fireboat

I'm in kind of the same situation with twin 93 200 2 strokes, however mine are still running good. The new Yamaha 200s are only a few pounds heavier but they cost a fortune! My plan is get a used pair of 200 hpdi's, it is a very good motor by all accounts and weighs about the same as the old 2-stokes. Plus you can find a good pair for 10k and keep your same rigging and controls. There is no way I can justify a new 4-stroke.

Those are great pics! It has to be cool seeing orcas up that close.

I'm all for merging some forums together, ie...,boating destinations, diy, electronics etc... but I still kind of like keeping fishing and off the hook discussions such as home improvements separate. If I am looking for some boating project motivation or ideas to incorporate in my boat, I don't really care about windows for my house. So perhaps just a few divisions would work out such as anything boat related including classifieds as one forum, and then a separate off the hook forum. Anyway, just my feedback.

Yeah, I have been getting frustrated at that other forum. It seems no thread can stay on track without getting sidetracked by some dumb bickering. I'm going to try to make it a point to visit here everytime I check in over there. Kind of a New Years resolution lol.

If you look at the performance bulletins from the outboard manufacturers, a slow idle at 1,000rpm and about 6mph will give you the absolute best mileage. But, a slow plane at around 3,000rpm and upper 20s-mph will give you only slightly less mileage. That would seem to be the way to go, especially if you are going against a current.

When I turned 16, I wanted a motorcycle bad but my dad sensing that I may not be the safest rider around, bought me a 14' Mirrocraft with a 20hp Merc. I did everything with that boat, I fished the Gulfstream (people might say that was dumb but I had a great time), went camping on the islands in Biscayne Bay and waterskied a lot! (I was very skinny). It is amazing how far 6-gallons of gas would go. I was hooked though and I forgot all about getting a motorcycle. My first job was working for a boat dealer and I bought a 18' Slickcraft by myself before I even got a car! When I got older, I always thanked my dad for getting me that aluminum boat. It literally changed my life. Good times!

If I am alone on the boat which is most of the time, I never play any music but I do have the VHF on. But if I have friends or family on the boat, the tunes are almost always on.

Also try Barbour Plastics, they have good selection, prices and service. Here is their link, http://barbourrubrails.com/marine-prod-instock.htm

I have been looking for a thick long lasting corrosion preventative for my trailer hubs, axle, springs, etc... Do you suggest your Lanox mx4?

Back at you, have a happy, healthy and safe new year and vow to get out on the water as often as possible.

I'm just curious about this as I have never seen a step like this where above deck vent tubes feed down into the aft face of the step to aerate the water flow. Has anyone seen a setup like this before? I'm assuming it didn't work too well as it sure isn't a popular innovation. I'm not into offshore racers so I don't know much about Chief Powerboats but I know they have been in and out of business and Bob Saccenti (from Apache Powerbosts) now runs it I think. Here is a link to it from Craigslist. Go down to about the 7th to 10th picture. I also attached a pic of it. http://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/boa/2111423350.html

I think you are onto something, some of the magazines have a forum but it never seemed like it worked. People go there for the articles, not a forum. You are doing it in reverse which might actually be better because forum regulars often are looking for something to do after reading all of the new postings. I think boating forum junkies are true boating junkies as well. Anyway, it is looking good so far, keep it up.

This is typical of nearly all of the print media that are struggling to survive. They just haven't figured out a way to profit from the internet. Boating Magazine is part of the Bonnier Marine Group that dominates the boat magazine business with other publications like Motorboating, Boating Life, Cruising World, Marlin, Saltwater Sportsman, Sportfishing and Yachting. The magazines are thinner and they have fewer staff writers as they rely more on cheaper freelancers. Who knows, they may dissappear entirely leaving internet only sites like Boat Test and Mad Mariner, although I think there is room for both.

A ten year old boat should have a fair amount of life left in the gelcoat. I agree with Reel Deel, sanding and compounding will make it shine again.

It wasn't a really horrible day for a bigger boat, but it was in a 13' Whaler going across Biscayne Bay against 20-25mph winds from a cold front and steep 3' seas. I was soaked, cold and sore from getting slammed a thousand times.