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  1. tpenfield

    My boat is being a boat . . .

    Having better luck with mechanical stuff today . . . I got the control cables installed for the tabs and outdrives. . . Having drilled a few holes in this boat, I got to say that the fiberglass is really thick. . . almost too thick. I bet the boat would be just as solid with a little less...
  2. tpenfield

    Maintenance - New owner of 89 Mercruiser 4.3L Alpha One

    Welcome to iBoats . . . If you are going to remove the outdrive (foot/pied), which you probably should check the engine alignment and inspect the bellows for signs of wear, cracking, etc. There is a special tool for checking the alignment that you can search for online. There are various...
  3. tpenfield

    Evinrude 4hp 2 cylinder 2 stroke cooling question

    That looks like one of those 'spin around to reverse' style engines. Usually, any kind of telltale is put lower on the drive shaft housing, so it does not 'pee' in your boat when you turn the engine around to go in reverse.
  4. tpenfield

    Embarrassing question

    @jefsummers - you mentioned having previously owned a Suzuki 2-stroke (right?) I'm assuming you had to add 2-stroke oil on a regular basis? Perhaps the Suzuki was oil-injected? Back in the day (1970's) we had to add the 2-stroke oil to the gasoline . . . (very primitive, I know :ROFLMAO: )...
  5. tpenfield

    How to reposition lift rams

    IDK . . . When I have re-installed the outdrives on my boat, the trim rams have usually shifted. I get the more extended ram loosely attached to the end pin and let the weight of the outdrive 'push' the other ram outward. Once they are even, I slide the end pin all the way through the other...
  6. tpenfield

    My boat is being a boat . . .

    Quick Update . . . I fixed the plumbing . . . the new section of red supply line that I installed was a wee bit short, causing the whole mess not to go together properly. Now all set, no leaks. :)
  7. tpenfield

    My boat is being a boat . . .

    OK, for my next trick, I am going to add some position indicators for the trim tabs and convert the outdrive trim indicators to an electro-mechanical set-up where the pricey trim senders do not have to live in the water. Trim Tabs - My boat really needs the trim tabs to come up on plane, and...
  8. tpenfield

    My boat is being a boat . . .

    The only adjustment is the shut-off delay. I've come up with an alternative, which will be an indicator light for the light switch. So, if someone does go to the head and does not know how to turn on the light, it will be fairly obvious.
  9. tpenfield

    Maybe my turn for new boat time

    I'll have to check the steering (lock-to lock) on my boat. I have not noticed an excessive number of turns. It also has the electronic steering and if you turn the wheel too much, it chucks out a warning on the VesselView display. o_O So I don't try to turn too much 😆
  10. tpenfield

    My boat is being a boat . . .

    That is what Cruiser Yacht used/uses. So, I had to follow suit, otherwise re-plumb the entire boat (which I am not doing, as it would be nearly impossible) o_O My Formula had the PEX as well, but is was the more household PEX pipe & fittings, not this quick connect stuff.
  11. tpenfield

    My boat is being a boat . . .

    I think the boat manufacturers like the stuff, since it is quick . . .
  12. tpenfield

    My boat is being a boat . . .

    In other news, Since I suck at electricity, I tried my hand at some plumbing :unsure: The transom shower has only a cold water feed, which seems unusual. I wanted to have some warm water at the transom for folks who rinse off after swimming. The transom shower only has 1 inlet feed to it...
  13. tpenfield

    My boat is being a boat . . .

    OK . . . I am not skilled at PIR switches. But maybe the head enclosure is too small. I tried a second PIR with the same results. (Just goes on and never goes off) So, either I don't know what I'm doing (it's happened :ROFLMAO: ), or it is just not the right technology. I may go with a...
  14. tpenfield

    2001 4.3 vortec oil is milky

    Welcome to iBoats . . . Why did you acquire this boat? Who are 'they'? Sounds like a freeze damaged engine, i.e. cracked engine block.
  15. tpenfield

    My boat is being a boat . . .

    I was wondering that too. The cabin voltage is pretty steady, but does go up and down over time as the batteries charge and get used. I ordered another PIR switch and we will see if it works. I've also found another type/brand that appears to be more robust, if I need to get yet another...
  16. tpenfield

    My boat is being a boat . . .

    . . . and the hits just keep on coming . . . I went to install some additional lighting in the enclosed head, since it has no natural light and only 1 measly dome light. I second dome light installed and wired up. I had a PIR switch that I was going to use to automatically turn the lights on...
  17. tpenfield

    My boat is being a boat . . .

    Not much further that the mileage can drop . . . . :ROFLMAO: There is a CY 328/338 owners (emotional support) group on FB. Some good ideas from the folks that own these boats. . . Lots of weight-saving ideas coming up lately. One of them being the 7 batteries (31M-AGM) @ 72 lbs. each...
  18. tpenfield

    My boat is being a boat . . .

    Quick update. . . I checked all the 12 volt feeds to the 12v electrical panel in the cabin, both helm and house feeds. They were all exactly the same. Now onto the helm station itself to see if there is a voltage drop there. :unsure: I'm also working through my list of 'improvements' that I...
  19. tpenfield

    Vintage Mercury Cooling Issue

    Another update . . . My efforts to descale the internal water jackets of the powerhead resulted in a fair amount of discharge of crud that was blocking the pee hole, and I believe causing the cooling problems. What has worked with the cooling system is a modified 'pee hole' as the original one...
  20. tpenfield

    Orangish layer on boat will not come off

    There is a product called "Iron Out" . . . not sure which acid it is, but it may be worth a try. You can find Iron Out at many hardware stores. EDIT: another thing you could try is 'descaler' (Barnacle Buster, etc) I believe it is phosphoric acid, it dissolves lime/calcium scale
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