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  1. JASinIL2006

    handy cap crane mounting

    I'd think the swim platform would be your best bet, but you would probably need to fiberglass in some kind of large backing plate underneath to distribute the load. I'm no engineer, but it would probably be good to find someone who could calculate the load exerted by the base when you have a 200...
  2. JASinIL2006

    Floor replacement

    I thought I read recently that solid PVC was prone to substantial changes in dimensions with temperatures. In fact, folks who installed solid PVC trim on their houses were having all sorts of problems because the PVC would swell and shrink in BOTH length and width as it cycled through hot and...
  3. JASinIL2006

    My new “old” Larson bowrider

    Stringers are the wooden structural members that run the length of the boat, from the bow to the stern. Bulkheads are the shorter structural members that run perpendicular to the the stringers. Some places to look for rot: in the ski locker, you should be able to see the stringers that form...
  4. JASinIL2006

    Upper and Lower Drain Plug Merc Sterndrive Alpha 1 Gen 1 Question

    Yes, both should have a gasket and the same gasket type can be used. I like the Sierra gaskets for this application.
  5. JASinIL2006

    Changed Gear Oil, Does this look right?

    My used gear lube often smells funky. As long as the gear lube isn't milky-looking, I wouldn't worry too much.
  6. JASinIL2006

    Help Buying Boat

    Best bet is to have a buddy who knows something about boats (or even better, a marine surveyor or mechanic) look at the boats with you. The condition of the boat is of primary concern, so ignore bells and whistles and make sure the boat is sound. Personally, I would not consider buying a boat...
  7. JASinIL2006

    Does the antifreeze you use really matter?

    The problem with running antifreeze into an engine via the muffs is that the engine's cooling jacket and hoses are already full of water. When antifreeze is introduced via the muffs, the water in the engine dilutes it. So the water-antifreeze mix that exits the engine may look pink, but there is...
  8. JASinIL2006

    Does the antifreeze you use really matter?

    If you're draining after running the pink stuff in through the muffs, it doesn't matter much if the antifreeze that comes out is diluted or not. Many of us just skip the antifreeze part and drain the engine and related hoses, which also protects against freezing. The problem comes when folks...
  9. JASinIL2006

    Old tandem pontoon trailer question - no brakes

    Electric brakes are pretty easy to add on, as you're finding out. As to the legality of using a trailer without brakes, I think that's a question for your state's motor vehicle bureau. In my state, the requirement for brakes on a trailer is driven be weight, not by the year of manufacture...
  10. JASinIL2006

    iboats.com website problems?

    What's up with the Iboats store website? I've been trying to access it all day and I keep getting 504 Gateway Time-out messages, or else I can access the main page but nothing else. The search function seems messed up, too.
  11. JASinIL2006

    What oil should I use?

    Full synthetic will be fine. I run it in my boat engine. Honestly, any oil will be fine as long as you use the right viscosity and change it after every season.
  12. JASinIL2006

    My new “old” Larson bowrider

    My Larson is a 1997 model, and that is right about when Larson started using fiberglass stringers and motor mounts in bowriders. (While mine has fiberglass stringers, it still has a wood core transom.) So it is almost certain that your boat has fiberglass coated wood for those structural pieces...
  13. JASinIL2006

    Can skeg damage cause vibration/noise on plane?

    My money would be on prop causing vibration before I’d consider the skeg. Esp. if the prop is aluminum.
  14. JASinIL2006

    New boat

    For the rubber bits, I'd be more concerned with their age than with the number of engine hours on them. If the bellows are original to the boat, they are overdue to be replaced. As long as you're doing the bellows, you might consider replacing the shift cable. I'd also probably look closely at...
  15. JASinIL2006

    1993 Stingray 556 Leak in Bilge

    The pressure from a little bit of water in the bilge is nothing compared to the pressure of the water when the boat is floating. That's one of the reasons filling the boat with water is a bad idea.
  16. JASinIL2006

    1971 Glastron GT160 Rear Drain Hole Question

    It's still a very cool boat... if you like projects and don't expect to make any money, restoring it could be fun. (Except for the fiberglass grinding. No one likes that!) I'm glad you realize how dangerous it is in its current condition, though. Many of us have had to come to that painful...
  17. JASinIL2006

    Advice On Stringer/Transom Repair

    As long as you don't go overboard (pun intended) and add a bunch of extra weight, there is not a problem with adding bulkheads between stringers. Many of us who have restored our boats went a bit further than the manufacturers in building in extra strength. I can't help you with the epoxy...
  18. JASinIL2006

    1971 Glastron GT160 Rear Drain Hole Question

    Just be sure to always wear a life jacket...
  19. JASinIL2006

    Alumacraft FL

    We have a 14' aluminum boat with a bent gunwale like that and we've elected to do nothing. I'm concerned that trying bend it back (especially far enough that it will look straight when released) will just weaken the metal.
  20. JASinIL2006

    opinions....

    If you zoom in on it, it sure looks like caulking where some the paint chipped off. In some places the paint is intact going from the transom to the gimbal housing, and looking at those spots, it clearly looks like the gimbal housing was caulked.
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