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Purchased a portable "start pack" twice. First one, about $100 (a few hundred less than a very well known brand also on the shelf that's Made in the U.S.A.). Put it in the shop, plugged it in and used it once or twice. Six or so months down the road, grabbed it when headed out because I thought I might come in handy. Green indicator on and LED showed 100% charged; but completely dead. Looked it over and saw that it internally shorted somewhere along they way. Took it back and learned the warranty was short and long gone. Left it and the store mad. Went to a different store and bought the name brand for about $300. In my case, initially saved $200. Lost at least that because when I needed it, it didn't work. Then wasted another hour trying to return it and another when buying the well known brand elsewhere. I should have sucked it up and bought the one by that familiar brand straightaway (you know, the brand that happens to have made all of my batteries; the one's that have always worked - what was I thinking). Good luck with your decision. Hope it turns out better than mine.
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Water police ? Sheriffs Dept. ? State Police Marine ? USCG ? Marine Protection Agency ? I have all of them here. Also Fish & Game. I run a Very legal set of boats. What high taxes ?
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What can I say, I can't go very long on this boat without having a major issue...I'm hoping this is not a major one. Exactly a year ago, I lost power on the Port engine after a 30 mile trip. Back then the engine would start but ran rough, turns out it had a couple bad valves. I refurbished the heads, cleaned all the debris from the block water cooling passages. It ran great, and on the test trial for the port engine I lost the coupler on the Starboard...then hurricane Michael decided to make things more interesting... after we got our lives somewhat back to normal, I pulled out the Starboard engine, and rebuilt it the same as the port engine and replaced the coupler. This entire season (started back in early April) we have had some great times on it, made a handful of trips out and managed to stay as long as four days straight on the boat. Have added about 25hrs to both engines. They have ran great without any issues. This past weekend we went out, cruised around the bay, went out the pass and parked for a while. Then decided to go to one of our usual spots in the bay, as we approached the spot I throttled back to about 1500rpms, and after about a minute, felt the boat pull and noticed port engine was not running. I have installed the smartcraft system to my Simrad along with Bluetooth module so I can monitor engine date on both the Simrad and Phone, and did not see any codes. Prior to that both engines were running at 160 Degrees temp, 56 PSI oil when it was running at about 3300rpms cruising at about 29-30mph. Til that point there wasn't any indication of any issues. This engine is a 2006 Mercruiser 5.0 MPI with Bravo 3 -- Serial #OW614504 It had 300 hrs when I rebuilt the heads - I have put 25 hrs on it since then I have removed the spark plugs, they are clean and dry, but when I hold one against the block connected to the boot, I don't see any spark when the ignition is turned on. So I swapped the Ignition Module with Coil (part #18 on this link) from the working engine but that did not solve the issue...I was almost sure that was the issue, since I had no spark. Also, I have noted that the tachometer does move when cranking the engine - the smartcraft register about 200rpms on the screen Hoping to get some advice on what I should check next or what parts to swap from the working engine. Maybe a sensor??...but before I start swapping everything, I figured I would ask the wisdom of this forum...it sure has helped me a lot in the past with my other major issues. I was hoping to get another month or more out of this season, and not be a repeat of the last one (minus the hurricane) Thank you
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3852045 (for dipstick); 955981 (for drain plug); 3855081 (for vent). Some don't bother with the vent, some don't know there's one. It's a good idea to replace it. Less than another < $2 and 2 minutes. Best.
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IF IF we use LIFEPO4 batteries ? They DO NOT discharge much in 2 or 3 years. AND they can be recharged to almost 97 % after sitting at 25 % for years. There are booster car batteries that are made with LIFEPO4 cells. My boat mechanic has a unit. I have loads of those cells in model boats & planes. There is so much new technology created every decade. I have given up, Trying to catch up.
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yes!
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Hello Volo Penta Drive DP-SM what is the O-Ring part number for the two plugs on the drive. The fill dip stick and the plug behind the prop, I just want to change them this year when I winterize?
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yep!
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I had a starter pack when I first bought the 27 6 and figured better be safe than sorry. 2 house batteries and an engine starting and proper usage of both and I never needed it. Afer a year layoff because of surgery and health issues, all batteries died so I went to test it on the dead batteries and it was dead as @#$%@# itself lol. Pulled the truck right upside the boat and jumper cables jumped the boat right up. Ended up upgrading the batteries and chucking the pack.
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So wait, what are you saying that it's made to drive with the platform submerged? Tying to figure out if that's what you mean, but I think those are meant to come up before any type of cruising is to happen. Then stop, even shut off engines for that platform to be lowered and fun starts and when it ends, it's raised, engine on and then next destination but I dont think they allow you to drive it with the platform down. As a matter of fact, for safety reasons they'll probably have the engine rigged so you cant turn it or props on unless it's all the way up and locked also. Unless i misunderstood you and you meant it would be better if they allowed you to do that? You know the famous Blyman Bridge thread, right? That would be the ONLY TIME I would need to lower my radar arch with radome and bimini is if we just happen to be there at the right time of tide where we could sneak under it and most of the time, we wait a maximum of 10 minutes for the bridge to go up and we got full clearance. About a month ago, I radioed the bridge operator and asked him what was the clearance (because tide was unusually low? And he said 15ft. So I had my son lower the Shakespeare antenna and keep an eye and we had plenty of clearance as he watched to be sure the radar made it, but we had an extra 2ft to spare. Other than that, absolutely no need whatsoever and if I had a garage I needed to get it in, wouldn't be a problem for this builder to raise the opening and door as long as the inside ceiling is high enough. Plus I posted a video of that thing when it first came out and it was rocking 2 inches side to side at planing speed lol. I think that was the Boat Test video so that makes you feel a lot better about the durability of that mechanism. Hopefully they've improved on its strength A LOT more since that one video. You know how close I was to upgrading to a 327ssx in 2015? All I had to do was sign the paperwork and send a deposit on a brand new '15 with twin 8.1s like yours with EVC and VP joystick. My wife and son said why, we love what we have and it's fully paid for, what's the need with such short seasons and they were 100% right and glad I listened to them. I installed the windlass and it's like a dream anchoring that boat now. Next is the bow thruster and it'll be even better. So I totally agree with you there. The jump will need to be a HUGEEAAH one like to an Azimut 45 or 47! but honestly, as much as I love boating, having a boat if that magnitude will center your life around it and we have other things to enjoy.
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Tom Riddle joined the community
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Yea, I saw the group buy and am interested. Seadek is crazy expensive. Thanks!
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The pictures look nice. I had Seadek on my old boat and loved it, but I might give these guys a shot for this one.
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Yep! If you use the dual set up right. You should be all set, unless we don't know how your using them?
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I recently installed it on my sunesta 284 and it looks great and seemed to adhere good. Obviously I can't speak to the longevity, but I know there is a group buy right now on the Facebook chaparral page and you can save 20-30%. Their customer service is outstanding as well. I dealt with Sara but I see Ashley posting on the fb page a lot and seems very helpful. I bought the pieces based on someone else's pattern and not off my exact boat. Although it turned out great, there are a few small spots that don't line up perfectly since Chaparral didnt put the cleats in the same position on both sides and they didnt center the pop up ski attachment. So, if you are super anal about it being perfect then do the patterns yourself, but if your ok with some minor imperfections just order what they have on file. I have the pieces to do the entire interior but havent had time yet.
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Anyone have this? It’s a lot cheaper than Seadek. Thoughts? Thanks
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you have 2 batteries, you should be all set. I throw a charger on mine every couple months. the alternator does not keep them fully charged.
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Glad you found it before it ruptured. That's a fast way to cook a motor at the same time sinking the boat...
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A instant starting engine AND a charged up 2nd boat battery is all you need. Enjoy.
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Do you have the Cool Fuel System? I have a 2004 290 and I don't have the cool fuel system. So my fuel pump is a low pressure pump that is connected directly to and pumps fuel into the Fuel Water Separator. A whining noise is usually one indication that he pump has failed or is failing. However, at that point you'd know about it because that means it's not working properly and the pump will not pump enough fuel to the fuel rail and the motor won't start. So if you don't the Cool Fuel System, I don't think that whining noise is your pump.
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That'll do it. Thanks for the update.
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How do you get a ticket in a boat?
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68 Mod Maverick and a 72 Glastron GT. Both got me many tickets.... The good old days
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Wingnut - thanks very much for the info, appreciate it. They are pretty expensive though (I was going to replace all. I wonder if any other source that may be cheaper ?
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that is a good reason - i have seen on a larger Center console a telescoping hard top that when lowered takes away the need for canvas / glass and seals the cockpit when not in use - that boat was too big to trailer but i see that application in a trailer size boat - as zipping up and snapping canvas is sometimes a chore
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I found my bilge leak this weekend. Come to find out I had a small cut in a cooling hose that was spraying. New hose ordered.
