TFisher

You are the man! Sent you a message with my contact info. Just let me know how to pay you.

To all who contributed, thanks for the help! LK - That sounds like a great solution your friend is developing. I wondered why somone hadn't done something like that.

Jody - Sounds great! Just let me know how to get you my details and payment to you. That really is awesome. Todd

Was changing my thermostat on my PCM GT40 and noticed some suspect threads on the lower thermostat housing. Went to order one and they are apparently unavailable. Anyone have one they want to sell? Apparently they are no longer availlable through normal chanels? I had one ordered through shipreck salvage but apparently no longer there. I have back together and not leaking, but would like one around if I can locate. This is the part and number. https://second-wind.net/products/pleasurecraft-r025001-pcm-ford-302-351-raw-water-lower-thermostat-t-stat-housing

No issues as of yet. Parts availabilty is more difficult than bearing buddy, non-resuable dust caps and special grease. Bearing buddy, on the other hand, uses reusable dust caps and standard grease, etc. The only issue I've ever had with BB is the grease seals were not locally available. I went ahead and ordered the parts and will give repack a try using the vault system.

I have a boatmate trailer with UFP vault system. Has anyone serviced and/or replaced with bearing buddy? Can it be converted to bearing buddy? Neither the trailer distributor nor mechanic has ever seen the system. I've done bearing buddy, but this one is a little different. Any input would be helpful.

I have a 63" d3 nomad for 110 plus shipping. My son outgrew it.

I've had a 97 echelon for years and regularly ski/drive a 196 and several other boats. If computron works now it won't in the future. I wouldn't worry about it. Mine has the HDS box, but it has not been an issue. Regarding the soft spot behind the engine box, my was squishy. Piece of plywood and some fiberglass fix that. That honeycomb aluminum will fail, but it's not a big deal. My engine is the indmar monsoon. Parts have been readily available so far including a transmission at about 1500 hours. Wakes isn't as nice as the 196 or 200, but better than the nautiques earlier than 97. Mine tracks well. I"d look at the trailer too. Trailers seem to disintegrate after about 10-15 years. New trailer is 4 or 5k.

vtmecheng - I had one of the top doc's in the nation and my PT skis with me and is literally across the street so my care has been excellent. It just takes time. Do the work and keep doing the work. I want to stress, I had several people tell me healing stopped at a year and that wasn't my experience. Maybe if you just want to walk around the grocery store it stops at a year, but if you want to be active, you have to keep working at it. I'm posting because that was the most discouraging part for me thinking that after all that pain, 1 year was as good as it was going to get. For me, I am still noticing improvement in strength and pain level.

Bonehead - I had a lapidus fusion, spring ligament repair, cheilectomy, and gastroc on my left foot about a year and half ago. Your pictures brought back nightmares. Rehab it religiously and be patient. Your story sounds similar to mine, held off surgery for 18 months when I should have just gotten it over with. I was trying to run on it at 7 or 8 months, but it wasn't there yet. When they tell you its fully healed at a year, that wasn't my experience. Mine has continued to improve. I'm stressing the improving part because I was genuinely worried at a year when it still hurt. Just got back from hiking out west and had very little trouble with it.

HSW 450D. I'll take a look at that to satisfy my curiosity. Thanks for the link and the help.

Thanks for the help guys. Unfortunately, it was the transmission. Damper plate looked fine. Fortunately, mechanic says its done. I'm picking up to water test shortly. A little curious about the lack of warning on the failure. Could pump have sudden failure like I experienced?

Old jeep, you could be correct. I just know the alternator wouldn't output until revved, then tended to over voltage, and a new alternator solved the problem. My boat is 20 years old so YMMV with a 200. You could put a voltameter on it and see if the output changes once revved.

We had an bad alternator with symptoms similar to what you describe. Alternator wouldn't output voltage until revved and then it would output too much as the rpm's climbed. It bench tested fine (revved up), but if I recall correctly someone indicated a bad voltage regulator (internal) was to blame. New alternator and problem solved.

No racket when in gear, just nothing. When I say shaft slowly moving, I mean spinning like 10 or 20 rpm at most. More like the spin you get when you in neutral and the boat is revved. Not enough to notice unless the floor is up. Had a mechanic friend look at it this a.m. They though damper plate or transmission. MN - Did you source the plate? If so, where? Brace - Thanks for the tips. I'll take a closer look today.

Driving my 1997 echelon today and pulling a tube, hit wave and suddenly no forward or reverse. Pulled son skiing earlier and a tube up to that point. Did not notice any slippage up to that point. Pulled Pulled a 34 mph slalom skier thru course two days ago and times were perfect. Checked transmission fluid level (very slightly low (above low fill line), no smell). Changed fluid and topped off Linkage is moving on the transmission. Middle of linkage is rotating when throttle moves. Shaft spins very slightly when engine revs. No sound of transmission going into gear. Any ideas? TF

VTJC - I have a malibu with the monsoon. Fuel pump is available thru skidim or carter. I haven't had any issue getting parts (most of them are GM parts). The only part I'm aware of that could be an issue is the ECM. Last time I looked, ECM's were pricey. If I recall correctly, there was a thread on this site a few months ago about the GT40 ECM's having a similar issue as to availability.

I'm a malibu owner and have skied and driven both those boats. Buy the nautique if it's a well cared for boat. Much better tracking. Much less spray. I drove a 91 mastercraft last week and felt like it was on ice.

If space is not an issue and hours/condition are similar, I'd buy a SN 196 over the Malibu. I'm Malibu owner but the Nautique's track and ski slightly better plus its 3 years newer. Whatever you do, I think either will be a big step up from the late 80's Supra.

Sethro - No to the insulation on the motorbox. Maybe the winter blend caused/contributed to the issue. Having winter blend in April is a new variable for me.

Howa1500 - The Response LXI is the updated hull from the Response LX. Any one of those boats will be great for slalom. The LXI was their top of the line comp boat at the time. I regularly ski behind a 2002 SN 196 and the wake is slightly better than my echelon (an older malibu hull).

Response LX is a great boat. 2001 196 is a great boat. Less experience w/the open bow SN of that era. FYI - There is an 2006 LXI listed on the 1st page. Slightly above your budget, but much newer. I have a 97. These boats are pretty dependable, but the older the boat the more stuff seems to be fixed. I'm speaking from experience in that department.

Sethro - That is interesting. I filled the boat with winter blend. Normally it's gone before it gets hot (April isn't that hot here). It was 90 yesterday and first time out. That is a new variable. Thanks to all for the help! TF

Mark - I'm not changing out the distributor, just wondering if the ignition module, cap and rotor are marine specific.

Sethro - I've had the boat for 12 years and it typically doesn't behave like this. My understanding was that vapor lock was on ongoing problem under certain conditions (get it hot and let it sit). This is a new problem, so I'm leaning against, but will look into it. Gar - Is the ignition module marine specific? It's at least 12 years old probably original with 1100 hours on it. The last time it behaved like this (300 - 400 hours ago) it was distributor cap and rotor,but cleaning it up fixed it temporarily (until I could replace). Yesterday cleaning had no effect so I'm thinking something additional might be going on.