Recent content by cbdo

Depends a little on what you want. Ours is a 260 overnighter with dual batteries with switch; one was toast this spring. We have a cockpit fridge and I went with a West Marine AGM dual cycle; I want to be able to run the fridge for several hours, and that battery handles deeper discharge (half...

Congrats, indeed! How many crew members of this generation are on board?

Being regrettably anchored to the real world as a day boater with a cottage, our 2000 260 Overnighter is nearly perfect for us. That said, at 65 I'm probably more of a fossil than you, GFC; if I had the bucks for the yacht you started us off with, I'd be looking for a classic Huckins, if not a...

Basics of handling are the same for both, as the basic geometry is pretty much the same. The increased shaft angle on the V drive might mean a little more steering effect but there are enough other factors in play that it won't make a lot of difference. You'll still maneuver with the shift...

One of the few things I remember from college freshman physics was learned from my lab partner: Murphy's Law: (we all know it) O'Toole's Corollary to Murphy's Law: Murphy was an optimist.

Had a 27 Amberjack, about a 1985 IIRC, that I never found all that problematic to maneuver. We had twin 170-horse Merc I/Os with Alpha I drives, not counterrotating, and the twin-engine effect wasn't especially marked (unlike an inboard), but even with that crosswind landings in our marina...

Questionable, and would depend on how well the epoxy-based fiberglass would adhere, either mechanically (leave coarse sanded surface to take epoxy) or chemically to the plastic. That's a question for people more expert than me. It would definitely not prevent its being used as a plug for your...

The process for making yourself a new one isn't that difficult, but does involve new skill sets. The biggest obstacle is if the shape of the cowl doesn't lend itself to the process. Check out forums/how-tos for building small boats, or especially kayaks. It will be two steps: Lay up your...

bigblockcutlass, Nice looking boat, and the hatch covers are sharp! We're down the coast a tad from you--a cottage about a mile south of the southern end of Hoffmaster/about 2 1/2 miles north of the Grand Haven channel. New to the forum, as we just got back into boating with a 260 Overnighter...

Refers to the cooling system rather than the actual water involved. Raw water -- outside water (lake or ocean) runs straight through engine cooling system. "Fresh water cooling" -- outside water is run through a heat exchanger then out the exhaust; water or coolant is what runs through the...

Michigan!

As has already been said, just practice. Out in the middle of not much to start--i'd try that before the deserted marina option. Have had a number of twin inboards in my past and they vary tremendously, from "not that much harder on one than on both" to "call ahead and have the tugs meet us...