Re: 115 Merc with Autoblend
I bought one new in '89 and put it on a 17' Ranger Fisherman...laid out like a fishing boat (with side console) but had the deep V pad hull like a basser. Loved that engine. <br /><br />Sold it to my Daughter after 10+ trouble free years when I gave up fishing.......temporarily. <br /><br />I loved to hook that puppy up and trim her out till the boat speed actually started falling off and listen to her sing......and the prop whacking the water (made a humming sound)......white foam everywhere. <br /><br />Had that boat over 55 mph when I first bought it. Dealer had installed a 13( ) x 24 Merc SS prop on it. It was a cold day and just me with no tackle and all (really light load). It was obvious that it was too much prop for what I wanted so I traded it for a 19" pitch so I could water ski and all. Not as fast, but still plenty of fun. Actually, 55 was too fast for that hull as it wanted to (did) chine walk on me.<br /><br />I had an autoblend unit that mounted on the bottom of the boat near the engine. It had a loud horn that could be tested (by turning the tank upside down). On one occasion I ran it low on oil (first time this happened....and last).<br /><br />I was on the lake and heard this horrible racket. It took me a couple of minutes to figure out what it was. Added oil and that was that. It did what it was supposed to do to protect the engine.<br /><br />Course with premix, there is no guessing. The oil is there and you know that the engine is going to get it.<br /><br />Good luck,<br /><br />Mark
