voutback
08-03-2008, 01:35 PM
Three problems so far with this boat. Should have taken it for a test drive with the dealer when I bought it but was too rushed to get back to work... :(
First obvious problem was with ill fitting rad-a-cage. Cannot even take the thing down and put it up without a major amount of time and struggle. This operation has to be done everytime I take it in/out of the garage so it is a major PITA. After looking at it longer there are two possible things that are wrong. Either the mounting points of the rad-a-cage on the starboard side are incorrectly located. Or the attachment point of the aluminum tab (which has the helicoil in it) has been incorrectly welded in place. This might actually be the problem because it is obviously not aligned "straight" like the arm on port side. Rather than parking the boat at the dealer I'm thinking I may just get the tab cut and re-welded correctly. This would also mean not screwing with the mounting points on the hull itself.
***** Second problem is the temperature gauge. The gauge seemed to work correctly on the first outing in the boat. However now even without the key inserted it sticks straight up around the 135 mark and does not move from there when the key is turned to the "on" position. I did not make notes from the first outing but I am assuming that the temperature (boat sitting on the trailer with the engine cold) should be at the lowest reading.
I am going to check the grounding and follow Brian Raymond's advice on diagnosing this problem (handed out on other threads). Anybody else run into this problem? The engine is a Indmar 325 Assault (fuel injected).
Third problem is a slight hull vibration issue during low speeds (15 mph or so -- bow is up). The hull vibration/noise is coming from up front. Looks like multiple choice: 1) prop slightly off/not tight; 2) engine/prop out of alignment; 3) rudder is loose. Rudder seems to steer fine. However there was some paint chipped at the bottom end of the trailer (just below where the rudder is) when I picked up the boat. Perhaps the rudder is a bit loose and caused this paint chipping? Hopefully it was not (or previous) prop!
thx,
Voutback.
First obvious problem was with ill fitting rad-a-cage. Cannot even take the thing down and put it up without a major amount of time and struggle. This operation has to be done everytime I take it in/out of the garage so it is a major PITA. After looking at it longer there are two possible things that are wrong. Either the mounting points of the rad-a-cage on the starboard side are incorrectly located. Or the attachment point of the aluminum tab (which has the helicoil in it) has been incorrectly welded in place. This might actually be the problem because it is obviously not aligned "straight" like the arm on port side. Rather than parking the boat at the dealer I'm thinking I may just get the tab cut and re-welded correctly. This would also mean not screwing with the mounting points on the hull itself.
***** Second problem is the temperature gauge. The gauge seemed to work correctly on the first outing in the boat. However now even without the key inserted it sticks straight up around the 135 mark and does not move from there when the key is turned to the "on" position. I did not make notes from the first outing but I am assuming that the temperature (boat sitting on the trailer with the engine cold) should be at the lowest reading.
I am going to check the grounding and follow Brian Raymond's advice on diagnosing this problem (handed out on other threads). Anybody else run into this problem? The engine is a Indmar 325 Assault (fuel injected).
Third problem is a slight hull vibration issue during low speeds (15 mph or so -- bow is up). The hull vibration/noise is coming from up front. Looks like multiple choice: 1) prop slightly off/not tight; 2) engine/prop out of alignment; 3) rudder is loose. Rudder seems to steer fine. However there was some paint chipped at the bottom end of the trailer (just below where the rudder is) when I picked up the boat. Perhaps the rudder is a bit loose and caused this paint chipping? Hopefully it was not (or previous) prop!
thx,
Voutback.