Tips and cool tricks. Tell yours, and pick up some new ideas.

[badmechanic]

I added this thread in hopes that people would add what ever tricks they've picked up from working on boats.
Here's my first one: I recently went to the lake, put my boat in and got her fired up. I quickly notice that no water was flowing out. I took the cover off disconnected the line blew hard threw it and found that something had clogged it inside. Bummer right? Thought about for a second, grabbed a small bike pump that I happened to have and pressed it firmly against the water exit port on the block and pumped it up. At about 30psi I heard a POP and a release of pressure. Then fired the motor, water started pouring out and out came a Freaking bee. Stupid bugs blocked the drain hole. Anyway, there's my rare successful mechanical tip. PLEASE POST YOURS!

 

[Silverbullet555]

Re: Tips and cool tricks. Tell yours, and pick up some new ideas.

I added this thread in hopes that people would add what ever tricks they've picked up from working on boats.
Here's my first one: I recently went to the lake, put my boat in and got her fired up. I quickly notice that no water was flowing out. I took the cover off disconnected the line blew hard threw it and found that something had clogged it inside. Bummer right? Thought about for a second, grabbed a small bike pump that I happened to have and pressed it firmly against the water exit port on the block and pumped it up. At about 30psi I heard a POP and a release of pressure. Then fired the motor, water started pouring out and out came a Freaking bee. Stupid bugs blocked the drain hole. Anyway, there's my rare successful mechanical tip. PLEASE POST YOURS!

I found that wasps or yellow jackets like to build mud nests in any small hole in the boat. Pitot tube, drain holes, screw holes, etc. Sucks!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Tips and cool tricks. Tell yours, and pick up some new ideas.

there are over 45,000 threads in this topic alone; a third of them contain "tips and cool tricks." But using a bike pump to clear a line is a good trick.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Tips and cool tricks. Tell yours, and pick up some new ideas.

I spray my tilt and trim rams, motor, pump, everything with white lithium grease, sets up semi-hard, stays on there very well, protects entire unit from water, saltwater, corrosion. On some older motors(like mine), the tilt/trim motor casing is made of plain steel and subject to bad corrosion, and if you've checked lately, these motors aren't cheap and the tilt/trim units aren't easy or economical to repair/replace. Also a good idea to inspect/clean/polish the tilt/trim rams, so deposits/rough spots don't eat up those seals as they slide in and out. Good Luck!

 

[lkbum]

Re: Tips and cool tricks. Tell yours, and pick up some new ideas.

Next time you have a few couples on the boat, pre-make margaritas and put them in containers, ready to pour. Here's the trick, put 1/2 the amount of tequila in the ones the guys will drink and double the amount of tequila in the ones the women will drink. Guaranteed good time.

 

[MAXXIE]

Re: Tips and cool tricks. Tell yours, and pick up some new ideas.

lkbum, I like the way you think.

 

[Xandre]

Re: Tips and cool tricks. Tell yours, and pick up some new ideas.

Next time you have a few couples on the boat, pre-make margaritas and put them in containers, ready to pour. Here's the trick, put 1/2 the amount of tequila in the ones the guys will drink and double the amount of tequila in the ones the women will drink. Guaranteed good time.

Haha this is good!

 

[V153]

Re: Tips and cool tricks. Tell yours, and pick up some new ideas.

using a bike pump to clear a line is a good trick

Yup. Just enough force, but not too much ...

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Tips and cool tricks. Tell yours, and pick up some new ideas.

Next time you have a few couples on the boat, pre-make margaritas and put them in containers, ready to pour. Here's the trick, put 1/2 the amount of tequila in the ones the guys will drink and double the amount of tequila in the ones the women will drink. Guaranteed good time.

Again.... Just enough force but not too much..........

 

[relocyo]

Re: Tips and cool tricks. Tell yours, and pick up some new ideas.

Again.... Just enough force but not too much..........

Lol... Couldnt have said it better myself... Lol...

 

[yetiman]

Re: Tips and cool tricks. Tell yours, and pick up some new ideas.

another cool trick is to teach your wife how to drive the boat and load her on the trailer and you can throw back a couple and concentrate on skiing or wake boarding

 

[NYBo]

Re: Tips and cool tricks. Tell yours, and pick up some new ideas.

The proper torque for just about any bolt: Tighten until it snaps off, then back off half a turn.

 

[soggy_feet]

Re: Tips and cool tricks. Tell yours, and pick up some new ideas.

Ha, I like that one.


In a tight bind, with a [small] hole in the hull, the plastic wrap from your sandwich will suck into the hole and slow/stop the water until you can get your wits around you.

 

[shout]

Re: Tips and cool tricks. Tell yours, and pick up some new ideas.

I had a thru-hull hose wear through (bad design) and was advised by the marina owner to stuff a rag, sock etc into the thru-hull opening, on the outside of the hull to slow/stop the flow while the boat was in the water. Allowed me to get a replacement hose and fix the problem while the boat was in the water.

- shout

 

[V153]

Re: Tips and cool tricks. Tell yours, and pick up some new ideas.

The proper torque for just about any bolt: Tighten until it snaps off, then back off half a turn.

Heh heh heh.

Hi my name is xxxx & I'm a recovering torquaholic. Getting better now thank you. Ever since I got that torque wrench ...

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Tips and cool tricks. Tell yours, and pick up some new ideas.

The guys at our shop recently had a German car in the bay and told me they used a special torque setting. "Gutenteicht". I guess it's corny but so am I.

 

[gt]

Re: Tips and cool tricks. Tell yours, and pick up some new ideas.

Boat on the trailer, transom plug out, but that last inch of water won't drain out? Roll up a paper towel, stick it in the drain, leaving 6" or so hanging out and down... All the water will wick out, leaving the hull 100% dry. That little bit of water probably won't hurt anything, but I like a dry hull.....

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Tips and cool tricks. Tell yours, and pick up some new ideas.

I bought a stereo for the boat this spring. Sound with the existing water resistant speakers was disappointing. The speakers were just sitting in the rear seat pedestal free in the air. So I made some little boxes out of plywood and gave the speakers surrounds. It took me less than an hour and I used leftover plywood.
Only problem is now I can hear my kids music!