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    Questioning Dealer

    I'd try the 17P 4 blade and see what happens. If your engine is good for 5000 rpm, you're still under by 400 the way you're running now. Worst case scenario, watch your WOT rpm. Every prop brand is a little different when it comes to raking, cupping, etc. Plus prop technology has changed a lot...
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    Boat keeps porpoising.

    The fuel tank is right in front of the engine, center of the floor. With your model boat, I found the trim super sensitive, and could not use as much trim as my previous boat. I had the same experience and thought something was wrong. But with some more seat time, I quickly found that happy...
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    Couple questions about winterization..

    I did not have the cool fuel thingy, but if you can introduce the 2 stroke oil that way, it should work. With my 4.5L, I mixed up the cocktail in a jug and pulled the main fuel feed line off the tank, stuck it in the jug. It don't take much fuel when idling for 10 minutes. I wouldn't changed the...
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    Towable recommendation

    We have a 2-3 man tube and rarely gets used. Good for a nice quiet pull, and very difficult to tip over, so very safe. I find it must travel at higher speeds to get any skipping. Now for good fun, we always pull 2 separate donuts. Sitting in the hole it's very stable. Lying on your stomach, it's...
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    New prop floats on prop shaft and has some play

    Another thing to consider, you may very well have the wrong hub kit. Merc has these reflex hubs that are designed to move a fair bit back and forth on the prop shaft. They have little fingers as pictured below. When I got my new 4 stroke outboard, I thought my prop was not installed properly...
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    Bow riders with best engine access?

    I agree it has to do with the actual design, and not the brand. FWIW, this is a 18.5' bow rider. Has an awsome sundeck and rear seat, but engine access was a real pain. Those 2 side buckets are simple removable but was still left with the grey fiberglass frame. I found removing the backrest and...
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    Can't get boat even on bunked trailer.

    I would experiment with how deep you back the trailer . Get the bunks wet before loading boat. Your factory trailer is exactly like mine and the boat centers no problem. Can easily winch up 1-3 ft. Load solo all the time. There's nothing wrong with what you have, you just have to figure out the...
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    Boat refueling

    I have one of these 20L containers with the syphon handle on the end. Works great around the house too for lawn mowers, etc. There's different versions, sizes, some with wheels, etc. Pump the handle a couple times and the fuel will syphon into tank. Let go of handle and flow will stop. Nice...
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    Questions in towing my 2016 H190

    First thing to stop the bouncing, you need to winch the boat a few inches so the eye sits tight against/under the roller. Second, your specific model does not use a safety chain. They use a ratchet strap from the bow-eye straight down to the V-shape loop on the trailer frame. (the loop is shown...
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    2016 4.5L mercruiser i/o Very weak performance

    FWIW, I had the 200Hp version of the 4.5L and all I can say it had lots of power, very smooth running engine. Mine was on a 18.5' glass boat and performed great. Fooled around with props and had excellent results with the Spitfire 4 blade 19 and 21P. Comparing with same pitch 3 blade Black Max...
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    Are surge brakes always a PIA?

    My experience with surge brakes is mixed. I've had 2 trailers in the last 13 years. Both had disc brakes, and the auto backup assist (put truck in reverse and electrically shuts brakes off). One trailer had for 8 years, never ever touched anything, and worked perfect the whole time. The next...
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    Merc Alpha4 no longer available. What to replace it with?

    Took me quite a few trials but happy with the Spitfire performance. Here's some info on direct comparison with pitches. Merc Black max 3 blade 21P. Merc Spitfire 4 blade 21P. Both props would just tag the rev limit at 4950. Lost 1 mph on top speed with the spitfire (46+ mph GPS). Pulling power...
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    Mercruiser 3.0 reliability and overall maintenance?

    I had the exact boat, purchased brand new in 2009. used it for 8 years before going to a bigger boat. never gave me a lick of trouble. When I sold, it still looked like new. Always stored inside when not on the water. The 3.0L is a great fit for this size boat. By myself it would top out at 42...
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    Gear Oil, change or OK to check?

    My 2 last boats had Merc Alpha's. I'd pull the bottom plug, drain a few ounces (half the remote reservoir). If all looked good, just refill the bottle and done.
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    Bimini EYE ENDS

    Shot in the dark, mystery part. Looking for a couple eye ends that are offset. So far can only find ones that are centered. Similar to the pic but I want the male tab to be offset to one side. Anyone know if that type exist??
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    Antifreeze for winter storage

    When it comes to our winter hibernation, some use AF and others use good old air. So I know lots of people use this type of fluid when storing their boat for the winter. This particular kind is Merc -50F. I do have a few jugs sitting in the shed and been watching how the cold alters the...
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    wheel bearing grease

    This sounds sort of dumb for a basic maintenance question, but I'm having a hard time finding grease and the little rubber plug for my wheel hubs. The grease should be marine rated for wheel bearings. I did find one store but says on the tube "not for disc brakes". Maybe they heat up more?? Most...
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    Bowrider layouts

    When I bought my 2008 Searay, I actually opted for the jump seats over the bench. Since the boat was only a 175, the jump seats left lots of floor space. I do have to admit, they were comfy and it was easy to nod off while fishing. But even back then in '08-09, the longer 19-20' models all had...
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    Mercruiser 5.0 MPI Cat / 1 beep per minute but no code.

    Just a crap shoot ......Another simple thing to check are all the wire connector plugs, (those little snap together things). I had a beep alarm going off but there were no symptoms of a problem. Sort of freaked me out, looked at everything and finally found out it was one of those little...
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    Bimini Top Hardware

    I'm looking for a couple fittings for my Bimini topper. Figured it would be simple but turning into no where to be found. On the ends of the posts, there is a thing called an "Eye end". There seem to be hundreds of variations but they all seem to have one thing in common. The little ear thing is...
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