Convert all of that over to LED. Your batteries will thank you. I can run my lights on for a couple of days and still be able to start up the engine. I've converted everything but the docking lights to LED and it's been the best bang for the buck upgrade I've done. Amazon.com is your friend for LED lamps and bulbs!

I couldn't agree more. I did all 74 bulbs in my toyhauler for less than $30 last year. It only had 1 group 31 battery and they could stay on for days and still have enough juice to start the generator. Do you know what size te bulbs are in all of the courtesy lights in the cockpit area? I didn't get around to pulling those yet. It's been raining all day and down in the high 30s so I'm done outside today.

I also have a battery plan that I know will make some of you cringe due to thw extra weight. This is a heavy boat so no need in even teying to make it be fast. If ir does 55 im happy. I will move both of the dinky little oreilly 650 CA batteries to the right side then put 2 6v 2200 series batteries on the left in a series. Those will be on selection 2. The others will be on selection 1 with a separate switch between them. That way I have 2 isolated oriellys cranking batteries hot at all times. The 2200 batteries can run the stereo and lighting junk for hours at a time with no need to crank and charge. I have a 200 amp stinger alternator I plan to mount also.

this. superbrightleds.com has been my go-to for my conversion. have about $60 into retrofit bulbs (white cabin floor and storage bulbs, blue cockpit bulbs, white engine compartment bulbs, and red dash bulbs). additionally i replaced the lights behind the cabin seat headrests with blue LED strips, all three cabin overhead fixtures with white LED fixtures, as well as added a strip of blue LEDS in the engine compartment.


http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...35B0C644B1.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...AE55DAF74D.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...5DB35EEEBE.jpg

What bulb numbers are the courtesy lights?

i'm guessing you mean the four in the cockpit area, which are 1142.

regarding the gauge lights, i had to grind down the flare of the base where it meets the clear part, as they wouldnt fit in the housings as-is. also, there isn't a noticeable light output increase from the gauges... short of new gauges, i'm not sure how to improve this. i may look into it in the spring again.

You went out and got all of the info. Thank you sir that was very generous. I'll get some ordering going on.

glad to help, but i'd be lying if i didn't say i just opened my order history on superbrightleds.com.. :drink:

My VDO gauges were getting flaky so I replaced everything with Gaffrig. The rub is that the senders require replacement too, but they are bright and pretty accurate.

I'll see how mine work. The volt gage is way off. It reads 10 with the engine off. Running shows 12. Check I at batteries and it's 12.2 and 14.3

Probably corrosion at the leads or bus bars. Mine did the same, and I though I had a weak alternator. Not the case; I now see 14.5V running after cleaning up the connections. The voltage on the gauge matches the output at the batteries.

It is crazy to me to see this 27 year old wiring that has little to no corrosion on it. I have checked the buss bars just not really dug too deep into it. Them fresh water states have it made lol

So the speedometer tying into the outdrive how does that work? Is it a pita to get to?

It's a fitting that goes into the lower just underneath the bellows on the Bravo drive. Pretty easy to mess with I think.

The corrosion happens at the connection itself. My bars showed a little bit of tarnish so I cleaned everyone up with steel wool.

Ten4 ill gander at it. Next question. All of my outboards have a torque tab or a flat anode above the prop. This just has a hole. Shouldn't it have a flat anode in it?

Yes, there should be a flat anode up in that space.

https://www.amazon.com/Martyr-CMBRAV.../dp/B000N9ZT9A

yeah, mine was missing too... and the outdrive showed it unfortunately. i originally bought an anode kit but quickly discovered the only one my outdrive originally had was the disc above the prop.. no trim cylinder anodes, and no fore position anode. so i returned it for just the one we are/were missing.

EDIT: kit i mentioned was what Tom shows above. i returned it.

Yep I thought so. Odd that it doesn't have one there but It has the 2 on the trim cylinders.

The trim cylinder anodes are for later drives. Our drives (unless they have been replaced with newer units) rely on the Mercathode system as well as the sacrificial disc above the prop. You can add the trim and horseshoe anodes, but you'll need to do some drilling and tapping, at least from what I understand.

that's the consensus i came to as well. being a trailer queen in exclusively fresh water i opted to not worry about it.

It has the trim cylinder anodes so I should be able to just do the disk and be good correct?

Yep!

Red, now that you are digging into the wiring, I have the Formula wiring diagram for that boat. If you would like a copy shoot me your email address and I will send to you.
Congrats on your new boat. Looks Great!

Thank you! That would be a great tool to have. Ill send you a pm.

That reminds me.... did you find the big red binder that should have come with the boat from Formula? Mine was buried in the cabin when I bought her from the second owner. The original order and title work, bill of sale with trade from 1989, all the wiring and documentation from Formula as well as all of the service records from the boat up until 2009 were in this book! Quite the find, history-wise.

I wish. I'm not so lucky though. I am technically the 4th owner. The man I got from bought it from his Buddy (2nd owner) when he got in a bind.

Tom I sent you a message about avatar images and signatures.

my boat had the book as well, was a nice surprise when i got there! (seller didn't mention he had it). cool to look at the test tank data signed off by hand, all the original equipment owners manuals, wiring diagrams, etc. i printed off a copy of the moisture survey the PO had done as well and put in there.

Red, email sent.

Might want to see about finding that book!

Responded

Congrats on the "new" boat! Looks amazing! Interestingly enough, we were going through a storage closet a few weeks ago and found my old Formula "red binder" from my 1989 242SS I used to have. Also, I have the original rear camper enclosure in perfect condition (looks like it was never used). I was kinda hanging on to them for my next Formula, but it looks like I'll be buying a totally different style boat. Let me know if you are interested.

Formula1, I am interested in the camper canvas I have a 242 SS Let me know. Thanks

pm me your email address and I'll get you some pics tomorrow and we'll go from there.

Formula1, your PM box is full.

Formula1 i am definitely interested! !! I see glen got dibs before I did but if it falls through I want a shot at it as I plan to stay on this rig over the weekends.

Yeah, that was quick!

Funny, I thought I emptied some of the older PM's out some earlier....oh well, I'll work on that. Meanwhile, here is my email...
[email protected]

Email sent sir.