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May The Uniforce Be With You
by
Steve Horsfall
I have a 1988 19-foot Celebrity Crownline with
a damaged electronic-style control readout panel made by Uniforce
Electronics. I would like to buy a new unit but I can't get
in contact with Celebrity Boats or Uniforce. Otherwise, I
will have to install all new gauges (tach, speed, fuel, etc.),
which will be fairly expensive and complicated. Can you help
me locate a replacement module?
P. Watsonn (e-mail)
Celebrity Boats has changed hands several
times but you can contact Uniforce at: Uniforce Technologies,
P.O. Box 5786, North Little Rock, AR 72119, (501) 945-3283
Fax (501) 945-3935.
READER FEEDBACK
Some time ago, there was a letter in this column from a reader
who required a schematic for a Seaport marine radio. I now
have a similar problem. I am in search of a schematic for
a Unimetrics Seahawk 69, which was on the market from 1988
to 1991. Could you ask your readers if anyone has a copy of
the parts list, or better yet, a copy of the complete book?
Ralph Awrey
Utterson, ON
How about it readers? Send your reply
to stephen.horsfall@sympatico.ca
(Top)
LEAN MACHINE
I have an older 65 hp Evinrude outboard that starts and idles
just fine. However, when I engage the forward gear and push
the throttle, the motor begins to stall out. I usually have
to pull back on the throttle or put it in neutral to prevent
it from stalling. But, if I rev the engine a little before
putting it in forward gear, I usually get underway fine. I
would like to have this problem fixed since I'm not sure this
is all that great for the gears.
M. Hubert (e-mail)
Sounds like the carburetion is a little
lean on the idle mixture. Remove the cowl, then look for three
plastic plugs on the front of the air box. Pry out the plugs
and turn the idle mixture screws counter-clockwise about 1/8
of a turn at a time. Be sure to retry your in-gear acceleration
after each adjustment.
Turn each screw the same amount every time. If, at any time,
you lose count of the number of turns, gently turn in clockwise
until the screw stops, then back off about 1-1/4 of a turn
as a starting point. Usually 1-1/2 turns out from the seat
is about right. The idle may not necessarily be as smooth
here, but there should be no hesitation.
CRUISER SEARCH
I am thinking of buying a cabin cruiser but I'm not sure the
rest of my family will enjoy long trips on the water. I was
thinking about renting a cruiser first to see how my family
will enjoy this type of boating. Can you direct me to a marina
in Ontario that would rent a cruiser for a week with enough
room to sleep five?
D. Hogg (e-mail)
Your best bet for this kind of information
is to contact the Ontario Marine Operators' Association (OMOA).
They offer a comprehensive guide of marinas throughout the
province, with details on available services. Call (888) 547-6662
or visit www.omoa.com (Top)
PLASTIC FANTASTIC
I saw a Piranha composite propeller with interchangeable blades
at the Toronto International Boat Show. Have there been any
comparison tests on these props (composite vs. aluminum and
stainless)? Where can I find that information?
B. Ellery (e-mail)
The performance of a composite propeller
is about the same as an aluminum version. However, composite
models transmit less shock to the internal drivetrain of the
sterndrive or outboard lower unit gear case when they hit
a submerged object. They are also non-corrosive if used in
salt or brackish water.
I have heard some reports that composite blades have broken
for no apparent reason. Some boaters have also said that when
these props hit a rock, the damage is so severe they don't
even have limp-home capability. When a blade is damaged it
has to be replaced. The cost of repairing an aluminum propeller
is about half its replacement value, so this can be a concern.
(Got
a question, a problem, or do you need some info on elusive
engine or boating equipment? Drop me a line c/o Power Boating
Canada, fax me at (613) 236-0700 or e-mail:
stephen.horsfall@sympatico.ca) (Top)
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