Spectrum boat manuels

[jjshovel]

looking for manuels for spectrum 1906. Thanks

 

[GA_Boater]

Howdy.

It's doubtful you will find a manual for the boat. You should look for manuals for the motor.

Are you needing any particular help?

 

[ahicks]

Agree no manuals, but if you have specific questions, somebody should be able to give you a hand or point you in the right direction.

 

[Scott Danforth]

first, welcome aboard

next, out of the hundreds of thousands of boat manufacturers that have sold boats over the past century, only about 4 that I know of have ever printed manuals

Manuals for boats are generally a listing of servicing dealers and a picture showing labeling the pointy end as the bow and the end with the prop as the stern

the engine operation and maintenance manual would have been included as well as the manual for the trailer and the stereo.

your spectrum is a tinny with an outboard. you will need the service manual for that particular outboard

 

[Old Ironmaker]

I have always wondered why boat manufacturers offer zilch in the way of manuals. Any incite all?

 

[Scott Danforth]

I have always wondered why boat manufacturers offer zilch in the way of manuals. Any incite all?

because 95% of what you need a manual for is the motor and the other 5% you can figure out. besides that, there isnt enough good documentation to put in a manual. half the time interior layout "drawings" are chalk outlines on the shop floor that became a rough sketch.

most of the non-drive components such as hardware, etc is sourced thru a consortium of suppliers, so hardware that may be Garelick this week may be Accon next week.

beyond that, wiring colors are standard (no need to publish a schematic)

and the extra overhead of a technical writing staff would simply add cost to the boat.

 

[ahicks]

Yup, agreed. Pretty much standard wiring colors. Plus, the need for rewritten manuals would be near constant as most manf's change things like part sources from one production run to the next. Add to that the list of dealer installed options and that would make any manual a waste of paper.

RV's pretty much the same story. You generally get a pile of manuals with one of those that's a foot tall - but not one of them will cover the coach itself.

 

[JimS123]

I have always wondered why boat manufacturers offer zilch in the way of manuals. Any incite all?

My first store bought boat was a 1971 Silverline and it came with a "Manual", which showed some basic attributes such as the electrical system and how to set it up on a trailer (keel rollers up tight, bunks loose - that was the style back then) and of course rules of the road, safe handling, etc. There were no packages back then, so no other info. The Evinrude option came with the usual outboard motor owner's manual.

My 1984 Stingray ONLY came with the standard Mercruiser Manual for that particular engine.

In later years, a Starcraft tinny had almost nothing except the lifetime hull and deck (floor) warranty certificates.

Now, turn to 2017...My Boston Whaler came with a zippered sunbrella pouch that contained an unbelievable amount of information. The Owner's Manual was a good 100 pages and covered the use and maintenance of every onboard system. There were even full page blueprints of the electrical system, plumbing and steering. Additionally, there were separate installation and maintenance manuals for the steering system, livewell, electrical lights, horn, Sonar / Depthfinder, etc. etc. On top of that a trailer manual was provided, including a parts diagram / blueprint with part numbers in case you ever needed to order a part. Of course, the standard Mercury Engine manual was also included.

My SeaRay has all the same stuff in their pouch, plus a second "General Information Manual" that is quite similar to the Safety manual you would get if you took a USCG Safety Course.

Ditto for my Jayco RV Travel Trailer, though I think the pouch is something other than Sunbrella.

In contract, my Toro Snowblower came with a link to their website. If you wanted the manual you had to print it out yourself.

So, I guess some companies actually DO care enough to go that far with their customers. When I sold the Stingray I gave all the documentation to the new owner. Even if a boat comes with a book new, probably few people will pass it along.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

Road vehicle manuals explain how to use a seatbelt. A $75,000.00 20 foot pleasure boat doesn't explain what a kill switch is and how to use it. I guess boat manufacturers assume if you have the money to waste on a boat you must know that already, as Scott states the other 5%.

Most manuals for consumer goods are now available only on line to reduce costs greatly. The last few big ticket things we bought the operating manuals are only available on line including my new TV. Boat manufacturers should join the 21st century.

edit: Why bother. guys (we) don't read them anyway.

 

[JimS123]

And just another thought...

Back in the day on the delivery date, after you paid for it, they would lead you out in the backyard and if you were lucky you got help hitching the boat up to the back of the car.

Today (at least for SeaRay and Boston Whaler), they won't allow the boat off the property until you have taken a sea trial and can demonstrate you know how to operate the boat.

Half of my professional career as an Engineer was writing manuals on how to efficiently and safely operate the equipment. You can be sure that that's what In do when I Buy something. Of course, I'm not the 5%, I'm the dinosaur. I also pay low insurance rates.

And BTW my 2 recent manual DO explain the Kill switch, how to use it and why its important. Maybe some of the lower brands don't because they figure their customers don't read.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

And just another thought...



Half of my professional career as an Engineer was writing manuals on how to efficiently and safely operate the equipment. .

Beside our North Tonawanda connection that was one of my chores before I retired. I reviewed and rewrote hundreds of operational procedures that an operator could understand. I actually asked the folks that did the job to help me write them.

I'll be in NT on the 26th for a family get together. Sheridan Drive where herds of Deer crossing the street is a normal thing. I'm not talking a few Deer, I'm talking more than 10 at a time. They come right up to my Uncle Ang's patio door and tap on it looking for apples.

 

[JimS123]

Having the actual user sign off on a manual is the only way to do a proper job.

Deer season in NY ended a couple weeks ago so there is no excuse now. Besides, hunting is not allowed near Sheridan. But as they say, we need pictures...

 

[Old Ironmaker]

Having the actual user sign off on a manual is the only way to do a proper job.

Deer season in NY ended a couple weeks ago so there is no excuse now. Besides, hunting is not allowed near Sheridan. But as they say, we need pictures...

We think alike. I asked the operators how do you really do it? Not how we say it should be done. It was a novel idea for it's time. Our previous managers who were usually veteran WW2 officers didn't think our union guys were smart enough to know what they were doing. Sad times.

I'll have to take a few Pics. Those deer need to be culled every few years, they are tame as pets. The locals, especially hunters don't like how and who gets to do the killing. Always the Chief of Police and his cronies I'm told. They should be darted not shot at point blank range.

 

[Lowlysubaruguy]

Anything you need to know in particular if you have the 4.3 I own one and have pretty extensive knowledge of it. if its mechanical specs or wiring a Mercruiser manual can be purchased I’ve found every thing I have needed on line so far.

 

[Lowlysubaruguy]

Anything you need to know in particular if you have the 4.3 I own one and have pretty extensive knowledge of it. if its mechanical specs or wiring a Mercruiser manual can be purchased I’ve found every thing I have needed on line so far.

I probably should have read what I wrote. If you have the 4.3 version SpectrumI own one and I know it quite well top to bottom stem to stern. The mercruiser manuals will cover most things your going to run into and there’s a ton of info on the web for that power plant and OD