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  1. Dougcole

    Dingy lights

    We have been using a mantus tricolor mounted on a removable base on the motor cowling. I know it is not 100% legal, but it works great and satisfies the water cops around here. The light can change from tri to red/green to all round white, so you could get two if you’re concerned about it. It...
  2. Dougcole

    Kohler 8E0ZD Fuel Leak

    Well, at least you don’t have to worry about that sound shield anymore, lol. Glad you found the leak. I think there is a copper crush washer in there, but I am not sure. Let us know what you do.
  3. Dougcole

    Battery Advice for 20hp OB

    I ended u going with the noco 900 (?) that I referenced above. It’s been a little over a year now and the battery has been flawless. Fires the motor off on the first push of the start button. Never seems to lose a charge. Interestingly, I saw recently that Mercury recently purchased a lion...
  4. Dougcole

    Kohler 8E0ZD Fuel Leak

    It still won't be great, but it will help some, would open up a few inches on the top. That said, I would verify that it is not something other than the injectors before you go to the trouble. An injector, or injector line, would most likely cause an obvious leak, more than just a slow seep...
  5. Dougcole

    Kohler 8E0ZD Fuel Leak

    Jeff, get rid of the sound shield. Seriously, it does almost nothing except restrict access. Don’t cut a big hole in your deck. Pay someone to do it if you have to, it will be worth it. I promise.
  6. Dougcole

    Kohler 8E0ZD Fuel Leak

    Maybe spraying out of one of the hp fuel line fittings on the injector pump? Watch it closely with the generator running. I’d also look at the banjo fitting on the pump and the rubber supply line that runs right above the area you circled. If it’s a high pressure leak it should be pretty easy...
  7. Dougcole

    How many things can go wrong in one day???

    This is the sort of thing that happens to me sometimes too. Travis McGee once said that all boat problems come in threes. I've found that to be pretty accurate over the years. In all seriousness, it is also what generally gets people in real trouble. Prime example: They have trouble backing...
  8. Dougcole

    Mainship 400 cockpit door refinishing

    Interesting. Does the rough surface of the corrosion show through the vinyl wrap?
  9. Dougcole

    Deep draft in the Bahamas

    This. We squeeze into some spots from a depth standpoint that I know many people would not attempt, it all depends on your level of comfort and knowledge. In a calm anchorage I am good with less than a foot under the keel at low tide and I push in close to get more protection all the time...
  10. Dougcole

    Deep draft in the Bahamas

    Worst thing about a deeper draft would be that it will prevent you from tucking in close to most islands which will expose you to more swell and chop. Also, some of the harbors have shallow entrances, so you would need to anchor out more often. In the Abacos for example, Black Sound on Green...
  11. Dougcole

    Holey sink

    I think I would replace the sink. It's a little too small for a double sink anyway, and at least on my 400, it isn't quite level which causes the water to collect in the corners away from the drains. Sinks never totally drain. I haven't looked closely at how it is mounted, but I think it...
  12. Dougcole

    Mainship Pricing

    In general, Mainship build quality improved over the years from generation to generation. They tended to upgrade components and systems when they changed the models a little. That said there is not a ton of difference between the 350 and the 390, but the 34 is a totally different boat than...
  13. Dougcole

    Can you re-puropse the speed wheel through-hull for a washdown?

    Gary, I think that the location under the stairs would be a good spot for a washdown pump. The plumbing would be easy to run forward over the top of the holding tank, under the bed and up into the anchor locker. You could tap into the wiring that is already there for the macerator pump...
  14. Dougcole

    Trawler Forum Lite

    I am wondering the same thing. What’s the point? If anything, it would just pull some traffic from TF, watering down both forums, meaning neither one would be as good.
  15. Dougcole

    Wiring Project

    Very nice. I wish you were rigging boats for Mainship in 2005. Would have saved me a lot of headaches. Doug
  16. Dougcole

    Dinghy on swim platform

    I think these are all good points. But as others have said, it depends a lot on your individual boat, how it handles certain conditions, how you operate it and what conditions you operate it in. Pretty much like everything else in boating, I guess. Our setup, when I have it rigged for open...
  17. Dougcole

    Dinghy on swim platform

    We have trick davits on our Mainship 400 in conjunction with a highfield 340 CL RIB and a 20hp electric start 4 stroke merc. We love them as we can get the tender on and off in maybe 5 minutes. We pull it up every night at anchor which is a huge safety item for me--I don't want to be dealing...
  18. Dougcole

    Disney World Boat Transportation

    I had a friend in college and just after who was from Orlando and operated those boats as a summer job. Smart guy (went on to become a dentist) but honestly the least skilled and talented boater/outdoorsman that I have ever known. He had no sort of licensing, training, skills or real world...
  19. Dougcole

    Bolting solar panels through bimini

    Good point. But the flexing would come no matter how it was mounted on a bimini, correct? My Bimini is stretched super tight, it doesnt flex much even in strong winds. Also I’m using these fiberglass “arch” panels from bouge rv, they are pretty stiff and are supposed to be more durable by being...
  20. Dougcole

    Bolting solar panels through bimini

    That's a super interesting idea. My bimini is really tight, so I don't think it will sag, but I could add these stringers in after the fact if needed. Thanks for posting.
  21. Dougcole

    Bolting solar panels through bimini

    Hi all, A buddy of mine is using this method for attaching flexible solar panels to his sunbrella bimini. He through bolted through the fabric, not through the frame, using fender washers on each side. Three years in and it is doing fine, he says he isn't seeing any leaks. He did not...
  22. Dougcole

    Oil pressure gauge pegs to max

    I just went through something similar to this on my Faria gauges. It's very frustrating as gauges can be super sensitive and there are multiple opportunities for shorts, especially if the gauges are daisy chained. With me it turned out to be BOTH bad sender wires and bad grounds. It seems...
  23. Dougcole

    How much Solar to offset Starlink?

    Hi All, In the process of installing a Gen 3 Starlink Standard and planning on adding solar panels to our bimini to offset its power draw. Starlink says the Gen 3 draw is 75 to 100 Watts AC (it draws mroe power than the Gen 2), but some internet testers are seeing more like 55 watts once it...
  24. Dougcole

    Murder City

    This exactly. Unless you are flying through, or have to stop there for fuel/restock, I don't know why anyone would ever choose to go to Nassau. It sucks.
  25. Dougcole

    Verticle Windlass on a MS 400

    Yes, my chain twists on retrieval, i bet NTO’s does too. The original mainship roller (or at least the one they put on my boat) was not grooved. I switched it for a grooved roller, which helped, then added a Mantus swivel, which helped even more. I think the angle of the windlass to the roller...
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