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  1. JimS123

    Buying a boat with a rebuilt sterndrive??

    "Rebuilt" to me means don't buy it. Its going to be a nightmare. Boat motors if properly maintained and cared for should last the life of the boat. Boats have a service life of 15 years. That's because people don't care for them. A fiberglass boat should last a lifetime. If the previous...
  2. JimS123

    Mid 70s Ebbtide Interior

    If the plan is to show the boat, then originality is the key. Antiques and Classics must be as they came from the factory. Something as simple as "new" seats will cause a point loss that will basically disqualify the boat. The Judges in Boat Shows are very strict. If the plan is merely to...
  3. JimS123

    First time buyer

    Okey Dokey. A 24 year old plastic boat is not a good buy. A 24 year old I/O is even a worse buy. If the boat were a saltwater boat, it would be yet more worser. Those are just opinions.
  4. JimS123

    First time buyer

    Yea verily. I've had many a Chevy, and the wife has one now, but I've always been a Ponch guy. I never should have sold my'67 Catalina with the big block 400. I still have a 1980 V8 Bonne and I swear it is a better towcar than any pickemup truck built...
  5. JimS123

    First time buyer

    Interesting how different people can look at the same thing and have a different opinion. The I/O is basically underwater and is a 100% hazard to anybody jumping off the boat. Ever see a person split their foot open with a prop? OTOH, an OB can be pulled up completely out of the water and...
  6. JimS123

    First time buyer

    The best advice yet... Thirty Five years with an I/O. Never again. I used to dread winterizing. Had to do it in driveway, so it had to be a nice day. Took 3 hours. Sucking out the oil, filling the nice dry bilge up with drained hot water. Standing on your head in a small place. The OB is...
  7. JimS123

    Boston Whaler Portable Boarding Ladder

    Back in the day when closed bow runabouts were the norm, we all had what you are asking about. The storage space under the bow had ample room to store it. But even more important was that the typical OB boat had a full width transom splash well, so there was no room to put your feet and a...
  8. JimS123

    Prop boat to jet boat?

    Yup, don't touch down. Aye, there's the rub. I would ask, since you owned 6, how many needed repairs before you got one that was trouble-free? Second question, why do own an I/O now? Why not another jet?
  9. JimS123

    Co-Ownership Question . . .

    Wow. We seldom get unanimous responses.
  10. JimS123

    Co-Ownership Question . . .

    See previous posts. A bad idea. It will start a family feud. You buy yours and maintain it as you like. Let Bother and sister do the same. You do your maintenance and they do theirs. We have 3 family campsites on the same property. Since I'm a nice guy (and have a tractor) I cut their...
  11. JimS123

    Prop boat to jet boat?

    I disagree wholeheartedly. If it comes to that we'll all be running 14 foot tinnies. My buddy has (had) a Jap widdle compact all electric vehicle. When he gave me a ride in it I was surprised because it ran so nice. Then he told me with the batteries it weight over FIVE THOUSAND pounds...
  12. JimS123

    What to do about this boat?

    Bad situation all the way around. Small claims court is nice....sometimes. Only if the defendant is honest. If he doesn't give you the money back, you really have no recourse to make him. Your best bet is to hire a lawyer who knows what's what in your state. Of course, in the end it might...
  13. JimS123

    Add gauges or not?

    A fish finder is the superior option. You have a "picture" visible at every glance. You can see where you've been and what's coming, rather than having to "think" about a number on a little digital dial. Of course, if you are in deep water and then come upon a rock reef protruding 20 feet...
  14. JimS123

    Prop boat to jet boat?

    If you act responsibly, impellers and wear rings shouldn't be a problem. They should last years and years. Maybe PWCs shouldn't be talked about in the same topic. Jet skis are considerably cheaper than a boat, plus they usually are bought by younger people that don't have a clue about...
  15. JimS123

    Prop boat to jet boat?

    Suck up a line and more than likely you'll bend the shaft. The worst part is that it probably won't be noticeable, so you'll go along with no corrective action. Then later down the road you'll be in for some serious repairs.
  16. JimS123

    Anchor advice needed for rocky and tree bottom lake

    Been there done that. If you are in a current it won't work. You need to slack the line enough to get the slip ring to fall. If the current has the line tight it will continue to pull from the top.
  17. JimS123

    Unexplained rain water on new deck boat

    Maybe your drain plug needs tightening, or some better sealant.
  18. JimS123

    Tilt Trailer

    Ahhhhh, the golden age of trailer boats.
  19. JimS123

    Need assistance to identify maker

    Newer trailers have all the info on a sticker. If its an older one, the SN will be embossed somewhere on the frame. If all else fails, the title will tell the story, as will the previous registration. Your looks quite generic, so there is no particular design feature that would make it stand...
  20. JimS123

    Tilt Trailer

    No its not.
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