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    9 injured, 4 missing

    On the Colorado River September 2, 2018. 9 injured, 4 presumed dead. ​​It was reported as a head-on collision. Too many times have I been in a situation when other "boaters" have a disregard for rules of the water. I've had to throttle down, throttle up, veer away sharply to avoid collision...
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    Tilt steering parts question

    I'm replacing my (power assisted) rack and pinion steering cable and want to do the helm also. I figure the old helm may be worn or incompatible with the new cable. I have tilt wheel. Here's my question...is the tilt part just a completely different helm piece or is it in addition to the helm...
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    Boat launch fails on you-tube

    We've all seen those videos and have goofed on them in the past. It scares me a bit seeing them to the point that I turn on my 4x4 and when I step out of my truck on the ramp, I stick a chock behind a tire. I just wonder how so many of those very capable looking 4x4 trucks end up submerged. I...
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    Mercruiser 4.3L stiff power steering

    2003 Mercruiser 4.3L My power steering seems a bit stiff lately. It is a struggle at idle. I had to use two hands. On the move I was able to use one hand, but it seemed tougher than normal. In retrospect, I don't think my wife would have enough strength to operate it. I checked the fluid and it...
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    "Funny" stuff we say on a jobsite

    I'm retired now, but on a construction site we used to have some funny sayings. I would place a material order and ask for cordless extension cords. Or solar powered flashlights. Not rechargeable by solar, but solar powered. Then there was the ole' sky hook, bucket of steam and florescent tubing...
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    Its not a motorcycle, its an enginecycle!

    I know we all call our engines "motors", but I was thinking of a shop teacher I had way back when. He stated that a motor was powered by electric and the what resides in our vehicles are engines. So, he said motorcycles are really enginecycles! Of course this was way before we had all these...
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    Check out this crazy mini submarine thing

    It's called seabreacher. There are different models...shark, killer whale, swordfish Watch the videos! These things are cool! Probably cost a fortune. Looks a bit dangerous...but crazy fun. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH_SM3LcuNs https://seabreacher.com
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    Ignition sensor under distributor cap not hermetically sealed

    2003 Mercruiser 4.3, Thunderbolt V. I pulled the sensor out from under the distributor cap and it doesn't look like any of the replacements I see online. This thing has an exposed circuit board and it looks horrible. The new ones appear to be hermetically sealed. Does this all make sense or do I...
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    Ignition rotor won't pull off

    2003 4.3L serial # OM643729. I pulled the distributor cap but I can't get the rotor off. Shouldn't it just pull off like a regular car rotor? I tried pulling, wiggling and then prying a little. I don't want to damage anything by prying. I don't want to damage the gasket area of the distributor...
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    Is my Thunderbolt V considered HEI?

    I see HEI mentioned sometimes. Does my 2003 carb 4.3L (OM643729) have an HEI distributor? What exactly is HEI? Does it just describe the distributor or is it also other components? Just looking to educate myself... Thanks, Joe
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    4.3L No Spark

    First time starting the boat this season. On muffs in driveway. Had no problems last season. 2003 Mercruser 4.3L serial# OM643729 getting fuel into carburetor, but no spark. I pulled a spark plug and plugged it's wire back onto it. Grounded the casing and got no spark. I have continuity between...
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    Fuel gauge started giving bad readings

    Hi all, I have a 2003 Bayliner 185 with 4.3L carb Mercruiser and Alpha 1 Gen 2 that I have owned for 4 years. The boat has been very reliable. The fuel gauge has always seemed decent. This season I had two incidents. Scenario #1: the gauge read a little below 1/2 and the engine began to...
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    How to repair a cigarette burn on vinyl seat

    Is it even possible? NO SMOKING! Too late! So, I've been looking around here and not finding much on the subject. It's a small burn. Not burned through, but ugly enough to p*** me off. Our boat is a 2003 but it (was) immaculate. So, has anyone used those vinyl repair kits? And if so, which ones...
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    Which Battery Maintainers do you have experience with?

    Looking for opinions of the different brands of 4 bank home (not on board) chargers. I currently have gone the cheapo way of using those economical trickle chargers on a timer cycling on and off throughout the Pennsylvania winters. I store them in my basement workroom. I have been looking at...
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    Which sterdrive lube is the blue one?

    Alpha 1 Gen 2 It's that time of year. But I'm having a senior moment...which Quicksilver drive lube is the one that is blue colored? I'm thinking premium not high performance...I'm I right?
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    Dealer add hitch to new truck

    Hi all, we're considering turning in our 2008 Ford ranger tow vehicle for a new Chevy Colorado. The dealer has one we like but it doesn't have the hitch receiver. It does have the tow mode option however. It doesn't make sense. Anyway, the dealer says they will install the Chevy brand receiver...
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    New Deep Cycle Battery Voltage is Low

    Do these things need to be cycled a few times before the voltage is up to around 12 volts? This is my second one and it's behaving like the first one I returned. The voltage won't read higher than 10+ volts even after charging. I get low readings like that even immediately after charging and...
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    18 foot bowrider- Best type of anchor

    Hi all, lost my anchor yesterday! The line broke while pulling it up. My bad for not keeping an eye on the condition of the line. It was a mushroom type and I had the line tied directly to the anchor without any chain. The lake we run on (Lake Wallenpaupack in Northeastern PA) is man made and I...
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    Drum brakes binding after replacing wheel cylinder

    2003 Karavan trailer with single axle drum surge brakes. Boat is 2003 Bayliner 185. Replaced a frozen wheel cylinder. Wheel moved freely before the "repair". As I put the drum back on, there was a lot of drag on the brakes. The adjuster is turned all the way down and the brakes are too tight for...
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    Record breaking temperatures!

    With these record breaking temperatures in the northeast U.S A., I wish I hadn't winterized the boat so soon. I could have gotten 3 more months out on the lake! It's Christmas Eve and it's 70 degrees! I think I like this global warming stuff!
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