Recent content by mickjetblue

  1. M

    Outboard motor manual tilt assistant -

    The pic is not the best, but it shows how I made this contraption from 2 small pieces of outdoor 2 x 4, and 1 piece of hard yellow pine. A hardware hook is screwed into the front of the base of the "assistant". A few wraps of gorilla tape on the hook are used to take the grip bite where the hook...
  2. M

    Starter solenoid or starter bad on Nissan 18?

    When I reactivated my 18hp Nissan after 6 years of inactivity, I had to do some cranking. So, now my electric starting ran out of starting power... I have determined, via VOM, that the starter button is ok and the 20A fuse is ok. Can anybody clue me in on how to determine whether I need a new...
  3. M

    Tips for starting an 18hp Nissan stored for 4 years?

    I switched out the 18hp Nissan outboard to a 40hp Johnson jet drive to use the jon boat in shallow water. The conversion worked great, but usage and needs change, and I want to put the 18hp back on the boat this spring. It has been sitting in the garage for a good couple of years. I ran some...
  4. M

    Switched to tarps for boat covers this winter,

    and it is surprisingly working out great! I have gone through a few different composite boat covers, including a couple of more expensive materials. They lasted two, or maybe three years, with no longevity improvement based on cost. So, I decided to try using heavy duty tarps, along with the...
  5. M

    270 outdrive stuck in reverse.

    I was just thinking of how great everything was working with my AQ131A and 270 outdrive today. I was pulling up to the dock, went to put the motor into neutral, but it went into reverse. The prop was working in reverse, so I was able to maneuver, but I couldn't get out of reverse. It's still...
  6. M

    The weight of snow versus the weight of ice.

    A couple of days ago, I noticed about 2 inches of snow on my 2 boats in the yard. I checked the weather forecast, and it was supposed to warm up today. I figured I'd watch the weather developments, and hoped that the snow would melt. Well, a snow/sleet blizzard passed through the area, and...
  7. M

    7am, and all covers are sold out

    I guess I should have learned something from the black friday shoppers camping and waiting in line for the start of shopping time. Hope someone got their deal on a boat cover. :D
  8. M

    Almost into the carb, but first things first -

    I had a problem with my 40hp outboard engine cutting back on me at higher speeds, as if something was wrong with the carburetor or fuel system. I'm thinking, this isn't supposed to happen, as I use fuel stabilizers regularly. It would run perfect at slow and sometimes middle speeds, but after...
  9. M

    Clinch strap diagram?

    Kind of embarrassing, but I bought a cinch strap for my jon boat bow tie down. Problem is, the little diagram on the latch is worthless, and I forgot how to get the loop through right. Anybody have a diagram for this? :confused:
  10. M

    Fixed trim tabs on jon boat?

    I did a search on "fixed trim tabs" and none returned for fixed, so here goes. I saw a new jon boat, about 18', at a show that had a piece of aluminum angle welded on each bottom side of the transom. Each piece was about 1.5" angle and maybe a foot long. The salesman told me they would have the...
  11. M

    Snow is hard on boat covers, and boats,

    last week I spent at least 20 hours with the snowblower, snow shovel, and the garage utility broom sweeping the snow off of the boats. I have 2 boats with covers and tarps, sorry, no pics, and had to sweep the snow off of them about 6 times! If I had not swept the snow off repeatedly, I'm sure...
  12. M

    Thinking about a small pontoon boat---

    I'm thinking about a small, 18' pontoon boat to use for flat water boating in kind of a "picnic boating" mode. Probably use about a 50hp outboard. Does anybody have experience with a small pontoon boat, and what do you think about it? Thanks :)
  13. M

    Advice on 1860 jon boat?

    I am thinking about moving up to an 1860 jon boat, with about 50 to 60 hp. Does anybody have an 1860, and can you offer anything about it? Thanks. :)
  14. M

    What was your first motor boat? Second?

    About 25 years ago, my 1st was a 14' wood/fiberglass composite boat. It rode great, but I only had a 10hp on it, and it needed 30 to 40hp. I paid a few hundred for it, I think, and still regret that I sold it. I suppose a good follow-up would be - what did you buy next? So, second was a...
  15. M

    VP4 AQ131A slow coolant leak?

    I have a slow leak in the fresh water, antifreeze system. It's dripping from the seal of the copper line at the tank connection. My initial thoughts are to drain the antifreeze coolant out, remove the copper line, and see if I can reinforce or reseal the copper line into the small housing at...
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