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  1. M

    FoxNews - Boat Repossession Business Booming

    I just saw a news special on Fox News about boat repossessions. Not good news at all. Many, many recent boat buyers are not able to keep their boats running, and can't even continue to make the payments. The problem is at its worst in Florida, and more than 60% of the boats are being sent to...
  2. M

    Help on VP 275 bellows hose pin hole leak

    When I took the boat out of the water today, I noticed a pin hole leak in the big rubber hose at the bottom of the outdrive that connects to the stern. This must be the bellows hose, and the pin hole leak is at the bottom. How serious is this, and how big a repair job to change this hose??? Thanks.
  3. M

    Got another quarter turn on hitch bolts

    I checked the bolts on a couple receiver hitches that were bolted onto frames into welded in-frame nuts. They were tight last year, but I got another quarter turn on them this spring. Metal must have some flex to it and gives a bit over time, and usage.
  4. M

    What is a comfortable seat

    to put into a jon boat for someone who has had a back operation? I am thinking that maybe a captain's type of seat would be good, but would like some opinions. Thanks in advance.
  5. M

    $850.00 for installation fee???

    I inquired about a 40/30 jet motor advertised on the internet, and asked about the total costs. Well, to not get personal about it, I won't mention the marine dealer's name or even the name of the motor. I have seen both mentioned favorably on the forum, though. My question is about the $850.00...
  6. M

    Canvas bimini top - houseboat style?

    I saw a picture, somewhere, of an aluminum boat with a canvas top on it that was similar to a houseboat style top. The front and sidewalls are vertical. It sort of looks like a canvas box with windows in it. Anybody familiar with what I'm trying to describe, maybe know who sells them, or if...
  7. M

    Build your own boat trailer bumpers...

    I have built a couple sets of bumpers from light steel angle iron and plastic pipe that work great with my boats. Thought I'd pass the idea on, for those who like to work with tools and tinker with their boat stuff. The bracket consists of a 24" long pice of steel angle iron, and from tip to...
  8. M

    Any hitch ever come loose or apart?

    I am just curious to know if anyone knows of a hitch that either came loose or came apart. I've never had that happen, but maybe I'm just lucky. Since most are put together with bolts nowadays, I can't help but wonder if they all hold up to their ratings for pulling. And I suppose folks might...
  9. M

    Help on Chrysler 3.3 vs. 3.8 towing power

    I have a 3.3 V6 engine in my Caravan, and it does a fine job of pulling my boat of about 2300 pounds. I maintain it well, and also have an oil cooler for the transmission. The only glitch is that it doesn't have enough reserve power to run the air conditioner when going up hills and towing the...
  10. M

    Splitfire spark plugs in boat motors?

    I just bought a set of Splitfire spark plugs for my Volvo sterndrive. Has anybody used these plugs in their boat motor? How well do they perform? I'm wondering what to expect.
  11. M

    What height for cavitation plate?

    I use my 18hp Nissan o/b on my jon boat often in a shallow river. The cavitation plate is now 2" below the bottom of the boat. Would it be more efficient if I raised the o/b on the 20" transom so that the cavitation plate would be even with the bottom of the hull? I am hoping for better...
  12. M

    Snow-ice weight collapsed my cover post!

    The overwhelming weight of snow-ice on the cover of my 19' Bayliner was too much for my center post under the boat cover, and collapsed it twice. The second time, a wise old man mentioned "ladder", so I put my 6' stepladder in the middle of the boat as a post. This should work, and I needed an...
  13. M

    40hp outboard with tiller too much hp?

    I have an 18' Fisher riveted jon boat, and it is rated for 40hp. Since it is not a heavy boat, it runs fine with an 18hp motor on it. I am using a tiller motor now, and wonder if 40hp is a bit too much power for tiller use, although I think more power would be ideal with the boat. Someone...
  14. M

    How to reinforce rear hatch cover?

    I could use some tips on how to reinforce the rear hatch cover on my 19' Bayliner with an I/O Volvo Penta. The cover is at the end of the boat, and is 6.5' long, and about a foot wide. Since the boat is an '85, this piece has taken some wear, and whatever wood composite is inside the vinyl, it...
  15. M

    Experience with hi-tech shear pins?

    I bought a small Solas prop, and it has 3 small pins in it for protection, similar to what the standard shear pin would do. There are 2 sets, with 1 set being actual small springs, and the other set being plastic pieces. They recommend the springs for use where the prop is not subject to high...
  16. M

    Tips on a jet motor for a jon boat??

    I have an 18' jon boat with an 18hp prop motor on it. It is a light boat, and runs very good with the 18hp. There is lots of shallow water I would like to fish in, so I'd like to invest in a jet motor to do that. The boat will handle 40hp, so does anybody have any tips on a jet motor to...
  17. M

    Ripped off on prop repair???

    I damaged the outer 3/4" of my prop blades when coming into the dock and sent it to PropMD in Minnesota for repair. They weld fixed the blades and charged me $75. Today I tried it on the boat, and when I accelerated to plane, the prop just "spun out". The rpms went up, and no power. I made it...
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