First time boat owner with questions about 1998 Starcraft 1810 LX

[Wolfgheist]

Hello,

I just purchased a 1998 Starcraft 1810 LX and have lots of questions of what I should do first.

I was thinking it would be a good idea to change out the fluids as I have no idea what the previous owner actually did for maintenance. I see 4 fluids. Drive Oil, Motor Oil, something under the motor oil that just says put in proper oil. There is another one that says SAE J1171 Marine. What should I put in these and how should I drain them?

The fuel gauge does not work. The seller said it had been working. What should I look at to fix this? The seller took us out on the boat on the lake for around 3 hours and my kids tubed, and also used the kneeboard and wakeboard. The boat did great, but I could use some advice/tips on how to plane better. Bow was up in the air for 10 seconds or so before planing. Would a wake tower improve planing, or will that only give a better wakeboard experience?

When we finished and brought the boat up on the ramp and took out the drain plug a decent amount of water came out. The seller said the bilge pump must have stopped working and that it had been working. How do I test this?

Also, how do I tell which version my engine is? Trying to find manuals, and not sure if it is Alpha, Bravo etc...

 

[Wolfgheist]

Is there another forum I should try that anyone suggests?

 

[hugh g]

What is a decent ammount of water? The water in the bilge could be a leaking u-joint bellows. You need to find out why water is entering your boat. Raise the drive & check the bellows for cracks. If so, it's shot. The fuel gauge not working could be an electrical issue or a bad sender/ float in the tank. The seller should have fixed that bilge pump before he tried to sell it. That should tell you something.

 

[hugh g]

Is there another forum I should try that anyone suggests?

You're already on the best boating forum anywhere on the internet.

 

[Wolfgheist]

I did just get a Selco Mercruiser 1992-2000 Stern Drives Repair Manual.

 

[Wolfgheist]

What is a decent ammount of water? The water in the bilge could be a leaking u-joint bellows. You need to find out why water is entering your boat. Raise the drive & check the bellows for cracks. If so, it's shot. The fuel gauge not working could be an electrical issue or a bad sender/ float in the tank. The seller should have fixed that bilge pump before he tried to sell it. That should tell you something.

My first boat, so not sure how abnormal it was. When the plug came out, water seemed to come out forever, but it was probably 1-2 minutes. He told me a bilge pump is only like $25.

I did try to figure out how water was entering, but was unsuccessful. Had a good drain plug in, that does not let water out, so I assume that means it is not letting it in either. I checked the rubber bellows and they look solid and no cracks. They felt like good solid rubber when I poked them. I did not see any type of holes or cracks in the hull. Anywhere else to look?

I just went out last weekend with a friend that has a brand new Tige wakeboat and I was watching the tubers for when they fell off and the side water output from the bilge pump on the side seemed to spit out water fairly frequently so I was thinking it was normal? Sounds like it is not?

 

[southkogs]

Let's start with fluids: if this is a new-to-you boat, you need to do an engine oil & filter change (See your manual for the how-to). You also need to change your drive's gear lube (again, the Seloc manual will give you the how-to). Check your tilt trim fluid and fill.

You need to change the impeller unless you verified it was replaced within the last two years (some would say even just the last year). I would suggest a engine tune up as well. See HERE and HERE. All of your engine information is available right on your spark arrester and you can find most answers right with Mercruiser's site (your drive is an Alpha).

The water is concerning. Before I did too much else with the boat, I would take it to the lake, and back it down the ramp on the trailer until it's starting to float. Open the engine cover so you can see down into the bilge, and watch for the water coming in: At the end of a day of boating - even skiing and such - without turning the bilge pump on, you should not be seeing much more than a pint or so of water. I spent 5 hours on the lake on Sunday, had the dog swimming, one of my kids swimming, and I was getting in and out of the boat with scuba gear: never turned on the bilge pump and only had several ounces of water pour out when I pulled the drain plug on the trailer. - - You may have a leak / problem.

 

[southkogs]

I just went out last weekend with a friend that has a brand new Tige wakeboat and I was watching the tubers for when they fell off and the side water output from the bilge pump on the side seemed to spit out water fairly frequently so I was thinking it was normal? Sounds like it is not?

Wake boat is usually filling and emptying ballast tanks. That's more often what you're seeing pour out. Even with several people getting in and out of the boat, there should really only be enough water collecting in the bilge for the bilge pump to turn on once for a few moments.

Generally speaking, if the bilge pump is running more than a few moments in a day, and you can't explain where that little bit of water came from; then you've got some sort of a problem.

 

[JASinIL2006]

We tube a lot, and even with wet riders and swimmers coming in to the boat, I don't think we've ever had enough water collect in the bilge to activate the pump. When I pull the plug at the end of the day, I might have a steady stream of water for 10-15 seconds, before it dwindles to a trickle.

I agree with some of the comments above that you likely have water intrusion from somewhere else. The most concerning place would be from around the keyhole where the transom plate is attached. That could likely mean a rotten transom.

I think the best suggestion is to put the boat in the water and look for water coming in. A boroscope or even a smartphone or GoPro on a selfie stick would be very helpful in looking back behind the engine. I'd look for water first with the engine off, and after that, with the engine on.

Finally, your Seloc manual is not worth the paper it's printed on. Errors abound in that thing.

 

[poconojoe]

That's way too much water in your bilge.

My 18 ft bow rider's bilge is bone dry and has been like that all season.

Granted, it's only us two old fogies just taking a swim once in a while.

Your problem is either a leak or it's from rain intrusion.
Your boat needs to be protected from rain when not in use. I have found in the past that with only my mooring covers, I'll get rain intrusion. That's why I have a full cover over my mooring covers. Double covers keep my bilge bone dry. The mooring covers support the full cover, preventing pooling.
We had two torrential rains recently leaving somewhere a total of nearly 8 inches. My bilge is bone dry.

I would get it all dried out, then determine if it's indeed a leak or rain intrusion.

 

[Wolfgheist]

Let's start with fluids: if this is a new-to-you boat, you need to do an engine oil & filter change (See your manual for the how-to). You also need to change your drive's gear lube (again, the Seloc manual will give you the how-to). Check your tilt trim fluid and fill.

You need to change the impeller unless you verified it was replaced within the last two years (some would say even just the last year). I would suggest a engine tune up as well. See HERE and HERE. All of your engine information is available right on your spark arrester and you can find most answers right with Mercruiser's site (your drive is an Alpha).

The water is concerning. Before I did too much else with the boat, I would take it to the lake, and back it down the ramp on the trailer until it's starting to float. Open the engine cover so you can see down into the bilge, and watch for the water coming in: At the end of a day of boating - even skiing and such - without turning the bilge pump on, you should not be seeing much more than a pint or so of water. I spent 5 hours on the lake on Sunday, had the dog swimming, one of my kids swimming, and I was getting in and out of the boat with scuba gear: never turned on the bilge pump and only had several ounces of water pour out when I pulled the drain plug on the trailer. - - You may have a leak / problem.

Any recommendations for pump to remove engine oil?

 

[Wolfgheist]

We tube a lot, and even with wet riders and swimmers coming in to the boat, I don't think we've ever had enough water collect in the bilge to activate the pump. When I pull the plug at the end of the day, I might have a steady stream of water for 10-15 seconds, before it dwindles to a trickle.

I agree with some of the comments above that you likely have water intrusion from somewhere else. The most concerning place would be from around the keyhole where the transom plate is attached. That could likely mean a rotten transom.

I think the best suggestion is to put the boat in the water and look for water coming in. A boroscope or even a smartphone or GoPro on a selfie stick would be very helpful in looking back behind the engine. I'd look for water first with the engine off, and after that, with the engine on.

Finally, your Seloc manual is not worth the paper it's printed on. Errors abound in that thing.

Do you recommend another manual?

 

[Wolfgheist]

my trailer sits too low to lower the trim all the way. What do folks do? Roll trailer up on ramps/blocks?

 

[poconojoe]

my trailer sits too low to lower the trim all the way. What do folks do? Roll trailer up on ramps/blocks?

Even with the trailer tongue jack lowered? Really?

 

[poconojoe]

Your question on how to remove the engine oil....

There are many devices that you can use to suck the oil out of the dipstick tube.

I use a thing called Topsider. It's a blue metal tank with a hand pump on it. Once you get the suction started with the hand pump, the oil transfers on it's own to the blue tank.

I had a cheapo 12 volt device that was real messy and eventually crapped out. The Topsider works great.

Some engines have built on rubber hose permanently attached to the oil pan on a swivel. The hose gets pulled out through the garboard drain hole. It's a little slow draining, but it works. Mine has that, but I prefer sucking it out throught the dipstick tube. It's much quicker.

 

[Lou C]

First is find the cause of water getting in, ideally a water test should start with a totally dry bilge if possible
Second, that engine has the Merc one piece manifolds that are prone to crack and let water in the engine, I'd figure on replacing them with the 2 piece system. Those can kill engines if left on too long.

 

[Lou C]

That's way too much water in your bilge.

My 18 ft bow rider's bilge is bone dry and has been like that all season.

Granted, it's only us two old fogies just taking a swim once in a while.

Your problem is either a leak or it's from rain intrusion.
Your boat needs to be protected from rain when not in use. I have found in the past that with only my mooring covers, I'll get rain intrusion. That's why I have a full cover over my mooring covers. Double covers keep my bilge bone dry. The mooring covers support the full cover, preventing pooling.
We had two torrential rains recently leaving somewhere a total of nearly 8 inches. My bilge is bone dry.

I would get it all dried out, then determine if it's indeed a leak or rain intrusion.

You don't get mildew with 2 covers?

 

[Wolfgheist]

Here are some pics of the bellows and lower. I cannot lower it all the way, so need to raise trailer on blocks/ramps?

 

[Wolfgheist]

First is find the cause of water getting in, ideally a water test should start with a totally dry bilge if possible
Second, that engine has the Merc one piece manifolds that are prone to crack and let water in the engine, I'd figure on replacing them with the 2 piece system. Those can kill engines if left on too long.

What does replacing the manifold cost?

 

[hugh g]

my trailer sits too low to lower the trim all the way. What do folks do? Roll trailer up on ramps/blocks?

You need to figure put something or you won't be able to pull the drive I would think. How far down does the drive go? Btw, it's a bad idea to store the boat with the drive tilted up.