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  1. Fowl Hooked

    Windlass - opinions please

    The original Simpson Lawrence Horizon 500 on my 265 died last summer, it was there when I got the boat and I'm assuming was a factory installed option so it had 14 years of life on it. Not a lot of complaints, it worked when I needed it to (up until that last time) but was power up/power down...
  2. Fowl Hooked

    Keeping critters out of the cabin

    I started using this stuff called Fresh Cab Botanical Rodent Repellent after finding a nest with some live babies in the trunk of my Studebaker and droppings in my wife's car, both of which are kept in the barn garage which I'm sure has a solid resident population despite the live-in black...
  3. Fowl Hooked

    Grady "Glove Box" Hinges (Pic)

    When I needed to replace the hinges in my overhead electronics console I found the Southco hinges on eBay for about $20 each. I needed the 115 degree detent which is the C6-26, also found the C6-23 which is an 80 degree detent, both of those were rated at 15 pounds. There was also a free...
  4. Fowl Hooked

    Foam tiles in lieu of berth cushions

    After 15 years my berth cushions are in need of replacement. However, I don't want to spend the money to have them redone only to go back to using them as a base for storing gear and tackle bags, which is one thing that's contributed to their current state. So, I'm looking at something like...
  5. Fowl Hooked

    Someone help me out with autopilot

    I did the electronics upgrade this off-season and given the space available I opted for Raymarine as I could fit a pair of 12" MFDs; I liked the Garmin units but the height was going to be a challenge. I went with one Axiom Pro as the primary and one regular Axiom as a repeater. The Pro model...
  6. Fowl Hooked

    Tow Vehicles

    Hauling the 265 Express with a GMC Denali HD 3/4 ton diesel, very happy with the rig.
  7. Fowl Hooked

    Adding a divider to my 265 Express Fishbox...

    Interested to see how this works out as I've had the same dilemma, love the size for the few times I'm able to get offshore and can use it (and hopefully need to) but for just about anything else I do it's overkill and takes a ton of ice to remain effective. Fishing the Chesapeake I usually end...
  8. Fowl Hooked

    Boat trailer update

    Upgrade is going on five years now and no issues aside from the stickers peeling from their exposure to the sun. Everything downstream of the actuator is original, disconnected the hydraulic line and reconnected it to the new pump but didn't change out anything else so I will eventually have...
  9. Fowl Hooked

    Boat trailer update

    One of my better, but not so sexy, upgrades was converting the surge brake actuator to an electric over hydraulic setup that works with the integrated brake controller in my truck. I too did not like the clunk but it wasn't a real concern and those surge actuators are pretty darn reliable...
  10. Fowl Hooked

    overhead electronics box

    I redid the overhead panel a couple years ago and have been much happier ever since, 2 VHF radios, remote for the stereo that's mounted down in the cabin, and an 8 position switch panel - only using four now but wanted some growth capability. I retained (actually replaced with new) the detent...
  11. Fowl Hooked

    GW 265 Express Electronics Upgrade

    The switches came from New Wire, they had the red LED switches and etched actuators that I needed. I've used Rocker Switch Pros for custom etched switches like what I put on the macerator for the head but everything for the switch panel ended up being stock.
  12. Fowl Hooked

    GW 265 Express Electronics Upgrade

    Thanks. That was one of the first 'big' projects I took on and I've been very happy with it. The trim work on that piece of starboard isn't the best (didn't finish it on the router like I should have) and I'd probably use 1/2" vice 1/4" if I did it again but it was the first time I'd really...
  13. Fowl Hooked

    GW 265 Express Electronics Upgrade

    I did the panels myself using the originals as a template / guide I rough cut the pieces then trimmed them down on my router table. Cutting out the interior holes was a bit more effort and not as clean as you'd probably get from NewWire but it wasn't that hard and with the switches installed...
  14. Fowl Hooked

    Grady White 265 Express - Bennett trim tab replacement

    I've been wondering the same thing as I'd like to upgrade to an actuator with indicators and auto-retract but to do so I've got to add the sensor units and everything I read makes it sound like I've got to get to the hydraulic line connections to do so. Was talking to my dealer about it and he...
  15. Fowl Hooked

    GW 265 Express Electronics Upgrade

    Pulled the trigger this off-season on the electronics overhaul I'd been planning for a while. Gutted the outdated and disparate systems (1st pic), displays, wiring, pretty much everything and replaced with a complete Raymarine setup including a pair of 12" Axiom displays (one Pro model that has...
  16. Fowl Hooked

    Autopilot installation in GW 265 Express...

    It's a 2005. I have the square gauges from the repower done in 2015 and the new panel layout has them running in a single row of three across the top but there's decent clearance beneath them. The original 4 round gauge layout could have been tight but I think it would have still fit and there...
  17. Fowl Hooked

    Autopilot installation in GW 265 Express...

    Both the original Simrad and the replacement Raymarine system I just installed have the pump mounted directly under the instrument panel per the attached picture. Will admit that having that large a motor so close to the compass is not ideal and I noticed a lot of deflection as I moved the...
  18. Fowl Hooked

    Holding tank/Macerator access in a 265 Express

    I went the same route as PrinceofThieves and used that same post as my guide (believe it was Max366?). The original access hatch was effectively a non-starter and the first thing I did was enlarge the access so I could actually get to everything. After that it went fairly smooth though I was...
  19. Fowl Hooked

    265 Express w/Suzuki DF250AP re-post

    When I suffered the 'undetected until it ate the powerheads exhaust corrosion' issue a few years I repowered my 2005 265 and went with the 3.3 Yamaha 250 4-strokes. Many reasons, not the least of which was cost as it was already a completely unplanned expense. Re-used all rigging and props and...
  20. Fowl Hooked

    Raymarine EV 1 sensor core

    The attached is taken from the Evolution EV-1 and ACU Installation Instructions manual and lists out all the NMEA sentences for the EV-1 sensor core and their ACU. Full document is too large to attach but can be found on the Raymarine website if you want it. Message #127250 indicates vessel...