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  1. 65fordguy

    Is this normal? Steam from exhaust? 4.3 merc.

    So today while getting ready to winterize my boat, I hooked up the muffs and started er up. . . all was good but the engine started producing steam from the prop and from exhaust... normal water flow out of the engine.. My first thought was Cold water.. 40 degrees out side almost dark out...
  2. 65fordguy

    Winterizing Garage Kept Central Arkansas Boat??

    so.. I have a 97 VIP with 4.3 v6.. the boat is garage kept.. This is my first winter with a boat.. so, forgive me Im new. Simple question.. what do I need to do? I have read and read and read and read .. everyone has an opinion.. the weather outside has only barely gotten to freezing at night...
  3. 65fordguy

    Arkansas River Boating?

    Hey guys, im thinking about taking my 19.5 bowrider out on the arkansas river tomorrow.. Im going to launch at the Toadsuck Ferry Lock and Dam... Any tips? I used to see tons of boaters.. but in the last year or so I havent seen many... not that I have really looked.. appreciate it. Thanks
  4. 65fordguy

    another winch issue.. just checkin

    my boat is a VIP valiant.. 2670pds the trailer came with a Shelby 1700 pd 5:1 ratio.. 5407 model I went to the local marine parts store and picked up a Shelby 5404 1200pd 4:1 ratio winch... The guy that ran the place said all I needed was a 900pd winch for my boat.. and he had a couple...
  5. 65fordguy

    Show your controls/ dash! Lets see how many styles and setups we can find!

    I always enjoy seeing when people post pics of their dash.. there are so many styles and configurations... so thought I would start a thread to see how many styles we could get. heres my basically stock 19.5' VIP valiant :cool: I showed mine.. now show yours.. lol.
  6. 65fordguy

    keel gaurd installed, trailer painted, new jack, and a new decal

    I've been busy!! lol. new keel gaurd installed, trailer painted, 5000pd jack installed... little mods needed to make it fit ( it was worth it!), and had some new decals for the trailer cut. looking better everyday. Still need to paint the upper part of the new jack... not going to leave...
  7. 65fordguy

    Want to upgrade my rub rail... any advice. (pics of current included)

    Hey guys, I am in the process of modernizing and upgrading my 1996 VIP Valiant... one of the areas that makes the boat look old is the rub rail.. these pictures dont show it well but its dingy ( no matter how much I scrub and clean) and parts of it have small pieces missing... (just the insert)...
  8. 65fordguy

    post pictures of your boat with a keel gaurd..

    I recently bought a keel gaurd(black) for my boat ( off white )... wondering how dumb its gonna look... or how cool it will look.. or if its just looks ok. Thanks.
  9. 65fordguy

    is this stuff any good? Toon Brite fiberglass cleaner?

    Bought this stuff today... before I use it, is it any good? I have some light oxidation and general crud hiding in cracks... thought I would spray on polish and wax... Thanks
  10. 65fordguy

    Trim Techniques.. Tips? Tricks? Porpoising?

    New to the big boating world.. I grew up on a 16' tri hull hustler bass boat... My boat is a 19.5 VIP valiant 4.3. I have several friends who boat... and I get a few stories on how to trim an i/o boat... few say trim it as far up as it will let you then bump the trailer up button a bit...
  11. 65fordguy

    made my own removable guide post with LED lights

    used 1/2" galvanized... put some pipe wrap around it, then slid 1.25 thick wall pvc pipe over it... filled the voids with expando foam. Attached it to the trailer using some tractor implement couplers with a pin and key. used a 2" led round light for the topper and wired it up with 2 post...
  12. 65fordguy

    trim button on my 97 VIP... goes down but not up. trailer button works great?? whaa?

    just bought this boat a few weeks ago... 97 VIP, 4.3 Merc....no problems, knock on wood... and yesterday took it out... all was great.. got to where I was going to load it on the trailer and hit the up button and nothing.. nadda. and I got the idea to hit the trailer button like I'm supposed...
  13. 65fordguy

    Another new VIP owner!

    Hey guys.. glad to see a group of VIP owners... Just picked up my first.. its a 1997 VIP Valiant Here it is the day I bought it at the guys house. Since then I have removed the maroon pinstripe, buffed and cleaned it and the trailer... I think it looks like a new boat now...
  14. 65fordguy

    95% done on buying a boat... needing advice 19'VIP valiant

    Hey guys, went and looked at a boat last night, made a deal on it... not paid for yet... he is taking it to a local marine to get oil changed and a clean bill of health... its a 1997 VIP 19' Valiant with 104 hours... boat is a 2 owner... merc v6.. and Clean ( for the most part ) no tears in the...
  15. 65fordguy

    What to do.. what to do...

    Two boats 7500... one a 1998 Crownline 176 on a fast load trailer (23 feet total) 3.0 4 banger ( yeah yeah I know ) http://i753.photobucket.com/albums/xx174/d4barney/Crownline/IMG_0683.jpg http://i753.photobucket.com/albums/xx174/d4barney/Crownline/IMG_0680.jpg Good shape, well maintained...
  16. 65fordguy

    Glastron, Crownline, Tahoe, or Bayliner

    Hey guys, new here... Im on the market for a new boat... and thought I would run a few by ya. Im looking at a 2003 Glastron GX 185 SF, 2004 Crownline 180 BR, 2004 Tahoe Q4, and Bayliner new 2009 175 or used 2004 185 all of these except the tahoe have the little 3.0 I would jump on the Tahoe...
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