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    towing a boat with a bimini top

    I just bought an '04 Stardeck Aurora 2000 and I'd like to know the best way to position the bimini top for towing. It has some "short" arms that I think you should use when towing the boat, but I'm not sure how to "configure" everything. How do i know the best setup for the bimini top? Is...
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    should I leave the bilge pump on?

    Is every bilge pump automatic meaning it is only on when there is water in the bilge or do I need to check? If it's not automatic, will I hurt the pump by having it on if there is not water in there? This is on a 2004 Stardeck Aurora 2000 btw. thanks.
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    "water pump" switch

    I just bought an '04 starcraft stardeck aurora 2000 with the volvo 5.0L. I've got a toggle switch to the right of the driver (where the throttle is). It says "water pump." What is this for?? It's not the bilge pump switch (that is separate). thanks.
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    fuel stabilizer

    How quickly does fuel go back? Does running fuel stabilizer all the time make sense? Sometimes I may *think* I'm going to take the boat out again in the fall but then let's say 2 months pass before I take it out. Is that quick enough to gum up the carb? Also, I have a 50 gallon tank and...
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    volvo shop manuals

    I had the manuals for my alpha one, but just got the 5.0 Volvo carb'ed and want to get the manuals for the engine and sterndrive. Are they online like the mercruiser ones? What's the best place to get paper versions? ebay? thanks.
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    battery care and trolling batteries

    I just got a new I/O deck boat with 1 main battery and 2 batteries for the trolling motor. It's got an onboard charger for the trolling batteries. I'm assuming the way it works is the alternator is only charging the main battery right? Then you troll with the other 2 batteries and they...
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    new boat with volvo 5.0L, what to do before taking it out

    I just bought a 2004 starcraft stardeck 2000 boat with the 5L carb'ed volvo penta I/O. My old boat was an '89 Invader with the mercruiser 3L I/O. It's in perfect condition and I believe it to be very well maintained. Less than 50 hours on it. I'm going to be taking it out tomorrow for...
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    which engine/drive for a 21.6' Tahoe

    I'm looking at some boats and Tahoe makes this boat: 2007 TAHOE - 216 WT - 21.6 ft about 3400lbs Here are the engine/drive combo's. Any suggetions? How do I decide which drive is needed for this boat? MerCruiser? 4.3L 190 HP V-6 - Standard $ 27,495* MerCruiser? 4.3L MPI...
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    Inboard vs. I/O

    I'm not sure if this is the right forum but right now I've got a '89 Invader 17.5' I/o with the 3L 4 cyl mercruiser. I'm thinking about a new boat. It's really hard to find info about the pros and cons of inboard vs. I/O. Can you guys help? I like water skiing and wakeboarding, but I'm...
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    mercruiser vs. volvo

    I'm thinking about getting a new boat. I have had suburbans in the past and have an Invader with the 3L Mercruiser so I'd prefer a mercruiser over a volvo because I'm more familiar with it and the alpha1 sterndrive. Is there an advantage of one brand over the other or is it all the same...
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    what fish/ski boats are 19ft and less than 8' wide with trailer?

    I've got a 17.5' 1988 Invader I/O right now. I'm kind of itching for a new boat... not seriously yet, but am trying to find out what I can fit in my garage... I can fit a longer boat if the trailer has the "swing around" tongue. BUT, I need the boat to be 8 feet wide or less from trailer...
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    do I have my trim limit set correctly??

    I'm trying to set my trim limit switch and am confused a little... attached is a pic of my boat with the trim all the way down that I can go without my drive hitting the floor... the tongue of my trailer is on the ground so I can't lower the front any more. Notice that the cylinders aren't...
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    running after I turn the key off...

    I took my '88 Invader 17.5' I/O out today (3L 4cyl alpha one). Everything went great except 2 things: 1) lightening all around us and a storm coming in 2) when I would turn off the boat, a few times it would keep running after I shut the key off. The first time I turned it off, it probably...
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    overslung vs. underslung

    Ok, I just found out there there is an overslung and underslung axle... if my axle is sitting above the leaf springs, so is that overslung??
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    can I jack up the trailer to replace the axle w/ the boat on it?

    I am going to be replacing the axle on my '88 Invader 17.5' I/O w/ a 2727GVWR EZLoader trailer. Is there a way to jack up the trailer so I can replace the axle?? Do I jack it up at the very back?? Or jack it up on the rails by near the axle and use jack stands?? thanks!
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    should I replace the leaf springs??

    I've got an '88 17.5' Invader I/O and an 88 EZLoader. For the first 12 years it was driven only 5 miles to the lake. The past 6 years, I've towed it quite a bit around texas. The usualy is 40 mile to the lake but sometimes I take it 180 miles each way. Let's say I take it out 8 times/year...
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    shifting after replacing cable

    I replaced my shift cable (along w/ trim and bellows) and followed the instructions for the cable adjustment, but was never sure if I was doing it exactly right. (There didn't seem to be much of a difference when I did the adjustment). When I took it on the water, everything worked great...
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    is there a safe way to jack up the boat??

    I need to replace my bunks. I'm assuming I need to just do it when the boat is in the water, but is there a way to safely jack up the boat off the bunks to replace them?? probably not, huh??
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    need ideas temporary trailer guides

    I used to have the traditional PVC like trailer guides on my trailer. But, I moved into a new house w/ a great new 3 car garage (tandem style with 2 garage doors and 1 bay 2 cars deep). BUT, one big problem... the boat only fits in there literally by 1/2" on each side of the trailer tires...
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    disc or drum brakes??

    I'm looking at putting electric brakes on my '88 17.5' I/O Invader. I tow with an '89 Suburban w/ rear drum brakes. I was thinking about getting them at Northern Tool. Any other suggestions on where to get them? And my real question is disc or drum brakes?? What are the pros/cons?? I...
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