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  1. 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...
  2. 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...
  3. 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
  4. 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...
  5. 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...
  6. 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...
  7. 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.
  8. 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...
  9. JimS123

    1970 evinrude lark 40

    I wish I had you to help me back then 50 years ago. My assumption was that there was some sort of shift interrupter that made the motor run like crap when you shifted. I can't tell you how many docks I rammed into. My dealer had been a master Evinrude dealer since the 1940's and his mechanics...
  10. JimS123

    1970 evinrude lark 40

    I realize that many people say that. Nevertheless, my experience has been quite the opposite. Not just self destructing wires, but stalling when shifting and just general poor performance. I'm sure that an expert in the field could make one work, but back in the 1970's I just couldn't find...
  11. JimS123

    Boat lift options?

    I have solar on my mountain top RV. Current pricing for a "system" with a single 100W panel is $309. You need a good quality controller or you'll fry the battery. The $100 kits are not too efficient. Even at that, depending on the depth of discharge, 3-4 hours might be a stretch.
  12. JimS123

    Prop size

    Why change at all? What's wrong with your current prop? Provide more details and we can better advise.
  13. JimS123

    1970 evinrude lark 40

    Electric shifts do indeed use a different grade gear lube. OMC makes 2 different products and the bottles tell you which one is appropriate. I don't know about transmission fluid there are marine products available. I had that same motor and had the very same problem. But my issue was that...
  14. JimS123

    Prop size

    Without rpm data it's just a guess. But for sure, if the 23P works, the 15 pitch must be Reallllllly BAD. Most prop changes are 1 or 2 inch pitch changes. Going up 8 inches sounds like a disaster.
  15. JimS123

    Boat lift options?

    My "issue" is that the batteries always needed charging. So, I ended up with a genny AND a battery charger. Otherwise, its taking them out and charging them at the house. Either way is a PITA.
  16. JimS123

    Boat lift options?

    Been there, done that with the "can't run power thing". Also, with the DC thing. AC is the only answer. A small Honda portable inverter genny is the answer. Quiet and dependable. Store it in a lockable dock box right at the site. I would imagine your usage would be quite small, so possibly...
  17. JimS123

    Temporarily repair toon logs.

    Flex seal tape, Eternabond tape, or a pool repair tape? Personally, I could not stomach 18 weeks. I'd go with eternabond and if it doesn't work, you only wasted 50 bucks. How big is the hole?
  18. JimS123

    aq270

    You have to service the u-joints anyway. Lots of people don't even know that. Regardless, my uneducated opinion is that 15 seconds didn't destroy anything. We've all made that mistake once or twice.
  19. JimS123

    Hull form versus engine power and torque In maintaining a boat on plain

    I interpreted the question as more theoretical that needing an answer on how to improve. Certainly, trim tabs are a potential fix, but adding a DoelFin is truly the optimum solution, coupled with possibly engine height optimization. No holes to drill in the boat, no interference with other...
  20. JimS123

    Painting tube trailer frame

    Rustoleum is a fine topcoat, but it really isn't the ultimate for rust protection. Prime with "Rust Reformer", second coat of Rustoleum fish oil primer and topcoat with Rustoleum in the color of your choice.
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