Search results

  1. C

    Boating GPS

    The internet says that my Garmin echomap chirp 74 is bluechart. It does seem to get updated over the air pretty often. I suspect that the NOAA claim of knowing where every buoy is within 30 feet is advertising, however, I see that the buoys in Oyster Creek Channel are market on the NOAA...
  2. C

    Durability of bottom paint

    If the boat has antifouling paint on it, and it bothers you, it can be "soda blasted" off. After the soda blast, the hull will usually be a matte surface. If you want it shiny, you will need to repaint it. Antifouling paint will provide some drag to the hull, due to it's soft, rough finish.
  3. C

    Swap wood panel in upholstery

    Sunshine and wood are not much of an issue. Polyester resin also holds up well to sunshine, as do the "spar" versions of varnish and polyurethane. People advise to paint the epoxy resin to protect it from the sun. I have never tried that, as I only use epoxy resin for high strength repairs...
  4. C

    Swap wood panel in upholstery

    Make sure you use only stainless steel tee nuts and bolts, or they will rust away. Normally you simply lay the foam onto the plywood and wrap it with the vinyl. No need to tack it. I always reused the plastic "wrap" over the foam, however, I would not sweat it as I think is has little value...
  5. C

    Boating GPS

    To be clear, the area I am referring to is the channel from the ICW to Barnegat inlet. The paper charts have a note that the buoys are not marked, as they change positions often. However, on my electronic chart built into the GPS unit, the buoys are marked and quite accurate.
  6. C

    Wondering if I can add power trim to my 82 mercury

    If the water leak is not too bad, you could dry it off and put a bead of silicone to seal it. Those 1/4-20 bolts that typically hold the water jacket to the cylinder head like to break. When I did the gasket on my IL6, I probably broke 10 bolts. Luckily on that motor, the block casting was...
  7. C

    Boating GPS

    Although I have never been able to find any proof, I believe my Garmin with built-in maps is updated over the air. I say this because the main channel in Barnegat Bay is uncharted on paper maps, as it changes all the time. However, the GPS unit always has the proper buoy positions (or nearly...
  8. C

    Swap wood panel in upholstery

    Normally the wood in seats is 1/2 plywood. However, if yours is thicker, replace with the same stuff. I would use pressure treated plywood that has had a chance to dry well. Apply a couple of coats of oil-based varnish or polyester resin to seal it and use stainless steel staples to reattach...
  9. C

    TRIM/TILT ELECTRICAL CONVERSION

    Gee, can't you swap the relays and wiring from the newer motor to the old one? Making a new wiring harness is not difficult, but the swap would be better.
  10. C

    TRIM/TILT ELECTRICAL CONVERSION

    Generally, the PTT motor wires should be cleaned, as well as the wires supplying power and ground to the solenoids. Don't forget to make sure the PTT motor black (ground) wire is well grounded.
  11. C

    1998 bay quest with 150 johnson ocean runner

    I cannot comment on the boat, but I have that exact motor. It is one of the best 2 cycle motors ever made, IMO. The OMS oil injection runs at about 60::1 and allows the motor a precise mix of fuel and oil and allows good trolling and idling. It has 6 carbs or 2 three throat carbs, depending...
  12. C

    Boating GPS

    The Marine GPS units are priced by screen size and visual acuity. The reason is that a larger, more high def unit is easier to see the features of the waterway, making them better. Some units have world-wide built in maps, and others use downloads or plug-ins to provide the updated date to...
  13. C

    TRIM/TILT ELECTRICAL CONVERSION

    Changing over the motor and electrical stuff is pretty easy. That is routinely done, when buying a new PTT motor as they usually come in the two-wire version, with the relay kit and harness. Of course, that presupposes the mechanical parts of the PTT on the older motor are still good. Also...
  14. C

    ‘91 merc 60hp overheating alarm buzzing

    Generally speaking, compression testers are often inaccurate. However, they are usually reliable. If all the cylinders read the same (within 15%), the compression is good. I think your numbers are just fine, despite what the manual says. Is that a Merc Service manual?
  15. C

    1985 Evinrude 4hp no spark.

    Disconnect the ground wire and test the coil with an ohmmeter. The primary wires should have nearly a dead short. A few tenths of an ohm resistance is good. Test the spark plug wire to the ground wire. It should have some resistance and not be open, nor a dead short. Clean the points and...
  16. C

    My safety tip of the day is...

    Lou, NOAA has buoys all along the coasts of the oceans of the world. These measure and report wave heights, period, water temp, wind speed and other stuff. Here is link for NE coast of the US. https://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/obs.shtml
  17. C

    Another boring winter day in northern Wisconsin

    Gee, we had 58F here in NJ. I was able to paint my boat's controls, with some help from a space heater in the garage. A good step toward spring fit-out, although a bit early.
  18. C

    Restoring my Johnson 6r72d

    Gee, didn't OMC make those engines (with minor mods) for 40 years? They always used them on the rental crab boats here at the Jersey Shore.
  19. C

    maybe changing from 4.3 liter cobra to 175 Suzuki outboard on a Starcraft Islander Islander.

    You could also get a OB motor bracket (maybe a Jackplate) with enough clearance to allow the engine to tilt. Maybe that moves the weight back enough to make up for the loss of the 600# of the I/O engine block. You can then have a full size transom. Side note, I traded in my 19' SeaRay 4.3 LX...
  20. C

    Another job for JB weld???

    If you do the repair with JB Weld, you might grind out some alum. on the inside of the crack, and wipe before with acetone, before the repair. The outside might need some JB, to finish filling the crack, but try to minimize that, with the inside repair.
Top