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    Boat winterized and summarized each year but not used in 5 years

    Looking at a boat that has been unused for 5 years. Owner has owned for 16 years. 5 years ago his wife had an accident and is no longer able to use the boat. He has been winterizing and summerizing the boat every year through a mechanic but the boat hasn't been in the water or used in 5 years...
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    Knocking 4.3 merc

    The nose is also inconsistent in tempo. It doesn't sound cyclical to me. Would a valve not be cyclical and always present, not just at certain engine speeds? Could any of these be linked to running with low oil or could that have just been a coincidence?
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    Knocking 4.3 merc

    I haven't done a leak down test. I tried to use compressed air today but couldn't get a good seal. What else would cause puffs of smoke out the dipstick tube aside from blowby. Would a valve cause that? Also what would cause the knocking/rattling noise?
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    Knocking 4.3 merc

    Hmm. So what are my options at this point?
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    Knocking 4.3 merc

    Wouldn't a hole in the piston read no compression?
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    Knocking 4.3 merc

    Did a compression test. 1. 75 2-5. 165 6. 175 I figured as much since I have smoke puffing from my dipstick tube. I checked the oil Level and the dipstick was dry. Added almost 2 quarts to get it to the full line. Removed the belts, and the sound is still present, definitely coming from the...
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    Dead rise question

    Going for a test run in choppy conditions will help some, but I also want to know how it does in smooth conditions and how well it pulls a skier out of the water. Maybe I could try to drive it in the big lake and am inlet lake on the same drive
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    Dead rise question

    More than the size, the power is what we're after. My 4.3 REALLY struggles to plane when loaded up. Prop is correct for rpms at WOT. My current boat also developed a knocking sound I'm currently investigating and unsure if it needs a rebuild. Our sundowner had been great, but it was only ever...
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    Dead rise question

    How does the extra 2 feet of length come into the equation? Any way to tell how much rougher the ride will be?
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    Dead rise question

    I currently have a 1987 sundowner 195 4.3 merc with a self measured dead rise around 20 degrees. LOA is 18'8". Beam is 7'7". Looking to upgrade to slightly bigger and slightly newer and faster. Looking at a 1994 sea ray overnighter 200 signature series with a 5.0 merc. Dead rise is only 15...
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    Knocking 4.3 merc

    I can get a compression test maybe tomorrow. To clarify, I didn't notice a LOSS of power. It's been sluggish since we bought it a few years ago. I do know there is blowby from one piston because smoke puffs out of the dipstick tube. I hope it's not a broken piston 😳. I can do most things on my...
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    Knocking 4.3 merc

    Got a knock in my 1987 4.3 mercruiser at around 2000 rpms. I noticed it the first time while out on the lake one day after towing tubes, skis, and kneeboards. The noise is absent at idle and presents only around 2000 rpms and then seems to disappear again after 2500 or so. It is quite loud...
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    Marada boats and 5.8L vp fl

    Below someone mentioned the carbureted model wouldn't be bad. What are your thoughts on that? This is a carbed motor
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    Marada boats and 5.8L vp fl

    I was wondering about the motor. Bummer because I'd love to have a v8.
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    Marada boats and 5.8L vp fl

    I have come across a listing for a 1994 marada 2100mvb with a 5.8L VP FL motor asking price is $7k. Post says transom, floors, stringer, and carpet were replaced last year as well as the carb rebuilt, "boots and bearing and seal and bellows", gas tank out and cleaned and various other things...
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    Trailer brake system opinions

    I have had my boat (4100 lbs w/ trailer) for a few years now and have been towing without major issues (8700 lbs towing capacity). I just learned that in Michigan, any trailer over 3000 lbs is required to have brakes. Now that I know the laws I can't pretend to be ignorant, but I have been...
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    Loose wire identification and nav light help

    After following the wires around and doing some multimeter tests, I landed on putting it on the fuse that looked like it went to the nav light switch. There was no power to the switch. The lights now work. I think when I replaced the steering cable last year I must have bumped them loose.
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    Loose wire identification and nav light help

    Took things apart to see better. There is an empty connector on the "nav lights/anc lights" switch. There is also an empty connector on the fuse just below the switch. No idea what it goes to as they are unlabeled, and one more in the "acc" switch. I don't know what this switch does either...
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    Loose wire identification and nav light help

    Ok. Seeing that it has 2 large (10ga?) wires feeding it, it seems like it would be something with a lot of draw, right? I don't know of any circuit breakers I have. They're really isn't much to overload a breaker that I'm aware of. Just engine components, radio, trim and lights. Does my boat...
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    Loose wire identification and nav light help

    So the part I'm touching should be connected to a switch?
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