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  1. tpenfield

    Buying Used Boat

    Agreed, there is no magic number of years. The tendency as the boat gets older is to inspect the boat at a deeper level because more things could be going wrong. In particular would be structural rot from water retention, which is not always easy to see with merely visual inspection 🧐. You...
  2. tpenfield

    Bravo 1 anode kit

    They should cost around $50 for a set. So, a $100 set is merely profit margin. :oops:
  3. tpenfield

    Trimming with Outdrives and Trim Tabs

    Trim tabs are more for port/starboard trimming. As for the outdrives, see what the boat likes and doesn't like, then go from there. My 33 footer likes the trim fairly far down, your boat may vary. You say 50% ownership. . . what about the person with the other 50% ? Would they be a good...
  4. tpenfield

    broke driveshaft

    Welcome to iBoats . . . :D That's a neat trick . . . never heard a drive shaft actually breaking :oops:. . . usually the splines or the u-joint yokes give it up first. When you say 'drive coupler' I assume you mean the coupler that is attached to the engine flywheel? Anyway . . . I assume the...
  5. tpenfield

    Performance question

    You might want to consider that the boat may be a bit water logged and heavier than normal. Maybe take the boat/trailer to a scale and hen just the trailer to net out the weight of the boat.
  6. tpenfield

    Mercruiser 6.2L MPI overheating

    As I recall, I had to use a variety of socket and box wrenches to get the hose coupler off. Putting it back on is a whole other trip :rolleyes: 😩 While you have the thing off and are replacing the hose, check for Bravoitis and maybe go with the new-style hose kit that helps address Bravoitis.
  7. tpenfield

    Looking for Opinions on Super Bowriders

    You will miss the cuddy cabin for storage. Although many of the traditional I/O boats that have been converted to outboards have a lot of space where the inboard engines used to be . . . just not as accessible. Space-wise for day boating it will be great. Overnighting . . . not so much. If...
  8. tpenfield

    Merc 7.4l 454 Gen 4 to 5 interchangeable?

    That serial number comes up as a 1989 7.4L/Bravo . It is interesting that a 1997 boat would have an older engine. I assume it has been repowered previously with a used engine. The Mark IV 7.4L will have the stamped steel valve covers whereas the Gen 5/6 will have the cast valve covers. I'm...
  9. tpenfield

    Bravo 3 overheating - oil expansion

    Maybe too much pre-load of the drive shaft bearing . . .
  10. tpenfield

    I need computer help...seriously!

    I'd offer some help, but my Mac just updated to the new 'BigSur' version. Still figuring things out :rolleyes: :unsure:🤪
  11. tpenfield

    Outboard Painting

    No, that is the rattle can version of the Rustoleum . . .
  12. tpenfield

    Bravo 3 overheating - oil expansion

    I have about 1100 hours on my twin Bravo 3 outdrives. Rarely, if ever, have I gone over 4K RPM. 2500 - 3200 is the typical engine speed at which I run. If you have run the outdrive to the point that it gets hot as you described, then you should assume that there has been more wear. Having to...
  13. tpenfield

    Outboard Painting

    I went all-out on this restoration and used the expensive $6 rattle cans instead of the $2 brands. I have done mostly touch-up with brush application instead of a spray. Usually you want to thin the paint slightly to reduce brush lines. Rustoleum have been my go-to paint, but I have used...
  14. tpenfield

    Mercruiser 6.2L MPI overheating

    I had a bad experience in leaving one of my outdrives empty (without gear oil) for a few months over the winter and in a partially heated garage. (maybe 50-60˚ F). When I went to service the outdrive in the spring it was locked up from the small amount of surface rust that had developed from...
  15. tpenfield

    Looking for a bigger boat....

    The towing rating will be boat + trailer + fuel in the boat + gear in the boat. Essentially everything that is being pulled at the tow hitch. There should also be a total vehicle weight which includes the tow vehicle + people and stuff in the vehicle + the total weight of what you are towing...
  16. tpenfield

    Home Renovations - Weather Permitting

    BTW - the Admiral just added to 'the list' . . . New toilets in the bathrooms and a new exterior bulkhead door unit to the basement access. One of these things . . . The current door unit is something I made from plywood about 10 years ago. In other news: Winter has arrived overnight . . ...
  17. tpenfield

    Home Renovations - Weather Permitting

    I'll check it out . . . In my past career in the lumber/construction industry (5 years as IT Director of a lumber Co.) the trend was certainly to seal the sides/roof of a building to be weather tight and water repellent earlier in the framing process. I'll have to read up on changes in venting.
  18. tpenfield

    Home Renovations - Weather Permitting

    Yes, forgot to mention . . . during 2000, when I renovated the house (added 3 rooms + garage), there was a ridge vent installed when the contractors re-roofed the entire house. Of course snow tends to block off the ridge vent unless there is a lot of wind or melting in the days after the storm...
  19. tpenfield

    What's too old to consider?

    The Freedom line is fairly new, so age may not be a problem. Not sure about the Tournament line. There is a small forest in each Grady-White and in the early 2000's they started using pressure treated wood panels (Greenwood XL) in their production. Still, there can be moisture issues, but...
  20. tpenfield

    Fuel Tank Cleaning

    Corrosion should be your main concern. I would assume that the tank is 0.125" thick aluminum . . . so the corrosion can lead to pinholes or at least very thin areas of the tank (1/16th inch :oops: ). You may find that you need a new tank. How does the structure of the boat look, now that...
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