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  1. matt167

    1970 181 to a 1978 181 different engine harness?

    Same as mine. I have a ‘71 offshore V 18.steering cable, you will probably need a new helm if the cable is no good. But steering will work the same. The control cables will be Gen 1 Mercury.
  2. matt167

    1970 181 to a 1978 181 different engine harness?

    No. Controls are the same. You will need new cables as the length is slightly different
  3. matt167

    How do I start my 1986 Thundercraft

    86 engine should be a primer engine. Turn key to run and push in and release 3 times or so. Lift the cold idle lever a bit and crank it till it comes to life
  4. matt167

    1970 181 to a 1978 181 different engine harness?

    I know 70 gimbal pins use nails. 78 might be screw in. That alone is worth the swap imo. 70 shifting is also on the transom. 78 might have the bracket on the valve cover. I’m putting a complete 86 alpha one 3.0 assembly in place of a 1970 2.5
  5. matt167

    Crossing lake Champlain

    Ausable chasm is 99% why we’re going to the Adirondacks and staying in Keesville. We’re also going to high falls gorge I took the ferry many years ago when I went to Burlington
  6. matt167

    Crossing lake Champlain

    Would it be crazy to cross lake Champlain in a 14’ boat? My fiancé and I are probably taking a boat to the Ausable chasm area in the Adirondack’s for our honeymoon. There are some things that she wants to do in Burlington area of Vermont so we would need to catch a ferry. But what about...
  7. matt167

    Building a gantry crane

    If I had a buddy with a wrecker I’d consider it. We have a skid steer and forks at work that probably has the lift I need. But I have to get both boats there
  8. matt167

    planning first trip to thousand islands

    I just thought about this. My fiancé hasn’t put a priority on fixing the big boat ( 18’ StarCraft ) but we do want to bring a boat.. there’s enough time to get the motor swapped so I might get approval
  9. matt167

    planning first trip to thousand islands

    I’m going to be careful. May or may not use it up there but it tows so light that it’s not going to hurt anything. But if it’s calm enough it’s getting launched. I’ve got the last week of Aug off as well as my job shuts down for a week so I may be able to squeeze thousand island trip in then
  10. matt167

    planning first trip to thousand islands

    Well, we settled on staying in Keeseville NY, right near Ausable Chasm and Alice falls. Deal breaker for my fiancé was no water falls. However I am dragging the little boat with us to Lake Champlain. We will make the trip down to Fort Ticonderoga as well
  11. matt167

    14" trailer wheels with 5/8" holes

    I’ve worked on trailers 40-50 years old to current and have never come across anything other than 1/2” on a 5 lug. 6 or 8 lug are either 1/2” or 9/16”. I know 5/8” lug nuts exist but I gotta say I don’t think I’ve ever seen one on a trailer. Except on some older trailers with dual tandem...
  12. matt167

    14" trailer wheels with 5/8" holes

    I’m trying to figure this out in my head as to how or why.. a 5 lug trailer will have 1/2”-20 studs or lug bolts depending on axle mfr. A 6 lug or 8 lug trailer may have 1/2” or 9/16” studs but the same wheels will fit. I do remember working on one trailer at work that had a 5 1/4” bolt circle...
  13. matt167

    Is Focus Marine Outboard Ltd legitimate or a scam?

    Scam. Looks like a quick Shopify shop. Shopify can become scamify very easily. Takes 10 seconds to create a Shopify page
  14. matt167

    First Year Electronic Ignition?

    In the small engine segment, techumseh had their solid state ignition starting in 1967 for the HH series engines, many years before Briggs and Stratton. The system is really reliable but if it does go bad, techumseh discontinued the replacement parts even before they went bankrupt. The blocks...
  15. matt167

    First Year Electronic Ignition?

    the points ignition on the ‘66 super seahorse 40hp I had was super reliable. It actually fired up within a couple rotations on a cold start and used to impress people at the launches.. but the carburetor needing a float and the gear case leaking/ old goober repair that it was more of a project...
  16. matt167

    1984 starcraft islander

    A tin boat is much louder against the hull than a fiberglass boat.. you can try to deaden it but really you will always hear the splashing. It’s one of the things that signifies your riding in an old StarCraft
  17. matt167

    1984 starcraft islander

    Foam is actually not structural on a tin boat. Older StarCraft actually used styrofoam sheets. Some people use pool noodles under the floor, some use blue or green insulation board. Any option had the ability to create enough flotation to keep it mostly above the surface
  18. matt167

    1984 starcraft islander

    Very common. But it’s literally few Weeks of Working on it after your day job. Not a big job at all. I did a 14’ Holiday in one month. New deck, wiring, bilge pump, carpet and seats. I didn’t do the transom at that time as it was okay
  19. matt167

    1984 starcraft islander

    @racerone would be able to give you the rundown on them. If they spin over with good compression, there is a solid chance they are serviceable. Pretty cool it’s an outboard version and it has twins. Double floor is a Re-deck and is commonly found. Just tear it out with the transom that’s also...
  20. matt167

    1984 starcraft islander

    New transom, deck (no pressure treated). Fix the mechanics that need it. Beyond that everything is cosmetic
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