New boater questions

[Sgt Turpin USMC Retired]

I’m new to boating, I had a few questions about my motor and stuff. I have a 1990 23 nova xl. It has a 454 Mercruiser and bravo 1 drive.
1st is 213 engine hours a lot? It’s a 1990 but the motor is a 1988. At least that’s what the shop put on the paper.
2nd is thru hull exhaust good? I had the boat since last sept but i just realized today that it’s has that. Cause I noticed the exhaust bellow was missing. Don’t have to have that if I have thru hull?
3rd my drive oil reservoir looks black, I’m assuming I need to change it. So does that mean I should suck up all the fluid from there and then drain the rest out the bottom screw?
4th is all I have to do is hook up my ear muffs and turn water on to start the motor? I thought my batteries would be dead but it has two and a switch. It must work cause there not dead.

Thanks

 

[AShipShow]

1- its not "low hours" but for the year, thats pretty low...
2 - thats entirely your opinion... thru hull is pretty annoying to me.. its sounds cool when you sit there idling but after being up on plane crossing the lake, your gonna get sick of it pretty quick in my opinion...
3 - yes, change it... just remove the cap from the reservoir and the bottom plug on the drive and the reservoir should drain out thru the drive.
4- yes, make sure your hose is on full, and only run at idle for as short a time as possible. you don't want to rev the motor as your hose won't be able to supply the impellar as much water as it wants...

 

[dingbat]

You can count on 30 year old rubber components (bellows, vacuum hoses, fuel lines, etc.) failing in short order once put back into service.

Suggest addressing the problem now before filling your bilge up water or a tank full of gasoline.

 

[tpenfield]

:welcome:

i suspect the hours may be after a rebuild. I’d be surprised if they were original hours

thru hull is fine - might be too loud unless it has silencers

outdrive oil is an emerald green- it may look dark

water to the muffs and see if it will start

 

[garbageguy]

I’m new to boating, I had a few questions about my motor and stuff. I have a 1990 23 nova xl. It has a 454 Mercruiser and bravo 1 drive.
1st is 213 engine hours a lot? It’s a 1990 but the motor is a 1988. At least that’s what the shop put on the paper.
2nd is thru hull exhaust good? I had the boat since last sept but i just realized today that it’s has that. Cause I noticed the exhaust bellow was missing. Don’t have to have that if I have thru hull?
3rd my drive oil reservoir looks black, I’m assuming I need to change it. So does that mean I should suck up all the fluid from there and then drain the rest out the bottom screw?
4th is all I have to do is hook up my ear muffs and turn water on to start the motor? I thought my batteries would be dead but it has two and a switch. It must work cause there not dead.

Thanks

First, thanks for your service.
Looks like your questions have been answered. I think your boat is somewhat of what I might call a "go-fast boat", so through-hull exhaust is typical. There is "captain's call" on some, that allows you to switch to exhausting above and below the waterline, changing how loud it is. Exhaust bellows, in my opinion, are not critical - I sometimes run with a compromised one. I've never had through-hull exhaust in a mercruiser IO, wouldn't be surprised there's no bellows.

I like Wellcraft's, if you could post any pics of her, that would be great. Suggest getting some overall shots, then closer on things you may have a question about - that'll help you get better help.

 

[Sgt Turpin USMC Retired]

Hello thank you for the responses. Here are some pics of the motor and the transom of the boat. Question.. the shop who winterized it said that it was a bravo 1 1.50. But I heard the bravo 1’s don’t have a drain plug at the bottom of the drive to drain the oil. This one does?? Also BIG question I hooked up muffs to the boat. It’s started pretty easy and started shootig out this pink liquid which I assume is antifreeze. But after about 2 min it was hardly shooting any water out. So I turned it off. I’ve heard on some bravo’s that the water pick up it is through the drive but somewhere else. So now I am afraid to put it in the water. Please someone give me some advice as this is my first boat and I am freaking out.

 

[kenny nunez]

Sarge, Look under the boat to see if there is a suction grill, to us Squids they are known as a sea chest. If there is none try running it some more on the flush out. Also try to find out when the sea water pump was last serviced.

 

[Sgt Turpin USMC Retired]

Flush out?? Is there a hose I can hook a garden hose up to around the motor some where? I found a Perko littl tool under the seat but i can’t locate anything

 

[Sgt Turpin USMC Retired]

Also is this a bravo 1? I heard the drain plug for the drive fluid is behind the prop. But mine has one at the bottom around the nose. I would take a pic. But this dang thing is telling me it’s too big?? It’s just one pic.