Recent content by EricW

You don't necessarily have to go to 4-blades to see a big improvement. The right 3-blades can also do wonders. My 94 290 with 2005 4.3 MPIs (220hp each) with Alphas came with 14x21 Mercury Vengeance props when I bought it. It was very slow to plane -- engines would rev fairly quickly, but...

Does the 245 Weekender have a motor box, like the 215EC? Or a flat floor over the motor like the 240 Sundancer? That's the key. The motor box design on the 215EC provides the lower floor and high freeboard that you like.

I have been considering the 99-02 310 as well. I love the massive cockpit. Way more cockpit space than the next gen 300, and actually feels more spacious than the 320. A few things holding it back for me is that I would like smartcraft, I prefer a sofa in the salon vs a booth dinette, and...

I bet a 320 with 8.1 sterndrives flies. 50mph at WOT?

Yeah, I think the Bravo IIIs showed up in 2000 or 01. Like you said, I have been wondering if that 340 with a listed 13k dry weight would be safe for a 16k lift. Full fuel alone adds 1350lbs, plus 560lbs of full water & waste. Plus options. Plus stuff. An easier choice is the 02-07 300...

The lift is rated at 16k max. The boat I really wanted to find with sterndrives is the 1999-2003 340. Searay says that boat is 13k dry. The 320 & newer 340 are probably too heavy for a 16k lift. Good to know there's one out there. I'd prefer Bravo III's though; now I'm really getting...

Thinking about moving up from my old 290 next year, and I've always been a fan of the performance & economy of sterndrives. The boat will be kept on a lift. I was wondering how many of the early to mid 2000's 320s & 340s came through with stern drives. Either of the 340's (bolt-on or...

The 98-01 270 with the 9'2" beam is a great boat, but IMO the sleeping spaces are particularly small. The front V-berth is pretty tight for 2 adults; and in the aft-cabin, the stairs intrude into the space for 2 people. And the dinette is really not suitable for an adult. If you haven't...

Thanks, Jeff. Not good news, but I'm not surprised. When I get a chance, I might try to pull off some of the covers on the genset and see if I can find anything. I don't know much about the genset, and didn't know there was a timing belt. It sounds like a decent possibility.

Since you're trailering, I would definitely go with sterndrives. IMO, the significantly better performance and economy of sterndrives outweighs any advantages of V-drives for boats kept out of the water. Now, for wet-slipped boats, the balance tips toward V-drives due to the beating...

My Kohler 4.0 kw quit on me last week. I suspect a major problem, but I am hoping for the best. The generator had been running great for at least 3 hrs one evening. I was running the A/C and 110v outlets. Suddenly, it started screeching and rpms dropped down some. This lasted about 5...

The video & pictures of the Jersey Shore and New York are incredible. My thoughts & prayers to all those affected. Probably cold comfort, but surviving it with unharmed family & friends is most important, right? And stay safe during the clean-up!!!! Thanks to all who posted those...

The video & pictures of the Jersey Shore and New York are incredible. My thoughts & prayers to all those affected. I hope that those of you in that area are safe, and your homes & boats made it through with little or no damage. I did see some pictures of Sea Rays that wound up in places...

I'm not much of a gambler...... Rejetting the OEM 2 bbl carb is appropriate to compensate for altitude changes, but I can't imagine a positive result otherwise. I guess the carb could currently be jetted for high altitude operation, and jets for standard altitude are needed. Strange...

Really? Modifying the OEM 2 barrel carb for more fuel & power is a rediculous proposition that will NOT result in increased performance and/or economy. The OEM 2 barrel is 500 cfm, with OEM jetting matched to that airflow. Sure, that 350 2bbl can turn over way over 5000 rpms -- as long as the...