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    Wandering heading at slow speed

    Wandering at idle speed is normal for most V hulls, as others have noted. The motor is pushing the boat, so at low speed the bow tends to wander as it tries to cut through the water. At higher speeds it has more force which allows it to cut straight through the water. That's why it's...
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    Trailer Security

    With all the battery power tools available these days, it's hard to stop thieves. As already stated, do whatever you can to slow them down so they skip over your rig. I spot weld nuts that I don't need to remove. For example, I have the retractable stern straps that mount to the trailer. I hit...
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    Merc 4.3 v6 distributor cap and cilinder connections

    Take anything the previous owner said or claimed he has done with a grain of salt. There's no guarantee it was maintained correctly.
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    Merc 4.3

    I can go out for an enjoyable day on our 13 mile long lake and only use about 7 gallons of gas with my 18.5 bow rider 4.3 Mercruiser. No complaints on fuel consumption by me.
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    I think I will go electric for my next new car ...

    America has probably the most stringent emission regulations on our power plants, unlike most other countries who care less about the planet. We have to realize this whole climate crisis thing is just a ploy for eternal political power. If it were a real issue, the world would get together...
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    Merc 4.3

    Just out of curiosity, what is wrong with an engine being a V6? Maybe you're just a V8 guy? I get that. Maybe you just like more power, but there's a place for smaller engines. My bow rider is 18.5 in length and the 4.3 has no problem handling things. 45 mph on the water is plenty fast for me...
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    Merc 4.3

    Perhaps. That's why I asked what he was implying.
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    Merc 4.3

    Huh? Are you implying the 4.3 is terrible? This was the OP question: "Are Merc 4.3 inboards problematic?" He didnt say they were terrible, he asked if they were problematic. Big difference.
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    Merc 4.3

    Good catch. I stand corrected. Ignition sensor. Idk...I was thinking sensor, but I typed module. Must be CRS. Can't remember stuff. (G rated version) There's no ignition module under the distributor cap. My original sensor from the factory was an exposed printed circuit board. It was all...
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    Water stains

    Oxalic acid. The basic ingredient in a lot of toilet bowl cleaners. I buy it in a powder form and dilute it with water. Spray it on, wait a short while, scrub and rinse. Watch out for anything that is galvanized. It will turn black. Wear all your personal protective equipment. Don't breathe it...
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    I think I will go electric for my next new car ...

    Some of the electric car ads are now saying their products don't produce any "direct" emissions. I think I saw that in a VW ad. You have to look close to notice that statement.
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    I think I will go electric for my next new car ...

    When they mine the ore for the battery components, they use heavy machinery that runs on diesel fuel. More pollution. A huge chunk of these elements are mined in China. China could care less about the environment. They are one of the worse polluters. Then there's the solar panels and wind...
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    Merc 4.3

    My 4.3 is fantastic. It runs great and only needed/needs normal maintenance, dist cap, rotor, ignition wires, plugs, oil, oil filter, fuel filter/water separator, etc. I did have to replace the original ignition module under the distributor cap. It was a quick, easy job and cost about $40. It's...
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    I think I will go electric for my next new car ...

    Or one of those enclosed trailers stacked full of deep cycle batteries for those extra long trips.
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    I think I will go electric for my next new car ...

    How about a big windmill on top of your car. Us guys with pickup trucks can get a fifth wheel arrangement to fasten the base of the windmill. Gotta watch those underpasses though....;)
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    I think I will go electric for my next new car ...

    That's hilarious! Hey, if you use AA lithium batteries, you should get more mileage out of them, but they cost 3x as much! But you're driving a Mercedes, you should be able to afford it! (I call them Euro-trash, I hate those cars!)
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    Water in bilge

    Could it be a through the hull fitting? Do you have a bait well? Are you sure it's not a leak in the cooling system? Could be from a fitting or hose that is hard to see. Maybe blocked from view and as you increase RPM, the leak intensifies. Can't be bellows since it only happens when...
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    Converting to carburetor from mpi 350 mag

    I feel for the OP. Not boat related, but I had a bunch of electronics fried in my house once. It cost me a big chunk of money. I now have a whole house lightning arrestor connected to my circuit breaker panel. I was at my kitchen window and I saw a lightning strike in my neighbor's...
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    Long cranking after sitting 1-2 weeks Mercruiser 4.3

    Sounds like you got good advice. This may not apply to you since you said it starts sometimes when it's cold, but I'll mention it anyway. I had a similar problem that was caused by the choke coming out of adjustment somehow. The choke butterfly wasn't closing when the engine was cold. After...
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    Running boat on land with no prop?

    Agree. Debate is always good. Hear all opinions and decide for yourself by using you brain and past experiences. Lack of debate or recognition of other opinions is a major problem in this country as of late.
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