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    I freeze my block so you don't have to!

    Every year there is inevitably a couple of threads of 'how cold is too cold'... I'm going to find out this year! I winterized my 4.3l last week, and although I'm a firm believer in the air-don't-freeze method, the amount of water left over in the valley under the thermostat is always...
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    better to be at the low end or top end of RPM?

    2002 Hurricane Fundeck I/O deckboat. She's a bit chunky, lots of fiberglass... 19ft, probably about 4000# or so with 2 people and 40 gallons of fuel on board. 2 barrel 4.3l, 1.81 alpha. Very little water sports, most of it is just cruising, usually under plane or just on plane. I also have...
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    Trim gauge creeping higher

    So in the last month or two, my trim gauge has been slowly moving higher. The full down position is now in the middle of the gauge. Haven't had a chance to break out the meter yet, but is this typically a bad sender or bad gauge? (And a pic, just because I'm looking at the gauge now!)
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    Air don't freeze... RV antifreeze DOES!

    Checked on on my summer place today, and happened to notice out of the corner of my eye that the jugs of -75 RV antifreeze were all sitting on the floor at an angle like there was something under them. Turns out, RV antifreeze does a pretty good impression of a solid. It definitely expanded...
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    02 4.3l carb strange fuel problem

    So the backstory. First time out this year since Sept. (Long winter!) Unloaded at the ramp, and the engine was more finicky than usual. Died idling a couple of times even. It died 4 times idling in the bay but seemed to clear out, so I just chalked that up to old gas. Cruised for about 15...
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    carb advice - 4.3l obscene fuel consumption

    So let me start out by saying I've been boating my entire life, I'm on my 3rd 4.3l powered boat. Also owned a couple 2 stroke v6 powered jet boats. I know boats don't get great fuel economy, if you want that, buy a sailboat. (which I have also!) With that said, I've had my current boat 2...
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    4.3l 2 barrel won't stay running after new starter

    So the back story is I had a starter that got a little wet last year. It was locked this spring, I pulled it apart and cleaned it up, and it worked, albeit you could tell it was spinning slower than normal, engine ran fine. in the meantime, I ordered a new starter and just finished replacing...
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    5200 RPM on a 4.3, any prop suggestions?

    So just going through my new-to-me 2002 19' Hurricane deck boat, and she has a somewhat beat up Merc Vengeance 19". I'm also hitting 5200 rpm with it, so as long as I need a new prop, I might as well find something that fits a little better. Anyway, any suggestions as far as model/pitch...
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    Alpha Gimbal housing gasket?

    So someone has to know! I was going to swap out my anodes, and quickly discovered the gimbal housing anode is apparently more than an anode. It has a gasket and seals part of the trim system? Anyone know exactly why the trim system is open and why the anode does this? Seems like a really...
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    4.3 surging

    So me being just slightly OCD about maintenance things, noticed something slightly different this weekend. While cruising along in my 1996 4.3l powered deck boat, I notice a VERY slight surging at partial throttle. When cruising around 2800 RPM or so on glass water, there was a barely...
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    interesting prop challenge, 18' deck boat.

    So I've looking for a backup/secondary prop for my deck boat. Happy with the current performance of the stock 14.25x21p merc prop, but something with more stern lift would be nice. The boat is an interesting challenge. It is somewhat of a barge to get moving, but once it is up and running the...
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    Alignment tool vs driveshaft

    So I decided to pull the drive off my 1994 merc 4.3l Alpha Gen II deck boat this weekend for a general inspection. Happy to say the gimbal bearing and u joint were in great shape, lots of grease, no water, no play or noise whatsoever. The drive was also very easy to reinstall, I slid it on until...
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    Summer just flew by! Just winterized...

    Went boating on Saturday for the first time this season, and now I just got done pulling the plugs and draining out my 4.3l I/O. Seems like the summer goes by faster and faster all the time!
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    trim switch replacement...

    Anyone have any tips for cracking open a quicksilver 300 control lever? My trim switch failed, and so far so has every attempt at opening up the control unit. No obvious screws and I don't want to get too pry happy and break it.
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    Tire pressure---- Do you feel lucky, punk?

    No question, just something the trailer subforum might enjoy! So, punk, do you feel lucky?! Tire is rated at 940 lbs - 50 PSI, but only if you risk death by going past 32 psi. (so if you really want to know, this is on a snowmobile trailer, 50 PSI is more or less the norm, so I inflated to...
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    End of sept boating in Miami, rental...

    Got a couple day vacation in Miami coming up near the end of September, and wondering if anyone has any tips/advice for renting a small boat to get some water time in. Any rental places to avoid?
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    Merc 175 flywheel confusion

    So the backstory... I've got a merc 175 sportjet (its basically a v6 black max powerhead) Recently the +12v wire from the voltage regulator got hot enough to melt through the shrinkwrap and touched the yellow wire from the stator, basically destroying the stator at the same time. When I...
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    Seriously, you coulnd't find a better spot to park?

    So... not only do these geniuses decide they need to sit on the courtesy dock and hang their feet in the water, they park not one but TWO vehicles directly on the ramp. I didn't stay around long enough to see the end result, the guy with the boat waiting to unload hadn't done his prep yet. If...
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    should start my own tow business...

    So I firmly believe in helping people out on the water, ESPECIALLY if no one else seems to be interested in helping... I was busy this weekend! 1) Disabled standup jetski, floating in a very busy narrow channel on the river. The driver is trying to swim it over to the rocky shoreline, but has...
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    Boating accident - ND

    Sad story, but... ALWAYS have your kids in a life jacket, laws exist for a reason. 4 people + 2 infants on a 15 foot trihull, lifejackets on board but not wearing them, on the 3rd largest manmade lake in the US. 5 survived at least after they took a wave over the front. This lake is known...
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