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    Boat ignition

    Spark plug and coil high voltage wires should have zero resistance. They are stranded stainless steel. When cranking the motor, ignition on, look (or listen) for spark arc to ground, especially on the lower wires.
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    Boat ignition

    The solenoid only serves to command the starter to crank the engine. If you have spark at the coil, but not at the spark plugs, either the timing is way off, the spark plug wires are bad, the coil wire is bad or the distributor cap is bad. There is a carbon electrode in the distributor cap...
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    Boat ignition

    The engine wiring harness on those age motors can be intermittent. They can be hot wired pretty easily. I would recommend you jumper from the battery directly to the red and adjacent white terminals on the switchbox, and ground the block to the battery as well. Then run the test again. If...
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    Is my boat polyester or epoxy?

    Polyester resin/cloth is fine for most repairs. If you have a serious structural repair, and the bonding area is small, epoxy is probably a better idea.
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    Boat ignition

    The CDIElectronics web site has a simple test for everything but the trigger. Run the test. If you get spark during the test, the failed part is likely the trigger. The test assumes the coil is good. Most are.
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    Fuel Sending Unit Question

    How about having a reserve tank? When the main tank runs dry, switch over. Alternatively, if your tank has dual fuel pickups, you can make the main fuel pickup short and leave the reserve fuel pickup long. when the main runs dry, switch over to the longer fuel pickup. Large boats had that...
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    1988 Merc 200 HP Smoking during warmup.

    Oil injected outboards mix oil with gasoline at the fuel pump. So when the boat sits unused at the dock, the gasoline in the carbs evaporates, leaving a rich oil mixture. It is therefore the nature of the motor to smoke more at startup. A synthetic or synthetic-blend oil may (may) reduce smoke.
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    Replacing steering in a 97 Stratos

    I replaced the entire rotary steering system in my '98 Seaswirl a couple of years ago. There were no dashboard mods needed. The original equipment in my Seaswirl was a rotary NFB system. I replaced it with a standard rotary steering system, which is a minor inconvenience, as the motor pulls...
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    Replacing steering in a 97 Stratos

    It is difficult to buy just a replacement cable these days. Likely the liability. The good news is that the entire package (helm+ cable) is just a few $ more than a replacement cable. So you may not have a choice to replace just the cable, solving your dilemma. As for the NFB systems. They...
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    Questions about waterlogged foam on 1977 Mckee Craft

    There is a Boston Whaler specialty forum for repairs. Maybe on continuouswave?
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    1985 115 lower unit merc

    Your gearcase may not have one. Look on the leading edge of the gearcase, below the antiventilation plate, and above the "bullet" nose. It is a small hole. Gearcases w/o speedo pickups will be solid.
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    Fibreglass boat floor replacement - do I need to use fiberglass?

    You guys will need to figure out what floats your boat....pun intended. If you cannot cut foam along the stringers, easily, then I cannot help you. Pouring foam into holes in the deck runs the risk of leaving voids, or pushing the deck up. Filling those holes after foaming, leaves the...
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    Battery, is one ok?

    Mercguy, have you ever tried to start a 115HP Merc Il6 with the pathetic rope they give you? I had no chance 30 years ago, when I was strong. Maybe your newer 115 is easier, as it is likely an IL4. Hopefully the IOP doesn't have a V6.....
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    Fibreglass boat floor replacement - do I need to use fiberglass?

    Gee, pour the foam before you install the decking. Use a long knife to cut the foam flush to the top of the stringers. Why bother with strategically placed holes that you have to plug? Then, lay some strips of polyester resin saturated cloth on top of the stringers and screw the new decking...
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    New to me '96 Evinrude 200, keep the VRO?

    The 4 wire VRO Pump (Actually OMS pump P/N 5007420) is the latest and greatest, and is worth keeping activated, IMO. However, I am not sure if your motor has it, but it is likely. Take a look at the front of the engine, with the air box off. The black pump in the center of the motor is the OMS...
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    Leaving I/O in water all year round?

    I had an I/O in salt water for 9 months a year, for a decade. Normal saltwater preventative maintenance was all that was needed, plus repair of the items that broke or wore out. Fresh water will be a breeze compared to the salty stuff. In freshwater, manifolds will last the life of the...
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    Battery, is one ok?

    Find a convenient place to mount a battery switch with positions off, 1, 2 and both. Set the switch to both and motor to your anchorage. This charges both batteries. Now set the switch to 1 and party as much as you want. if the motor won't start, set the switch to 2, start her up and set to...
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    Hydrofoil or Trim Tabs??

    How does it work with a lower pitch prop? If you get non-adjustable tabs or a hydrofoil, the nose will always be down. Not good on bass-type boats. You want to lift the bow for high speed.
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    1976 mercury 115 won't start

    Those ignition systems only have power to the coil, when the trigger fires. You probably cannot see it on a regular voltmeter. A Pico scope should see it. The CDIElectronics has a test for the switchbox, coil and wiring. If it passes that test, the trigger is likely bad. What shape is the...
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    Can 1150 merc 16' pull me up

    Yes, but 50:1 really makes that motor run real well. How many Merc owners lift the cold start lever to start and after it is warm, push it down and put it into gear quickly, to keep it from stalling. A good 50::1 mix cuts that down.
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