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...
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...
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...