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  1. JimS123

    Swim grid ladder mounting

    The non-skid surface of your swim platform doesnt look too aggressive. Most new boats have seadek there. Install 2 SS step pads on the top. One will cover the damage and both will be quite useful.
  2. JimS123

    1943 Penn Yan cartopper

    Most of the Penn Yan cartoppers were cedar strip. Some had the bottom covered with canvas, and then painted. The degree of leakage will depend on the construction. You didn't say if you want to use it as a trailer boater, or keep it moored in the water for long periods. It WILL leak, and...
  3. JimS123

    Hello, New member. Assistance Please and tks

    As a first timer, you would be wise to either buy an outboard of less than 100 HP, or if you realllyyy want an I/O get a 3.0 liter 130 HP. Then take a safety course and become proficient in navigation and rules of the road. After you are a proven boater, then move up. With covid and all...
  4. JimS123

    New Tires

    I didn't say I disagreed with them re. the 10%, et al. In fact, my own personal opinion is to exceed their suggestions. Where I DO disagree is regarding their bias ply stance. But its a moot point anyway because of availability in certain instances. We travel the interstate quite frequently...
  5. JimS123

    New Tires

    RVIA's opinion / ruling is that the tire capacity must exceed the axle rating by 10%. It has nothing to do with pressure or exceeding the tire's rating. They also don't like bias and its clear in what they specify. RVIA is just like the BIA. It's a group of "experts" that come to a consensus...
  6. JimS123

    Swim grid ladder mounting

    Maybe you need to provide some pictures. What is a swim grid?
  7. JimS123

    Who has starting doing all their own maintenance?

    In the past when I had a large dealer do work, it always came back with some issues. I learned that I needed to check everything when it came back, like tightening bolts and checking fluid levels, etc. If you own a boat, you need to be somewhat mechanically inclined.
  8. JimS123

    New Tires

    My post said to use LT "provided that you can get the proper weight range". If you can't get 14" then that would confirm my suggestion. Adding 10% may be an opinion. Personally, I buy tires that meet the requirement as specified. Other posts here suggest varying psi depending on load. Not...
  9. JimS123

    New Tires

    For me, the cost difference is inconsequential. I paid big bucks for my baby and I only want the best tires, which are only 1% of my investment. I have 4 boat trailers at present. Some have radials, some bias. "Pull smoothly" is kinda subjective. Can't put data numbers there. Personally...
  10. JimS123

    New Tires

    All sound advice. Where people go wrong is that they DO buy cheap, they leave the trailer out in the driveway UNCOVERED, they DON'T inflate to sidewall psi, they run LONGER than 5 years, they run a 65 mph tire at 75 MPH and they don't have a spare, much less TWO.
  11. JimS123

    New Tires

    ST means "Special Trailer". Many years ago you could buy a good quality USA made trailer tire and they would last for years. Then, gradually all the manufacturers switched to china plants and you could not find a quality tire any more. Obviously, some people have different opinions, but when...
  12. JimS123

    New Tires

    ST tires are the bottom of the barrel anyway, so don't buy 2, replace all 4. The service life is only 3-5 years. Just replace with the same size you already have. The brand(s) that are quality, and those that are not, changes so frequently that its hard to recommend any particular one.
  13. JimS123

    Who has starting doing all their own maintenance?

    I have done MOST of my own maintenance since I bought my first boat 53 years ago. But some things I leave for an expert. For example, after doing bellows once, I won't do it again.....LOL. I have a trusted expert mobile mechanic that comes to my house, and I used to have him over about...
  14. JimS123

    Trailer Guide Ons DIY?

    I have avoided the horizontal carpeted bunk-types because they pick up a lot of road dirt and scratch the hull. I find the vertical rollers get the job done just as well. Mine are adjusted to provide about 1" clearance on each side, right at the beam. Obviously, when the boat is fully loaded...
  15. JimS123

    Trailer Guide Ons DIY?

    I use these and they work awesomely well. I bet the holes might even line up... https://www.iboats.com/shop/tie-down-engineering-boat-loading-roller-guides.html
  16. JimS123

    Trailer Guide Ons DIY?

    Guide-ons are available almost everywhere, in a number of styles and sizes. Why go thru all the trouble and expense of building one when you can buy a rust=proof store-bought model and have it mounted in 15 minutes? The example in post #9 should work fine, but there are shorter ones with a...
  17. JimS123

    1970 evinrude lark 40

    I own 4 late model Mercury 4-stroke outboards and all use a cable and mechanical shift. I don't know about other brands. I do understand that there are fly-by-wire systems that shift electronically. That's "electronically", not electric. The actual gear shifting is done by a servo and the...
  18. JimS123

    Engine Identification?

    Sorry if we offended you. Many of us here are boat nuts and we cringe when we see something that was left to deteriorate like that. As a corollary, its kinda like leaving the windows in your house open and then moving to live with a relative because you can't pay the electric bill. The house...
  19. JimS123

    Engine Identification?

    Good deal? If it were free it would still be a bad deal. Repair costs in parts alone would exceed the value. If the engine is not seized it would be a miracle.
  20. JimS123

    1970 evinrude lark 40

    I haven't upgraded to an 8 speed yet. My guess is that the motivation is to better meet govt. fuel standards, not just because it's fancy, schmancy. Regardless, technology has increased by leaps and bounds since 1970. Boy, I can't believe I had that old Lark 50 years ago! I wonder why they...
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