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  1. JASinIL2006

    Mercruiser Alpha One will not trim up, no sound

    Agreed. When the trim limit switch on the outdrive failed on my boat, the trailer tilt function worked fine, but the trim buttons did not work. The trim limit switch is a round puck-like fixture on the port side of the outdrive.
  2. JASinIL2006

    Deck Repair - Fiberglassing Question (Newbie)

    How old is your boat? Any idea why you have a spot that's rotten? Soft/rotten spots - unless caused by some penetration, like a screw - often are symptoms of greater problems below the decking. Boats often rot from the bottom up, which means the structure of the boat may be seriously compromised...
  3. JASinIL2006

    Boat trailer brakes

    No problem at all with electric brakes and water. Since most electrics are drum brakes, they probably are not so great in salt water, but that's an issue with the drum brakes, not the electric part.
  4. JASinIL2006

    Leaking boat

    I've used Gluvit to stop those kind of seeping leaks and it works very well. In my boat, it has lasted years without any problem. I don't believe Gluvit is resistant to UV light, though, so if it's going to see sunlight, make sure you paint over the Gluvit after it has cured.
  5. JASinIL2006

    Boat trailer brakes

    I would for sure go with electric brakes on both axles. More stopping power is better than less...
  6. JASinIL2006

    Maybe my turn for new boat time

    That does not seem like much truck for all that boat!
  7. JASinIL2006

    Mercruiser 120 G1 A1 - Transom Seal

    Unless Alpha One Gen 1 switched fail at a dramatically different rate than Gen 2 switches, I think the one year life span may a bit of exaggeration. I'm starting my 12th season with the same boat and I've only replace the limit switch once. It probably depend a bit on the environment in which...
  8. JASinIL2006

    Crack found in the block

    Can your brother help you pull this an replace the block? Lots of cheaper options than buying a whole new engine, and if the boat is well loved by the fam, well worth the work and expense...
  9. JASinIL2006

    Must Have items!!!

    Safety gear depend a lot on where you're boating. For example, if you boat on a river, especially near any dams, having a couple really good anchors is important should your motor fail. Where I boat, VHF radio and tow insurance won't really do me much good. A cell phone is much more important...
  10. JASinIL2006

    1987 Four Winns Boat 16ft inboard would you Buy?

    Mine looked and ran great, too. I used it for an entire season. Everything was solid, no soft spots in the deck, no flex in the transom... then I tried to tighten a bolt that held the boarding ladder in place and this is ultimately where it led me. A rotten transom, soaked flotation foam, and...
  11. JASinIL2006

    What depth is safe for a stern drive 16ft to 18ft boat?

    As @QBhoy says, 2.5‘ to 3.5’ at no wake speed. At planing speed, you can get by on less water, but only if you know there are no obstructions under the surface. We used to use a launch on the Mississippi where there was a chute that was only about 18 inches deep, but you had to be up on plane to...
  12. JASinIL2006

    1987 Four Winns Boat 16ft inboard would you Buy?

    You absolutely need to have the boat’s structure evaluated - the wooden transom core and the structural pieces (stringers and bulkheads) that underlie the deck. If you don’t know how to check that out yourself, do you have a buddy who knows boats? Or a marine mechanic who could look it over for...
  13. JASinIL2006

    Ever buy a boat to big for your garage.

    That’s not a garage, it’s a hangar!
  14. JASinIL2006

    Building a gantry crane

    Like @Scott Danforth, I used all the lumber for other projects later. Zero waste.
  15. JASinIL2006

    Building a gantry crane

    This is the gantry I built to pull my engine.
  16. JASinIL2006

    What type transom straps do you prefer

    I’ve used these for years. They are very strong, super convenient and I have never had them loosen. I trailer several thousand miles a summer, including a few hundred miles over really rough dirt roads. Never once have they come loose...
  17. JASinIL2006

    Mild Winter

    Gonna be a buggy, dry summer in the Midwest if we don't get a lot more snow and some colder weather...
  18. JASinIL2006

    Happy Birthday, WIMUSKY!

    Happy Birthday!
  19. JASinIL2006

    Fuel use meter?

    I think this makes the most sense. If you know what each boat consumes at WOT per hour, you just build that charge into your rental fee. I've only rented a couple times, but the fuel fee was just part of the rental cost.
  20. JASinIL2006

    First plane ride/snow !

    Congratulations on the grandbaby!
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