New boater from Pgh, Pa

[RetiredSoldier919]

Hi all. After years of longing for a boat, I finally took the plunge. I got a 1986 Four Winns Horizon 190 on Craigslist for $2500. I took it out this weekend, and it ran fine for the most part. Here is a picture of my boat:

 

[NYBo]

Re: New boater from Pgh, Pa

Welcome to iboats!

You've come to the right place for all things boating. And thank you for your service.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: New boater from Pgh, Pa

Welcome to iboats from one retired soldier to another

I will move this to where it will get the best responses.

Okay, so what does "ran fine for the most part" mean?


We have just about everything you will need from repair advice for your Mercury here http://forums.iboats.com/forumdisplay.php?f=25

to seriously just about everything. iboats has a great store to at the top of the page. Everything for your boat is now aftermarket since many companies do not maintain or sell replacement OEM parts after 3 years.

Welcome. Thanks for your service.

Bob Retire Regular Army

 

[Lakes84]

Re: New boater from Pgh, Pa

Welcome from another retiree (Air Force). If you were some sort of technical guy in the military....owning a used boat will put those skills to good use. Everyone here is awesome and are ready and willing to lend a helping hand. Enjoy!!! -Joe

 

[aspeck]

Re: New boater from Pgh, Pa

Welcome from central PA. Great bunch of guys and a few gals here at your service to help you boat run better and brighten your spirits.

 

[gibletts]

Re: New boater from Pgh, Pa

"R2-D2, it is you, It Is You" - C3PO ..........yep im driving the boat. ha!

 

[RetiredSoldier919]

Re: New boater from Pgh, Pa

Welcome to iboats!

You've come to the right place for all things boating. And thank you for your service.

It's been an honor to serve.

 

[RetiredSoldier919]

Re: New boater from Pgh, Pa

Welcome to iboats!

You've come to the right place for all things boating. And thank you for your service.

Welcome to iboats from one retired soldier to another

I will move this to where it will get the best responses.

Okay, so what does "ran fine for the most part" mean?


We have just about everything you will need from repair advice for your Mercury here http://forums.iboats.com/forumdisplay.php?f=25

to seriously just about everything. iboats has a great store to at the top of the page. Everything for your boat is now aftermarket since many companies do not maintain or sell replacement OEM parts after 3 years.

Welcome. Thanks for your service.

Bob Retire Regular Army

Well it was hard to start. Had to use a spray into the carb to get her running. But I really think it was due to my inexperience and stale fuel. The fuel was in the tank for over a year. I'll add some Stay-Bill.

 

[RetiredSoldier919]

Re: New boater from Pgh, Pa

Welcome from another retiree (Air Force). If you were some sort of technical guy in the military....owning a used boat will put those skills to good use. Everyone here is awesome and are ready and willing to lend a helping hand. Enjoy!!! -Joe

I was Artillery 13B. So I know how to destroy stuff. But I've always been mechanically skilled. Just need to learn my remote controller.

 

[RetiredSoldier919]

Re: New boater from Pgh, Pa

"R2-D2, it is you, It Is You" - C3PO ..........yep im driving the boat. ha!

Everyone seems to pick up on that.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: New boater from Pgh, Pa

Well it was hard to start. Had to use a spray into the carb to get her running. But I really think it was due to my inexperience and stale fuel. The fuel was in the tank for over a year. I'll add some Stay-Bill.

Don't use starter fluid on a 2-stroke if you can avoid it. It temporarily strips the lubrication from everything. Use some pre-mix in a spray bottle instead. Sta-bil won't fix bad gas, just help keep good fuel fresh longer.

While you may need a carb clean-up or rebuild, try running some SeaFoam through it which sometimes helps. You can get a regular can to add to the gas and also an aerosol version you can spray right into the carbs. If they're real dirty it probably won't do much for you but I was recently having a high-speed hiccup with mine that a good SeaFoaming seems to have resolved. I've vowed to take better care of treating my gas and install a water separating fuel filter from now on.

Good luck with your new boat. I have not boated in your area but my sister and brother-in-law live in Cranberry and have boated a good bit with friends of theirs on the three rivers and it looks like a great place.

 

[markheck1]

Re: New boater from Pgh, Pa

Don't use starter fluid on a 2-stroke if you can avoid it. It temporarily strips the lubrication from everything. Use some pre-mix in a spray bottle instead. Sta-bil won't fix bad gas, just help keep good fuel fresh longer.

Definitely good advice there, we get chainsaws and trimmers in all the time that are smoked, and smell like starting fluid.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: New boater from Pgh, Pa

I was Artillery 13B. So I know how to destroy stuff. But I've always been mechanically skilled. Just need to learn my remote controller.

Okay so I know not to say Repeat

On the controller, when you push in the key it should activate the "choke" Now on many of the Mercury motor's there may not be a choke flap but a simple solenoid that injects some extra fuel into the intake. If it is not functioning then starting will be a pain in the butt. As mentioned above a small pray bottle with some of the gas oil mix in it sprayed into the carbs with the throttle held open so it gets past the carb flap into the intake.

I had a split career between the engineer's and recruiting

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: New boater from Pgh, Pa

Hey there Pittsburgher. I was born in Youngstown, and raised in East Liverpool an 'nat. I have been to Pittsburgh on the water once, in 1999, from Chester, WV. Three Rivers was still there. Photographed the sub docked on the northside of the river, is it still there? We tied up and went to the Strip District for lunch. I loved visiting the Burgh by boat. ( I HATE driving there!) Only wish PNC Park had been built then, so I could have seen it from the Allegheny.

Are you boating in the river mostly?

And more importantly, Is Ben's arm ok? Do you think the Stillers can beat the Ravens, at least once?!

 

[Thalasso]

Re: New boater from Pgh, Pa

Hey there Pittsburgher.Welcom aboard. Where at in Pgh do you boat? What area you from. I'm down near Ambridge.

 

[RetiredSoldier919]

Re: New boater from Pgh, Pa

Don't use starter fluid on a 2-stroke if you can avoid it. It temporarily strips the lubrication from everything. Use some pre-mix in a spray bottle instead. Sta-bil won't fix bad gas, just help keep good fuel fresh longer.

While you may need a carb clean-up or rebuild, try running some SeaFoam through it which sometimes helps. You can get a regular can to add to the gas and also an aerosol version you can spray right into the carbs. If they're real dirty it probably won't do much for you but I was recently having a high-speed hiccup with mine that a good SeaFoaming seems to have resolved. I've vowed to take better care of treating my gas and install a water separating fuel filter from now on.

Good luck with your new boat. I have not boated in your area but my sister and brother-in-law live in Cranberry and have boated a good bit with friends of theirs on the three rivers and it looks like a great place.

Thanks for that great advice. Today I tried starting it with a muff on it. I followed the operator's manual this time.(found it online). It's amazing how much easier it starts when you use the throttle(disengaged of course) to start it. I didn't rev the engine, as I already read that you should'nt run it on a muff more than idle for brief periods. Thanks again.

 

[RetiredSoldier919]

Re: New boater from Pgh, Pa

Hey there Pittsburgher. I was born in Youngstown, and raised in East Liverpool an 'nat. I have been to Pittsburgh on the water once, in 1999, from Chester, WV. Three Rivers was still there. Photographed the sub docked on the northside of the river, is it still there? We tied up and went to the Strip District for lunch. I loved visiting the Burgh by boat. ( I HATE driving there!) Only wish PNC Park had been built then, so I could have seen it from the Allegheny.

Are you boating in the river mostly?

And more importantly, Is Ben's arm ok? Do you think the Stillers can beat the Ravens, at least once?!

I'm a big Steelers fan, but not much of a #7 fan. So I don't worry about his arm. I'm sure when RayRay retires the Steelers will beat the Ravens. I've only been boating once, and that was on the Mon. Still a noob.

 

[RetiredSoldier919]

Re: New boater from Pgh, Pa

Hey there Pittsburgher.Welcom aboard. Where at in Pgh do you boat? What area you from. I'm down near Ambridge.

I am originally from Pgh(Beechview). Came back after 21 yrs in the Army. Love the Burgh(Steelers). I've only been out on theMon once. Before that I only rented pontoons on local lakes.

 

[RetiredSoldier919]

Re: New boater from Pgh, Pa

Okay so I know not to say Repeat

On the controller, when you push in the key it should activate the "choke" Now on many of the Mercury motor's there may not be a choke flap but a simple solenoid that injects some extra fuel into the intake. If it is not functioning then starting will be a pain in the butt. As mentioned above a small pray bottle with some of the gas oil mix in it sprayed into the carbs with the throttle held open so it gets past the carb flap into the intake.

I had a split career between the engineer's and recruiting

Thanks for the advice. Steel on target!

 

[riverdad]

Re: New boater from Pgh, Pa

Wow, just signed up my own self and found your thread. Also a Burgh local.
First, thanks for your service.
My own boating has been on the upper Allegheny since I bought near Emlenton.
I have been on the 3 rivers a few times and I know the Mon has some nice pools.
Congrats on your new boat; I have owned mine since its birth; 1996. but recently am struggling with problems.
Most probably due to age but many due to my boys[4] constant hours fishing/floating.
I have lurked around intermittently but am a new member myself hoping for info and parts access.
People here seem anxious to help everyone. I hope we both find what we need.