1st time owner, 1st post, PLEASE...be gentle!!!

[westofthey]

I have an 89 Wellcraft with a 350 Mercruiser, Alpha 1 outdrive. Like the title says I'm a total boat newb, 1st time owner! I have a few issues with my boat and it's going to the mechanic tomorrow. I was just wondering some possibilities of what I might expect from the mechanic.

1st, the boat is not holding an idle. It seems I can idle all day long on the muffs in the driveway but once I get on the water, totally different story. When I slow down from higher speeds it will die and when trailering or beaching the boat I can't shift from forward to neutral and into reverse without it dying. Starts fine, throttle up in neutral, and in gear and moving no problems. I have had the oil changed and I've replaced the fuel filter. I'm also running the boat at higher elevations (about 1000ft) than the previous owner. That's the only maintenance I've done to this point.

2nd, after doing some research I'm sure my bellows is missing as I can see the drive shaft running from the main engine into the outdrive. Also the shaft sounds as if it grinding/scraping on something.

3rd, and finally, when I throttle up to take off and stay on plane the engine rpms go way up...off the tach and don't come down when on plane. Don't know if it's the tach or if something is slipping causing the rpms to spike. It doesn't seem to be running as high as the tach says and it doesn't seem to be over revving.

Thanks for hanging in there for my long post. And thanking you in advance for you patience and replies. I realize that there could be multiple problems inside each problem I mentioned. Just wondering what I might possibly hear from the mechanic, just so he doesn't try and blow smoke in my direction.

 

[salty3rd]

Re: 1st time owner, 1st post, PLEASE...be gentle!!!

Check out this post posted by Don S.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?p=1930449#post1930449

This sounds like your shift/stalling problem. If you are outside the boat and you can see the driveshaft through the bellows then they will have to be replaced. The labor for a full bellows replacement is ussually not cheap. The grinding noise you hear is probably the gimble bearing; which is what the driveshaft passes through while going into the rear engine coupler. This probably failed due to the hole in the bellows. Without looking at the boat thats my best guess from your posting. I have done all of these myself to my alpha ones; and it requires alot of patience and it is not easy the first time. If you can afford it pay someone, or if you are ambitious give it a try; thier is some great info and some great people that can help on this site. Good luck.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: 1st time owner, 1st post, PLEASE...be gentle!!!

your describing possible carb issues,a definate shift cable issue and a VERY expensive drive issue.
if you can actually see the driveshaft expect a complete shaft assy,gimbal bearing and posibly a shaft coupler due to water damage.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: 1st time owner, 1st post, PLEASE...be gentle!!!

2nd, after doing some research I'm sure my bellows is missing as I can see the drive shaft running from the main engine into the outdrive.

you see it inside the boat?
or outside, looking up underneath?

the former is normal, latter an issue

excellent first post btw

 

[jtmarten]

Re: 1st time owner, 1st post, PLEASE...be gentle!!!

1st, the boat is not holding an idle. It seems I can idle all day long on the muffs in the driveway but once I get on the water, totally different story. When I slow down from higher speeds it will die and when trailering or beaching the boat I can't shift from forward to neutral and into reverse without it dying. Starts fine, throttle up in neutral, and in gear and moving no problems. I have had the oil changed and I've replaced the fuel filter. I'm also running the boat at higher elevations (about 1000ft) than the previous owner. That's the only maintenance I've done to this point.

2nd, after doing some research I'm sure my bellows is missing as I can see the drive shaft running from the main engine into the outdrive. Also the shaft sounds as if it grinding/scraping on something.

3rd, and finally, when I throttle up to take off and stay on plane the engine rpms go way up...off the tach and don't come down when on plane. Don't know if it's the tach or if something is slipping causing the rpms to spike. It doesn't seem to be running as high as the tach says and it doesn't seem to be over revving.

Thanks for hanging in there for my long post. And thanking you in advance for you patience and replies. I realize that there could be multiple problems inside each problem I mentioned. Just wondering what I might possibly hear from the mechanic, just so he doesn't try and blow smoke in my direction.

#1 - sounds like a bad lower shift cable.
#2 - where are you looking for the bellows? If it is missing, you'd sink very quickly. You should see the driveshaft if looking at the back of the engine in the bilge. The bellows is between the transom housing and bellhousing (not the traditional automotive bellhousing). Grinding sounds like a bad gimbal bearing.
#3 - sounds like you're not trimming properly, or the trim limit is way out of adjustment and you're trimming too high. If you hear the engine rpm increasing, its increasing whether the tach shows it or not. If the tach shows rpm increase, but you don't feel/hear it, its probably the tach. Maybe the tach is set for 4 or 6 cylinders.