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dtmackey

For degreasing motors from outboards, snowmobiles, quads and more, I've always used Purple Power full strength with a brush and it takes everything off. I then rinse with a hose and then spray with air to remove any water, followed by spraying oil on any cylinder liners or other steel/cast iron part...

dtmackey

Happens a lot in this area when we have cold nights and then a warm humid day. The hull retains the cold and the moisture in the humid air condenses on the hull. Spring and fall seems to be the times when it is the most common since the temps from night to day swing quite a bit.

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dtmackey

Mushrooms are a good out-of-the-box option, but my concern with any mooring anchor has always been the weak link of where the chain attaches to the mooring itself, and corrosion, which seems to be accelerated when submerged in mud (at least here in Puget Sound). I use a 5-gallon bucket or a large t...

dtmackey

Great write up. I've got 2 years on you Jim since my Etec 250 is a 2006. So far my replacement items are: - Plugs every 3 years - Impeller - Upgraded - Lower unit fluid every 3 years - T-stats replaced - HP Fuel pump replaced due to previous owner running phase separated gas and causing the failure....

dtmackey

I like to replace my impellers within a 3 years period in the 4 outboards I run. In my Cummings diesel and Northern Lights diesel genny, I also go 3 years, but in the off season I also remove the impeller from the housing so it can relax and the vanes do not take a "set" and it only takes ...

dtmackey

I would go with the mushroom anchor mentioned and probably bump up to 150lbs and make sure the shank is parallel with the bottom so the "cup" part of the mushroom is buried in the mud to offer good holding power. Now when it comes to chain, local knowledge might be best since what we use u...

dtmackey

I've seen impellers fail within 1 year, run in good clean water, you just never know. Personally I limit impeller life to 3 years max. Remember, it is rubber an the vanes are very "flexed" and as rubber ages it can take a set. I've seen the rubber separate from the inner shaft collar enoug...

dtmackey

My hat is off to Bob Dougherty and he's a legend in the boat community. I remember when Whaler moved from Rockland to Florida, and he was discussed as a legend back then.

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dtmackey

I'm and Etec owner and love them, but when I see these offers the first thing that pops into my head is - Evinrude is not hitting their sales objectives so they are offering additional incentives to lure customers from other brands now that they are in the final months of their fiscal year. With the...

dtmackey

For your needs, I'd lean toward a 60-HP motor that weighs no more than 250-lbs. I'd even consider the Yamaha F70 four-stroke-power-cycle engine--great engine. Water skiing with grandkids to me implies: --you, the driver --another adult for spotting, some states stipulate only an adult can legally sp...

dtmackey

Thanks [Phil]. I called a local marina with a very reputable fiberglass shop for a ballpark estimate to fix this, and they quoted $4,500! So, if I end up with the boat, I'll be doing the repair myself. $4500..... That's crazy since the materials and labor are not even close to that figure. Attack i...

dtmackey

I'm not a fan of the skeg guard after the damage is already done. I suppose it's a way of getting back on the water quick, but the clean hydrodynamics of the OEM skeg is what I consider idea. Bandaid on a broken arm is the analogy I use. I bought an outboard from a Fire Dept in W. Virgina for short ...

dtmackey

How fast are you trying to go? I'm running a 15SS with a 70 Yami and she'll hit 43mph, plenty fast. You go bigger than that and the weight starts playing a factor and I know some will say it's fine, but I run a 15gal tank under the rear seat and if I changed to a 320# motor with a jackplate and hydr...

dtmackey

Why only 115HP??

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dtmackey

Sometimes referred to as "coffin cover" it is the flat rectangular cover that goes over the area where the fuel tank is located. I've never rebuilt one on a Whaler, but if someone can confirm the process is similar to other boats (such as Mako) I'd be happy to post up detailed pics of the ...

dtmackey

Boston Whaler is known for being a quality boat, but they are not immune manufacturing defects. I found many micro-void bubbles in my 15's deck, and it also has pieces of iron cast into between the non-skid gelcoat and fiberglass skin when I ground it down for restoration. I'm sure it's like any bus...

dtmackey

The sinking was extensively covered in my local media with five of the crew being Maine Maritime graduates and the Captain was from Windham, outside of Portland. A true shame. Storms that have a personal connection always have heightened interest. Two of my favorite books are The Perfect Storm and ...

dtmackey

I'm in the Northest and use a generic high-copper-content ablative paint, and it's worked great over the years. It's a multi-season and being ablative, it minimizes buildup over the years. I would focus on an ablative paint, and if you want a waterbased paint, I've heard great things about Petit Hyd...

dtmackey

Go to your local supermarket, Walmart, or similar store and pickup a box of Magic Erasers from the cleaning supply isle and give those a try. It's a foam sponge that removes all kinds of dirt and stains from vinyl upholstery (and more) with a little water. They last a while so when done just put in ...

dtmackey

Loss is equal to 3% per 1000’ of elevation so a 250 would net you 214-HP and the weight of the 3.3L 200, 225 and 250 are the same in the G1 series.

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dtmackey

I've used the US Composites brand 2 part polyurethane foam on many projects over the years. Selection on density is an important consideration as it comes in 2#, 4#, 8# and 16# depending on the strength needed. I've never heard about the addition of water to assist in a 2 part chemical reaction.

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dtmackey

I can't wrap my head around the idea of a $20K 13' Whaler, but I'm out of touch with the new boat market, not just Whaler. I'm sure they are great boats, but the lines do not appeal to me like the classic sport models. I think it was a mistake they stopped making the 13, 15 and 15 sport models from ...

dtmackey

Not in water yet. I was told SHOWA makes pumps and they have a ton of bad pumps out there. And this is how rumors start. Showa does have several designs that are similar across multiple manufactures, but I can't confirm there's a ton of bad pumps or if Showa was give poor specs from a particular ma...

dtmackey

We have the standard Uflex hydraulic steering on our 135HP Verado powered 190 Montauk. We have enjoyed the steering system for about seven years. I've had to replace a seal in the cylinder but otherwise have had no problems. Our only complaint is we have not been able to establish a "king post...

dtmackey

Thanks for all the feedback. If it happens again, I at least know what to look for. I tested the boat (with new flywheel key installed) extensively yesterday for an hour, and it went fine. I'm hoping that the first time the key sheared it was because the flywheel nut was not sufficiently torqued. T...

dtmackey

A 15-footer will have a very different ride than a classic 13-footer. The 15-footer won’t have as much side-to-side stability as a 13-footer, but its more V-hull shape will be better in waves. Any seat will be better than the thwart plank low seats. Jim nailed it with his comments, the 13 and 15 ha...

dtmackey

Quick tip (you probably already know), but when I installed my baystar on my 15, I backed the boat up my sloped driveway stern first. I actually backed up the trailer tires on some pieces of 2"x6" lumber. Then I chalked the tires and lowered the tongue of the trailer all the way to the gr...

dtmackey

[I noticed that sometimes the off-site linked images would not appear; the cause seems to be at the hosting site. The image hosting site notes that it is "too busy" at times to serve the images. If you don't see all the images, please try again later. Images are hosted by Imgur and I've n...

dtmackey

There are performance products for 2 stroke motors called offset flywheel keys that offer up to 3 degrees of flywheel advance from a machined key that advances the flywheel 3 degrees ahead of the intended crank position. I doubt this is what you installed and if installing a stock key it will match ...

dtmackey

Was moving a bookcase tonight and noticed one of my old project photo albums with some old Whaler projects. There were more, but this is all I have pics of. I purchased this 13' Whaler just before moving to Japan in 1988 while serving in the Coast Guard and patched the damage before flying out. http...

dtmackey

D - Do you have a steersman nut on the steering cable? This component is very useful for good operation and stops that from happening. Bit cheaper than hydraulic steering. https://steersman.com/index.html I've used those on previous Whalers and they help, but still had grease drips in the hot sun. ...

dtmackey

Used the boat for 8 days straight down in Cape Cod and very pleased with the boat. The one thing that I decided to upgrade is the Teleflex cable steering to Baystar hydraulic. The cable steering left some grease stains and I'd prefer the "feel" of hydraulic so I've ordered a new Baystar sy...

dtmackey

Re the back order on the Mercury 225 V6 FOURSTROKE: While 225 sounds like an odd number for an engine horsepower rating, it seems like it has always been popular. Mercury removed their 225 FOURSTROKE VERADO L6 engine from the market when they introduced their 225 FOURSTROKE V6. They also abandoned ...

dtmackey

In another discussion on a somewhat tangential topic: Double check the gray fuel line. There have been many many problems with the inner lining degrading and debris entering the engine. I would select Trident or other named brand that is rated alcohol resistant and not gray in color. I'd like to cle...

dtmackey

This week a good friend just ordered two new Mercury 225 FOURSTROKE V6 engines, and his dealer gave him a delivery date six-months out. Apparently new boat manufacturers are lining up for this engine, and I'm hearing they are getting first dibs on this engine over re-power sales.

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dtmackey

Just started looking into upgrading from the mechanical steering to hydraulic on my 15' Supersport and wanted to hear from those that have done the same. I'm sold on the "feel" an accuracy of hydraulic, but have not looked into the mounting hole and if the steering wheel has the same locat...

dtmackey

I have an E-TEC 250 and perform all my own maintenance. If my memory serves me correct, I think the 300-hour runs me about $150 in parts and two-hours time, tops. - waterpump - lower unit oil - filters - engine spin on a Racor cartridge - plugs Being a 2006 model, I do want to pull the injectors and...

dtmackey

I believe Yamaha is replacing the defective flywheels regardless of warranty expiration. Doing so is probably less costly than losing virtually every owner with the problem, probably for life. It would also alienate a large group of outboard owners who may be considering a Yamaha engine in the futu...

dtmackey

Every year for the past 10 we take a family trip to the Cape and Islands from Marblehead and meet up with 5 - 10 other boats. The trip is rather special to me since I did this with my parents in the late 70s and through the mid 80s, so I get to relive this from a different perspective and watch my k...

dtmackey

Just read from an unofficial source that certain model Mercury engines are backordered 46-weeks and Yamaha is at 52-weeks. Here's an article on Yamaha, but does not confirm leadtime. https://www.tradeonlytoday.com/tech/yamaha-responds-to-supply-shortage-of-large-outboards Demand for engines with new...

dtmackey

I have them on 2 trailers and no gelcoat damage at all. I find that the boat slides off the trailer almost too easily.

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dtmackey

Thought this would be interesting for Jim and others. This is an article from the SkiDoo perspective, but details some of the history on how BRP bought Evinrude and incorporated into their product line. https://www.ski-doo.com/content/ski-doo/en_US/community/ontrack/E-TEC-Engine-Origins.html D-

dtmackey

jimp wrote:Self-bailing. Interesting...

Maybe I'm missing something, but the thread is specific to specific Whaler models and specific years.
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dtmackey

Before you jump into Yamaha 350hp ownership, make sure you fully educate yourself with the faulty design of the flywheel. Yami had a made design error in the 350 flywheel damper that causes a harmful harmonic in the crankshaft and found that after a certain number of hours the flywheel damper can fa...

dtmackey

Compression does sound a bit low. Make sure the compression gauge is accurate and you are not getting a false reading. You can also bore scope the cylinder to look for signs of scoring. A remanufactured powerhead is the ideal way to go and the dealer or mechanic would simply dress the motor with fue...

dtmackey

Pics help sell a boat.

Curious what you get for a top end speed with a 90hp. I have a 15 with a 70 Yamaha.

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dtmackey

seriousness wrote:https://greatlakesskipper.com/turning-point-patriot-prop-13-25-inch-x-19-ttp-pitch-3-blade-right-hand-stainless-steel-boat-propeller-pa1-1319 You can get it here for $229 brand new.

New price then, $170 plus shipping.

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dtmackey

I agree to some point Jim, but the increased sales and flood of new models with pent up demand for the higher horsepower models of the other brands does indicate there's a market they are chasing. I'm not sure the stockholders or the board of directors would endorse companies chasing after diminishi...

dtmackey

Genuine Mahogany has many names, including Honduran Mahogany, Peruvian Mahogany, Bolivian Mahogany, South American Mahogany, Big Leaf Mahogany, etc. It has a slightly lighter color than mahogany from Africa and I believe this is what Whaler used on the classic models 9' - 17' of years past. Good alt...

dtmackey

Evinrude's market share globally is small and the biggest market is the U.S. and this is where the higher horsepower motors are sold. But even in the U.S. when you look at the financials and performance of Bombardier Recreational Products and break down the company, only 10% of their sales are in pr...

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