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  1. K

    Potential Purchase of a Rinker.. Thoughts?

    I wouldn't buy a boat, particularly one that old, with out running it in the water. After you're done just pull the drain plugs out of the engine and tow it home. All the movement of the boat during the trip will help get any trapped water out of the block; it will probably be even more...
  2. K

    Bowrider

    We're a family of 5 and often take another family of from 3 to 6 with us on the boat for the day. This typically gives us 4 adults and from 4 to 7 children. We have a Rinker 232 with a 300 hp Mercruiser 350 mag. It's a crowded boat for sure but we have a good time. The engine is powerful enough...
  3. K

    Should I remove the batteries from the boat when I charge them?

    Why bother charging them? I leave mine in the boat all winter with the battery switch off. It always starts in the spring.
  4. K

    Looking for a bigger boat....

    It's hard to get 10% tongue weight on most boat trailers because the weight of a boat is in the back: engine, drive, widest part of the hull. I seem to end up with around 5% tongue weight and I've had no sway issues at all. Assuming you're towing 6,500 pounds you might have around 600 pounds...
  5. K

    New 205ss crownline-is 200 HP enough?

    I'd get the largest engine offered. I had a 21' Larson bowrider with a 210 HP V8. It did okay, not impressive, just okay. We had a lot of fun with that boat for 10 years. They typical load was 45 gallons of fuel, 4 adults, 6 kids, pulling a tube or two. My current boat is 2 feet longer and has...
  6. K

    Any reason to pull the lower unit of a B3 each year for winterizing or maintenance?

    I read a lot about various winterizing techniques for sterndrives. Many people say to pull the lower unit every year to check and lubricate various things. These seem to be mostly for Alpha drives to service the impeller. My 2004 Rinker has a Mag 350 with a B3 drive so there's no impeller in it...
  7. K

    Mercruiser Mag 350 temporary no start

    I've got a 2004 Rinker bowrider with a Mercruiser Mag 350 and a B3. I've had it 3 seasons now and it's run flawlessly. Today we launched and ran a ways out in the lake then shut the engine down to swim a while. When I tried to restart the boat it would crank but not fire. After 3 or 4 attempts I...
  8. K

    Replacing snaps for the boat cover

    I bought a new to me boat last year; it is 15 years old. It's hard to tell how many times the snaps for the bow and cockpit covers have been on and off in that time. I'm wondering if they are getting weak. I can't trailer this thing down the highway for any distance and the snaps all across the...
  9. K

    Trailer tires speed rating really 87 MPH?

    I've been around trailer tires for a long time and most all I've ever seen are rated for no more than 65 MPH. I had some new tires put on my boat trailer. They are Gladiator QR25-TS tires, size ST205/75R14. According to lots of internet looking they are speed rated with an N which means up to 87...
  10. K

    GPS or chart plotter for inland lakes

    I've been boating for years on familiar lakes and I just "know where I am". I'm going this summer to an unfamiliar lake in another state. I would like something to help navigate, like a GPS in a car. I think on a boat that's called a chart plotter? Any recommendations for something basic and...
  11. K

    Anyone knowledgeable about Douglas Lake in eastern TN?

    We're heading to a family reunion this summer near Gatlinburg, TN. When I saw how near it was to a lake I decided to take the boat. What can you tell me about boating on Douglas Lake? We will have young children. Mostly looking to cruise around and sight see in a 23' bowrider. We also enjoy...
  12. K

    Theoretically, would I flood the boat?

    My '04 Rinker has a Mercruiser 350 Mag with a B3. It has the single point drain with the drain plug way down in the lower right front corner of the engine. I started my boat in the driveway on the muffs. I quickly realized the bilge was filling with water because I had forgotten to put that...
  13. K

    Are all drain plugs the same?

    Some of the blue plastic drain plugs are leaking. I probably just need the o-ring but I can't seem to find that available as a part. The whole blue plastic "wing-nut" drain plugs are available. I see them from 3 different manufacturers ranging in price from about $3 each to about $9 each...
  14. K

    I think I have it winterized now. Did I forget anything?

    This is the first year wtih this boat, a 2004 Rinker Captiva 232 with a Mercruiser Mag 350 and B3. It has the 3 plug drain system with 2 blue plugs on the seawater pump and one down low that drains everything else. I took it to a marina to have it winterized. They changed the fluids and filters...
  15. K

    How often to replace Bravo 3 impeller, very difficult job

    I've got a 2004 Rinker Captiva 232 with a Merc Mag 350 and a B3. It has about 350 hours on it. I bought it with 330 earlier this year. The boat has only ever been in freshwater lakes. I have no idea when the raw water impeller was ever changed. In order to even see the pump housing I will need...
  16. K

    Advice on first wakeboard

    About 10 years ago I tried wakeboarding. I tried with 3 different boards, 3 different instructors, behind 3 different boats and could never get up. I've been enjoying tubing and knee boarding ever since. I decided maybe I should try wakeboarding again. I'm 6' tall, 190 pounds and I'm 41 years...
  17. K

    Mercruiser audio alarm problems

    I just bought a new to me 2004 Rinker with a Mercruiser 350 Mag. The audio alarm warning isn't working right and behaving strangely. If the key is on (engine running or not running doesn't matter) the beeper makes a very faint beeping sound. Not continuous but a steady and very faint beep, beep...
  18. K

    Tach stuck. Replace?

    I just bought a 2004 Rinker with a Mercruiser Mag 350. The Faria tach is stuck. The needle points to 1,900 RPM even with the key off, engine off, engine idling, WOT, doesn't matter. This seems to eliminate a wiring problem since it sits there even with the battery switch off. Do I just replace...
  19. K

    B3 corrosion a non-issue for a trailer stored boat?

    I'm looking at a 2004 Rinker with a B3 outdrive. I keep reading about corrosion issues. But, this boat has been stored on a lift all it's life. For my use, it will live on a trailer. I might keep it in the water overnight 10 times a year. Otherwise it will only be in the water for a day and then...
  20. K

    Finding torque specs for I/O engines

    I just test drove a 25' Four Wins with a VP 5.7GSi. This is supposed to be 280 HP I think. The boat felt pretty slow coming up on plane with only 4 adults and half a tank of fuel. I know the GXI is supposed to be 320 HP but I've heard that both engines have about the same torque and thus the GXI...
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