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    Assessing the condition of stringers

    I expect I'm asking a question that has been asked and answered many times but I couldn't find a quick reference, so here goes: I have a 1985 Wellcraft 18 ft bowrider that I bought late this past boating season and it's the first boat I've owned and I'm concerned about stringer rot. I found...
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    MerCruiser 3.7L 190 HP 4 cyl

    I recently purchased a very old Wellcraft with a 3.7L 190 HP 4 cyl engine with a 4 barrel carb. I was of the understanding that this what folks call a 488. My boat is in the shop for some maintenance and the mechanice tells me that the 190 and the 488 are different engines. I guess I thought...
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    Need to make a tough decision!

    Okay, I don't need to make the decision TODAY but it's out there and I want to have my thoughts together. I bought a 1985 Wellcraft IO18ft bowrider this past season. I did a thorough check of the decking in the main cabin area when I bought the boat and it was solid, with no soft spots at all...
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    Electronic Ignition

    I took my old boat out to the river last week and she wouldn't start (MerCruiser 488 if you're interested). After trying for quite some time and being convinced that the motor wasn't simply flooded I pulled her out of the water and towed her to a nearby boat service shop. The guy I talked to...
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    Winterizing . . . When is too late??

    I live in the Midwest and its starting to get chilly at night. Tonight we are supposed to see 28F and I haven't winterized yet. I haven't winterized because I'm still using the boat. We are heading to a local lake next weekend, for instance, and the temps are expected to be in the high 70's...
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    Marine Stereo and Depth Finder not working

    I recently bought an '85 Wellcraft and the stereo and depth finder are both not working. Neither shows any signs of life at all. Both are aftermarket installations so I have no idea how old they are. I have no idea if the two issues are related but it does seem suspicious. If it's a wiring...
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    Pitot tube line broken

    The rubber tubin that connects to the pitot tube on my boat broke when I put the pitot tube down the other day. It's old and brittle I guess and it broke where the tubing bends. So can I splice a section of tubing in to connect the two broken pieces or would I be smarter to replace whole pitot...
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    Some pretty river pics from yesterday

    I know this isn't Facebook but my lovely wife got some really nice pics of the fall colors here in the St. Louis area and I thought I'd share. This was our first river boating experience and we both agreed that it was fantastic!! This is a real plus for us because we can be on the river in...
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    Tow ball is pretty scraped up

    I trailered my new-to-me boat this weekend for the first time with a brand new hitch/ball. At the end of two trips, a total of about 300 miles, the ball is visibly worn on the car side of the ball. Is that normal or am I doing something wrong? I can post a picture later if that's at all helpful.
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    Pulling to the left

    I took my new-to-me boat out for the first time this weekend and it pulls a bit to the left. I examined the lower unit at the end of the day and found they skeg to be slightly bent in such a way that the boat would pull left so I'm assuming that's the issue. What is the best way to correct the...
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    Call me crazy but . . .

    I'm going to put the boat in the water today even though the high temp is only expected to be 65F. The boat is new to me and my first boat so I'm dying to get it in thet water. I've been traveling and working out some of the logistics and this is the first weekend I've had available for boating...
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    Teak oil

    I have a teak swim platform and I would like to apply teak oil to restore/preserve it a bit. My concern is that it will get very slippery. Is that a reality or does the oil soak in for the most part?
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    Generic boat cover

    I need a new cover for my 1985 Wellcraft. I'm thinking of going with one of those inexpensive generic covers and I'm curious what some of you old pros think. I could pop for a custom cover but I'm not sure it's worth spending very much money on such an inexpensive boat. Thoughts?
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    Ignition key won't turn . . .

    I bought a 1985 Wellcraft last weekend and saw it start and run. When I got it home I took the key out of the ignition to use the other key to open the glove box and when I put the key back in the ignition I could not get it to turn. I asked the PO and he said he never took they key out of the...
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    Brake Assist trailer

    Approximately how much would it cost to add brakes to a single axle trailer for an 18 foot boat?
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    Silly Newb Question . . .

    I just boat an old boat and I'm getting a hitch installed on my SUV. How do I determine the ball size I'll need for my trailer? The trailer is old and I can't find any markings on it. The boat is an 18 ft bowrider.
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    Bought a "new" boat!!!

    New to me at least. Its a "vintage" Wellcraft 180 Elite. Can't wait to get her in the water! Better pics soon :)
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