FittsFly wrote: ↑Sat Jul 12, 2025 4:32 am Question , has anyone ever measured their 26x ‘s depth difference between ballast being full vs empty?

I have a 26M and when ballast is full, the boat is about 2-3" lower, especially in the bow.

Retirement can be tiring with all the projects.

I think understood about 10% of the terms you used in this post.

All I can say is Harbor Frieght is a great one time use tool supplier. I have several that I saved a bundle for only needing one time.

Ixneigh wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 6:13 pm Also: although my steering helm and cables have never given me any issues, and I’ve kept them lubed, should they replaced? They look fine.

Ix

Mine are original and I'm thinking of replacing the steering cables with BWY heavy duty cables.

Wow, that must feel so much better to have it cleaned up. All because you wanted to check the lines at low tide. 8) You got some serious cables going into your bus bar and fuse bar. FYI, you can crank from the deep cycle just fine. I only have 2 deep cycle batteries and crank from either. I agree wi...

Sounds like you have made a decision that works best for you.

Flushing:
I used to flush my 34' diesel engine at the end of weekends. Well, flush the heat exchanger. I had a T valve that I could switch to a bucket with fresh water. I doubt I would do that anymore.

BOAT had those aluminum tanks and said he really liked them. He's posted about them on here before. Sadly he's no longer a Mac owner and hasn't been on here for a while. Here's a link to the ones I bought. They've gone up $20 since I bought mine: https://amzn.to/3Gr4bTS BOAT doesn't own his Mac any...

Very interesting. It's a stand alone A/C like those residential units. The difference is that it is ultra-portable. He's using a Blue Yeti for power. I suppose you could power many air conditioners from one of those. It ain't cheap at $1,400 plus another $1000 for the battery. https://www.amazon.com...

If his nose confirms my suspicions, the fix is well within the skills he's already demonstrated. If it turns out to be water in the oil then the fix is changing a gasket that is just a little past where he's already been OR the block is cracked and it is probably unfixable. I'm pulling for the easy...

Not the ending I thought you were going to reveal. Indeed. They were out searching for the kid and we sailed right over the spot where he was eventually found. Kind of gave me the creeps to learn we passed over where he came to rest and didn't realize what was going on. I've seen people do this in ...

I would check if anything is touching the flywheel. I see posts about "magnets" that can come loose and touch it.

I wonder how effective this is. Probably need to open the gate valve just a little so water is forced out.

Is there an advantage to having the two dock line cross each other? Around here were just use the nearest one. 8) I’m on a slip that looks like this: https://i.postimg.cc/8sL5SVjn/IMG-3551.jpg Yes, crossing makes the LONGER and therefore more stretch/shock absorbing. Unfortunately, my boat is on th...

There was a kid who rode his motorcycle across the lake (in summer) a few years ago. If you get it going fast enough it rides on top of the water. He had a rope and fender attached in case he went down to retrieve his bike later. Sadly, it went down and tangled him with it pulling him down under. He...

Well now I have an itch to buy a big spool of double braid and a set of fids to learn how to splice my own eyes into the lengths I need… I'm sure you know, but dock lines should be nylon so they stretch and act like shock absorbers. BTW, I never actually learned how to splice braid. I learned how t...

Well now I have an itch to buy a big spool of double braid and a set of fids to learn how to splice my own eyes into the lengths I need… Yea, mine are probably too thick also. They need some stretch. My dad taught me to splice loops. I don't remember how to do it and just buy premade dock lines fro...