Recent content by PartyBarge

Wow, what a horror story! Sure hope your SeaDoo 170 has taken some of the edge off the disappointment.

The folks at the local dealer where we bought our pontoon had done that. The rectifier/regulator in the motor was toasted (REALLY toasted). Doesn't look like much, but it is expensive :( PS modules that look like what was replaced in our motor are much less expensive online than what the shop...

No biggie, you'll have a good set as backups (that will likely go unneeded for years). I changed the plugs in our 2004 motor in 2013 (I think) for no reason other than the old ones were original (I think) and wanted a higher tech plug. Went with the Autolite APP5325 double platinum (platinum...

Considering the age and hours you have on the motor, I'd start by leaving them alone. Yamaha uses components that are good for way more than 85 hours. Consider this even at a road vehicle average speed of, say, a lofty 65 MPH, 85 hours is only ~5500 miles. No way would I recommend a plug change...

Or is that oil in your fuel?

I'd suggest it better not go on another ~500 hours. Washing the oil film off of the cylinder, piston and rings will lead to expensive problems sooner than that (assuming only one injector is at fault). Just to be clear, what I'm referring to is not a blow by issue (yet). It's raw fuel from a...

This smells (sorry for the pun) like a misdiagnosed problem. Similar observations about other injected engines commonly include a leaking fuel injector...usually after shutdown. High output run time can free up the injector so that it will seal residual fuel pressure, however that is a...

I've been with USAA for almost 50 years and use them for most things, however they have vectored most (all?) watercraft coverage to Progressive. I have reason to not trust them and have been very happy with my switch to BoatUS (Geico) for our boats. They provide several "extras" that are easily...

Sure, but there are numerous less expensive ring and top end products. One that has been around for decades is Marvel Mystery Oil. I've used at various times in about everything , except road vehicles. It can be used in both the oil and fuel.

No, Lake Keowee SC.

LOL and LOL again. Many of us are way too jaded for a "project" on boat ownership. I've owned at least one boat at any given time since 1973. Needless to say, there is a vast array of experiences and memories associated with each of them. Much like owning a motorcycle, understanding boat...

Be sure to use the best marine rated fabric glue. UV exposure will make ordinary stuff ugly pretty fast.

Labbing the props MAY help, but the problem is likely elsewhere. The water flow shadow created by the lower unit (among other things) effects different props differently across the speed and prop RPM range. I have seen the same thing on our I/O with some 3-blade props, even if there is nothing...

You may benefit from something I've lifted from my reading. Note the multiple mention of lighter weight applications. These props may not be the best choice for the speed and drag profile of many pontoon boats. Similar general application info is in Yamaha data as well. Most experienced boaters...

IF your motor has the typical 2.15 gears, your calculated slip is ~42%. Clearly the prop isn't, or can't, do the job is should be doing. In just speculating, IF your slip was a more nominal 15%, the speed would be ~31 MPH. Something about the prop itself or the rigging of the pontoon won't let...