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Lucas oil has work well on my bow thruster and a buddy boat both these thruster are 20 years old. Noise drop was considerable!

I have had good luck with rock wool and thin metal sheeting on top it to keep it clean looking.

When I built my system I decided to be really simple poles go back not up. The arms only 10 foot long And everything can be retrieved by hand with a boat pole. I've been really happy with it.

I agree 100% It only gets expensive when you need to rebuild two transmission, two props or two engines. The moral of the story is survey older boats very carefully and expect possible repairs. Better to buy boats with good histories or new!

I have used pex for two boats no problems very forgiving to work with. I like Tinned wire for anywhere I am going to stress the load capacity. Non tinned for things I can live without.

I rebuilt my 42 steel trawler and spray foamed the walls and ceiling to 16 R. With that two electric heater are enough to stay warm. The biggest complaint is cold floors if I did it over again I would put heating in the floor. They have those mats that you can buy and put under your...

You call the local tower and ask them what their hourly rate is and ask them to go pick up your boat. Unless you left your boat some place where harm will come quickly it not much different then the average tow. Will be cheaper then medical bills. Do not give out any more details then...

Most leak and need a lot of attention. High risk to sink and be abandoned.

I have the rudder with the squared off ended I had serious concern about reverse directional control when building. My understanding is the foil shape on the positive pressure and negative side of the rudder are higher related to shape in forward and reverse flow. The new rudder was 6 inches...

I charge extra 100 a day for deliveries without a AP or one that breaks early in the trip and can not be fixed quickly.

I only found a slight improvement in reverse but no worse than the flat rudder. I keep debating about tapering the area ahead of the prop but that is easier said then done. I agree with everyone that says practice. Start with buy really big fender and lots of them. The next step is go have...

The rudder style is know by a couple of different names Schillings or Mystic Rudder are more well known. The rudder has a fish type shape to it with a plate on top and bottom to contain prop wash when it hits the rudder. Some boat suffer a little lost of speed at top end, I did not but rarely...

After 10 years Im starting to redo my own work lol

I change my rudder to a thistle rudder i barely need my bow thruster the boat practically turns on a dime. I always back into spots that give me trouble the ability to stop quickly and drive away quickly with control is a great feature. I learned while this while running tow boats. The problem...

Pulling a long spring line tight from the stern will help the boat stay off the dock if the stern line are crossed if you cannot 4 point the boat.

I have owned a Navman autopilot for 8 years work flawlessly even in rough weather

I like rain x no needed for wipers

I have a rare red Perkins no idea who or when it was done but they did a good job.

When I built my poles they fold back not up used 10 ft aluminum square tubing. My biggest problem was harmonic vibration solved the problem with a rubber gasket on the hinge. I manual retrieve the fish with a boat pole walking them back to the stern at slow speeds.

I have two 120 gallon AL tanks the boat is 27 years old no problems.

Get a sail boat with twins if you want the best safety profile. Sailing a boat back to the dock is no harder then driving some twins back on one engine. It take the whole bad fuel thing out of equation. Fuel is Usually the first problem in diesel motor. I would never leave my trawler for a...

When in no mans land I usually don't worry about the engines to much. I worry about accidents and other failures more so. Having an extra boat around is priceless.

If you want a displacement hull go with a well built single engine and fully protected rudder and prop. The boat for twins is the cat hull with fully protected rudder and props. I have had to feel my way around to many shallow harbors and marina to like exposed props and rudders. I like...

Twin headaches You will have more days away from the dock with a single then twins. With twins you have twice trouble of keeping them running. Most failure are on start ups not so much running down the bay. I have owned both and I love only maintaining one main engine.

Outboard useful in calm condition I made a bracket and place my 8 hp outboard on the back of my 42 steel trawler the boat is about 35000#. The trial in calm conditions were 3 knots 1/2 throttle and 4.5 knots at full throttle. I was very happy with this until I tried it in 3-4 ft chop, the...