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  1. K

    Year for changes related to ethanol?

    I'm hoping to buy a new-to-me boat next year. I hope to buy something with at least a 300 HP 5.7 if not a big block.I typically run non-ethanol gas but it may get hard to find in the future. Were there any year(s) that Merc. or Volvo made any significant changes to their engines and systems to...
  2. K

    How good is Rinker quality?

    I'm looking for a 22' to 24' or so bow rider and the wife insists on a head. The latest Boating magazine had a test on the new Rinker QX24 BR and it looks really nice. I'd kind of forgotten about this brand but now I'm looking for used ones in my searches. I want quality but not fancy-ness. I...
  3. K

    Cost / difficulty of swapping a 5.0 MPI for an 8.1 MPI?

    I've been looking at boats in the 24' range. I tend to go out with 10 or more people so I'd really like to have a big block. Many of the boats available have the little 5.0 MPI engine which is of course less expensive and they are much more plentiful. I got to wondering what would be involved...
  4. K

    300 HP Mag Vs. 310 HP 7.4L

    I'm shopping for a 24 or 25' bowrider. I tend to boat with lots of people (10 or more, about half of them children) so I'm looking for more HP than the little 5.0 engine. Most boats seem to have the 350 Mag with 300 HP for the upgraded power plant. I've found a few with a 7.4L MPI engine that...
  5. K

    HP vs. cubic inches & drive type

    I'm looking for a replacement to my '97Larson 206Sei with 5.7 and a 2 barrel. It's supposedly 210 HP which I will describe as barely adequate. I'm looking at upgrading to a Sea Ray 220 or 240 Sundeck, Chapparal 233 Sunesta, Four Winns 234 Funship, or something else similar. I will sometimes have...
  6. K

    Engine block size

    So with 17 inches of snow yesterday I'm feeling better by looking for a new boat. I'd love to have an 8.1 big block but they quit using those in boats. I know, GM quit using them too, I get that. Which got me to thinking; GM hasn't used the 5.0 or the 5.7 in many years yet they are still in...
  7. K

    How do I inspect/ replace exhaust flappers?

    I've got a '97 Mercruiser 5.7 with an Alpha 1. It's got a 2 barrel carb. if that matters. I want to make sure my exhaust flappers aren't burnt or melted. Where are they and what's the easiest way to gain access? Do I remove the manifolds or are they further downstream? What else should I inspect...
  8. K

    The good and bad on Sea Ray 240 BR

    I'm looking to upgrade from my '97 20' Larson to something around 24'. In doing searches i seem to come across a large number of Sea Ray 240 BR models. I'm looking in the mid 2000 era, say 2003 to 2009. How did Sea Ray compare for quality in this era? I get the idea that overall they're a good...
  9. K

    comparing HP on boats

    My current 20.5' boat has a 210 HP 5.7L with a 2 barrel carb. I want to upgrade to around a 24' boat. I see a lot of them with only a 5.0L engine. It doesn't seem like I want a 4' longer boat with a smaller displacement engine. From a HP standpoint a lot of the MPI 5.0L engines are making 240 up...
  10. K

    Yacht certified rules?

    I like to take a lot of people along when I go boating. My current boat is rated for 11 people but my extended family totals out at 12 so I'm looking for something rated higher. Some of the boats I look at in the 24 to 26 foot range are yacht certified. What are the rules for passengers on a...
  11. K

    Tired of carpet, can I glass the floor?

    My '97 Larson has a plywood floor with permanently installed carpet over top. I can feel soft spots starting to form in the plywood underneath. I've never liked having to be really careful to keep the floor dry, vacuum the carpet, etc. The next boat I get I want to have a fiberglass floor with...
  12. K

    "Women's" boards marketing hype?

    I know I also posted this in the water ski forum. I didn't want to miss anyone. My wife said she'd like to learn some sort of tow sport this year. We don't know what it will be. I know there are both water skis and wakeboards that are colored white and pink and supposedly designed for women. Is...
  13. K

    "Women's" skis marketing hype?

    My wife said she'd like to learn some sort of tow sport this year. We don't know what it will be. I know there are both water skis and wakeboards that are colored white and pink and supposedly designed for women. Is there any actual difference in the design or is this just to sell more boards...
  14. K

    Anybody ever been checked for boat length?

    One of the lakes I frequent here in VA, Lake Moomaw, is in the National Forest. On the NF website it says boats can't be over 25'. One the army corp of engineers site (they built the lake) it also mentions the 25' length restriction. This is a lake of nearly 3,000 acres with no HP restrictions...
  15. K

    My wife insists on a boat with a head. How do they work?

    I want to upgrade from my 20' bowrider to something larger. My wife insists that the next boat must have a head. The last thing I want is a tank full of sewage and a toilet on my boat but I've go to make her happy. The upside is that you have to go to about a 23' or 24' boat to get one with a...
  16. K

    Did marine VHF licensing disappear?

    I don't really ever boat where anyone uses marine VHF. I've never operated one. I am an amateur radio operator so I have a good handle on radio in general. I recently found a guy selling a used Icom IC-M3A for $15 so I bought it. Do I need to apply for some kind of license or register somewhere...
  17. K

    Great, my marina is closing.

    I got a letter from my marina today. After 20 years in business they're closing the doors. I had noticed for the last year or two they barely had any new boats on the lot. I guess the economy takes out another business. I live about 100 miles from the next closest marina so this will really make...
  18. K

    How many years on one impeller??

    I've got a '97 Mercruiser 5.7L with an Alpha 1. I put less than 50 hours a year on my boat; all in freshwater. The last time the impeller was changed was 6 years ago. The boat runs the same temp. it always has; about 160 degrees according to the gauge. Should I replace the impeller just because...
  19. K

    Which fuel stabilizer for non-ethanol

    I'm getting ready to winterize the boat. I know I need to put a fuel stabilizer in the tank for the winter. I don't ever put ethanol gas in my boat. It looks like most of the marine fuel stabilizers talk about how great they are for treating ethanol fuel in the boat. If I remember correctly...
  20. K

    Engine compartment ventilation hose routing.

    On the back of my '97 Larson 206SEI there are 4 3" round louvered vents. Each connects to a piece of 3" flexible duct. One of them on the port side is the output from the blower. The other 3 have the duct running down to the bottom, sides of the engine. One of these hoses on the starboard side...
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