1997 Mercruiser 3.0 issues

[XtcVisions]

I recently bought a used boat, which is also my first boat, so forgive me if I ask dumb questions, i looked through alot of the stickied threads but I dont know what alot of it means.

It is a 1997 crownline 176 bowrider, 3.0 mercruiser w/ alpha one, i took it to a marine shop to give it a quick once over by them listening to it on muffs and a very basic look around.

I took it to the local lake yesterday for a trial run to see how she would do on water, turned on blower while still on trailer, got into water gave it 3 pumps, tried starting, didn't start, waited a minute or so and gave it 3 more pumps, tried starting, it wanted to start but didn't, 3rd times a charm with 3 more pumps, a little more throttle, and fired up but idled like i was riding in a jeep wrangle going down a gravel road.

After letting it idle and warm up for about 10 minutes, gave it a few wot runs, ran about 4500 rpm assuming gauges are correct with minimal gear onboard and my fiance and I, about 430lbs in persons, plus battery, after those wot runs i let it idle down, and it idles greats... Maybe some old or bad gas? It s the first time being on water since winterizing (atleast what he told me, besides the muffs run at marine shop), i also put in 10 gallons of premium.

Seems to shift decent, a little clunky, but friends have told me thats the nature of boat shifting, i was shifting into gear slow abd cautious rather than slamming into gear then giving it throttle, but the steering is garbage, it is so hard to move the steering wheel left or right when idling or at slower speeds, at higher speeds it seems to be a little easier but still not great, if there was a quick second incident that i needed to avoid im not sure the boat would cooperate.

Bilgw bump buttom on dash doesnt light up when pressed nor do i hear it running, but all other buttons light up when pressed, maybe a fuse? Never have dealt with one before but would like it to work incase of emergency.

Ran around on lake for probably 30-45 mins, barely even a splash of water in the bilge, like, maybe a half a cup worth total, but the water that was there, was a milkyish color, is that just from dirt/debree/oil that was on bilge floor mixing with oil?

 

[Rick Stephens]

Congrats on getting a boat. When shifting a boat, do it fairly quickly. All you're doing with gentle is grinding gear teeth. Get used to how far on the lever to just drop into gear, and do that in one smooth motion.

Now the hard part. IMHO, you need to pull the drive and start going through everything. Do an outdrive service - oil change, inspect water pump impeller, grease ujoints, inspect gimbal bearing, make sure nothing leaks - which for me usually means pressure testing the drive while it is outside the boat.

Go through the motor from top to bottom, or fore to aft, whatever. It truly sucks having to walk back.

Check your steering. Lube the ends of the cable, make sure it doesn't have hardened glue like substance instead of grease. If the steering is still hard, remove the cable end from the back and see if the drive itself and steering wheel turn easy by themselves. Both should be silky smooth.

Dirty water in the bilge in any amount is reason to pull the drive and check things out.

And welcome to iBoats Forum!!

Rick

 

[Bondo]

Bilgw bump buttom on dash doesnt light up when pressed nor do i hear it running, but all other buttons light up when pressed, maybe a fuse? Never have dealt with one before but would like it to work incase of emergency.

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,...... Rick gave you solid advice for most of yer issues, so I'll only comment on a couple of points,....

#1, to figure out yer bilge pump problem, get a test light, 'n see if there's power at the switch under the dash,.....
If not, find the fuse, 'n check it,....
If so, move to the bilge pump, 'n test it,....

#2, You should be seein' closer to 4800 rpms at wot with a light load, you might need to drop to the next lower pitched prop, especially after you load up the boat more,....
Yer at the bottom end of the acceptable rpm range at wot,.....
To low, 'n the motor lugs all the time, which leads to holes in the pistons,.....

#3, When you service the motor, change the fuel filters,.....
If not so equipped already, get a canister type water separating filter, 'n plumb it in, ahead of the fuel pump,....
It's a much better filter than the one in the fuel pump, 'n the one in the carb, as well as much easier to change,....

 

[XtcVisions]

I believe I am taking it out weds afternoon, i will do a few pulls to be sure on the rpm that I am getting, although I will have a heavier load (2 more people) about 900lbs worth of people.

As far as the bilge pump goes, i put in a new fuse, it now lights up on dash, when i hit it, it doesnt turn anything on, and if i leave it on it will blow the fuse, is it not turning on because of a safety feature so it doesnt burn up the motor with no water? I thought about filling the bilge with water then trying it again, also it had a 10 amp fuse in it before so i put in another 10 amp fuse and it blew also.

 

[Bondo]

is it not turning on because of a safety feature so it doesnt burn up the motor with no water?

Nope, it should run, wet or dry,......

My guess is, the bilge pump is already burnt up,......

I'm also guessin' you'll find it under the motor,.....

 

[XtcVisions]

Another question... The marine speakers in it were junk, and i have 4 brand new alpine type s 6.5s that arent marine grade, would they be okay to run in the boat? 2 of the speaker locations are near your feet under the dash and under the dash of the copilots seat, the other 2 i would need to mount, i already put a non marine alpine head unit in, inside of a water resistant dash case

 

[Scott Danforth]

Another question... The marine speakers in it were junk, and i have 4 brand new alpine type s 6.5s that arent marine grade, would they be okay to run in the boat? 2 of the speaker locations are near your feet under the dash and under the dash of the copilots seat, the other 2 i would need to mount, i already put a non marine alpine head unit in, inside of a water resistant dash case

they will be dead within a year. the moist air alone will see to killing your head unit, and the speakers are going to die from exposure.

 

[XtcVisions]

they will be dead within a year. the moist air alone will see to killing your head unit, and the speakers are going to die from exposure.

Any suggestions on decent marine 6 1/2?

 

[Scott Danforth]

there are dozens of companies. stock in most boats is usually clarion which is about $40 to about $150 for a pair of 6-1/2 (depending on speaker). Pyle is lower on the quality scale and can be obtained for about $20-$60 for a pair.

there are package deals from Clarion with speakers, head unit, etc. in the $120-$200 range

Kenwood and Sony make some decent middle of the road quality speakers starting in the $50 range

MB Quart is getting to the top of the line manfuacturer, however they also have a low end of their product.

marine speakers generally have poly cones, encapsulated magnets and higher quality voice coils to deal with the humid air and UV degradation.

 

[XtcVisions]

there are dozens of companies. stock in most boats is usually clarion which is about $40 to about $150 for a pair of 6-1/2 (depending on speaker). Pyle is lower on the quality scale and can be obtained for about $20-$60 for a pair.

there are package deals from Clarion with speakers, head unit, etc. in the $120-$200 range

Kenwood and Sony make some decent middle of the road quality speakers starting in the $50 range

MB Quart is getting to the top of the line manfuacturer, however they also have a low end of their product.

marine speakers generally have poly cones, encapsulated magnets and higher quality voice coils to deal with the humid air and UV degradation.

Im looking for loudness and high end notes than i am any bass in the speakers ran off a alpine head unit

 

[Scott Danforth]

6-1/2" speakers and loudness are a dichotomy

 

[Roadblock007]

6-1/2" speakers and loudness are a dichotomy

Be honest. I'm not the only one who had to google "dichotomy"..

 

[XtcVisions]

Be honest. I'm not the only one who had to google "dichotomy"..

Me too, lol, im not trying to impress the whole lake, id just like to be able to hear some tunes inside the boat, and when im floatin next to it with a beer in one hand, and a beer in the other hand