I've given up on trying to get my old Volvo MD7A to run reliably. Ultimately I will be going with electric propulsion. In the mean time I am going to put a 9.9 HP, 4 stroke, long shaft, electric start Mercury on it with a Panther outboard bracket. My question, how far in the water should I...

Hi All! Long time looker first time poster. Decided to add a new 9.9 Suzuki long shaft with a Garelick bracket as a kicker motor while removing my Palmer for a rebuild. Hired a couple of fellows of good reputation who provided measurements. Decided to place motor port side of midships...

Hello! I purchased a Mirage 26 as a starter boat late in the season last year... the few times ive been out on it I had a blast. However my season has been in a downward spiral since issues last year. This year I have water in a cylinder and after replacing all gaskets it's still there and i...

Hi all, This may be more a request for life advice than technical advice, so bear with me... I have a 1974 Islander 30 Mark II with an inboard Palmer P60 gas engine and wheel steering. When the engine runs well, I believe it is a great fit for this boat. I have learned to dock and undock using...

I would like to purchase a removable outboard motor bracket with the smallest footprint possible. I have found a bracket designed to be used with the Seagull outboard but have been unable to purchase it in the United States. The only distributor I could find is in the UK and the shipping rates...

Just had the "pleasure" of changing the gear oil in my outboard. By the time I was able to unscrew the pump hose and fumbled to get the threaded plug back in I had released a large portion of what I had just put in. Of course it went all over the place. Is there a better pump unit that uses a...

Hello everyone, My first post to Sailnet. I recently bought a used inflatable dinghy (an Avon Redcrest) for our sailboat, without a motor. We rowed it to get to shore in a calm bay, but it took quite a while and would be too much in rougher conditions, heavy currents, or farther from shore...

I have a 1993 Johnson Sailmaster 8.0hp that has been in "storage" for about 8 years. Okay.... it's been sitting in the yard for 8 years. Any tips on bringing it back to life? It had not been winterized, but I'm going to get around to it any day now..... :o Bonus Question: I thought at one...

I have Honda Honda BF9 9A. Frame No.: BABL-1208839 The housing for the control box has cracked and compromised function of throttle shifter. I'm told the replacement for the control box kit is Part No.: 06240-ZV4-621. Honda says this is no loner available. On the net I found Part No...

Thought I'll share this with all of you here on the forum, it helps me to vent my anger and frustration ! Last Friday I was checking a famous auction site for bargain boat bits in preparation for the new sailing season. Saw (what is most likely) my own outboard advertised there on a 24 hour...

To power a Cape Dory 25, I'm buying a new Tohatsu 9.8 with electric start, remote control/shifter, and 25" shaft. My question/concerns are as follows: The company from whom I'm buying the engine wants $365 to install it (above the price of the engine, a bracket to disable turning). The...

On a new-to-me Cal 27, the p.o. installed an outboard engine to keep sailing despite a dead inboard (which I intend to remove). He just kept the gas tank sitting on the cockpit floor full time. Needless to say, I find this arrangement dissatisfying. Long term, I'll probably install a new...

Hello All! After months and months and months of research, searching, looking, poking and prodding...I have finally found the boat I'm going to purchase. It's a 1978 Newport MKII. There's good points and bad points to the boat, but all in all, it's in good shape. (Volvo MD7A low compression...

I recently bought a slightly used (told there were about 10 hours on it) tohatsu 4-stroke 6hp outboard motor to use with a mercury inflatable dinghy. I took it out for the first time this weekend and it ran great on its first trip. When I took it out again the next day, it seemed to be working...

Outboard on 1974 Pearson 10m? Hi. I just won an awesome Pearson 10m on auction at Ebay in great condition at an unbelievable price! It has sails, but no engine, and the mast has base/step corrosion. I may not be able to fix this right away to sail her and yet I can't afford an inboard at this...

I have got this beautiful 12 footish fibre glass hull with teak thwarts gunwhale and foredeck. built my my dad many a year ago, but garaged all her life so in good nick. Tan coloured sails, gunter rig- very old school! I am going to buy a 5 HP 2 stroke Tohatsu for fishing purposes. I am trying...

I have a 1978 Johnson "Seahorse" 8hp outboard, and she starts, but won't idle for long. I think it is just a dirty carb, but I was wondering if anyone knew where I could find a copy of the service manual. Thanks, Mike