Search results

  1. ahicks

    2001 Mercury 60hp Bigfoot

    60 hp Bigfoot is a pontoon boat motor. It doesn't use the bigger lower unit used on the 75-115 hp motors. It does use a high thrust gear ratio (my understanding)...
  2. ahicks

    Pontoon Hardtop

    I don't know first hand how much or how often it snows there, but if it doesn't snow, 1" tubing should be fine to support that alum. roofing. Why the insulation? If you're concerned about the heat reflecting downward from the bottom of the top, maybe you're considering the wrong color alum...
  3. ahicks

    Hard Start 15 hp

    Clearly you've been through a bunch with this. You say the choke is closing, but you have yet to confirm that the choke is COMPLETELY closed, as in choke butterfly sealed to throttle bore all of the way around. Pumping the primer bulb to confirm carb is full for this first start?
  4. ahicks

    Is it safe to weld a winch post to the coupler?

    If you look at the original pictures, it should be easy to see that a winch could be mounted where the base of the turnbuckle is fastened. The problem is, this setup requires the boat to be floated on to the trailer. Using a winch mounted on that existing plate, it will be pulling on the bow eye...
  5. ahicks

    Is it safe to weld a winch post to the coupler?

    I don't know what the others are seeing regarding "proper trailer". That IS the proper trailer! I don't think these guys have been shopping for trailers that will accommodate a straight inboard lately. The dropped cross members to accommodate/protect the running gear and rudder are not something...
  6. ahicks

    Is it safe to weld a winch post to the coupler?

    This is the way many inboard trailers were done going back a few years. The boats were literally floated into position and fastened in place using the bow eye and a bracket similar to that one. There's no reason you couldn't fashion a sturdy winch stand on that trailer. Judging by what appear...
  7. ahicks

    Buying a 2021 Sylvan!!

    Been there, I get it!
  8. ahicks

    2001 Mercury 60hp Bigfoot

    Don't worry about your question. You're right about this being a good place to ask. Just consider that as you age, it starts getting tougher to stay "politically correct", or even care if you are. You say what's on your mind and move on. In other words, you get to the point where you have so...
  9. ahicks

    Trim tilt reversed

    Just fix it. Don't worry about why/what happened before/after.
  10. ahicks

    Buying a 2021 Sylvan!!

    I would suggest you don't try to fix problems you don't have yet. Try it the way it comes to see what you need - if anything. Fenders work best on the dock - the exception being when you are rafting up with other boats/toons.
  11. ahicks

    In Search of a nice used inboard style boat hull without engine or blown engine

    If the hull of the boat you have is in good condition, a fresh new interior may give you another 10 years on that boat at relatively little cost. At the very least, prior to going to the expense of buying another boat, I'd try to collect a couple of estimates to get what you have redone. I'm...
  12. ahicks

    Considering moving and changing my type of boat(ing) and want opinions

    Fair share of protected inland, Great Lakes, and the Gulf of Mexico in my history. Given my 'druthers, I think fresh water wins hands down, and protected inland likely edges out Great Lakes most of the time....
  13. ahicks

    North Channel.

    Yup, there are many places where you can tie up to a tree on shore, throw an anchor off the back, and be set for days....
  14. ahicks

    Honda bf20 not turning over.

    Tell me about "solid frozen" please? Does that mean that the starter rope will not pull out? Can you turn the prop? Does it seem to be shifting OK?
  15. ahicks

    North Channel.

    Whale's Back area. All pink rock. World class sailing area.
  16. ahicks

    Why an increase in engine horsepower will hurt your ‘holeshot’, acceleration and midrange cruising.

    or buy a faster boat....
  17. ahicks

    1998 Merc 150 Stiff Steering

    OK, I see the dual setup. I get what you are talking about. I'll be the last to disagree with the idea of doing maintenance here. Highly endorse it actually. My point was regarding proper diagnosis of a "stiff steering" issue, and the likelihood of finding it here. Not impossible, but not...
  18. ahicks

    Why an increase in engine horsepower will hurt your ‘holeshot’, acceleration and midrange cruising.

    To make power without an increase in cubic inches, generally you have to focus available rpm to target a narrower power band, and generally speaking, that power band is going to be higher than what it was. Mess around all you like, but eventually I'm pretty sure that's where you're going to end...
  19. ahicks

    1998 Merc 150 Stiff Steering

    Rust and internal wear generally make pulling that inside cable not practical. Not familiar with the dual cable you are talking about (I've never worked on one), but generally speaking steering cables are not that expensive to replace. I'm thinking less than 150 for the part, so that would make...
  20. ahicks

    Why an increase in engine horsepower will hurt your ‘holeshot’, acceleration and midrange cruising.

    Agree with Bondo. You DON'T want a super high performance motor with a power band that's only 500 rpm wide. Save them for the track. Holding that power band with a prop (single speed transmission) is not only nearly impossible, it IS impossible. What most of us are after is the opposite...
Top