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  1. tpenfield

    Which Color Scheme Do You Like ???

    As you may know, I got this new (to me) Formula 330SS . . . It is done in the "Palm Beach" color scheme . . . which includes a mix of Pink (aka Magenta), Teal, and Dark Purple. The hull has graphics using those colors and the seats have trim in those colors too. My boat has the 'pink' as the...
  2. tpenfield

    Hull Blisters Found Pre-Purchase . . . Need some advice

    I looked at a boat today with intentions to buy . . . 13 year old 28 foot boat . . . twin 5.7's W/ Bravo 3's . . . the boat was in pretty good shape. The seller offered to take me out for a sea trial (sure :) ). . . the boat did OK on the sea trial (4500 RPM both engines, 52 MPH, temp...
  3. tpenfield

    Mercruiser Horizon Engines - Question . . .

    In my search for a new (to me) boat, I have come across 1 boat that has twin Mercruiser Horizon 5.7 engines. Most of the time I have seen regular Mercruiser 5.7's etc. So, I am not sure what a 'Horizon' is versus the regular branded Mercruisers. Is 'Horizon' sold as a field replacement...
  4. tpenfield

    Help Me Understand Volvo-Penta Model Series Speak . . .

    I am looking at a few boats that have Volvo Penta engines and the alphabet soup of their model numbering convention is quite foreign to me. I wonder if anyone can help a Mercruiser guy make sense of all the model lettering . . such as GSi, GXi, etc, etc. :confused: I'm used to 'Alpha 1'...
  5. tpenfield

    Sanity Check: Big Bowrider (28 feet) for the Ocean???

    Hi Folks: In my search for the 'next' boat, I have been looking at Formula 280 Sun Sport boats in the 1996-2001 model year range. There are a few Formula 280 Bowriders available, and I had not really considered a bowrider for the waters that I frequent, but I am wondering about the...
  6. tpenfield

    Mercrcuiser 7.4L Hydro-locked and pretty much destroyed

    Well, my boat ran into some engine issues a couple of weeks ago. So, I thought that I would start a thread to get some input and ideas as to what to do about it. A little background . . . The engine was only about 5 hours into the season this year, and last season, I did a valve job and...
  7. tpenfield

    Happy Friday the 13th !!!

    Who's going boating today? What could possibly go wrong??? :D
  8. tpenfield

    Advice on Process for Selling My Boat. . .

    I am considering selling my boat at some point and have been weighing various options and approaches in my mind over the past few weeks. I noted that there are not too may threads on selling advice, mostly buying advice, on this forum. So, I thought that I would seek some advice as my...
  9. tpenfield

    Anybody Got the Garmin GPSMAP 76 Cx ???

    I just got this unit to replace my Garmin 76, which STB on me last weekend. The regular 76 was butt simple to use . . . this new one looks like you have to be a rocket scientist to set things up and use it. The biggest thing so far is that it looks like it comes with no marine navigational...
  10. tpenfield

    Stupid Dead Batteries . . . No, Stupid Dead Starter

    We went out in the boat today and anchored for while. Played the stereo for a while when anchored . . . I go to start the engine after a couple of hours anchored and the engine won't turn over. Batteries were run down. . . still enough power to run the electrical stuff . . . just not enough to...
  11. tpenfield

    How to pack a 30 minute fireworks display into 10 seconds . . .

    San Diego Fireworks . . . Looks like somebody goofed on the sequencing . . .
  12. tpenfield

    Anchoring follies

    It seemed as though it was a 'special' day for anchoring at our favorite boating spot today. We got there fairly early and anchored close to shore and then brought all the stuff onto the beach. There was only about 6-8 boats there at the time, but the area filled up fairly quickly from then...
  13. tpenfield

    Looking for a 'new' boat . . .

    Since I have my current boat (Formula 242) back in operation, I have started to look for a new (to me) boat . . . I have been thinking about getting something with a bit more space and over-nighting capabilities. So, I went to look at this yesterday . . . I took the Admiral along to get her...
  14. tpenfield

    Went to the In-laws this weekend . . . Came home with a 58" HDTV !!!

    We went up to the Admiral's hometown this weekend for a little bit of cookout activity etc. Her Dad offered us his 'old' flat screen TV . . . we take a look at it . . . it is a 58" Samsung HDTV Plasma :D . . . only about 3 years old !!! He said, it may not fit in your car ??? "We'll make it...
  15. tpenfield

    Darn you Auto-Correct !!!

    It happens on text messages and I also notice it happens when I use my iPad to post on this forum. . . That auto-correct 'feature' that all these newer high tech devices have. So, I continually find my self typing messages and thinking that I have done a decent job grammatically, and...
  16. tpenfield

    Learning about Fuel Gauge Senders . . .

    As I mentioned in my stringer repair thread, my original sender did not fit in the opening in the tank. So, I went with the sender that came with the tank. The fuel gauge that came with the new tank seems to be mis-matched with the fuel gauge. The gauge goes up to 'empty' when the ignition is...
  17. tpenfield

    First Day Out After Rebuild . . .

    Well since my Formula 242 has been in various stages of dis-assembly and repair since last October with engine and structural work, today was the first day out on the water. Overall a great day, the boat performed OK, but I think there are still few tweaks needed for the engine and fuel system...
  18. tpenfield

    Strange Knocking Sound Mercruiser 454 (7.4L)

    As you may know from my 'Stringer & Bulkhead' thread, I launched my boat today. As I was prepping the boat, I ran the engine on the muffs for a while. I noticed a strange 'low level' knocking sounds that I have not heard previously. I was not the 'ticking' noise that you generally get with...
  19. tpenfield

    Trim Pump Guru's . . .

    Yea, so I installed the outdrive last night and connected the trim rams. Of course, the rams were all the way extended, so I had to lift the outdrive all the way up to connect them. I went to lower the outdrive and the trim pump ran, but it would not retract the rams. It seems like it wants to...
  20. tpenfield

    Waste Oil Reclaimation Day !!!

    Once a year the town where I live has a waste oil drop-off day . . . what a beautiful thing :D. I got 20 gallons of oil to drop off. I am wondering how many of you have a similar thing where you live ??? How much oil do you dispose of each year ?? I was thinking of getting a waste oil burner...
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