New boat owner with a few questions

[GIJeff]

Hello! I'm new to boating and just purchased a 2006 Tahoe Q4 Sport with a 4.3L Mercruiser V6, and I have a few questions. My experience is very minimal, and I'm trying to educate myself, but I can't seem to find what the vent/grills are called on the back of my engine compartment/ventilation ports. I need to replace two of them, but can't figure out what they are called or where to get new ones.

Next, my trim guage isn't accurate (at trim all the way down, the guage is on the 1/4 mark; when it is all the way up and I begin to lower the prop, it takes it a second for the guage to even begin moving).

Lastly, the temp guage and the horn doesn't work. Does anyone know common causes to this? I'm not mechanically inclined, but I have some friends who are who can help and I'd like to learn how to fix a lot of these issues on my own.

Thanks for the help!

 

[AviatorJim]

Re: New boat owner with a few questions

The vents you will have to get from the Tahoe dealer, or you can check with any of the marine parts dealers for an equivalent vent. They are pretty standard.

The horn and temp gauge are electrical problems. You need a guy with a multimeter and a couple of long jumper wires, who knows how to use them to troubleshoot it for you.

The trim sender is on the side of the transome gimbal. I think it is the right side. You loosen the 2 screws, and then you can rotate the sender to get the gauge to math the position the trim is in. But it doesn't really matter, because you run the trim every time you use the boat, and will need to learn how to pick the right position. The gauge tells you where it is, not that it is in the right position.

Good luck.
--Jim

 

[GIJeff]

Re: New boat owner with a few questions

Thanks Jim! Would you happen to know the name of those vents? Been searching all over the internet and can't figure it out.

Also, any recommendation on how to easily clean/unclog the drains in the cooler and the cockpit area? Im going to assume Drano probably wouldnt be a good idea right?

 

[AviatorJim]

Re: New boat owner with a few questions

Unclog the drains with a coathanger and compressed air, or you can try to blast it out with a garden hose too. But you risk blowing the hoses off. But then if you blow the hoses off, you were going to have to take them off to clear the clog anyway. Any never put draino down your sinks. It isn't clogged with hair, soap scum, and bacon grease.

And try http://www.iboats.com/Exterior-Marine-Vents for your vent. They have a good selection, but I've got no idea what is on your boat. A little support for the folks who provide the forum is always a fair exchange.

--Jim

 

[PrinceValium]

Re: New boat owner with a few questions

As far as the vents...why not call the dealer for the part number??

 

[whmoore18]

Re: New boat owner with a few questions

I never even look at my trim gauge lol.....to be honest I never looked to see if it works honestly. You trim your boat to what gives it the best ride where the how is set just right for water conditions. If you got rough water put the nose up to keep it from getting water over the bow if its flat get the bow down and just let it ride.....