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  1. ratdude747

    Best Battery for MerCruiser 888 (1976 Ford 302)

    Not sure what you're trying to say here. The boat came with the schematics as part of the Mercruiser installation manuals stuffed in the glove box (which I've since scanned in). AFAIK battery size/capacity was never listed. A long side note about the relay added and what's going on there...
  2. ratdude747

    Best Battery for MerCruiser 888 (1976 Ford 302)

    Made it to Walmart. Found a very fresh one: Based on the serial number, I'm pretty sure this is a Clarios made unit: (JC meaning Johnson Controls?) Winner?
  3. ratdude747

    Best Battery for MerCruiser 888 (1976 Ford 302)

    Will do on the rubber. Probably should for the starter relay I installed as well:
  4. ratdude747

    Best Battery for MerCruiser 888 (1976 Ford 302)

    Also availability. The local Napa doesn't have them (but all the ones one county over do, go figure) but the local Walmart does. Yes, Napa will do a ship to store (or I could drive out to one of the other ones), but honestly, I don't see the point of going through extra hassle just to pay 77%...
  5. ratdude747

    Best Battery for MerCruiser 888 (1976 Ford 302)

    I don't have a battery box... just a nylon strap with a pair of plastic cleats.
  6. ratdude747

    Best Battery for MerCruiser 888 (1976 Ford 302)

    Sounds good. And the dimensions should make clearing the fuel hoses slightly easier (skinnier and taller, the wide group 65 took some gymnastics to remove/install). Edit: for $55 less I can get one of these. Same size, but also marine deep cycle rated and has higher CA rating (Maybe, 705 CA vs...
  7. ratdude747

    Best Battery for MerCruiser 888 (1976 Ford 302)

    Question: My 1976 Starcraft Montego (Mercruiser 888, carbed 302) had a group 65 Car Battery in it. I pulled that battery to put in my truck, as it's obviously the wrong battery, like a lot of auto parts on the boat that didn't belong and have since swapped out. I'd like to know what suggestions...
  8. ratdude747

    1976 Montego 16- The "Free" Puppy

    No drain after cutting more of the locker out. There maybe is a 2mm gap or so at the keel. But I wasn't able to pass anything I had handy through to see if it makes it to the engine bay. I took some measurements... About 17" from the back of the locker to the front of the engine bay. It's...
  9. ratdude747

    1976 Montego 16- The "Free" Puppy

    Going to give it time to thaw and dry up a bit. I need to see what's at the back of the cavity under the locker. No stringers in the suspect area towards the front of the locker (based on how much ice slid out). Looks like they glassed the hull first, then threw the board down and glassed the...
  10. ratdude747

    1976 Montego 16- The "Free" Puppy

    Well... Under the locker apparently is the keel... And an icy lake: Darn it. Not sure how far back it goes. Going to bail out what I can. The back area is still a chunk of ice.
  11. ratdude747

    1976 Montego 16- The "Free" Puppy

    Understood. A bit of a gut punch at first. --- Need to get an oscillating saw and cut the glass from the locker floor and see what's under the rotten wood. Given that it looks like they just tossed the board in there and threw some loose long hair glass on it, there is hope that the damage is...
  12. ratdude747

    1976 Montego 16- The "Free" Puppy

    Not to spam post, but made yet another discovery while getting the cover on the boat. Apparently whatever built the nest in the ski locker got it by shredding the insulation under the bow seats: As dense as it is/was, it isn't part of the flotation foam, right? Or do I need to replace it to...
  13. ratdude747

    1976 Montego 16- The "Free" Puppy

    Different subject while it's on my mind: screws. The outdrive currently has a 4-blade composite on it. Here's the remains of the box: Also included was an aluminum screw. Has a ding in it: The damping rubber is cracked too... Probably junk? FWIW it's part number 48-74888-21, also marked...
  14. ratdude747

    1976 Montego 16- The "Free" Puppy

    Made some discoveries. First, the rot in the locker floor runs up to the front of the seats. Beyond that, dry wood. (Upper hole dry, lower hole moist) Plugged the dry holes with water weld: Second, it looks like the locker floor was glassed separate from the rest of the locker. Look at...
  15. ratdude747

    1976 Montego 16- The "Free" Puppy

    Drilling the sides, there seems to be no wood, rot, or moisture behind the glass at all. Fiberglass over foam?
  16. ratdude747

    1976 Montego 16- The "Free" Puppy

    Having no luck drilling it. JB waterweld ok for filling holes? I have some and that was my plan. Never mind. Pulled the carpet and the locker floor is soft and failed the test. Ugh. Guess this is a bigger project or a sunk cost ...
  17. ratdude747

    1976 Montego 16- The "Free" Puppy

    I'll try. Underneath that area is the ski locker. The side walls and back wall of the locker as far as I can feel are solid (no flex or sponginess). The back wall would be the most suspect area, but it's far enough under the floor that I'd need a very long bit to drill it (I don't have a bit...
  18. ratdude747

    1976 Montego 16- The "Free" Puppy

    Found the rot... Deck board above the back of the ski locker is shot. Found an old rodent next in there that was soaking wet. My boat cover failed and allowed some water to come in, been airing it out the last several days while the weather is ok. Here's a chunk of fiberglass and rotten wood...
  19. ratdude747

    1976 Montego 16- The "Free" Puppy

    No, but I did confirm they were still in good order (and on the way down the road, periodicallys stopped to confirm no heat buildup). These have Zerk caps on them (and had been routinely topped off when in use- there was plenty of fresh-ish extra grease on the hubcaps); once I get around to...
  20. ratdude747

    1976 Montego 16- The "Free" Puppy

    The trailer was a dealer swap. Trailer manufactured in 1975 (per the VIN decal), boat bought in 1976 or 1977 as a "last year's model" clearance item. Original trailer rode low and had mag/alloy wheels but for reasons unknown/forgotten to/by the friend and his dad, it didn't work out and was...
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