Recent content by Bill V

Having replaced my trim tabs some years ago I would think that 4200 would work for you if you allow at least 24 hours for it to cure. It has half the strength of 5200 but like 5200 still forms a watertight, weather-resistant seal on joints and boat hardware above or below the waterline.

I installed a Simrad Nac2 auto pilot system on my boat that had hydraulic steering. It involved installing an electronic compass, rudder feedback unit and an electrical 12v pump. I used the AP44 Simrad controller and up sized the hydraulic 12v pump to the next size that my hydraulic ram...

In 2006 I bought 2 brand new Crusader 350/310hp engines in crates and had them installed. I now know they were not superior to Mercruiser engines and that there is no such thing as a Crusader engine factory while Mercruiser does in fact have factories that build many of their engines. My engines...

Your marine head appears to be a Dometic Sealand M28-711 model, the same as I installed 10 years ago on my boat. Mine has served me very well although I installed it as the manufacturer suggested. I use both pump out and overboard discharge with no issues whatsoever and can't imagine adding an...

In November 1964 while a crew member aboard the USS Boxer LPH4 (Essex class carrier) in a north Atlantic storm we experienced a 44* roll. I can only tell you that every crewman of the 888' ship thought that roll was too much. Virtually every last marine onboard felt they were "goners". Wave...

I bought my present boat in 2005 and had 27 years of bottom paint soda blasted off. They then applied a barrier coat, then a primer coat followed by a coat of red hard bottom paint and finally 3 coats of dark blue ablative paint. Cost back then was $4200, a lot of "boat bucks" at the time. The...

I live in Lynden, WA and we have many people displaced by the floods. The Nooksack River has flooded over its banks and many homes have 4-5' of water in them. Virtually all roads around Lynden are closed and only diesel powered tractors are able to get thru the 3-4' of water on the roads...

I have towed our 9' Caribe with 8hp outboard for years and when fueling or docking side tie it to swim platform with never an issue, even while backing into a slip. Usually tow it with 1/2" poly line 75' behind boat at speeds to 8-9mph. For speeds greater I carry it hanging from my twin boom...

I can sure relate to this, my wife is hooked on teaching young college kids. She enjoys day trips but cruising for 3-4 weeks is not her thing.

I installed a Propex HeatSource HS2800 10,000 BTU heater about 9 years ago and have never regretted it. Very thrifty on propane and extremely quiet operation. Thermostat controlled and mine is ducted into main cabin and V berth. It is exhausted externally and outside air is ducted into heater...

Any freezer with that name just forced me to check it out. Pretty good product from what I saw. Too bad they don't make it for 120v operation although they ship worldwide.

I use a Vitrifrigo 4.2 cu ft refrigerator without a freezer for the same reason you stated. I do carry an Engel portable 30 liter freezer but after looking at the Vitrifrigo 1.6 cu ft (45 liters) drawer freezer you are thinking of using I'm liking it very much.

I find it hard to believe that Perko doors use a 5/16¨ 24 set screw. That seems very large and is much bigger then on my Perko door latches. It is also a very common thread size too.

When I worked in the open pit coal mines we used 200 ton haul trucks that were diesel electric powered and many of our operators were women. When we calculated downtime on the individual trucks it was found that the men always exceeded the women in having higher percentages of downtime. Men were...

Over the years I have salvaged a few boats and usually save lots of hardware that Perko manufactures, mainly because their products are good quality and because they are expensive. I probably have a dozen of the Mortise latch sets both in locking and non-locking. Post a pic of yours and what...