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    Vinyl curtain shrinking.

    I cover my boat with a Big tarp. Unfortunately, due to health issues, I have not been able to work on it much as I would like. However, I notice recently that my curtains seem to have shrunk which is making zippers difficult to close curtains. One zipper broke. Doest clear vinyl do this over time???
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    Best boat lettering removal?

    I have to remove current boat's name. It is a decal and not painted. Once removed, I can buff area and hopefully make it look decent. There are many products on the market, but I thought I'd seek advice from boaters.
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    MC Oil Filter Kit Hoses Under or Over?

    I have remote oil filter kits on both my MC Chevy V8s/IOs. Unfortunately, I didn't take photo of hose routing when I removed starboard motor to rebuild transom. Port is pretty much ok. Filter mounting bracket appears vertical on starboard exhaust riser in some photos, but I cannot remember or...
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    Washdown Pickup Placement

    I am installing a gilled bronze water pickup device to the stern of my boat, below water line and just below bottom of boat. Pump is inside and the pickup will be plumed along the outside of the stern and the plumbing will enter boat above the waterline. Should the gill slits face the water...
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    1986 270 Amberjack Sea Ray

    I have looked aimlessly to find a windshield wiper pair (rubber and metal arm) to fit my ventage 1986. Wiper motors and studs are great as to the rest of the electrical. Any suggestions?
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    Sewing Marine Vinyl?

    A few years back I made some clear curtains for my boat. My old Kenmore worked OK to good. Although, my first attempts sucked. I got pretty good at it and finished my project. I am getting ready to sew clear inserts. I suspect 20 gauge will do. 10 gauge too light and 30 gauge too thick. I cannot...
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    Using Neoprene Strips to Cushion Marine Gas Tank

    By now, mot of us have read about the issues using foam to seal and cushion marine tanks. Sooner or later it invites corrosion. I have been working on my 1986 Sea Ray Amberjack restoration for almost 4 years. Covid and health issues have cause many delays. I am ready to install gas tanks. SR...
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    Need this part #

    My boat has been retro-ed to closed cooled MC V8s. However, I had to tear up exhaust manifold/riser gaskets to remove motors in order to replace a rotten transom. The riser gaskets were made out of a dark gray solid fiber (no passageways) that sandwiched a flat piece of SS (maybe 30-45 thousands...
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    Knock Sensors?

    I have TB 5 with Knock sensors but I am a little confused. If the KS module detects "knocks" does it totally retard timing to -0- or only reduce timing enough until it stops sensing any knocks?
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    External Oil Filter hose routing?

    I am restoring an older Sea Ray that has two Chevy V8 stroker motors/Bravo 1s. Covid and heath issues have delayed my progress to the point of frustration. Both motors have external oil filters that attach to risers nearest the sides of the boat. I photo-ed oil filters and attachments but forgot...
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    Rebuilding Mercruiser Trim Cylinder/Bravo 1?

    I have rebuilt Alphas in the past but cannot remember exactly where the continuity spring fits inside the the end cap. I downloaded manual 90-863160--1 JUNE 2003 page 5B-3 but photo is not clear, at least to me. I guess I am getting old? Does the spring fit snug inside an o-ring grove and up...
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    RADAR with GPS overlay

    I am looking for a RADAR 9-12" screen combination with all the sonar bells and whistles and I also want an accurate GPS overlay so that if I have a RADAR contact, the unit will accurately display contact's GPS coordinates (+-100 feet). A mile range for GPS would be OK but I prefer 2 miles. I...
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    Mercrusiser synthetic vs non-synthetic?

    Soon, I will have to change oil in my MC 383s. I have never been a fan of synthetic oils in boats since I normally change oil yearly and don't want the extra expense associated with more expensive synthetic oils. But, then a friend told me that once a motor has used synthetic oil, you can't go...
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    Ball valve in fuel pickup tube necessary?

    I am installing fuel tanks now in my 1986 Sea Ray AJ rebuild. I replaced a 140+ gal tank near my engine compartment with two 55 gal tanks located just short of mid-ship. Ancient SRs were notoriously rear-end heavy. SR recognized the error of their ways and replaced the 140+ gal tank with two...
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    Mercruiser Gas Tank Pick up Tube?

    This may not be the best or proper forum for my help request. So, if not, please redirect it. I am fitting two aluminum gas tanks into my MC/Searay rebuild, but unfortunately after pressure testing, I noticed one SS NPT fitting (gas tube) had a leak (weird it cracked). I have always been...
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    Different Bravo 1 Shafts?

    I suspect that former owner mixed and matched parts that would work on Alphas to Bravos in order to save $$$. Attached are photos of main drive input shafts. One has 4 O-rings, while the other 2 0-rings. The 2 o-ring shaft fit a later style Alpha coupler that had a longer snout with a grease...
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    Aligning dual MC ODs (toe-in or out?)

    We finally got both V8s in and have one's shaft aligned. Blame Covid-19 on the delays!!!!!!!! We don't have our Bravo one drives on yet but will soon. We did notice that bellhousings appear to have significant tow out. My cheap manual is not real clear on the correct amount that is OK. Both ODs...
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    Alpha Couplers used on Bravo 1s?

    I purchased a used boat that I had to replace transom. Believe me, this job has taken its tole on my old body! I have owned Mercruisers V8s since the 80s. All were Alphas. An incompetent marine surveyor missed the rot! Motors are carbureted (Edlebrock) retro-ed 350s to "stroker" Chevys. Not...
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    Mercruiser alignment issues

    I have performed Chevy V8 motor/alignments at least a dozen times in my life but now I am experiencing issues. I was careful to torque flywheel and coupler to specs after making sure that there was NO contamination on mated surfaces. I raised or lowered engine to where I could freely insert and...
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    Base timing on TB 5 Chevy V8 350/383 Carburated?

    My book explains how to set base timing on motors but only refers to timing tab diagram that shows 8 degrees advanced, after grounding a specific colored coil wire. It does NOT say 8 degrees, but tab is marked at 8 degrees. I assume 8 degrees, then???
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