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    shut off engines while in gear

    I accidently shut off my engines (Mercruiser 4.3L I/O with Alpha I sterndrive) while in idle. I thought the gear was in neurtal. The boat coasted for about 60 seconds. I realized something was wrong I heard a a sound coming from the stern which was the propellers turning from the force of the...
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    splicing two wires together

    I am thinking about replacing a broken dimmer switch on my panel. At home, I would use a wire nut to connect the two wires. Should I use the plastic shrink material to splice the connection? If so, how do you shrink the plastic around the spilced wire connection? Is a small wire nut acceptable?
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    engine stalled

    My boat has twin V-6 Mercruisers MPI 4.3 L. The engines have 200 hours on them. The other day after running at 3500 RPM for 30 minutes I came to a stop and had them at idle in neutral gear for 10 minutes. The starboard engine stalled out. After 2 attemps the engine re-started and I had no...
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    fixing canvas snap

    One of the snaps (male) used to hold the canvas to the hull came loose. What is the best way to re-affix it? Use epoxy in the hole and re-set the screw?
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    auto tab

    Do the Bennett auto tabs really improve efficiency enough to offset their cost in one boating season? Assume 75 hours of boating per season,
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    getting on plane

    What is the consensus about putting the trim tabs down to expedite getting on plane? I asume the optimum setting is by trial and error. I also assume they should be retracted once on plane. Comments? RK
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    upside down steering wheel

    It appears that the steering wheel on my boat is upside down so that the spokes which should be facing down for straight ahead steering are facing up. I need to rotate the steering wheel 180 degrees. Has anyone ever done this and is it difficult to do?
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    boat soap

    Are all boat soaps the same? Any special brands that seem to work better tahn others, can be used in a marina, and do not harm the gelcoat finish?
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    throttle cable adjustment

    Someone at my marina told me I could adjust the sensitivity of the throttle control by making some adjustments at the throttle housing in the helm. Is this true and if so how complicated is it? Thanks.
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    alpha 1 gear shifter

    I recently changed boats going from a single Bravo III to twin Alpha I. The gear shifter firmly went into gear after depressing the gear engage button on my Bravo III. My Alpha I is "mushy" going into gear so that it is sometimes hard to tell if the gear has engaged. There is no button to...
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    riser function

    What is the function of the risers? Do they carry sea water for cooling the engine or carry exhaust gases. I have a liitle water seepage at the junction of the riser the manifold. Does this mean I need a new gaskit or something more ominous? The engines are 4 year old 4.3L mercruisers with 190...
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    Mercathode

    My boat has a mercathode system on it. Does the significant consumption of the sterndrive zincs indictate a problem with the mercathode? Is zinc consumption related more to the electrical dock environment?
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    marine battery replacements

    I'm going to replace my marine batteries next season. Any suggestions for a good quality brand and model? I prefer the sealed variety so that there is one less thing I need to check on a regular basis.
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    Alpha 1 sterndrive throttle

    I just bought a bought that has twin Mercruisers with Alpha 1 sterndrives. Is there a button on the throttles that needs to be pressed in order to engage the outdrive into forward or reverse.
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    stainless steel screws

    I am going to replace a simulated wood guage surround that is actually made of aluminum on my boat. Should I use stainless steel screws to attach it to the dash? I understand that the use of dissimilar metals on a boat can cause galvalnic problems. Would aluminun screws be indicated, assuming...
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    throttle control handle

    My previous boat had a Mercruiser with a Bravo III and there was a button under the throttle handle that needed to be squeezed to permit the throttle to go forward to engage the gears. My soon to be new boat has twin Mercruisers with Alpha 1 sterndrives. I did not see a button under the dual...
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    riser preventive maitenance

    Should the risers/manifolds be changed at set intervals or do you wait until there are signs of problems. I have just bought a 2004 Chaparral with 4.3L Mercruisers. The boat is used in salt water six months per year. The engines have 195 hours and do not run hot. There is a little condensation...
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    replacement cockpit carpet

    Has anyone used an online company to replace snap in cockpit carpet? The maufacturer of my boat (Chaparral) wants $900 to replace the cockpit carpet. It seems expensive to me. Any suggestions for a quality aftermarket option?
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    eisenglass vs, stratoglass

    I have to replace the canvas and eisenglass on a boat I just bought. Does anyone have any experience with stratoglass? It cost more than eisenglass but I was told that it is much better, lasts longer and less prone to becoming opaque. Is it worth the extra money?
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    Hull problems

    I had a marine survey on a 2004 Chaparral today. The surveyor tapped out the hull and found some superficial air pockets in the hard chines that he felt was a manufacturer's defect. He thought the hull should be warranted for 5 years ( the boat was made April 2004). He mentioned the need to...
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