Recent content by Doc Stressor

I replaced my original aluminum bang plate with the newer vinyl one using 5200 as the sealant. I also added a short manual jack plate to get the motor mount off the bang plate. The setup has worked very well.

I removed the 10-year-old stripes from my 2008 using a heat gun and a razor blade. Most of the stripping peeled off easily, all in one piece. It might be tougher with older tape. I removed the adhesive with Goof Off and gave a final wipe with acetone before applying the new tape.

The only real advantage of the 226 is that it will stay on plane at a lower speed than the 228. This can be important in rough seas. They both handle like crap during docking manuevers in general.

The only places in Florida where you can legally swim with manatees are the Crystal River and Homosassa Springs refuge areas. It is perfectly legal for private or rental boats to anchor up and swim with them. If you want private charters, contact these guys...

AGM batteries are not approved for older Yamaha engines because of the alternator/rectifier. The unit is only certified for intermittent use at maximum output. Sustained output at the maximum amperage rating can result in overheating and premature failure. AGM (and lithium) batteries have...

Assuming you are planning a trip from May to September and find a good weather window for the Bimini crossing, that trip is easy in your boat. I've run from Tarpon Springs to the Keys and the Dry Tortugas a couple of times in my 22' Gradys. And back in the days before Loran and GPS, I made a...

20 hp will not plane your boat. So you are limited by hull speed, which is about 7 mph. The difference in performance would be negligible.

The one persistent problem with older Hondas is the oxygen sensor. They need to be replaced regularly. That's why Honda did away with them in the newer D models. Otherwise, they are reliable and fuel efficient (and heavy).

The standard dose of bleach for sanitizing boat and RV tanks is 1/4 cup per 10-15 gallons of water. Let stand for at least 3 hours before flushing. But if you have a lot of algae or mold in there, you will need to use more bleach, maybe 1 cup per 10 gallons. Higher bleach levels can damage...

You will like your boat a lot more with a 250. At cruise, they are quite efficient. If you want the best economy, but with slightly less hole shot performance, look into the Honda/Tohatsu 250 hp. This is what I get with my 226 at high cruise on a calm day:

Doc, how are things going with you guys? Getting old, Bob. I'm thinking about putting the 226 up for sale in a few months. They are giving us all of a 15 day gag grouper season this year. After that, I no longer see the point in keeping an offshore boat anymore. I hope things are going...

I was unable to find replacements years ago when mine started to crack. I ended up repairing the originals with Bondo and they are still holding up. I use mine for thawing frozen bait on the way offshore.

They all do that even if kept in a high and dry. I replaced mine with the vinyl cap 5 years ago when I re-powered. It was not too hard a job except for cleaning out what looked like 5200 used to seal the aluminum cap. My corrosion problem was related to the fact that the engine mount is in...

Check the fuel system as described above. There is no O2 sensor unless your engine is EFI. Also, test compression; if low, try de-carbonizing with SeaFoam or Ringfree.

Getting the right engine height is not rocket science. You just keep moving the engine up one hole at a time until you start to ventilate when turning sharply. Then you lower it one hole. Your engine looks far too low in the third picture. I would start by raising it 2 holes. Every hull...