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  1. M

    Add-On Outboard Motor Overheating Alarm?

    Running my boat in San Diego Bay today - focused on staying out of the way of a variety of Navy vessels/Homeland Security Escorts/pleasure boats/etc. Wasn't totally focused on my cylinder head temperature gauge. Water intake blocked by a piece of kelp and the motor overheated. So, I'm...
  2. M

    Got Bunks?

    For you guys who are proud of your 2x6 bunks. Went back to MA for H.S. reunion. Took a drive to Cape Cod and stopped for lunch at Wellfleet Harbor. The Harbor Master was backing this in. It's a 2 axle galvanized steel trailer, no rollers, just 4x12 bunks plus a 4x12 cross piece with a "V"...
  3. M

    Things I Won't Buy at Harbor Freight

    I'm actually a HF fan, but with qualifications. Without HF I'd be hard pressed to have separate sets of tools in my shop, my truck, my wife's car, my boat and my backhoe. No issue with their hand tools and the testing equipment I have purchased there. I've also had good luck with their power...
  4. M

    Banned? Anybody Been Banned?

    I sometimes use the marineengine.com site to supplement what I can find on here for engine-specific issues. I know some of you guys do also since I see your posts. Last couple of days I noticed that site has been kind of squirrelly - my posts didn't show up or were missing after initially...
  5. M

    Building a Galleon

    Well, helping to build one anyways. Past two years a buddy and me have been volunteering on the San Diego Maritime Museum's project to replicate (full scale) the Spanish Galleon San Salvadore (see: San Salvador San Diego Build-site - Maritime Museum of San Diego). Interesting project...
  6. M

    Is There a "Green" Way to Flush Outboard Cooling System?

    Looking at increasingly stringent regulations w/regard to dry weather water runoff from property. I'm thinking about the discharge from flushing the salt from my outboard, and wondering if there is a way to capture the water. My biggest source of water from flushing is the leakage around the...
  7. M

    Stop-gap "O" Ring Repair?

    My spa has an old style (1980's) cast aluminum heater housing. The grove for the "O" ring that seals against the electric heater element is badly corroded - particularly the ridge that forms the inside circumfrence). See attached photo. Last time (maybe 10 years ago) I repaired a small area...
  8. M

    Has Anybody "Restored" a Spa/Hot Tub?

    I've got a 30 year old electric heated spa mounted in my deck. It's still in great shape except for the wooden housing that surrounds the fibreglass shell. The wooden housing was poorly designed and constructed to begin with, so it has a lot of rot. A new spa to fit in where the current one...
  9. M

    Fuel Filter Bowl Removal

    I have a small Racor water separating fuel filter on my boat. The plastic bowl unscrews to remove it. Not easy to do - I had to use one of those strap wrenches to get it off today. It turned stiffly allmost all the way down (way past the point where the "O" ring lost contact). Is there some...
  10. M

    How to Bed Bow Eye Backing in 5200?

    I'm in the process of installing a new backing piece (laminated plywood) for my bow eye. It will fit into the "V" of my aluminum hull's stem. I've shaped it to a good fit and plan to slather it with 5200 when I assemble it so the 5200 will fill any gaps and also tie the whole thing together...
  11. M

    What Kind of Backing Do I Need for My Bow Eye?

    I'm replacing the bow eye on my aluminum skiff. The old one was a badly corroded, plated alloy, single post type. Going with a "U" bolt type in SS. The hull construction, where the eye is mounted, is an aluminum stem piece (first photo), capping the welded aluminum skin (second photo, from...
  12. M

    Need Trailer Bunk/Roller Advice

    My boat unloads and loads OK and also tows OK. However, there seems to be a lot if weight (at least percentage-wise, the boat/motor/gear package only weighs about 800-900 lbs.) on the bow roller. It shows with significant keel imprints (about 5/8 inch deep) in that roller. From my readings...
  13. M

    Impeller Key Out of Groove?

    1982 Mariner 30A. Replaced impeller a couple of months ago. About 3 hours on new impeller. Ran good at a steady 145 degree head temperature, good flow through tell-tale. I run motor on muffs about once per month (maybe 15-20 minutes) just to make sure it is in running condition/ready to go...
  14. M

    Where and How to Mount Fire Extinguisher

    I'm going to be mounting a fire extinguisher on my boat. I'm thinking of a location on the steering console, so it will be both easily accessible and out of the way. The specific location I'm thinking of is under the wheel (see attached photo) on the downward facing surface. I'm a little...
  15. M

    Plastic Laminate Over Epoxy?

    If I coat a plywood surface with epoxy, can I successfully apply plastic laminate (formica typs stuff) to that surface using contact cement? Any tips/techniques?
  16. M

    Home Built T-Top for Aluminum Skiff?

    Anybody made one? Just doing some wintertime musing about future "improvements" for my 16 foot aluminum skiff. Found a source for plans here Boat plan details, CT22 type console (C_CT22), Consoles and pilothouses that I might be able to adapt. Not sure if fastening it to the mid-seat/mid-seat...
  17. M

    Anybody Use a Hitch Extender?

    Was in Harbor Freight today and saw a 12 inch hitch extender. I was thinking it would be a way to get my trailer a little further in the water with out getting my wheels in salt water. Anybody used one of these (the hitch extender - HF or other)? I know tongue weight could be an issue, but I...
  18. M

    Bow Eye Placement Question

    The bow eye on my boat is located so that the pull of the winch is pretty much parallel to the trailer (which seems to be pretty standard based on posts I've read). To facilitate safety chain hook-up I've had recommendations to add a second bow eye. I'm thinking about doing so and pondering...
  19. M

    How to Secure a Screw-in Shackle

    I've got a bow shackle (seems to be similar, if not identical to an anchor shackle) that is the screw-in type. There is a hole on one end of the pin, that I understand is for wiring the pin in place so it won't vibrate/slip out. Exactly how is the pin supposed to be wired in place? I want to...
  20. M

    Use Electronics While on Battery Charger?

    If I have my battery hooked up to a charger, is there any problem with turning on my fishfinder (or other low-draw electronics)? I typically "top off" the charge once per month. The fishfinder would be on for awhile, during the charging, while I flipped through the various menus for...
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