borderline 350

Dear Mower, Pre 1980 Chevy Car rims are 5 hole 5 inch BOLT CIRCLE on the Impalas. Chevelles and everything else in Chev. cars was 5 hole 4 3/4 inch bolt back to 1955 with 7/16 wheel studs. Only the old Fords were 5 hole 4 1/2" bolt circle and some of the early Jeep rims were 5/ 4 1/2 B.C. GM 1/2 ton pickups were 5/ 5 inch bolt circle or 6 hole/ 5 1/2 BC. and they only fit some of the special order HD equipment trailers. PS II must be very carefull here or he will have a lot of stuff that won't fit!! Been there, done that at Oh dark thirty in the morning. Getting towed off the road today can get very expensive in a hurry for boat trailer owners!...............Jet Boat Bill

Dear PS II, The hub/spindle do extend thru the wheel on boat trailers (with or without drum or disc brakes). That is what the wheel locates on for concentricity. Trust me. And using clamp style mobile home axle units are a real pain and very heavy!...special tire sizes, bearings and on and on! Replacement axles with spindles are available at various Farm Supply outfits for very reasonable prices or try E Trailer.com on the internet. You then could transfer your hubs and brakes to the new axles. Respectfully submitted, .............Jet Boat Bill

Dear PS II, MY BEST GUESS.... 5 hole, 4 1/2 inch bolt circle which was common on the old Ford Pickups but the center hole will be too small for the trailer hub!!! By best suggestion is to go on Craigs list and look for 14" TRAILER RIMS in the Boat Section. Never heard of Sealion trailers, but most trailer manuf. in the 80's used 5 hole/4 1/2 inch pattern hubs and wheels in dual axle trailers. It is a gamble w/o knowing the pattern size.....Good luck! Respectfully Submitted, Jet Boat Bill

Dear gilly69, Excellent boat for the great Lakes! I would be concerned also at 3000 hrs. And the outdrives especially!! Repairing twin engine I/O boats can be most expensive. Sometimes exceeding the value of the boat! Tread very carefully!! BOAT stands for.....(Bring out another Thousand) Sincerely, Jet Boat Bill ( and former owner of a 270 AJ Flybridge)

Dear Rocky I, Need more info year make, model of engine & drive please!!! Sincerely, Jet Boat Bill

Dear Black squirel 2, CHANGE the oil immediately. Record engine time. Look at the oil after one day of trolling, IF no traces of water/milkiness are found, it may be condensation. Or take it to a reputable shop for examination. This type of oil contamination is NG on internal parts! Be carefull!!!! Respectfully, .....Jet Boat Bill Sat. 11:10 AM

Dear Big Easy, Thank you for your comments on "Offshore Aluminum Boats" After owning several high dollar "premium fiberglass boats" I visited Seattle Washington in 1995 and examined several Northwest style aluminum boat manufacturers. (Origin of their expertise were the "retiring" employees of Boeing aircraft!) Duckworth made the slickest ones. BUT, what amazed me was the Canadian & Alaskan use of commercial aluminum fishing boats in the 20 to 25 ft. range with 1/4 thick bottoms! with Hamilton Jet drives coupled to conventional marine inboard engines. Their toughness in NW rivers and ocean use is truly remarkable. Crossing dry sand bars and going thru log jams carrying huge loads is routine duty. Production style Eastern boats with "gauge" hulls and rivets have their place in low cost, and are available to the general fishing community. If you have ever been on a "Stryker", you will understand why aluminum is the material of choice for very tough boats from 20 ft. to 100ft.......I attached two pictures of my present 23 ft. 1/4 inch thickness hull with a Hamilton 212 Marine Jet. ....A charter captain friend nicknamed me Jet Boat Bill and that,s all today! .......................Respectfully Submitted ....Jet Boat Bill

Dear FLX.... It's time to rebuild the marine Q-Jet. One I examined last week on a charter boat had the same problem. Two of the internal emulsion tubes in the float bowl had to be reinstalled and staked properly. Not a job for the faint of heart. Tom Toal of Ontario, NY did it up fine. Customer was very happy!! Sincerely, .......................Jet Boat Bill

Dear S*K, The proper term is "valve seat recession". This problem you are seeing is typical of heavily loaded marine engines using unleaded fuel. The cylinder head valve seat and valve seating area is literally eaten away. The best way to minimize the rate of wear is to install stellite exhaust seats and use a premium stainless exhaust valve. BE SURE TO CHECK THE TIMING (Spark Advance) Excessive spark advance can eat valve seats, burn spark plug electrodes, and eat holes in your cast pistons. The Charter Captains are aware of these problems!! 89 Octane is the bare minimum to use in my recommendations. Mercruiser recommendations are only suitable for pleasure use! NOT extreme long term idling and long runs offshore!! I have seen so many burnt pistons, valves eaten and heads cracked (on fishing boats) that it no longer is a mystery!!! ........ Be sure and use the correct spark plug also AC/Delco MR43T in these 4.3 V-6's and 5.7 V-8,s........ These type of failures were documented by the EPA in the early 1980's!! Some engines expired (by burning valves) in about 25 minutes of heavy loading!! The engine makers went to induction hardened seats in the heads and different steel in the valves. But the failures continue. Put better fuel in your boat and keep it as light as possible. Gasoline powered fishing boats do have shorter engine life when loaded heavily and under marginal power output in bigger hulls.......Hope you love fishing!!! ...................Respectfully submitted,.....Jet Boat Bill

Dear Mower, From your description........I would suspect that the accelerator pump in the carb. has insufficent volume. Test by looking very carefully down the primary venturis while someone else moves the throttle from closed to wide open quickly (ENGINE OFF!) you should see a steady full stream of fuel from the discharge port in each venturi. Do this test after the engine is warm and shut off!!! You may have to use a small flash light to see properly. ..............You could also have the primary rods sticking inside the carb. (that will cause a bog also and loss of fuel flow in midrange RPM.). THE BEST GUESS is to clean & rebuild the marine Q-Jet. USE someone who has done this kind of rebuild and has experience. I.E Hank @ Port Bay. Good luck with this nagging problem! Sincerely, Jet Boat Bill

Dear Skipper19, I believe you saw the U. S.Research Vessel KAHO (high profile black hull). It flies a NOAA Flag. AND IS A CERTIFIED USA FISHING VESSEL. When he has the R.I.M. markers up, he has the right of way over ALL vessels including saiboats. Get closer next time and use your binoculars to see the name on the BOW and stern. If you see net buoys up, usually two about 300 yards apart...DO NOT go between them....He has set a gill net. He is a friend of fishermen!!! All samples are very carefully examined and recorded. They are doing important work! You should stop and see these people whenever they are in a port. They know where the fish are!!! and the bait!! I have always had good sucess when they are around!! I have seen them everywhere in Lake Ontario (U.S, side) and on the Canadian side also. It's good that you are observing other vessels. And identifying them is important. When you see one of the visiting WARSHIPS, you will be very impressed. Got to see an Italian light missile cruiser on it's hydrofoils off Toronto Harbor....complete with a minisub tucked into it's fantail! Respectfully submitted, Jet Boat Bill

Dear Aldave, Your chances of finding a marine vortec used in the North East are very slim to none. (I had one until last summer, then it sold!)Either have Hank @ Port Bay) at L & M pull it and have the block sleeved and rod or rods and pistons replaced. That way you know what you will have and it will have a local warranty. Contact Dan Martin at F.A (585-872-2132) in Webster for details and delivery time. I am guessing the engine rebuild at approx. 2000 to 2500 plus Hanks labor (worth every penny!). Not a low cost repair!! good Luck!! Sincerely, Jet Boat Bill

Dear PS II, Yes the "lifetime warranty" is only as good as the paper its written upon. Even worse with new vehicles also. BUT the Johnson people are living with a former company policy. They do come thru with great help IF you send it back DIRECTLY to them. I avoid the "Authorized Repair Centers" like the plaque!! Seen more poor workmanship from the centers! ....Sent back an old style Digitroll IV that needed a new key pad. Cost of repair was 550.00. Sent check and they decided not to repair the pad. Instead they shipped a brand new DIGITROLL IV. That's a 1500.00 item! My hat is off to their service dept. Johnson is OK in my book. Not free but fair! Sincerely, Jet Boat Bill

Dear S***K, Never seen that one before! Seen plenty of "marine mechanics" though!! A reversed intake screen would certainly cause insufficent fuel flow! Sincerely, Jet Boat Bill

Dear Rapala, What kind, make and problem? Please be more specific. Respectfully, Jet Boat Bill

Dear Austin Williams You have a fine arch/fabricator in Ontario, Canada. "Stainless Outfitters" in Barre, Ontario. John Bamford..705-725-1779. They did an all polished stainless T-Top for me on my HD 23' aluminum Jet Boat in 1998. (Last known location). Atlantic Towers does nice work in aluminum. BUT, Stainless is the top of the line! Let us know if they still are in business, please. Respectfully submitted' ...............Jet Boat Bill

Dear Mike, Call Factory Direct Trailers, 585-265-1366 in Ontario N.Y (right on 104 East before BE Tackle) and ask for Craig Wilson. Tell him what you need in a trailer tires...8.75 X 16.5 Load Range E. He will find out IF the tires are available. He carries Carlisle Tires which are excellent product. The Big Box Tire Stores have very poor tech/sales people in my experience. I have found the 16.5 Rims at E-trailer, but no tires! 16.5 tires were known as the "Duplex Tires in the old school. Had these tires on my former 10,000 Capacity EZ Loader boat trailer. They were 140 each in 1990!! I will bet that they will have to come direct from a National based warehouse. Good luck!!...........Jet Boat Bill....Webster, NY

Dear HB, As long as the manifolds have not been run in Salt Water, you should be OK with the used one if you get all the passages clear. Try putting the boat in the water and running it at 1500 RPM in neutral. Both manifold risers should be barely warm to the touch, but not too hot to touch! If the I/O pump impeller is working properly, all should be OK. It wouldn't hurt to pull the engine water pump and check for blockages and excessive rust scale...if it continues to run hot. Fresh Water risers will go 6000 hours, then usually burn THRU in the elbow. Salt water elbows will only last only a couple years and then RUST THRU! Respectfully submitted.....Jet Boat Bill P.S. Be sure and use a marine thermostat in order to get proper waterflow!

Dear HB, Be sure and check the water exit hole inside the risers on the outlet side. The hot side may have partial blockage. OR you may have partial blockage inside the hose or thermostat distribution elbow to the "hot side" Either way at 1500 RPM (constant) both elbows should cool down and should feel the same (in neutral, no load on engine). If you have access to a hand held laser temp. gun, they shouldn't be over 160 F. or whatever the engine temp. is. Did you acid clean the inside of the risers when you did the manifolds? Good job using the muratic acid!! Let us know what happens! Respectfully submitted, ............Jet Boat Bill

Dear Trenchfisherman, I have seen a lot of PY's and rebuilt two from the hull up due to plywood floors and stringer rot. Have a carefull look at any of them. A late Chrysler Inboard is possible as PY built some special order ones too. Saw one late 90's 26' with a huge diesel in it with a modified floor. It was auctioned off because the customer backed out???? The engine cost more then the boat!!!! I heard that there was close to 80K in that one! Respectfully submitted, ......Jet Boat Bill

Dear Trap Jaw, I am glad you changed the oil and got back adequate oil pressure. Please look carefully at those oil hoses and what they are connected to. My best guess unseen on your 3.7/470 older Mercruiser (198??) is that these are power steering oil cooler connections. These engines did not come with an engine oil cooler. THEIR is a Mercruiser optional engine oil cooler kit for these engines for inboard apps., but I haven't seen one in this area. ........Enjoy your fuel economy with your rig, you definitely will appreciate that!!!......Good fishing & Catching!.....Jet Boat Bill

Dear S Mick, Good proofreader! Yes, the big block I/0's do have a combo PS/Engine oil cooler and the SS FI 5.7 do have a combo unit. They still aren't big enough to handle 4000+ continuous RPM running in a heavy boat. I blistered the main bearings in a pair of 5.7+ SBC's with these combo coolers after 20 minutes @ 5000 RPM. I have since then gone to a 2 inch by 12 inch length oil cooler. I haven't blistered a bearing since going to the 12 inch length. ....Respectfully submitted,.......Jet Boat Bill

Dear Trap Jaw, Listen to Hank....L & M.... Straight 30 weight viscosity will give you the correct protection in gasoline powered I/O's used for trolling. None of the Merc/OMC I/O's have engine oil coolers. When you pick up and run in at the end of the day @ 3000 to 3500 RPM for 15 to 30 minutes, the oil temperature will skyrocket!! Oil viscosity & the oil pressure will drop dramactically!! WHEN YOU BRING IT DOWN FROM CRUISE SPEED!!! Remember this!! Do not let it idle....run at 1000 to 1500 RPM (for two minutes) so the hydraulic lifters won't collapse. The oil will cool down and your oil pressure will return to normal if you heed this advice. All the Mercruiser Inboards have engine oil coolers. That's why they will last 4000 to 6000 hours before major overhauls. Most of the I/O boats used for fishing are underpowered and very heavy due to the number of people and the amount of gear. Change the oil every 60 hours of trolling and use a zinc additive also. DO NOT USE FRAM oil filters, use a high quality AC/Delco or Mercruiser oil filter. I have seen the FRAMS disintergrate internally and cause high oil pressure readings! And worse! Fishing boats eat engines regularily!! Use the proper oils and stay away from running 4000 RPM on long runs!.....Respectfully Submitted....Jet Boat Bill

Dear SS, Sent you a PM. about a VHF

Dear F.M. Hydraulic trim tabs will only help you getting over the hump and on to plane. Also work well when trying to run head on in to rough seas at 10 to 12 mph. Keeps the bow down!! If your boat planes easily now, that would tell you that your balance point is probably directly under the helm. The majority of 21 ft. boats do not need trim tabs unless you are heavily loaded. Respectfully submitted, .....Jet Boat Bill