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  1. tpenfield

    bildge pump

    Those automatic bilge pumps are a nightmare . . . I put one in my boat about 10 years ago and didn't realize it would cycle every few minutes. It ran the battery down in about a week. Threw it in the trash and installed a manually activated version.
  2. tpenfield

    My boat is being a boat . . .

    I was able to wire-up and install a microwave oven without incident. Behind the electrical panel does look like spaghetti though . . . I did check for loose power studs behind the panel, but everything was fine. I may probe the connections with the volt meter so see if I can isolate a voltage...
  3. tpenfield

    PDF Service manual for 4.5L

    Mercruiser 4.5L with 1,100 hours ??? :oops: :unsure: Those engines were introduced around 2014. . . . so, this boat must have gotten a lot of continued use. (either that or the ignition got left on :LOL: ) As Scott mentioned - the engines are in-house design/built, not GM based...
  4. tpenfield

    Quicksilver 5W30 for all sterndrives

    I get the 25W-40 that is CAT friendly 😀
  5. tpenfield

    Microwave Installation . . . ELCI or GFCI ???

    I went with the GFCI approach since the other AC outlets are done that way. This required a small access hole in the partition between the 2 cabinets, so I could get my hand in there to reset the GFCI if ever needed. . . . Snaking the Triplex wiring was a whole lot of 'fun' :rolleyes: There...
  6. tpenfield

    installing 12v to 120v inverter

    As far as the other AC outlets ( I suppose there are a few). If they were daisy-chained, then you should see power on all outlets. If they were not daisy-chained then each (or some of them) would go back to the AC power panel, which is probably in the cabin. Also, it is a bad (bad) practice...
  7. tpenfield

    Microwave Installation . . . ELCI or GFCI ???

    Greetings, I am installing a 700watt microwave on my boat (see signature), which comes as an option on the boat, but mine was not so equipped. Anyway, there is the circuit breaker for the microwave, but there is no wiring running to it. I'll be adding the wiring (12 AWG triplex), and I do...
  8. tpenfield

    Radio replacement

    Usually you have to use those head unit release tools to get the unit to pull out of its carrier/frame. You know . . . the kind of tools that car stereo thieves use. :LOL: The release tools should slide in along the left & right side of the stereo head unit allowing it to be pulled out...
  9. tpenfield

    installing 12v to 120v inverter

    I have an inverter on my boat. The way they work is nothing short of magic (IMO :ROFLMAO: ) . So, to properly install an inverter I assume you have to be a magician. :LOL: Not sure what you mean by backfeed, but with shore power connected, the inverter should be passing the 120v through...
  10. tpenfield

    PDF Service manual for 4.5L

    When I got my 2016 boat w/ twin Mercruiser 6.2's I could not find any PDF versions available, so got the hard copy. Not sure if Mercury will offer PDF versions, since they tend to get pirated. If you plan on doing your own work on the engines, you'd best get the Rinda Diacom software as well...
  11. tpenfield

    Vintage Mercury Cooling Issue

    Quick Update . . . The scare tactic worked. I was able to figure out a clog in the cooling system, the engine started cooperating, and I ran the engine for several hours today without problems. I checked various parts of the powerhead with my IR temperature gun. All areas around the...
  12. tpenfield

    1995 Marada MX3

    Welcome to iBoats . . . If the distributor is at the back of the engine, it is a GM. If it is at the front of the engine, it is a Ford.
  13. tpenfield

    1979 Merc 7.5hp oil mix

    Yes, a 50:1 mix is about 2-1/2 ounces per gallon. Those small Mercury's are great motors. :D
  14. tpenfield

    My boat is being a boat . . .

    A little magic might be good :ROFLMAO:
  15. tpenfield

    Vintage Mercury Cooling Issue

    Quick update . . . I started the Mercury up in a test trough to make sure it was good to go for the season. The cooling system gremlin quickly re-appeared and I think that I'm running out of options to get it to be reliable (enough) as the main engine for the dinghy. I put it up on CL as a...
  16. tpenfield

    My boat is being a boat . . .

    I plan on installing a microwave oven (that I've had sitting in the box for a year :rolleyes: ), so I'll be pulling the cabin electrical panel, where much of the main power is routed to. . . . might find a few more loose connections :LOL:
  17. tpenfield

    Maybe my turn for new boat time

    You'll get used to the twin engine handling and never want a single engine again. :D 10 turns on the steering wheel seems like a lot. I assume it is electronic steering? Do you have a joystick? I noticed on the joystick docking that it compensates engine RPM on the drive that is in reverse...
  18. tpenfield

    My boat is being a boat . . .

    I converse regularly with another owner of a CY 338/328. He actually bought one of the CY boats that I passed on (a CY328 that was local to me). His electrickery has been to replace the 7 (seven) AGM batteries with about 4 LiFePO4 batteries for a weight savings of about 400 lbs. !!! I know...
  19. tpenfield

    My boat is being a boat . . .

    Quick update and to @Scott Danforth 's question . . . Looks like the 'system' and 'battery' voltages are still the 1.0 - 1.1 difference that they were last year. So tightening the power stud at the helm did not make a difference there. . But maybe there is yet another power location...
  20. tpenfield

    My boat is being a boat . . .

    I was thinking the same :D It could have been. I'll hook up the Diacom to see if the 'system voltage' and the 'battery voltage' are in better agreement now that I tightened the power stud. I'm just surprised that the power blackout did not happen before. Here are some pictures of my handy...
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