I just bought my first boat! I hope I am not hurting anything.

[mattallen]

Re: I just bought my first boat! I hope I am not hurting anything.

ok I will first get a tach and see what RPM I am running at and then I will replace the impeller, and carbs if they need it.

I will keep everyone updated.

Thanks for all the great info.

 

[mattallen]

Re: I just bought my first boat! I hope I am not hurting anything.

OK,

I installed the Tach. I put the boat in the water this morning and I got 4700 RPM's at WOT. Is that Normal?

Edit: My speed was 25-26 MPH WOT

 

[ezmobee]

Re: I just bought my first boat! I hope I am not hurting anything.

That's a pretty good start. You could probably go up (or down I always forget) a prop pitch to get it around 5000. I'm not sure what the WOT operating range is for your motor but you're close.

 

[mattallen]

Re: I just bought my first boat! I hope I am not hurting anything.

so more than likely I do not need to go through the carbs. I still need to change the impeller.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: I just bought my first boat! I hope I am not hurting anything.

If it starts and idles well and accelerates smoothly up through the throttle range I'd say you're good on the carbs. Definitely replace your impeller.

 

[Nandy]

Re: I just bought my first boat! I hope I am not hurting anything.

Mattallen, you did very good. Impeller change is a must in every motor you buy. So little money, reall easy to do and not doing it can ruin a motor in a heartbeat. Unlike what you might have read, you dont change your impeller when it stops pushing water. You change it every 2 to 3 years.

I have a 15 footer trihull with a 50hp mercury and it pushed from 25 to 27 mph depending on the wind.

You can eventually wear out a motor if the prop isn't right, but hey, we're talking about a 40 year old motor that cost $133!

What have you been cooking!!!??? If you find a good working 70 hp 1975 johnson/rude for under 200 let me know. Those motors are great and wont die easy.

 

[mattallen]

Re: I just bought my first boat! I hope I am not hurting anything.

here is an update for everyone.

This fall I have replaced my 70 hp Johnson with a 80 hp Mercury.
I have the new floor boards in but it was alot of work.
I still need to get the carpet in but Minnesota weather has made it so I can not do it till spring.
I am about half done with the rewiring on the boat and I still need to get my speakers mounted.
I other thing that needs to be done is that I need to replace the wood for the seats because they are rotting and breaking.

 

[waju]

Re: I just bought my first boat! I hope I am not hurting anything.

My first boat was an 82 17ft Peterborough with an 80 merc. It would max out at 35 mph with 2 adults and a toddler on board. I think the prop pitch was a little too much. My max RPM's were just a bit under minimum specs. Maybe it would have gone faster with a lower pitch. The boat did seem a bit heavy though.