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  1. ahicks

    '94 Bass Tracker handling question

    When it gets choppy with a boat like that, and you're looking for a speed that won't rattle your teeth out, don't be shy of letting it plow a bit at a speed JUST shy of a full on plane. Put it on a plane, then slow and let the front come up a bit....
  2. ahicks

    will flat bottom rowboat trailer work for a v hull

    If we're talking a 400lb alum boat on a simple trailer, worst case is you'll need to make some simple mods.
  3. ahicks

    Tilt Trailer -- How Effective?

    Agree on the ramp. Anything close to a decent modern ramp won't need a tilt trailer - especially when dealing with a heavy 24' boat.
  4. ahicks

    1998 Force 90hp 2 stroke is it bad?

    I don't see many of the bigger motors, but the 40hp twins I see most never had mufflers on the carbs - which contributes a huge amount of noise. Hood insulation might help some, but an effective way of muting that carb, or carbs would be an enormous help as well....
  5. ahicks

    1998 Force 90hp 2 stroke is it bad?

    Regarding the motor, they can usually be fixed up to start/run really nice. Downside is, they're generally regarded as about the noisiest motor out there....
  6. ahicks

    Good value? 04 Bennington 350i/o

    I/O pontoon are absolutely notorious for being very difficult to service (expensive!) During your inspection, pretend you need to change the oil or winterize the motor. See what is required to put you hand on each of the drain fittings (located on the side of the block) and the oil filter. I...
  7. ahicks

    Lovely boat at the slip. Any ideas ?

    I did something like that with a mid 70's vintage 20' Sanger Catalina a LONG time ago. Boat was kind of a cross between a what is known today as river boat (smaller) and a flat bottom (bigger, heavier, shallow vee hull). 427 Chev, Casale v-drive w/10% over gears, Turbo 400 transmission with...
  8. ahicks

    Where do you like to prop your boat?

    'Cuz she's paying the bill at the gas dock?:) Other than that, it makes no difference what others are doing. There's no firm "right" answer here. Set your priorities and prop for them....
  9. ahicks

    Water in gear oil

    Are you pulling your prop and checking your prop shaft for fishing line right in front of the seal? Prop shaft splines should be greased annually anyway, so it only takes a second. You don't try to "locate" a leaky seal unless you have a pressure tester and reasonably fresh seals. Far...
  10. ahicks

    Boat running slower

    One guy had a tree branch lodged ahead of the motor, causing a lot of drag and stirring up the water in front of the prop.....
  11. ahicks

    Power trim -goes up fine; trim motor runs but doesn't go down

    You've confirmed the fluid reservoir is full?
  12. ahicks

    Changing engine oil filter same time as oil?

    I break the filter loose, then do exactly as highlighted above. Doesn't need to be a ziplock, though they are nice and thick, but anything that doesn't leak will work fine as well. That's an old trick that works well on about anything with a filter....
  13. ahicks

    Keel roller not centering

    First, I think that shaft is bent! Maybe a product of old school, but I've never seen anything V shaped like that. That roller should roll! Second, even if it were not bent, it's not going to center/hold the back of the boat centered while you pull it out. You're going to need some side guides...
  14. ahicks

    Small cheap roof for storage?

    Here in SE MI, probably 75% of the 'toon owners leave them outside on blocks tightly wrapped with blue or white plastic wrap installed by professionals. The vast majority use fresh wrap every year. Being cheap, and an avid DIYer, I have a heavy duty white one (that still seems to be pretty...
  15. ahicks

    1998 Crest - Mercury Force Motor cover hits Back Deck

    Just understand there is going to be cooling water that's going to be trapped/not going to drain if the engine is tilted up. The idea of letting it drain for a few minutes prior to tilting may help but you're just extending the wick you have burning leaving an outboard stored in the water. Same...
  16. ahicks

    1998 Crest - Mercury Force Motor cover hits Back Deck

    Your call. Corroded motor internals or corroded lower unit that anodes might have a chance of dealing with?
  17. ahicks

    Mooring cover

    One tip I'd share would be to get a magic marker out, and mark the 4 corners (LF, RF, RR, LR) and left and right mid ship (LM, RM). Do that big enough where it's easily seen. That will prove to be a HUGE time saver the next time you need to install the cover. No more installing, only to have to...
  18. ahicks

    Removing an Attwood Hydro Stabilizer

    JB weld works great for filing those holes. Easy to do a nice job that is easily painted. The trick is to fill the hole without leaving a big gob that will need to be sanded down. A piece of good tape applied on the bottom will save you from having to sand that side.
  19. ahicks

    1998 Crest - Mercury Force Motor cover hits Back Deck

    If this motor is going to be left in brackish or salt water, leaving it tilted up is a plan just about guaranteed to increase corrosion and crap build up within the motor. The motor depends on being somewhat level to drain properly internally.
  20. ahicks

    2003 BF40A Honda 40hp tilt/trim issue

    Well, next time it's on one of it's "I'm not going to work" kicks, assuming you can hear the relay clicking when you push the up or down buttons, follow the wires up from the motor and disconnect them at the round connector near the relay. Put a test light or voltmeter across the 2 wires from...
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