Merc Alpha One trim/tilt Q (feeling like a newby)

[guy48065]

This boat that followed me home yesterday came with no manual, and so far I haven't found one to download... So I'm asking from ignorance, not stupidity. Lol

My dock sits in shallow water. When motoring in to dock I need to trim all the way up to keep from dragging the prop. Once tied up I then trim up to "Trailer" position so the skeg doesn't dig a hole behind the boat.
Can the motor be started in this trim position? Can the drive be engaged? Where is the cooling water intake on the Alpha One outdrive?

 

[Scott Danforth]

This boat that followed me home yesterday came with no manual, and so far I haven't found one to download...

you wont find a manual that you can download.

short of the manuals listed here https://forums.iboats.com/threads/boat-manuals-owners-manuals.770690/

they do not exist.

no, do not run your motor higher than the trim limit. it puts the u-joints in a bind and will wear them out really really quickly - they are always turning when the motor is running

the raw water pickup is below the cavitation plate.

you are going to do all the maintenance the prior owner neglected prior to putting the boat in the water, correct? like servicing the drive, checking alignment, inspecting the u-joints and gimbal and replacing the bellows?

 

[guy48065]

you wont find a manual that you can download.

short of the manuals listed here https://forums.iboats.com/threads/boat-manuals-owners-manuals.770690/

they do not exist.

no, do not run your motor higher than the trim limit. it puts the u-joints in a bind and will wear them out really really quickly - they are always turning when the motor is running

the raw water pickup is below the cavitation plate.

you are going to do all the maintenance the prior owner neglected prior to putting the boat in the water, correct? like servicing the drive, checking alignment, inspecting the u-joints and gimbal and replacing the bellows?

He bought the boat this year from a dealer... All this was done and the bellows replaced. I can still see thru the oil on the dipstick. Seller decided a pontoon was more his speed.

 

[guy48065]

you wont find a manual that you can download.

...

The Bayliner support page has a link for my year & model but it turns out to be a supplement. The supplement says to refer to the Owner's Manual for complete information.
I regularly buy old stuff and normally have had success locating SOMETHING.

Bayliner never published a digital manual, or scanned a paper one... And nobody else has, either?
Ebay can usually be a good source but in this case there's bupkis. Why the lack of interest?

Bayliner support contact form always returns a "You've Been Blocked" by Cloudflare every time I try to submit the form. I googled a customer support email address but haven't heard back from that, either.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Copyright laws would prevent anyone from posting a scanned version

 

[Alumarine]

There should be manuals available on ebay.
If you provide the serial numbers of the drive and motor and approximate year, someone can point you in the right direction.

 

[guy48065]

There should be manuals available on ebay.
If you provide the serial numbers of the drive and motor and approximate year, someone can point you in the right direction.

I agree... There should be.
But there isn't.

 

[Scott06]

This boat that followed me home yesterday came with no manual, and so far I haven't found one to download... So I'm asking from ignorance, not stupidity. Lol

My dock sits in shallow water. When motoring in to dock I need to trim all the way up to keep from dragging the prop. Once tied up I then trim up to "Trailer" position so the skeg doesn't dig a hole behind the boat.
Can the motor be started in this trim position? Can the drive be engaged? Where is the cooling water intake on the Alpha One outdrive?

I have boated for years (40+) keeping my boats on a lift on a shallow cove (25" deep at dock). You are just fine running the boat at idle /just above idle speeds in the trailer position. Just keep the engine speed below 800-900 rpm. I have to idle out about 5-7 min to get to deep water, so my boats have spent a lot of time 3/4-7/8 up in terms of drive position, well above the trim limit. The ujoints on my last two boats were over 20 and 18 years old when replaced.

The Ujoints can make noise when all the way up just drop it down a hair

cooling water inlets are on the sides of the lower unit below the cav plate

 

[guy48065]

I have boated for years (40+) keeping my boats on a lift on a shallow cove (25" deep at dock). You are just fine running the boat at idle /just above idle speeds in the trailer position. Just keep the engine speed below 800-900 rpm. I have to idle out about 5-7 min to get to deep water, so my boats have spent a lot of time 3/4-7/8 up in terms of drive position, well above the trim limit. The ujoints on my last two boats were over 20 and 18 years old when replaced.

The Ujoints can make noise when all the way up just drop it down a hair

cooling water inlets are on the sides of the lower unit below the cav plate

Thanks for the practical feedback.
This has been a real PITA for me. I have muck mats on that side of my dock and when I lower the unit to the top of the normal trim limit it's still low enough that the skeg has impaled the mat. Boat isn't going anywhere with a 4X12 trampoline attached to it.

It's great to hear I can at least creep away from dock with the unit up in the "trailer" range.

 

[Scott06]

Thanks for the practical feedback.
This has been a real PITA for me. I have muck mats on that side of my dock and when I lower the unit to the top of the normal trim limit it's still low enough that the skeg has impaled the mat. Boat isn't going anywhere with a 4X12 trampoline attached to it.

It's great to hear I can at least creep away from dock with the unit up in the "trailer" range.

100% yes you can do it, as mentioned with 3 boats over last 40 years in same shallow cove … no issues unless at full up and higher rpms you will hear the u joint knock