My typing skills won't allow me tell you all the details.
Here is a nice example. Couldn't find my starter, so what to do>>> go get a better one. As I investigate the setr up on the gears and what not I discover there is no way for me to check it or confirm and adjustments I may make. So I made this access hole. I hated to do it "less" than pulling the mtr and removing the bell housing:eek:
I hope it's not a big deal

OK...... I checked the alignment tool against another one this morining. Same size. I also slipped it in another coupler and it works. Apparently my coupler is worn and the teeth grew??
Anyway removed the engine again:eek:( so much for the hole I just board for the starter tooth access) , after work and replaced the coupler and reinstalled. I checked it again and bingo was his name o'
Now I can finish this job:D

nothin better feeling than finding and fixin the problem.
Way to go tom.

Finally Tom!!! good news is the best news...

Hey Tom , Did you get her wet yet?

I wish.
I keep running into little set backs. Needed new type of water pump to accomidate oil pan and re routing of hoses. Now the belt and hose is too short. Tried to find liquid teflon yesterday and parts store was out, couldn't set my fittings in the pump either:( also still waiting on a fitting for my fuel pump line.
It seems like it's always something. A few changed items had a domino effect.
I am pretty close though

That sucks Tom, thank god I live in the offshore capital of the world.

mounted the drive tonight. She went right in:D (thank goodness that's over)
Albert,
I was first turned on to offshore boats when I was a kid. We lived in Fort Lauderdale on a canal. NE 41st st. I use to run outside with my mom's camara and take pics of the bad rides that would go by the house. It was an Instant Adiction!!

After all kinds of little set backs and a family vacation, I got it wet.
Went out yesterday to test the boat. Had a few issues like a leaking fuel press guage, and the coil wire poped off. Man that made my heart skip when I was running and the engine died:p
My gps was acting up. It would bounce around and then drop to zero. Sometimes it would just stop climbing, then when backing off the stick it would jump up to where you thought it should have been. I'm going to move my antena before I go back out,(work fine last year) today w/ wife.
Honestly though, I couldn't tell much differents between the last engine and this one. I know that seem crazy but without some accurate gps I just couldn't tell.
It sounds great with lots of pop to the cam, pulls good, but as far as pulling right to 6k didn't happen. It may have crept up there if I played with the trim but I didn't want to hold it too long. 3 people and full tank. It would turn to 5k a little faster than it used to and then bump the trim and it would go to 5500 pretty nice. (gps was like on 50??) I pulled back to about 5k and the gps poped to mid 70's but not sure what that proves.
I was expecting a little more out of it to be honest. I thought it would pull right to 6 k like it did to 5k or 5,500
I do need to fix the gps problem before
I complain too much. It has been 10 month sence I ran the boat. Maybe my antisapation and expectations were a little too high.
Comments welcome

tom
congrats on at least getting it wet :D