The steering on my islander has stopped working so I think it is time to replace the steering cable. It has rack and pinion steering. Can I replace this with a rotary steering box or should I stick to a rack style steering system? Is there an advantage to changing to the rotary style box?
I've got a 1975 Islander with a leak that I can't seem to find. My best guess is in the transom area. Is it normal for the gasket on the outdrive to crap out? If not, where is the next best place to look? The guy I bought it from recently put in new floors but did not use any gluvit to seal...
I took the boat out Saturday (at least I tried to). I started the motor and tried to back away from the dock and discovered the outdrive was still in the up position. I tried to lower it and it wouldn't go down so back on the trailer it went. I had this problem once before and I found that if...
I have a 1975 Islander that has two fuel tanks mounted on both sides of the boat at the cabin bulkhead. The previous owner told me that he had never used the port side (smaller) tank so it should be flushed out before use. Do the two tanks (port and starboard) connect and then draw from a...
I have a 1975 Mercruiser 140 that is new to me. The previous owner supposedly winterized it but I thought that I'd change the fluids before taking it out. My question is What is the easiest way to do this? Do you just pull out the plug in the oil pan and let it drain into the bilge area and...
I have a 1975 vintage Starcraft with a Mercruiser outdrive that will raise but not go down. What gives?? The guy I bought it from said that it is normal and the prop will help push it down. I didn't believe it then and I still don't believe it. This is my first I/O so my knowledge is...
The islander is finally wrapped and put up for the winter. I am planning on possibly repainting the hull in the spring. What is the best type of paint to use? I have a compressor and paint gun so I can shoot the paint versus roll/brush it. The boat will spend most of the time on a trailer...
Well, I've finally done it. I broke down and bought a tinny. I found a 75 Starcraft Islander that is in great shape for $2000 with electronics and full rigging for Great Lakes fishing. Apparently, the guy just wanted out. I still have my old Winner project boat for smaller lakes too. I...
I am going to look at a Starcraft Islander and I have no idea how to check the condition of the transom since it's a tinny. The boat has an I/O if that makes any difference. Thanks for the help.
I am going to look at a 75 Islander that is for sale nearby. I am new to the tinny side so I need to know what to look for. It has a 140 I/O. I think (but am not sure) that it has a Merc outdrive. I don't know anything other than the guy used it this year. He is asking 2500. Is this a good...
This may be a dumb question but here goes. I was cleaning the junk out of the bilge drain hole in the boat when I stuck my finger in the hole and noticed that the sleeve that lines the hole does not go all the way through the transom from the outside. Is this normal? It ends about 1 1/2...
I have an old Winner 16 foot boat with the clothes line type cable steering that needs changed. I'm currently in the process of making some other changes on the boat that I have considered changing the clothes line to a single cable set up. Is this worth the time and money to do or should I...
I just picked up an old Winner fiberglass boat about 16 feet long that is in need of a repower. The plate says that it will take up to an 80 hp motor. A friend of mine has an early 70's 85 hp Johnson that has been gone thru and runs good with no issues. He is willing to part with it for a...
