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  1. M

    Rotary versus rack and pinion steering?

    I have an '85 Bayliner, 19' Capri, and it's a nice boat. It has rack and pinion steering, and when the wind is up and we're turning, or sometimes when pulling a boarder, well, I can definitely feel what I find to be called feedback. It actually takes some arm work to keep on course under those...
  2. M

    MTD 2 cycle oil good for outboards?

    I found 6 small 2.6 oz. plastic bottles of MTD 2 cycle oil in the garage. I bought it for a snow blower, but then went to a 4 stroke snow blower. The label says the oil is for all outdoor 2 cycle machines, but there is no picture of an outboard or any mention of an outboard motor. Is this oil...
  3. M

    Helping hand from a boater - remember it?

    I can think of 2 times when I had a helping hand from a boater: 1. I backed up too much at the launch ramp, and the wheels of the boat trailer went down over the 90 degree end of the concrete. Tires would spin trying to pull it back out with my front wheel drive mini-van. A boater with a jeep...
  4. M

    Do carbs have a second stage that kicks in?

    I had an experience with an outboard that was almost exactly the same as I used to have with an '81 motorcycle. When the motor sits over winter, or unused for awhile, it seems to run ok at the start of the season, but it is kind of like in a "reserved power" mode. After running it for a few...
  5. M

    Anyone think of pfds in flood prone areas?

    My thoughts are that anyone living in, and especially staying in a flood prone area should have a pfd for each person in their home. For less than $10 each, a life saving mechanism would be immediately available in event of a flood. Anyone else think this might be a god idea?
  6. M

    My new '99 Johnson 40hp fizzled out -

    Today I made my first voyage with my new '99 40hp Johnson, converted to a jet drive. It ran great for a few minutes with good power and speed, and then fizzled out. It just lost power. I thought maybe there were weeds clogging the impeller, but nothing shows there. I made it back, but at slow...
  7. M

    What to expect from 2 cycle synthetic oil?

    I am going back to a 2 cycle outboard - 1999 40 hp Johnson. Absolutely nothing with the 4 stroke I've been using for a few years, but I want to try a jet motor, and I could afford the '99. Anyway, I am used to a very clean running motor with no oil fumes, so I'm going to try synthetic 2 cycle...
  8. M

    What is your jet drive "sweet zone"?

    I am almost ready to start my monkey rigging raising of my "new" '99 Johnson jet drive. Since I'll be drilling 1/2" holes, I'd like to hit the "sweet zone" on the first go. If you can help with any info about your "sweet zone" experience, I'd greatly appreciate it. I have to raise it 6 and 3/4"...
  9. M

    Aluminum angle for outboard mounting?

    I bought a '99 Johnson 40hp that was converted to a jet drive. I need to raise it up about 5" for mounting on my 20" transom. I saw other boats where 2 pieces of 4" aluminum angle about 18" long were bolted vertically to the back of the transom, and then the outboard motor was bolted to the top...
  10. M

    Bought a '99 40hp 2 cycle Johnson and need info

    about the oil mixture. The guy I bought it from is an outboard mechanic, and he disconnected the oil mixture tank from it. He recommends mixing standard 50:1 in the gas tank. I am in agreement with this, as I towed a boat a couple miles last month with a '95 Johnson that froze up. Suspect maybe...
  11. M

    1 more help on prop for 40hp Merc, please

    I'm looking at a new 40hp Merc for my 1848 jon boat, and wonder what prop would work best for my new motor/boat combo. The boat is a combination of welded and rivets, and is lightweight for an 18' jon boat. At 48" wide, it moves pretty easily, and I'll only have a few hundred pounds total load...
  12. M

    Will putting an edge on the blades go faster?

    I wonder if putting an edge on the blades of a prop will make it more efficient. Anybody been there and done that?
  13. M

    Who is Tohatsu/Nissan making motors for?

    I have occasionally read about Tohatsu making a motor for another company brand, and wonder if anybody knows just who all Tohatsu is making motors for. I have to admit I'm interested in a new 4 stroke, about 40hp, so that is my incentive to ask the question. I hope this is not secret information.
  14. M

    Rain moisture popped my inflatable pfds!

    I have 2 inflatable pfds, and instead of putting them into the storage shed, I left them in the boat. They were strapped to a pfd seat cushion, and the boat was covered with its canvas top. No rain got inside to them, but the moisture from a heavy rain caused both of them to pop last night...
  15. M

    Nissan 18hp - red oil pressure light

    The red oil pressure light on my Nissan 18hp usually stays on when I first start it up. I shut the motor off, and then start it again. On the second round, the light comes on, and then shuts off. The engine runs perfect, so I can't believe there is a problem with it, so what's up with the light...
  16. M

    Help on putting halves back together...

    I have an older Minn Kota bow mount motor, and the directional steering motor went on it. Being monkey inclined, I took it apart, and was able to determine that the little motor was froze up. It would get voltage from both directions, but wouldn't turn. So, I ordered a new motor, and wired it...
  17. M

    1860 jon boat - anybody have one?

    I'm thinking about upgrading to an 1860 jon boat, and would like to hear any opinions about them. There are different brands, but mostly the same boat overall. I'd like to use about a 40hp to 50hp to keep gas usage down, but wonder if the high water displacement underway might need more power...
  18. M

    How often do you use fuel stabilizer?

    I'm not looking to promote any particular brand of product, but I just wondered how often everyone uses some fuel stabilizer or conditioner in their fuel. I see many posts about slow idling and carburator problems, and I have found that both of those have not been problems at all for me since I...
  19. M

    Tunnel hull jon boat - for prop or jet or both?

    I looked through a couple former posts about tunnel hulls, and did some internet research, but didn't find an answer to my question. I would like more info on tunnel hulls and especially whether they are made for one type of motor (prop or jet) or both. If I coould mount my current prop motor...
  20. M

    Any hope for this cracked hull?

    I was looking around on the internet at boats, and saw one I was interested in, but it has some nasty looking cracks in the hull. Note attached pic. Can this type of damage be repaired, and what would it take? Maybe better to just forget about that boat? Thanks.
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