Recent content by Frank O

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    Non-abrasive wax for outboard cowling?

    The owner's manual for my Mercury OptiMax 250 says, to keep the cowling shiny, "Wax the surface using a non‑abrasive automotive polish (polish designed for clear coat finishes)." Can anyone recommend a specific product that would work well here?
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    Dividing up waypoints on a Garmin GPSMAP 541?

    After a few years using a Lowrance LCX-25C as the GPS unit on my boat, I recently picked up a Garmin GPSMAP 541 which I'm using as a semi-portable on top of my console. I took all the waypoints from my laptop, put them on an SD card and transferred them to the GPSMAP 541. I have 'way too many...
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    Smartcraft thermostat fault on 2011 OptiMax 250

    I have a 2011 OptiMax 250 that was delivered around New Year's, and just has a few hours on it. Today I ran to the fuel dock -- a four-mile round-trip at ~5 knots. As I was returning to the slip at the end, I heard a single beep and the Smartcraft tachometer's digital display showed the...
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    Transporting a gas can

    On an upcoming trip we're thinking about bringing along a full 5-gallon gas can on my 21-foot center console. The container is designed for gas, and was bought at an auto supply store 3-4 years ago. Is there anything in Coast Guard regs we need to know?
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    Red fitting hanging off new OptiMax outboard?

    I recently repowered my center console with a 2011 OptiMax 250. Sticking out of the corrugated hose protector leading into the outboard, I noticed a red fitting of some kind. Any idea what this is? http://www.inkbox.net/whaler/parts/optimax-fitting.jpg
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    Battery charger for my center console?

    I've read through a number of threads on battery chargers here and understand some of the basic issues involved. But I'd like to quickly describe my situation to see if it results in any specific thoughts. I just repowered my 21' center console with a 2011 Mercury OptiMax 250 outboard. On the...
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    Location of side marker lights

    I have a mid-1990s two-axle Loadmaster trailer for my 21' center console. The trailer is more than 80" wide, so it needs the lighting configuration for a wider trailer. While replacing the tail lights, I noticed that someone mounted the side marker lights facing forward on a crossbeam just...
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    Trailer jack mounting location

    I have a mid-1990s Loadmaster two-axle trailer for my 21' center console. At some previous point, someone mounted the trailer jack as shown in this photo: http://www.inkbox.net/whaler/trailer/trailer-jack.jpg This location on the tongue is tightly squeezed between the surge brake unit and the...
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    Water in fuel system?

    Does this sound like an engine that could have water in its fuel system? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvIDuKxQsoo Today my son and I started the 1994 Mercury Offshore 3.0L 225hp carbureted two-stroke engine on my Boston Whaler Outrage 21 after it hadn't been run for a couple of months. It...
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    Tire pressure loaded and unloaded

    Okay, this is a pretty basic question ... Tomorrow I'm taking a new tire for my trailer to be mounted and balanced, then I'll drive it out and put it on the trailer. When inflating a tire that isn't installed on the trailer, is the inflation pressure significantly different from what it would...
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    Drogue chute for 21'?

    Hi all, I'm looking at getting a drogue chute for my 1995 21' Boston Whaler Outrage (deep-V hull, 1994 Merc 225hp 2-stroke) to slow down the boat for trolling. Without shifting in and out of gear, the slowest the boat currently goes is just over 3 mph, which I understand is typical. I'd be...
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    Specs on trailer tires

    Recently when I got the two-axle Loadmaster trailer for my 21' center console out of storage, one of the tires blew on the road (thankfully before we picked up the boat). A tire company sent a truck out and put an ST175/80R13 tire on for me. I then took the trailer to the outboard shop for...
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    Storing a trailer on jackstands

    I have a two-axle Loadmaster trailer for my 21' center console. Most of the year the trailer is stored outdoors with the boat not on it. I've been told it's desirable to put the trailer up on jackstands to prolong the life of the tires. Is it better to support the trailer by points on the...
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    Weak cylinder on Merc 225hp two-stroke?

    I have a 1994 Merc Offshore 3.0L 225hp carbureted two-stroke with about 625 hours on it. When I brought it in for annual service recently, the shop manager noted that the #6 spark plug did not look as clean as the others. He said it was "crusting up," with "whitish debris" on the plug. He...
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    Tarp supports for trailer

    I'm interested in putting a tarp over my boat trailer, which I store outdoors without the boat on it for nearly all of the year here in California. A buddy suggested that I rig up some kind of support system (PVC pipe?) underneath the tarp to give it an arch in order to prevent rainwater from...
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