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  1. guy48065

    How do I get that last inch?

    It was windy. My wife is little or no help. I don't have loading guides on the trailer. Frankly I just wanted to get the hell out of there and get home to the important business of winterizing a sterndrive (for the 1st time). I thought I could pull it that last bit with the winch. No. Tap of...
  2. guy48065

    Q about thermostat housing seal

    2000 4.3L Mercruiser. I'm replacing the thermostat. After scraping & cleaning the surfaces I installed a new O-ring, Tstat, oem plastic spacer, gasket (with metal rivets). I carefully centered the Tstat but when all stacked up the white plastic spacer sits proud of the gasket at least 1/16“...
  3. guy48065

    Restoration of 08 Avalon - need to make the right choices

    I'm upgrading my 1996 18' Sweetwater for a 2008 20' Avalon LS. The seats in the newer boat are in worse condition than on my Sweetwater but I like the layout, proportions, and it's got a low-hours 60hp 4-stroke Yamaha. I'm going to have the seats & sun platform reupholstered locally and I...
  4. guy48065

    Testing my temp gauge

    My temperature gauge hardly moves--if at all. Before I put this up for the winter I'd like to test the sensor & gauge. Can I just remove the sensor and put it in hot water? I'm guessing there will be water behind that sensor (open system). Just let it run into the bilge?
  5. guy48065

    This trailer has rocking bunks

    The trailer that came with my used (2000) bowrider has bunk boards that pivot on their brackets. They used nylok nuts so this might be intentional--tho I've never seen this. Everything else about the trailer is ship-shape. Should I tighten them with the boat loaded, or leave them to self-adjust...
  6. guy48065

    How do you screw into fiberglass/gelcoat without chipping?

    Yesterday I added attachments for a bimini top on my bowrider. All the holes I drilled chipped a bit when driving the screw in--one of them badly, so it shows. For the NEXT time--what's the trick in preventing chips/flakes?
  7. guy48065

    Anyone know how to open/repair this gauge?

    Faria voltmeter doesn't respond. How do I open and repair this? It's from a 2000 Bayliner with an automotive-type instrument panel. The gauge twist-locks into the IP. No visible fasteners. Faceplate seems to be glued to the cup.
  8. guy48065

    Dielectric grease--everywhere?

    Seems to be used all over the electricals in cars & trucks but I'm not seeing mention of its use on boats. The 2000 bowrider I bought this month has been plagued by some electrical gremlins which I've traced back to corrosion on the fuses and push-on connections to the fuse block. Today I...
  9. guy48065

    A couple more I/O questions...

    My 2000 4.3L has a standard carburetor (not tks like I first thought), distributor cap & coil. There's also a black box I'm wondering if it's a rev limiter? Also--what the heck are the 2 plastic tubes for that lead from the valve covers to up near the flame arrestor on the carb? On a car this...
  10. guy48065

    Prop change on my bowrider

    My new-to-me 2000 Bayliner Capris 1850 runs and accelerates great but the rpms are too high. The 4.3L carbureted 190hp motor is rated to 4400-4800 rpm at wot. I'm not sure I'm hitting wot because I pull it back a bit when I hit 5000rpm. Current prop is 14.5 x 19 aluminum 3-blade. Looking to try...
  11. guy48065

    What is this indicator? (2000 Bayliner)

    My bowrider has this one digital gauge. It seems to be a depth gauge but the readings don't make much sense. There's a toggle switch labeled "Depth" that has momentary-center-momentary function and I have no idea how it operates. Can someone who's familiar please clue me in?
  12. guy48065

    I should add a 2nd battery...

    This can be either very simple or it can get involved. Without getting into the depths of yacht battery banks & charging systems... How have you added a 2nd battery to your small-medium boat, and did you also add the means to automatically keep it charged?
  13. guy48065

    Fusion radio flaky & freezing up

    I replaced the old JVC am-fm-cd radio in my 2000 Bayliner with a Fusion MS-RA70 so I could have Bluetooth and a brighter display. I love this radio but it keeps intermittently freezing on the "Fusion" screen on power-up and I have to pull the fuse to get it to respond again. It will also reset...
  14. guy48065

    4.3 diesling

    2000 Bayliner Capri 1850LX 4.3L carbureted engine, A1 G2 outdrive. Only had this boat for 10 days so far. Starts right up, runs smooth... In fact during the test drive I was surprised to see a carb & a distributer on it. No hour meter so I have no idea how many hours. It's pretty clean & this...
  15. guy48065

    How/where do I find part numbers?

    2000 Bayliner 1850LX. I need a fuel level sender so I don't get stranded in the middle of the lake again. Where do I find part numbers for stuff in & on the boat itself? Engine stuff--no problem. Outdrive--no problem. I can't find squat on hull parts. Clue me in where to look.
  16. guy48065

    Merc Alpha One trim/tilt Q (feeling like a newby)

    This boat that followed me home yesterday came with no manual, and so far I haven't found one to download... So I'm asking from ignorance, not stupidity. Lol My dock sits in shallow water. When motoring in to dock I need to trim all the way up to keep from dragging the prop. Once tied up I then...
  17. guy48065

    Let's talk skill...

    ...because I'm lacking. I just bought a used 18-foot Bayliner Capri with 4.3L I/O. It does FAST pretty well, SLOW isn't in its repertoire. Docking and loading on the trailer are a real challenge when it lurches every time it's put into gear. Give me some tips. Nearly all my boating has been on...
  18. guy48065

    Bunk slides

    I've seen poly rails screwed to wooden bunk boards on boat trailers but I'm looking for narrower strips to cover the narrow edge of 2x4s on my PWC lift. A u-shaped cap would be preferred to a solid strip, so I don't need to put screws through the face of the plastic. Does such a thing exist?
  19. guy48065

    Impeller change level of difficulty Q

    How difficult is it for someone with mech ability but no experience to change an impeller IN THE LAKE? I just moved to a new lake house so this spring has been full of unscheduled work. I bought a kit to change the impeller while it was still sitting on the trailer. Then the move suddenly...
  20. guy48065

    Why is my System Check alarm sounding?

    ... But there's no warning light and the motor seems to be running fine. The alarm tone stops if I keep the motor above 3000 rpm, or at idle. I thought the warning tone was supposed to accompany the light--but doesn't sound by itself. 2000 40hp Johnson. Factory harness, no splices or mods.
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