Can someone help answer these questions please?

[NewbieBoater]

Re: Can someone help answer these questions please?

iRich,<br /><br /> We took the boat out on Saturday (the spot right near the key bridge) and absolutely had a blast. Being that I'm pretty mechanical and the owner is not, there are a few items that I am now wondering about:<br /><br />1) The boat did have a little trouble starting (owner hasn't started it for approx 3 months). <br /><br />2) Once running, the boat ran just fine although it did have quite a bit of smoke (I assume because he flooded it). I ended up adjusting the screw near the carb to adjust the idle (I'm assuming that's where you do it and haven't touched a carb literally since taking mechanics years ago)?<br /><br />3) The tach is not working. I'm wondering how hard it is to troubleshoot one of these on the force 125? What should I look for? Should I be tracing these wires? If so, where should they be going? <br /><br />4) She wasn't hitting full throttle I'm almost sure of it, however, didn't take the cover back off with the throttle wide open to see if the carbs were opening all the way up (I'm assuming that's what I need to do to ensure the throttle is opening all the way?).<br /><br />5) The gas gauge does not work. I'm thinking that possibly it might be the sender unit? What else could I help this guy troubleshoot? I've shown him my car and now he's asking me for help (laughing).<br /><br />By the way, we inspected the boat quite thoroughly (took my friend with me that has owned several boats) and there is no rot inside and it has approx 200 total hours logged. The outside is a little worn (which I believe to be very normal for an 18 year old boat) and it will need some new bottom paint.<br /><br />Thank you,<br /> Tim

 

[Spidybot]

Re: Can someone help answer these questions please?

Hmm. You seem to have set your mind for it?<br />Well, you're the judge and it's your $$. Apart from that a nonworking tach or gauge could be bad connections/wires, defective sender or instrument. I'd troubleshoot it in this order. The motor not acchieving enough rpm at WOT could be another issue as this can be caused by a number of things - from the simple linkage adjustment to more severe repairs. Having a few hours on it the storage may be the main concern and dirt or gum in the fuelsystem should be checked first.<br />BTW: 'Not hitting full throttle' without a working tach this can be hard to tell unless it's way off. The tach is needed, really, to know how the motor performs. <br /><br />If you haven't tested other boats (at least for comparison and building knowledge) you ought to.

 

[Link]

Re: Can someone help answer these questions please?

NewbieBoater :<br />We are not suppused to boat bash here:<br />As UU said: Hmm. You seem to have set your mind for it?<br />But go back and re-read what UU, bondo, and roscoe wrote... I used sell bayliners, Texas Bayliners, Invaders, and Stering's and a couple others. Your looking at a 18 year boat! Look in your local paper and see what they selling for! You can't get rid of them! <br />Good luck and let us know what you wound up with ''<br />Link

 

[trumpetbucks]

Re: Can someone help answer these questions please?

Your idea of a "first boat to learn on" is interesting, but you don't want to learn on it, have some problems with it, then try to resell it (when you think you've learned enough to deserve a better boat) and lose your shorts on it.<br /><br />At 18 years old, that Bayliner is just about the right age for all kinds of problems to develop within the next 4-5 years.<br /><br />BTW, unless you have shopped around A LOT, don't think that a certain price for certain features is a great deal. Have you searched the classifieds here for similar size/age/type boats?<br />If this boat is so much cheaper, there must be a reason.<br /><br />Spend the same money on a better brand of boat & motor that's a few years older. You will be much happier while you own it and when you resell it.<br /><br />Good luck!

 

[L Christopher]

Re: Can someone help answer these questions please?

If you don't think the cost of the boat justifies a survey you may want to call Sea Tow to find out what a tow cost if you are not a member. You may find yourself adrift in the bay or harbor, and that is not a fun place to be adrift with the amount of heavy boat traffic I have seen there.