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I tend not to carry tools that would only be useful to work on the Honda 90. Large socket sets and the like. When I owned a boat with a V-8, it was common to have to mess with the engine. Belts slip, maybe you need to swap carbs between motors in order to diagnose a problem, etc. When I look...

We still manage to pack some towels and other odds and ends in there, too. I've been happy with the setup. After I let the batteries drain (didn't have the charger connected in the driveway - something was probably left on), it was nice to see 23 amps being pumped into them last night! About...

Our 2001 easily holds 20 gallons per tank, There is some space left at the top, but it is difficult to use without overflow from the vent. I usually just fill to about 3" from the top. There is space between the tanks, but our batteries are mounted there. Mike

Putting in a large smart charger is a nice option. It takes a fair amount of work though. The wires for a 30 amp charger are substantial unless the batteries are really close to the charger. Not much point in installing a high output charger and using skinny wires and hence getting a voltage...

For me, it was that the boat will handle the water. All I needed to do is remain calm and use common sense, along with some skills I had read about on this site. Slowing down was pretty much a necessity. A friend in a 40' boat running the same water didn't want to slow down. Eventually, he...

Indeed. The ACR I have can be "switched" and I must remember to turn off the ACR when the charger is on. Nothing too terrible happens if you forget, but if the house bank were seriously discharged, you could cause overly rapid charging. OTOH, I think the ACR has under voltage detection to...

How well do laptops take to the pounding? Although I have access to two expensive laptops, I don't own either. So, I've been hesitant to try them in a running boat. I have had CDs skip badly... maybe we let the boat pound too much? Mike

On a CD-22, the center portion of the windshield swings up, and the forward portion of each side window slides open. Obviously the door opens, which when running at any planing speed causes an almost wind tunnel effect if the center window is open. Plenty of air moves through the boat. In...

We have some serious choices to make soon. Allowing folks who have no credible evidence, no education on the topic, or really much of any basis to speak on a topic to continue to spout off as if they do really needs to be called out. Free speech is a great thing, but we all need to a good job...

You will be quite glad you read the book if you get caught in 5' nasty waves some day in your CD-22! Mike

A Xantrex XC3012 is nice because you can remote the display. Of course, you can also get a remote for the TrueCharge. I like the remote because I can check my battery voltages easily. And I like blinking lights on the helm. One thing about the XC3012 - it cycles through the banks. So, if...

Those were cool to see. Especially since I ODed on Star Trek: Enterprise last night. The hurricane looks so harmless from space... Thanks, Mike

After watching a recent "Mythbusters", I am not too worried about collisions and foam. However, the foam does seal the area and may keep the bow floating in case the boat fills with water. Anyone ever talk to the factory about this? To the poster looking for hatches: I suppose you might find...

20 years ago, the poster was probably saying our polluted waterways would clean themselves and it was perfectly OK to continue to dump crap into them. It's great to be able to predict the future with absolutely no credentials just because "you know it". Mike

I've been thinking about this, but I wonder how easy it would be to remove/roll/bend the cushion to access the space? In Orca's case, I think they used the space for food, so most likely only accessed the space occasionally. I've been thinking it might be a good place for house batteries...

Are these available in a "clamp on" type? I'd like to measure the power consumption of larger items such has the high intensity lighting in a barn, etc. In other words: things that do not plug in. Suggestions? Mike

Oh, remember to do the water system ASAP. It is really hard to deal with a slushed up water system. An outboard tilted down doesn't have water in it, and it takes a while to freeze an inboard. But, water systems slush up easily and then you can't pump antifreeze through the lines. Mike

I've always done water systems as follows: 1) Disconnect the tank and allow it to drain. Some amount of water will remain. Don't worry about it. The tank is sort of like an ice cube tray and 1" will not cause a problem. 2) Disconnect the input and output lines on the hot water heater and...

I've been thinking about using a diaphragm pump and a water witch switch http://www.waterwitchinc.com/product_sheet/bilge_switchsheet.html I'll probably use a bronze pickup and of course the pump will be mounted higher. I will mount this in the little galley 'bildge' area. The Rule...

The place where you plug in probably has a switch/breaker, plus there will be a breaker in a panel somewhere that controls some number of outlets on the dock. Have you checked for power at the outlet with a volt meter or simple 120v light probe? Mike