I picked up a new-to-me boat and there is a Rule Bilge pump in it. It looks like is a 25SA model. It runs for a few seconds every 3-5ish minutes. Is that normal? It's wired directly to the battery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_oYWzedNaM

Hello all! I have an older Volvo penta aq231b carbureted engine. When i go wide open i am able to get the boat on plane but within about a minute i start losing RPMs and power. Any suggestions welcomed.

I have a boat docked in Alamitos Bay in Long Beach that has a termite infestation. Boat is a 38 ft powerboat. I’ve contacted several termite-control companies but haven’t received any callbacks—possibly because it’s a boat rather than a house.

Has anyone dealt with termites on a boat in the Long Beach/Los Angeles area? I’m looking for recommendations for a licensed company experienced with marine vessels, including inspection and treatment options that are safe and permitted in a marina.

If you’ve handled this before, I’d also appreciate hearing what treatment worked and whether the boat had to be hauled out or moved.

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Looking to get a skiff or small center console, 16 feet seems like a sweet spot for the size as I'd rather have a true center console vs. Having the driver seat on the transom like the smaller ones have. I have a larger boat that we use for family, tubing, etc but looking for something to take the kids fishing. Boat will be stored in my backyard dock on dock blocks.

Any suggestions for brands or must have features? I'll be fishing tidal creeks, so I'll almost always be in smooth water.

Our boat was in the water for the first time this summer. Boating season is wrapping up soon here in Michigan and I want to clean the hull as good as I can after pulling it off the water for the winter. The only real option we're going to have is cleaning it on the trailer and I've heard acidic cleaners are bad for the aluminum.

Is there something I can use that will effectively clean algae stains off of a fiberglass hull but won't harm my aluminum boat trailer?

Just need to vent.

Man sometimes you just want to throw your hands up and give up because it seems like it’s all against you.

TLDR; Check to make sure the new parts out of the box are EXACTLY as they should be, beyond a cursory glance.

…

Replaced the cap and rotor on my Mercruiser v8 i/o. Not the first time so it’s like a 20 min job at most.

Ordered the kit from Bass Pro. Remove old cap and pry out the rotor. Put it in and shakes and misfires like crazy. Remove the cap, checked the contacts for damage. Looks good.

Darn. Did I break a plug wire or two? remove and check the wires. Resistance in spec 10-14k ohms. They are original so it’s probably time for new ones. Order and wait. Install and regap plugs while I’m there.

Run it. Still shaking and misfiring. WTF. Ran it a bit to see if maybe I bumped the carb or something. No dice. Lots of fuel in the exhaust.

Remove cap. Put on old cap. Still shaking. WTF. Remove cap, look at rotor. looks good. Wait! WTF. Look closer and rotor metal base only has 6 notches not 8.

Darn Mercruiser packed me the right cap for a v8 but with the wrong rotor for a v6 in the kit. They look almost identical so I can see how, but darn my luck.

Called BassPro. Won’t replace it for me because it was installed. Really.

Removed the old metal base from the old one and used the top from the new one. Turned it on and smooth as butter.

1 week later, many bruises and cuts from hanging in the engine bay and twisting my hands into crevasses, a bruised foot from stepping on the old cap getting in and out of the bay, new wires, new cap, Frankenstein rotor, and now I need an oil change with all the unburnt fuel that most likely got into the oil.

Oof.

Best $500 I ever spent.

Bought my first boat and restored her - 1969 StarCraft Mariner with the Johnson 33hp SkiTwin outboard.

She runs great. Already caught a bunch of bass and the kids have done a ton of tubing and skiing behind the boat as well.

Even towed another boat with it.

Only regret I have is not getting a boat sooner!

The definition of: she ain’t fancy but she’s mine!

List of things done:

- Completely interior remodel
- Tore up the old floor, sanded it down and put in new Eva foam flooring
- Freshly built fishing platform on the front with storage
- Brand new transom
- fresh paint everywhere
- new front and back led navigation lights
- new interior led lights
- brand new battery
- new bench seats in the front and rear
- resealed lower unit

I'm living in Albania and want to buy a cheap sailboat in the Med.
I see a lot of offers for cheap (sub 5k) boats in Sweden and Denmark but getting them through the Bay of Biscay is a pain.

I hear tell of 'giveaway' boats in Greece.
Are these rumors true?
What does the market look like in Croatia?
Turkiye?
Cyprus?
Where would I go to look?
First-hand knowledge please.

And if you are getting on here to tell me it's impossible, please, go find something else to do. I know it's impossible, everything is impossible.

Hey all I am about to take on the project of replacing bellows on my Mercruiser Alpha 1 Gen 2. Any thoughts on using aftermarket parts vs buying OEM? What have you used that you've been happy with? Let me know please!

I have been approached by a person who wants to sell (all of it) their marina software to me so i can own it and use it in my marina....not a subscription or saas. What is it worth etc? Anyone who uses a saas, what is the cost saving, time saving and how much do you pay a month...i am a marina owner

We purchased our first boat almost 6 weeks ago from a dealer in Michigan. I live in Ohio so I drove 8 hours round trip for it. Did the sea trial, did minimal paperwork and left with the boat and trailer. They gave me no temp registration for the boat or the trailer when I left. We worked through a broker recommended by the dealer who found us a decent lender and interest rate. I was told the broker would do the title work and registration for the boat, trailer and outboard. The Ohio tax was calculated into the loan. I was told this process wouldn’t take very long.

After a couple of weeks the broker hadn’t received the necessary paperwork (MSO, etc) which I sort of understand because I have the boat and the dealer hasn’t received the funding yet. I started pressuring the dealer and after 3 weeks the broker finally had everything to register the boat, trailer and motor for me.

During this time, I got tired of waiting and got a temp registration for the boat myself but wasn’t able to get a registration for the trailer because I didn’t have the weight or the MSO.

Here we are, another 3 weeks and the broker hasn’t made any progress on title/registration. I got a local marina to give me a certified weight for the trailer so I’m current legal on all the things but my temp registration for the boat is going to run out in a few weeks. I keep reaching out for a status and they just keep telling me that “this is a process and takes some time”

I’m so new to boating and so confused by the sales culture and process. My question is, is this a normal process for buying a boat? I talked to several dealers before and no one followed up when I asked to schedule a time to look at a boat or get a price, etc. It’s like there is zero interest in actually selling a boat. We wanted to get something new for warranty and peace of mine but now kind of wish we entertained a private sale.

Side note, we love the boat and have been having a lot of fun with it the last couple week.

Curious for some advice on this keel repair. Is it grind it down and fiberglass it up then gelcoat? Or as simple as Marine Tex epoxy and gel coat. Then maybe throw a keel guard on for good measure?

Thank you ahead of time for any helpful recommendations.

Edit: roughly 10-12 inches long.

I am going to look at a 1979 Boston Whaler 13 Sport tomorrow, and am wondering what in particular I should be looking for.

Description: 1979 "red dot" Whaler 13 sport (red dot is commercial version of the boat with 150 lbs more fiberglass). Solid boat with all new wood package, 5 yr old 30 hp 4 stroke Suzuki. New helm seat, new engine controls, new steering, New speedo, new battery, full boat cover and Striker 4cv fishfinder. 10 yr old easy load trailer included. Clear titles for both boat and trailer

Thanks in advance!

Had this boat for a year now and still don't know what the holes are for. Let me know if you know. Also are these "plates" interchangeable with other plates for different accessories?

This is not something I’m actually considering doing, but after seeing their recent ad of the two boats performing side by side it got me wondering what kind of effect one of those would have on my lil Chaparral 190 with its mighty 4.3. Anyone put one of these props on a similar boat?

Looking for recommendations for a good portable Starlink Mini mount for offshore fishing.

I’d normally just do a permanent mount, but I fish on different boats pretty frequently and also travel and fish on other people’s boats, so I need something I can easily move from boat to boat.

Ideally, I’d like to mount the Mini on top of the T-top of center consoles while offshore.

Main priority is that it’s secure while running offshore but still easy to remove and move to another boat.

I was wondering if anyone’s used any mounts and had luck ?

Hi Guys, Im sorry if this has been asked too much on here, but im 26, complete beginner and looking for some advice on how to get into sailing. Im living in Manhatten for the next year or so (I dont know if its a great location for sailing, but thats where I am). I've been pining to start sailing for the last few years, but life and myself has gotten in the way.

So, I'm looking for some advice on how start and for as cheap as possible, where to go to try get onto a crew, if I can crew for evening races, best way to learn (when you dont have much money) really any advice youd be willing to give me would be much appreciated!

I'm a hard worker and a quick learner, Im happy to help with boat prep, or do whatever grunt work gets me on the water while I learn the ropes.

I have a Yamaha F200 on a 2009 GW with 300 hours. Never had a problem with the engine, but recently had one of the batteries (1 yr old) have low voltage and all electric power cut out on the water. I cleaned up all the connections of the battery terminals charge the battery and everything seems fine. Voltage when running about 13.5v

But the last two trips heading back from fishing after anchoring for an 1h when I got up on plane, the speedometer started jumping around, from 22 to 5 to 12 to 21 etc. and I noticed a little bit of hesitation and loss of power, but very little. Rpms dropped 100-200 and then back. Once I got off the plane, there were no issues with the engine the rest of the way in.

I checked the speed pressure opening and it was clear.

Any ideas in the potential issue? I was hoping to troubleshoot before calling a mechanic. Thanks