For Don,Rodbolt,or Bondo

rodbolt

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Sep 1, 2003
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20,066
Re: For Don,Rodbolt,or Bondo

we just did one on a 73 slickcraft. took out the stringer ,had the transom closed in at a reputable glass shop in wanchese and installed a complete 5.7MPI alpha package. used oem controls,guage package and a new teleflex steering system.
 

Don S

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Aug 31, 2004
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Re: For Don,Rodbolt,or Bondo

I've repowered a couple of the old stringers. One a 24 Tolly, and a 24 Fiberform.<br />Both received Volvo 5.7's with DuoProp drives.
 

QC

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Mar 22, 2005
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Re: For Don,Rodbolt,or Bondo

FWIW, I had a stringer in my first boat. Although I went through tilt motors and gears just like the next guy, there are two other features not mentioned here:<br /><br />1) They tilt faster than anything else. If you operate in shallow water this is a big feature. I could simultaneously hit the tilt button and the key and that thing would be completely out of the water before the boat came off plane.<br /><br />2) They turn tighter, great around docks etc. and bringing a ski rope to a down skier.<br /><br />Do I want one again? Heck no!! But they have some features that someone, someday will add to a new drive and both Volvo and Merc are gonna be sorry . . .
 

Boomyal

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Aug 16, 2003
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Re: For Don,Rodbolt,or Bondo

Originally posted by QC:<br /> ... there are other features not mentioned here:<br /><br />1) They tilt faster than anything else. If you operate in shallow water this is a big feature. I could simultaneously hit the tilt button and the key and that thing would be completely out of the water before the boat came off plane.<br /><br />2) They turn tighter, great around docks etc. and bringing a ski rope to a down skier.<br /><br />... someday will add to a new drive and both Volvo and Merc are gonna be sorry . . .
3) You can change the prop or untangle a rope/line while sitting on the transom.<br /><br /><br />Hmmmm, maybe I should take one over to China to have it re-engineered and remanufactured?<br /><br />Other Question! Why were corroded bolts etc, any worse on an OMC than on a Merc?
 

THE BEEF

Chief Petty Officer
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Jun 11, 2005
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432
Re: For Don,Rodbolt,or Bondo

Help! <br />KAGEE we need your support.<br />Beef :D
 

QC

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Mar 22, 2005
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Re: For Don,Rodbolt,or Bondo

I just remembered this story, but it's worth telling. We used to boat on a stretch of the Colorado River that has a lot of sandbars etc. The marina was filling up with sand so they hired a dredge that worked for a few months solid. It had a huge (probably 4 foot diameter)vinyl pipe thing that went to the shore for its output. It was stretched slightly upriver of the marina and all of the way across. There was a place that was supposed to have a dip in this pipe to allow boats to get over it. Well it was sometimes right at the surface I think corresponding to the material mix in the pipe. Because it was nylon vinyl type plastic stuff I tried something that I would love to do again.<br /><br />I would get some steam up and just before the pipe I'd hit the tilt button up and pull her into neutral. I had a little 17 foot runabout with the stringer and it would just slightly bump up and over the pipe and as soon as I got to the other side, I'd hit the down tilt, put her in gear and keep on going upriver. The guys with Mercs, Volvos and OBs couldn't do it, because their boats would die in the current before they could get their drives up. I basically had the whole upriver section to myself :D
 

supercab78

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Sep 6, 2004
Messages
158
Re: For Don,Rodbolt,or Bondo

Has anyone found a way to stop the intermediate housing from leaking. I've had my 1975 OMC for about 20 years now. I've been into it 2 times to replace the 2 rusted out shafts. Each time it stopped leaking for about 2 years then starts to slowly take in water. Since I only put about 20-30 hours a season on it, once it starts leaking I change the fluid in it once or twice during the season.
 

Don S

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Aug 31, 2004
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Re: For Don,Rodbolt,or Bondo

Supercab, if you have a question, start a new thread about your problem. This thread has absolutly nothing to do with leaking housings.
 

rodbolt

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Sep 1, 2003
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20,066
Re: For Don,Rodbolt,or Bondo

donS I tried to talk the guy into a 5.7 and an Xdp or at least an SX.<br />Boomyal, ya ever see how long it takes to drill out all those 1/4 20 fasteners to access the broken water pump drive shaft on on of those stringers?<br />not to mention that 140 dollar shift wire,which will most likly break because the hole has swelled shut with corrosion. its a good way to make a 2 hour 300 dollar job a 2 day 1500 dollar marathon. then ya got the gearcase head screws that like to pop off, the 4 that hold the lower head in place with the orings on them :) :) .<br /> usually I can get that alpha to let loose and I can do a gimbal breaing,upper shift shaft seal,shift cable kit and bellows on most alphas in under 4.5 hours.<br /> but thats the job security thing with saltwater:) they all die.<br /><br /> QC as the mercs have a shock piston we would stay hard on the throttle and just hop over the occasional dredge pipe or floating pier piling.<br /> I have seen to many stringers either shatter the trim quadrant or snap the bolts holding the unit to the intermediate housing.<br /> last year I got a telephone pole at 37 MPH with my poor jonnyrude.<br /> after everystorm all the rivers and the albermarle sound send all the junk into kitty hawk bay and the cratan sound.<br />buddy of mine got a washing machine 2 weeks after Hurricane isabell and tore off his rudder and a prop blade. thats why after a major storm no one wants to be the first to run the ditch or kitty hawk bay :) :)
 

QC

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Mar 22, 2005
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22,783
Re: For Don,Rodbolt,or Bondo

Just to be clear. I don't want my OMC back, but the speed thing was cool when I needed it. I'd still like to go play with that pipe again . . .<br /><br />Also, I hit about as hard as I ever want to on a rock bar with that stringer when it and I were new :D The tilt clutches did their thing, but I could see how you could break that quadrant off no problem . . .<br /><br />A little tip for anyone who loses a tilt motor while on the water with it up. You can take the the quadrant off and the drive will fall (better if you help it down ;) ). You can then put the quadrant back on and the tilt motor gear teeth will still hold the drive down. Opposite for up . . .
 
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