimini tops, and I'm still trying to get a handle on them. I have an 18'6" bowrider to which I'd like to add a bimini top. I've learned that the online 'sizers' (that ask for your boat type and then tell you what size top to order) are not always...
  14. JASinIL2006

    First solo spash of my boat!

    Finally got the titling nightmare resolved with my 'new' boat, got a lesson in launching/driving/retrieving from an experienced and patient boater, so I took the boat up 800 miles up to a Canada, to a lake where we have a small cabin. I was accompanied by my 16 year old son and a friend of his...
  15. JASinIL2006

    Transducer: Shoot-thru-hull vs. transom mounted vs. thru-hull mounted?

    Hi all, the depth sounder on my fiberglass bowrider seems to have flaked out... the gauge is getting power, but the depth reading frequently disappears, or flashes nonsensical depths. After checking for good connections and not finding any problems, I'm thinking it's time to replace... My...
  16. JASinIL2006

    Time to be worried?

    Hi all, I could use some advice. I bought a used boat from a Marine Sales company in early February. At the time of sale, we did all the paperwork to have the title for the trailer and boat put in our name, and for the boat to be registered. Part of the sale included a fee for the paperwork to...
  17. JASinIL2006

    Problems with depth gauge

    Hi I have a '97 Larson SEi 186 I/O bowrider that is new to me. I recently took it out on a big river for the first time and the depth gauge operated somewhat erratically. At times, it seemed to be working fine, showing a depth that seemed to be about what I'd expect. At other times, though, the...
  18. JASinIL2006

    Depth gauge functioning?

    Hi I have a '97 Larson SEi 186 I/O bowrider that is new to me. I recently took it out on a big river for the first time and the depth gauge operated somewhat erratically. At times, it seemed to be working fine, showing a depth that seemed to be about what I'd expect. At other times, though, the...
  19. JASinIL2006

    What does SEi mean?

    Hi, I bought a used Larson 186 SEi (a '97). In all the stuff I've read about this boat, I've never seen any mention about it's model name... SEi. Does anyone know if this stands for something? Seems like it must be an acronym. Thanks!
  20. JASinIL2006

    Engine hatch wont' stay up...

    Hi all, The engine hatch on my (new to me) '97 I/O bowrider won't stay up. The hatch is upholstered, about 4' wide and 15" deep, and it currently has two gas springs that say they are rated at 40 lbs. I can't tell if these gas springs have given up the ghost and should be replaced or if the...
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