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    onboard charger

    1986 sundancer 250. did not come with a on-board charger. i have been using an auto-zone schumaker charger that has a maintenance mode. my boat does not have the AC panel with the switches. i just plug in my shore power and my 110 works. i plan to install an on-board charger but unsure of any...
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    mother selling camper. scam buyer?

    hello all. here is the deal. my mother and step-father bought a brand new 2012 5th wheel camper a few years ago. they hardly ever use it so decided to sell it. she received an email today from a guy that says he is in the military and can't make phone calls but wants to buy it for his cousin at...
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    which type battery?

    hey guys (and gals)...1986 sundancer 250 with merc 260. i have 2 batteries with an isolator. last year i bought a new deep cycle marine battery that i use for lights, radios, etc. the other battery is a regular car battery and i use that for starting and running. i think that battery may be on...
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    timing very retarded 260 merc

    boat was running pretty good so never really had much reason to check anything but rebuilt the carb and today finally threw a timing light on it. it was at about 4* ATDC. book calls for 8 BTDC. i have a thunderbolt IV ignition so i'm pretty sure i did it correctly. from what i have seen there is...
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    Q-jet float setting

    hey guys. i have rebuilt several q-jets back in the day but my 1986 merc 260 q-jet (#17080561) tag # MCM 260/270 1347-8292 says to set the float at 1/4" and to measure about 3/16" in from the end of the float. my old float was set closer to 1/2". i just want to make sure i am using the correct...
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    ethanol in older boat

    getting ready to rebuild my carb and see kits that say they are ethanol compatible. my marina has a portable tank that guys take to the local station and then pump it off into their boats. i have not done this due to the fear of the ethanol. my boat is a 1986 merc 260. the fuel line does say...
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    boat stalled out today

    hey guys. i know this will be difficult to diagnose over a forum but put the boat in today and was heading to my slip at about 1000 RPM and about 2 minutes in it shut off on me. no indication of anything wrong. just like it ran out of fuel or somebody shut the key off. its a 1986 merc 260. after...
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    broken antenna

    well i managed to snap about 1 foot off the top of my VHF antenna tonight. how bad will it affect the quality (both transmitting and receiving)? and what if i inserted a dowel rod and taped the broken piece back on? i plan to replace it ASAP but it is going in the water in the morning and doubt...
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    moisture meters

    understanding their accuracy can be questionable anyway, i have access to a moisture meter but it is a 'contact' style meter where it lays flat on a surface. how would this work with fiberglass wrapped wood? i assume when you use the meter with probes you have to penetrate the fiberglass so the...
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    switch to SS?

    hey guys. 1986 Sundancer 250 with 5.7 alpha gen 1 1.47 ratio. i currently have a 14.5x17 aluminum prop on it. last year i could get to about 4000 RPM WOT and about 33-34 MPH (GPS) with 2 people and a 'normal' load of fuel and water. overall i'm ok with the performance but the RPMs are a little...
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    buffing around rails, cleats, etc, or remove them first?

    buffing the boat this weekend but also plan to rebed everything. is is a bad idea to remove the cleats and rails, etc, then buff over the holes? my concern is getting buffing compound in the holes. will this be an issue with the moisture from the compound or will it affect the curing of the 4000...
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    gelcoat restoration

    have a little oxidation on my 30 year old hull so bought some Presta Gelcoat and tried buffing a small spot today. wasn't having much luck and arms were about ready to fall off so spent about 5 minutes wet sanding a small 3' section with 1000 grit then tried the Presta gelcoat again. wow. nice...
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    3M 4000 or 3M 4200?

    planning to rebed everything this weekend. i got 4200 for all the transom stuff but which should i use for the rails, cleats, etc? i had read to use 4000UV for anything in sunlight? i have a tube of 4200 but no 4000 but will get it if thats what i need
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    teflon tape or sealant on engine drain plugs?

    so? my limited plumbing knowledge says to put either teflon tape or pipe dope on the engine drain plugs but it doesn't look like there was anything on them when i took them out. the only negative i could see from it might be a piece breaking off and getting in the engine?
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    beaching damage repair

    just poked around with a screwdriver and tapped it lightly with a hammer. feels and sounds solid. i poked fairly hard and no give at all. i measured the depth of the edges and the deepest i found was about .056 so not nearly as deep as i initially thought. and the pics look much worse than they...
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    rub rail repair?

    here is a quick pic. not bad and no noticeable gap at the top. it might not even be where it is coming from as i noticed today that the horn mount is leaking so it may be running down
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    beaching damage repair

    this is the only pic i have. its about 18" long and about " wide at its widest
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    rub rail repair?

    late last year i noticed dampness in the front left interior. the boat was stored underground all winter and i brought it home last night. we got a pretty hard rain so i went out this morning to look for signs. that area is still dry but i noticed the rub rail is banged up right in that area...
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    power steering cooler

    hi guys. i have a 1986 sundancer 250 with a merc 260. i have a PS fluid leak and checked it out today. the cooler is wet but so is the PS hose that enters through the top. still not sure if it is the hose or the cooler. i can't see and corrosion on the cooler but i can't see it that well. it...
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    beaching damage repair

    hi guys. have a little beach rash at the front of the keel from the previous owner. no fiberglass damage at all but the gelcoat is chipped/scraped in a section about 18" long and about 1" wide at the widest spot. what is the easiest/best way to fix this? there is currently no bottom paint on it...
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