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  1. danond

    My Transom Repair (I/O)

    Hi all. I'm documenting my transom repair on a 1990 Starcraft 171SS Select. There's not many I/O based transom sites out there, most focus on outboard transom replacement, so I thought it'd be good to get more info out there. If it helps, stop by, give me some advice, learn from my mistakes...
  2. danond

    Cleaning the bilge

    My engine and drive are out - I'd like to clean up the bilge and maybe paint it. Are there special cleaners that work better for paint prep? Is there a "bilge paint" or something similar out there; something I can brush on?
  3. danond

    Boat insurance - experience?

    How many of you have boat insurance, and of those who do and have had to use it, what was your experience? I didn't even know it existed until this year. I just called and it's dirt cheap, $150/year for my craft. Have any of you had a blown drive covered, or something major? How did it go?
  4. danond

    Opinion on bimini tops

    I'm going to get a bimini top, 6' long for my 18' (including diving deck) Starcraft. I noticed a big jump in price from a place like safeguardcovers.com and iboats but know nothing about the material choices. Any recommendations on height, length, manufacturer, material?
  5. danond

    "Alignment bolts" - what are these?

    My manual identifies 2 "alignment bolts" holding the transom bracket to the gimbal housing. What are they and what do they do?
  6. danond

    Engine pull - what kind of lift?

    How have you guys lifted your engines out before? I have a typical hoist for car engines but I seriously doubt it'd get high enough to clear the sides or back of the boat. I have a friend with a pulley style hoist that'd work great, but if I could do this in my own garage or driveway I'd be...
  7. danond

    Seacast time! (Was: Water in the bilge...got suggestions?)

    So far I've: - determined I can hold pressure forever in the cooling system - determined the leak isn't coming from the engine - replaced bellows, gimbal, u-joints, o-rings on the driveshaft, shift cable bellows, seal on the exhaust. (Bought a "transom service kit" from e-bay.) - replaced my...
  8. danond

    Bleeding surge brakes

    I have a Shorland'r that I picked up and the previous owner didn't know the brakes needed fluid. Never checked it, now they're empty. I'm aware there might be a leak or the cap might be bad, but I'm curious as to how I'm going to bleed these suckers when I don't have a "brake pedal" to push...
  9. danond

    Fixing stripped screw holes in fiberglass

    Any recommendations for fixing stripped screw holes in the hull? My anchor/stern light base got yanked out a few days ago by the post. I thought about filling them with epoxy, but I don't think the epoxy would "give" when turning the screws into it, it'd crack. Something that dries hard but...
  10. danond

    Broke my !@#!#@ wrist.

    No good deed goes unpunished! Was towing someone in to dock after they overheated last night. The Missouri river has this tendency to move sandbars around without warning. Running slow in 8ft of water then BOOSH! Hit a sandbar. Stupid me, I shut the engine down, started lifting the drive...
  11. danond

    Rebuilding trim rams

    I can imagine that my trim rams will die someday. Where can I get parts to rebuild (or have them rebuilt)? Is this something a hydraulic repair shop is used to seeing, or would I need part numbers & such?
  12. danond

    OMC flapper removal - remove manifolds too?

    Do I have to remove the 1 piece OMC 4.3 manifolds to get at the exhaust flappers down in the Y pipe? The manual's not specific and I've never removed any part of my exhaust.
  13. danond

    Suggestions on mounting a float switch

    My hull in the back near my bilge pump is shiny, smooth, white-painted fiberglass. It looks like the pump is original and was definitely installed while the engine was out. Now I'd like to install an automatic float switch, but I can't get my hand, a screwdriver and the switch into the area...
  14. danond

    Does fuel in the oil turn it milky colored?

    My oil STINKS like fuel, but it's milkshake colored. Not foamy, but grey and very runny and smells horrible, even with only 15 minutes of run time. I'm doing an air pressure test on the cooling passages tomorrow, but could my fuel pump be puking gas into the crankcase somehow? The engine runs...
  15. danond

    Water in oil. Intake gasket?

    Here's the status: - 1989 OMC Cobra 4.3 I/O - Water in the oil - Oil stinks like engine exhaust after only a few minutes of running - Compression is between 155 and 170 on all cylinders - I've changed the oil twice - Previous owner swapped a 4bbl intake for the 2bbl that was there - Engine was...
  16. danond

    Beautiful starcraft - need advice.

    I'm going to be looking at a non-running 1990 starcraft 171 select this weekend. Beautiful boat - no scratches, interior is awesome, engine looks cared for, not even any rash on the trailer. New batteries, SS prop, all electrics work. The owner said the motor wouldn't start this year and he...
  17. danond

    What kind of carb cleaner?

    Guys I'm about to rebuild the carbs on my '82 115 and my Clymer manual says don't use carb cleaner and don't soak the carbs in cleaner, either. They suggest using an "aerosol cleaner". Whatever that is. This doesn't make sense. What do you guys use? I'd really like to soak these.
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