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  1. ESGWheel

    Sharing a Pre-Startup Check List > What is yours?

    Like all things, boating is a learned activity and collecting tips and tricks from others is one way to avoid the school of hard knocks. As a part time seasonal boater, I have accumulated only 100s of hrs these past few years but even with my limited outings, I continue to be amazed at the high...
  2. ESGWheel

    Setting up for House Battery -> looking for feedback on loads

    I plan on setting up a dual battery system in my 2005 Larson 228 LXi Bowrider with a VP 5.0 GXi-E as a spring project. Its more for a peace of mind vs. significant house loads. There are no trolling motors or bow thrusters. The most going on the ‘house side’ is the stereo and the chart plotter...
  3. ESGWheel

    A nice tip but it’s not about stern drive storage in the up position

    While the pic shows my just shrunk wrapped boat with the sterndrive in the up position the post is not about that. I understand a fully up leg is not ideal for storage with respect to the bellows but that is not the point. Instead, it is about the blue trailering clips. Before we became a...
  4. ESGWheel

    Marine Carpet Replacement > Anyone Familiar with Compass HB Marine Flooring?

    2005 Larson 228 LXi bow rider. Bought used 10 years ago but the factory carpet had never been used. Over the years it has gotten plenty of use and now needs to be replaced. And over the years I have been reupholstering section by section always using the same great shop. This coming spring we’ll...
  5. ESGWheel

    Need some help with a1977 Volvo Penta 3.0 Ignition System

    I am trying to help a fellow iBoats mbr sort through their Ign System issues. While the engine did run in his new to him boat, it would not a little later. Troubleshooting led to a no spark situation and a really nasty looking dizzy under the cap. So that has been replaced (entire distributor...
  6. ESGWheel

    ACR with Inverter Question

    While this is a hypothetical question the answer will impact the design I am doing. I assume others have a set up similar to this so looking to understand what they did or perhaps my thinking is all wet. Scenario: Two House Batts., One Start Batt. all 12V lead acid type and same model, coupled...
  7. ESGWheel

    Testing for DC based ground leaks

    To test if there is a DC based ground leak is straightforward. Three steps and only requires a good multimeter (MM) capable of both resistance and DC current. Note: this process assumes no interconnected AC shore power or solar panels or chargers. If they exist, all need to be completely removed...
  8. ESGWheel

    Blue Sea Add A Battery query

    I plan on setting up a dual battery system in my 2005 Larson 228 LXi with a VP 5.0 GXi-E. Its more for a peace of mind vs. significant house loads. There is no trolling motor or bow thruster. The most going on the ‘house side’ is the stereo and the chart plotter and its not one of those high amp...
  9. ESGWheel

    Distributor installation – is this right?!

    2005 5.0 GXi-E. This one has me confused and unsure if something is wrong. I had the original distributor out (for various reasons) but when reinstalling it with a new gasket I noticed the base of the distributor where it seats onto the block had a slight gap. About a 1/16”. The distributor was...
  10. ESGWheel

    Time for Riser & Manifold > VP or Barr?

    2005 VP 5.0 GXi-E with about 750 hrs. First 5 years a salt boat but stored on a rack, not dock. Last 10 years I have owned it and all freshwater lakes. Manifold and risers never done and was making me anxious. So, this year I got a set of gaskets to pull the risers and check them out. If all...
  11. ESGWheel

    VP MPI Fuel Pump Whine: a comprehensive post with info and links

    This post is intended to be a complete collection of information regarding ‘fuel pump whine’, an issue plaguing many of the older VP MPI engines. If there is info or processes missed, please add them in to help make this complete for others struggling with this issue. While this post focuses...
  12. ESGWheel

    Distributor Shaft Seal Replacement

    I am in the process of rebuilding my ign distributor for a 2005 VP 5.0 GXi-E engine. One part I cannot find is the distributor shaft seal. This is not the gasket between the distributor and the engine but the ‘oil seal’ at the upper end of the distributor. The good folks at the local Chevy...
  13. ESGWheel

    PERKO Vented Gas Caps – how they work and a couple of tips

    This is about the gas cap for the Perko Combination Fill and Vent Necks. Like in Picture 1. This is not about the newer EPA compliant gas caps or with tanks have a separate vent. There was a recent post regarding these and the question came up: How do they work? I was curious too so took my...
  14. ESGWheel

    Volvo Penta SX-M Gear Ratios?

    Any way to ID the gear ratios in this unit without taking it apart? 2005 Larson 228 LXi with a VP 5.0 GXi-E and a SX-M Stern Drive. As you can see from the picture the key sticker is missing. The original owner that I bought the boat from said they did not change any portion of the outdrive. In...
  15. ESGWheel

    Automatic bilge pump brands using non-mechanical sensing?

    My Rule ‎750 Automatic Bilge Pump, Model RM750A, has failed and looking to replace. This pump is an automatic type using a ‘field effect’ sensor to detect water (supposedly will not auto turn on if 100% oil). Also has a manual On. Since they no longer make these, I need to retrofit but do not...
  16. ESGWheel

    FELL Marine MOB+ Install

    With the advent of the new law in 2021 regarding boaters to use an engine cut-off switch on all personal watercraft and powerboats less than 26 feet in length, I bought the FELL Marine Mob+ Wireless Man-Overboard Cutoff Switch. My 2005 Larson 228 LXi with VP 5.0 GXi-E engine already came with a...
  17. ESGWheel

    VP SX-M Trim Hose replacement without pulling drive?

    Need advice from someone who has done it or…. VP TSK SM-M External Trim Hose replacement. Can it be done without pulling the drive and/or gimbal? Assume no issues with corrosion or stainless to aluminum. One of the trim hoses has a slow drip, drip leak where it’s crimped (where the tubing...
  18. ESGWheel

    Dreaded VP Fuel Pump Whine

    How I dealt (so far) with dredged VP Fuel Pump Whine. 2005 Larson with a VP 5.0 GXi. New to me in 2015. Nice boat, well cared for, very low hours (less the 250). My first encounter with the dreaded Fuel Pump Whine (FPW) was in 2017 when I noticed the unusual high pitched noise and started...
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