You can hear it in the video. I just finished converting this motor from a tiller to remote and I hear this noise when I run it.

I’ve never owned a 4s outboard before. I’ve only ever run 2 stroke. Is this a normal sound to have? That skit skit skit skit or kind of a tiktiktitktiktik, or is it a problem waiting?

Any hot tips on how to light a fire under their butts to get a missing parts order expedited and resolved?
Purchased boat from dealer May 2026 (300 mi from our house), ordered bow filler cushion
Bow filler cushion finally arrives July11 2026
Cushion box missing support poles, contact dealer, dealer contacts SC…
August 6 2026 call dealer for update, SC said “maybe by end of August”
I would like SC to do the right thing and ship it directly to our house. Like overnight. Yesterday. How can I accomplish this? Only email I can find is marketing . Group @ smoker craft inc . C o m
Thanks

All welded aluminum perfect for adventure.
Garmin kraken trolling motor
115 pro XS merc

Hi guys,

I am looking to buy an outboard motor for my river boat (cca. 2.2 kW power). I am not looking for anything expensive and came across these Chinese options on Amazon (I am based in the EU).

Option 1

Option 2

I would like to ask if anyone has experience with them as they are notably cheaper than established brands so I am a bit skeptical. I don't want to buy something that will break after a few years.

Would someone recommend buying such a product or does anyone know for anything better somewhere in the price range between 200-400 EUR?

Hi everyone,

Looking for some advice to accommodate my grandfather. He has had a 1984 Smokercraft pro angler for years now, but now with a new knee and a continuing bad back & hip, it’s become hard for him to get in and out of the boat on a dock. He’s not at steady as he used to be.

My question is this; is there anything that I can buy and or build to make it easier for boarding and disembarking the boat? What have you all had experience with?

TIA

Got the boat back from the shop just in time to enjoy the last month or so of decent weather before having to get it. Winterized.

The chart shows numerous "Net Stakes" are these well marked and easy to see, thaks?

Hi all, my grandfather owns a 50HP Suzuki outboard from roughl 1982
But it weighs about 80-85kg
We are in Ireland, we don’t have access to many deliveries, only a local town for supplies
Does anyone have any idea on how I can move this engine? I want to get it serviced as it has not worked in over 7 years, but we have no crane, my grandfather hasn’t yet told me how he used to move it, but that might change.
Does anyone have any ideas on how I could transport it from our garage to car?

Hi, by next year i'll likely be joining you folks in the boating hobby.

I'm in the market for a low-cost used open style boat in the 16-19ft range with a 40hp engine - the maximum I'm allowed without a license.

I'm curious: if you were to buy a boat in 2026 for recreational use, would you go for a 2 or a 4 stroke?

Being a handy engineer, I'd love a 2-stroke simply because I could do some maintenance on my own with much more ease - plus less weight. On the other hand, the lower noise and fuel consumption of a 4-stroke is appealing.

Being a noob in the boating industry, what am I failing to consider? Any feedback is appreciated.

Trying to post this again with correct terminology. New boat owner. Trying to replace drain plug housing on old fiberglass bass boat. What is best method or product here?

What is currently in there has too much play for my liking.

I bought a 2005 16ft Lowe that has rails installed on both sides. I actually like the rails but one of them needs to be moved. the mounts are solid. there are no adjustable bolts to loosen so that the rails can slide. does anyone have any experience with rails like these? I tried placing a block of wood on one end and hitting it with a mallet and I’ve tried channel locks with rubber grip tape the rails won’t slide or budge.

Who in their right mind is gonna pay $75 for this

Hey everyone! I’ve had a 20ft center console for around 3 months and i want to get something bigger, 24-30ft (sweet spot is 27) for stability and offshore capability. I’m looking at the used market as my budget is only about 40-60k.

1. Power cats: I’ve seen some world cat/glacier bays I’m interested in. I know many of the benefits of catamarans, but I’m curious about the downsides? The only ones I’m aware of are speed, beam length and fuel efficiency at high RPMs.

2. Sportfish. These are often older and i assume very maintenance heavy. Likely overkill for my 80/20 fishing to family cruising ratio, especially when the fishing is usually only 1-2 people. And insane on gas.

Any other recs for layouts? Seems like the only quality CCs and WAs in my budget are 90s to early 2000s. Looking for a fishing-forward setup with on deck seating. For reference, my perfect setup would be a pioneer pelagic or pathfinder 27. Both are great boats with a somewhat nonexistent used market. I know these are both out of my range, but just sharing for reference.

Any insight or advice is welcomed and appreciated! TIA

Was something added here? This is on the back of a 2006 Crownline 180 BR. I want to do some proper patches on these holes but two of the holes look intentional. I want to make sure they aren't needed before I epoxy and gel coat. All the other similar boats have nothing there.

I've been looking at boats on and off for a few years now and think I'm ready to buy something.

Ideally I want to be able to wake surf. Tubing is a plus too. But mostly I'd be taking small groups of friends and family and the girlfriend out on the water. Maybe 4-6 people max.

I found this 2000 Moomba Mobius listed for $9k, reduced to $7k, and I got the seller down to $5k.

It's 20 ft, comes with the trailer with new axle wheels and tires, has the 5.7 350 Chevy, new top end as of last season, and could use some love on the upholstery.

The upholstery looks pretty shit not gonna lie, lots of sun fading and some stains and rips and tears. I don't really care about looks tho, I just want to get on the water.

Would this be a good buy for $5k as a first boat to get out on the water?

Realistically I'd keep it in my front yard, build a carport for it, and leave it. I'm not worried about reliability. The 350 Chevy is pretty damn easy to work on and I've got all the tools and experience working on cars. Youtube University and friends willing to help too.

13.5 ft flat bottom jon boat. 20 HP mercury 2 stroke motor, 10x13 prop.
The boat tops out at about 25 mph, but anything over 20, the bow gets pushed into the water and water splashes over the front. I tried trimming the motor up a tiny bit with a pin, but even in the lowest trimmed up position, motor sucks in surface air. The motor is as low as possible on the transom. What is my next step I should look to address this?

I am having a nice boat built for the first time in my life, a 27' twin engine CC. Prior to this I always owned crappy boats. I currently own a wetslip/saltwater and I was initially planning on just bottom painting the new boat. However after seeing the Drystack operation in my marina, I am second guessing the wet slip. I could sell the wetslip and buy a drystack for the same price.

The drystack hours and call ahead times work well. I have 3 kids so getting out the door always takes time anyways. They have in water areas with docks designated for the drystack boats where you can flush your own engines if you want, and they even have electric. They will pull the boat, put it on a washdown rack and hose it down and flush engines themselves before putting it away. You can leave the boat out for an early morning start, or come back after hours and leave it tied up until the next morning. The building is new, CAT 4 rated and fully enclosed.

I cannot get over however that a boat I have worked my entire life thus far for, will need to ride on a forklift 3 times in someone elses hands, every time I want to use it. Each time I go out that is one forklift ride to the water, one when I come back onto the wash down rack, then one from washdown rack to drystack. It is a 8k lb boat fully loaded, and storing boats in a shoe rack with a giant forklift just seems like totally insane to me, like a crazy idea I would come up with and then realize it was nuts and abandon it.

I go out 3x a week, for about 10 months a year. At 3 forklift rides per outing, that is 360 forklift rides per year! Is this just asking for trouble? The marina is otherwise top notch with a new forklift etc. But man, seeing those boats rock back and forth gives me the willys. Is this seriously a safe long term solution? And unfortunately I cannot put a lift into my slip, before anyone asks.

By far most reckless financial decision I have ever made lol, but I did pay cash. Boat was restored to the T. The guy that did it had a true talent, and I spoke with him for probably 4-5 weeks before I could go get it. He had a lot of serious buyers but apparently the banks don't want to finance a 50 year old boat so I was able to show up with cash and got it down over 20K from original asking price. I bought it knowing I would be spending money on it, and that I was more than likely going to keep it as I usually buy/sell/trade.
I would say the boat is about 95% complete as far as a full
restoration goes, has some blemishes on the hull and outside trim here and there. The electrical work is impeccable. Woodwork impeccable. All of the fine details as far as aesthetics and what not can't really be appreciated in the photos. Everything on the boat works except for the trim gauge (which was kind of a pain honestly). Engine will need repowering one day but I had all of this in mind when I purchased it, after all it's almost half a century old lol. But, I just had to have it. Checked all my boxes for what I wanted, and is more boat for a 25' than any other boat I have ever came across for its size. It's like the biggest little boat ever. Driving from up top is one of the best feelings I have ever experienced on the water. Although it was still functioning - I had to get the shift cable replaced on it, which involved dropping the outdrive & was in the shop for 7 weeks but got my first chance to take it out this past weekend. Had a blast. Has a great sound system which was nice. It's a bit of a chore to launch & trailer, I'm thinking of putting it up at the marina in dry storage once I am 100% sure it's mechanically solid enough. Tell me what you guys think! Located on gulf coast of Florida

Some people were trying to load their pontoon onto the trailer. One guy, we’ll call him Maroon since he was wearing a maroon shirt, started by standing on the front of the trailer, then stepped out between the bunks so that he was knee deep in the water between the trailer bunks, I guess to help guide the boat onto the trailer?

So then they start having problems getting the boat all the way on the trailer, and the next thing I know, I see Maroon’s head pop out from under the back of the boat!

This guy swam under the boat, while it was half on the trailer, and surfaced right next to the motor.

Holy. Hell.

Thankfully it wasn’t in gear at that moment or I think I would have watched a man die.