1 Boat Rule Broken

[Rich_V174SS]

Motor sounds healthy, good work!

I do have a leak in the bottom bellows as I discovered water dripping out of it afterwards...so that's my suction leak.  Easy fix, which is a good thing!

Not sure I understand you here. Bottom bellows is for out-going exhaust/water so I don't get the "suction" statement.

[dorelse]

Well then maybe I'm ok, the top one was dry, no leaks...so just a minor tear in the exhaust...not even an issue then!

Carb needs to be rebuilt...I can't 'punch it' with it struggling, and I know there's old fuel mixed with my fresh gas.  But yes, besides the hard shifting cable & steering cable, I think it sounds great too.

It cooled great, stayed at 160 just like it should have...I'm pretty happy with it.

[Hyperacme]

" Marge the Barge "

That's funny !
Big boats are a pain to trailer, launch & retrieve and fuel ... But in big wakes & waves the weight and length make for a nice ride.
It's also nice to have extra room and storage ...
 

[Maclin]

Doran, an OEM bellows has drain holes at the bottom of many of the folds for draining when the drive is up and the bellows are extended.

[Maclin]

I missed those videos from yesterday until just now, nice job!  Glad it runs out OK.  I know what you mean about piloting that next step up in size boat.  I feel like a Yacht coming into port with my 22 foot Cuddy sometimes.  And going back up the ramp when retrieving feels like I am pulling in a whale.

[dorelse]

I slid down the launch ramp as I hit some loose gravel when launching...that was not a good feeling!!!

[Jason]

Big boats definitely feel different then the smaller ones different purposes. I agree with your comment of not being connected to the water. Same contrast between the CV16 and CV23. That's why you need two boats!
Did you ever find a 3/4ton Avalanche? Looks like in one of your pics that you traded in the jeep for another Avalanche.

[dorelse]

Big boats definitely feel different then the smaller ones different purposes. I agree with your comment of not being connected to the water. Same contrast between the CV16 and CV23. That's why you need two boats!
Did you ever find a 3/4ton Avalanche? Looks like in one of your pics that you traded in the jeep for another Avalanche.

Yes, I'm back to a 1/2 ton Avalanche (2WD)...tired of fixing transfer cases & 4WD stuff for 5 days of use down here.  I did find a few 2500's, but locally they tend to be jacked up, big tires, etc, etc...and I'm not sure I want to pay the fuel costs.  The z66 has a rear locker & traction control, and a much softer ride and it got me everywhere I needed to be last winter.  The Durango is really a Jeep Grand Cherokee under the covers, and its great in the winter.  I feel like I've got us in a good place vehicle-wise now.

We towed Marge with the Durango, and it did great.  I love the digital dash where I can call up the Trans Temp and just watch it...never broke 175 degrees towing in 95+ degree heat...it did great, but the trailer could wag the back end at times.  The Avalanche will be fine too now that I've sorted my mystery click when turning corners & towing.

I am leaning towards reuniting the bow cover & boat with a CVZ-18 in MI, but need to see better pictures as I don't want a hull like Goldie's again.  A SX-190 would also be a nice sports boat, but its not a Carlson either...

[Maclin]

Big boats definitely feel different then the smaller ones different purposes. I agree with your comment of not being connected to the water. Same contrast between the CV16 and CV23. That's why you need two boats!
Did you ever find a 3/4ton Avalanche? Looks like in one of your pics that you traded in the jeep for another Avalanche.

The Marina private ramp I use most times here is steeper than the public ramps I was used to.  And it has gravel/sand right up to where the concrete ramp starts so the transition is a little tricky.  I always use chocks and 4wd on that one 

[84carlson]

So you like the Pentastar, I have it in my RAM Pickup, I will say it pulls my little boat with ease and better all around gas mileage although the
transmission seems to shift all the time...Have you found the oil filter yet?

[dorelse]

I did...I must say...I like changing that so much better, even if it is 3x the price...

[84carlson]

I got 3 years of oil changes with the truck, seems the dealer only wants to change it every 10K, but they get mine ever 4k.  I get a little embarrassed when I open the hood, about a foot of empty space where the hemi should be... My only problem so far is the truck will sometimes roll back on a hill when stopped, I have never had that issue with an automatic transmission.

[dorelse]

I got 3 years of oil changes with the truck, seems the dealer only wants to change it every 10K, but they get mine ever 4k.  I get a little embarrassed when I open the hood, about a foot of empty space where the hemi should be... My only problem so far is the truck will sometimes roll back on a hill when stopped, I have never had that issue with an automatic transmission.

Yep, so far we love the V6 and glad we opted out of the Hemi.  The Durango has Hill Assist, so I can let off the brake and the computer will hold the Durango right in place...even did it with the boat at the ramp.

[dorelse]

Bad boat day today...took the Barge out today after a perfect outing last week with no issues.

Today after leaving the dock and opening it up, it got super hot and never pumped any water...smoking, etc, etc.  We did make it back to the dock and the motor is running on the hose just fine with no water/oil mixture...so I got darn lucky.  I do not understand this one bit...ran & cooled great last weekend, this week...no water pumped up at all.

I'm completely at a loss and totally frustrated.  It has to be something!!  Now the impeller is certainly fried...time to start taking parts off the outdrive and really dig into it.  Ugh.

[Rich_V174SS]

Have you checked that seal yet I keep mentioning under the pickup hose fitting on the support fork?

[dorelse]

Have you checked that seal yet I keep mentioning under the pickup hose fitting on the support fork?

I checked something else thinking that was what you meant Rich...I will tomorrow now that I know what I'm looking for.  I was checking the tube connections from that to the thru-hull connection...not that actual seal...I didn't even realize it was there...thanks for that.

I'm liking the boat more and more as I get used to its size, so leaning more towards keeping it around.