Buying a pontoon with a Mercruiser 3.0

[badmoonrising]

So was I mistaken to assume that TKS came on a 2004 Mercruiser 3.0?

TKS was an option back then, looks like that boat's previous owner opted to not pay for it.

[FloterBoter]

oh i forgot to add--if you're in oklahoma you HAVE to stop and see lakerunner (lr).
you might even get lucky and be there for the annual parade he mc's, lol.

FB PLEASE SEE NHB

[FloterBoter]

waterline looks right to me. standard operating procedure--women up front, guys near middle,
captain in back--it evens out the draft. waterlines are draft with no one onboard.

we pull two or three kids on skis, or one adult on skis, or two kids on wakeboards,
or one, two or three tubes. never a problem. except that our 28' toon doesn't turn
around so fast to pick them up, so we stay away from really crowded lakes.


1) When was the impeller changed out, if at all?
Original boat has only 70 hours

--supposed to change the impeller every two years. it is a function of years,
not hours. sitting over the winter tends to put a set into the rubber blades
which then shred and clog up your cooling system. never ever ever ever
run it without earmuffs attached providing water.


2) What condition is the exhaust flapper in? Has it been replaced?
See number one

-- have it checked. you can run without a flapper but if you stop fast and a
wave hits the stern, it might push water into your engine and ruin it.


3) Does the boat come with a transom saver (either webbing or solid
bar) for trailering?
Yes solid bar transom saver

-- good


4) What are the numbers on the compression test on the cylinders.
Never been checked, has less than 70 hours

-- if it was me, i'd have it checked. i'd do it myself or pay a mechanic of
my choosing to do it. don't trust the dealer. don't trust his mechanic.


5) Could you tell me what the runout on the prop is?
Depending on condition and load approximately 25-30mph
(I don't think he understood what I was asking - hell I really don't myself.)

-- no, he doesn't get it. you take off the prop and use a dial indicator to measure
how much wobble there is in the prop shaft when it turns. merc has a spec on that.
if it's outside the spec, there was a prop strike that bent the shaft and maybe
damaged the gears. i really doubt there's a problem, but if there is it will end
up being measured in thousands of dollars.


6) Is the prop aluminum or SS, and how many blades and what is the pitch?
Aluminum three blade, pitch 15.25 x 15

-- hit an aluminum prop, break the prop.
hit a stainless steel prop, break the gears.

props are cheap compared to gears. aluminum is good.

my boat does best with a 3 blade aluminum. it took about 4 props to find the
right one. i was able to buy them used from a local boat yard and sell them
back if they didn't work well.


7) When were the fuel filters last changed?
End of every season. They're fresh.

-- i change my fuel filters in the spring, when i change the plugs.
after running it and burning off the fogging oil. sometimes you can
get water condensation in the fuel tank over winter. maybe it could
bring some dirt in with it, i don't know. makes more sense to me to
do it in the spring.


8 ) Does the engine have hydro steering?
Yes,

-- nice. we don't have it and you can feel it. not a big deal, though.


9) This mercruiser has the TKS carb on it, correct?
no


And then on the trailer - how old are the tires and do any of them
have cracks?
Original tire with less than 20 miles on them and has been stored most of
its life. We ordered you a new spare for the trailer.
This is a custom made trailer for this boat by tracker with dual axel brake
system.

-- those tires are probably dry rotted. i wouldn't trust them. i buy my trailer
tires at pomp's because i can get a load range D tire. do not run with a light
load range tire. you will blow one or two and then you've got trouble.

i think you want to pack those trailer bearings before you haul it anywhere.

if they are surge brakes you'll hate 'em. well, i hate 'em. some day i'm putting
on electric brakes.


ask lakerunner to email you his private collection of pics from his parade.
he's very proud of them.

fb

[lakerunner]

Now FB you know I sent you all the pics for the $3,000.00 you offered to keep them off youtube

[badmoonrising]

[quote="FloterBoter"]

1) When was the impeller changed out, if at all?
Original boat has only 70 hours

--supposed to change the impeller every two years. it is a function of years,
not hours. sitting over the winter tends to put a set into the rubber blades
which then shred and clog up your cooling system. never ever ever ever
run it without earmuffs attached providing water.

Yep.

2) What condition is the exhaust flapper in? Has it been replaced?
See number one

-- have it checked. you can run without a flapper but if you stop fast and a
wave hits the stern, it might push water into your engine and ruin it.

Also if the flapper goes, hot exhaust gases hit the plastic water pump tube directly, melting it and preventing water flow to the motor...not good.

4) What are the numbers on the compression test on the cylinders.
Never been checked, has less than 70 hours

-- if it was me, i'd have it checked. i'd do it myself or pay a mechanic of
my choosing to do it. don't trust the dealer. don't trust his mechanic.

Yep.


5) Could you tell me what the runout on the prop is?
Depending on condition and load approximately 25-30mph
(I don't think he understood what I was asking - hell I really don't myself.)

-- no, he doesn't get it. you take off the prop and use a dial indicator to measure
how much wobble there is in the prop shaft when it turns. merc has a spec on that.
if it's outside the spec, there was a prop strike that bent the shaft and maybe
damaged the gears. i really doubt there's a problem, but if there is it will end
up being measured in thousands of dollars.

Yep, have it checked, it may save you trouble.

6) Is the prop aluminum or SS, and how many blades and what is the pitch?
Aluminum three blade, pitch 15.25 x 15

-- hit an aluminum prop, break the prop.
hit a stainless steel prop, break the gears.

props are cheap compared to gears. aluminum is good.

Yep.

7) When were the fuel filters last changed?
End of every season. They're fresh.

-- i change my fuel filters in the spring, when i change the plugs.
after running it and burning off the fogging oil. sometimes you can
get water condensation in the fuel tank over winter. maybe it could
bring some dirt in with it, i don't know. makes more sense to me to
do it in the spring.

Same here and I always find alot of crap in them when I change them.

[beermunk]

Man you guys are outstanding! I wish I had more to contribute here. (Anyone have any computer questions?)

[curtiscapk]

Beermunk,

I told you this was the site for all your answers!

I'm almost as new to tooning as you are, but I feel like a veteran after all the knowledge I've gained on here from these hooligans

As far as the trailstar trailer with surge brakes mine is the same and its a 94.

I only tow 10 miles round trip so I don't notice any issue with the brakes.

That makes two of us computer geeks.

Have a safe trip weather should be good. We are going down to check on boat, clean new trailer, and burn some leaves on the lot. If you see a big ass fire north of 44 around Springfield you know I had too many.

[lakerunner]

Ok computer guy here is a question

About a month ago on start up now it takes about 2 min before I can use IE. The only thing I have running on startup is Avast Anti Virus. I have XP home edition. I have Hughes Satellite

I keep my temp files clean and run Adaware weekly.
AntiVirus comes up clean

Soooooo what cha think

[curtiscapk]

First thing are your windows updates up to date?

Sounds like you have covered all bases. I would check your updates, if you are up to date. pm me and Ill send you detailed instructions uninstalling and reinstalling IE.

[beermunk]

Ok computer guy here is a question

About a month ago on start up now it takes about 2 min before I can use IE. The only thing I have running on startup is Avast Anti Virus. I have XP home edition. I have Hughes Satellite

I keep my temp files clean and run Adaware weekly.
AntiVirus comes up clean

Soooooo what cha think

Unless there's a reason you *have* to run IE (like for windows update) make the switch to FireFox or Google Chrome

Firefox Download: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/
Google Chrome Download: http://www.google.com/chrome

They are far superior browsers. Firefox comes plain but has add-ons (free) that you can download and customize it up the wazooo. Google's Chrome is a slightly faster at displaying pages than FireFox but lacks the customization right now.

If you download from the above links they applications are spyware and virus free. Worst case scenario if you don't like them is that you have three browsers to use instead of just one.

Back to your original questions regarding fixing IE on Windows - the very nature of Windows file system NTFS allows it to fragment and run slower the more you use it. This is why a fresh install will run smooth like babies butt but a year old system (even clean) will be slow and pokey. IE has some of the worst file management built into it along with bloatware that Microsoft assumes you'll need to surf the Bill Gates Internet.

Make the switch, you'll be happy you did!

[beermunk]

First thing are your windows updates up to date?

Sounds like you have covered all bases. I would check your updates, if you are up to date. pm me and Ill send you detailed instructions uninstalling and reinstalling IE.

Nice setup! Here's my current home network.

Son's PC - Windows XP (needs it for school otherwise he'd be linux)
Wife PC - Ubuntu Linux
My Main PC - Ubuntu/Windows Xp
Kitchen PC - Ubuntu
Media Center PC - Windows XP
Wife's Laptop - XP
My Laptop - XP
Garage PC - Ubuntu

Network is all copper 100 except for the laptops which run off of wireless linksys router. Protected by a Cisco PIX 501. Bandwidth provided by Charter, 25mb down / 10mb up

[beermunk]

Back on topic - I called the dealership this morning because you guys got me paranoid about the tires on the trailer. I asked them if they'd go halves on putting four brand new ones on and he put the boat's former owner (dealership manager) on the phone.

This guy said the tires have been checked out along with the bearings for any signs of rot. He said they couldn't have any more than 20 miles on it because the boat was slipped. He also said that the trailer itself was stored with the tires off the ground when the boat wasn't on it. Both say they feel 100% confident trailering that rig anywhere in the states.

Since he's throwing in a spare and seems unwilling to go halves on the swap I think I may just buy another spare to bring down there so I have two at least. Thoughts?

Also our insurance comes with roadside assistance but it's not really the cost of a breakdown, it's the time it takes to get back on the road.

[lakerunner]

The fact they were on blocks just solves half the problem. They will be sun split from exposure. The 2nd spare is a good idea

Ok I will try firefox and see what happens. Thanks

[lakerunner]

YumpinYimmiesBatManGezzit'sfasterthanksgeeks

[beermunk]

The fact they were on blocks just solves half the problem. They will be sun split from exposure. The 2nd spare is a good idea

Ok I will try firefox and see what happens. Thanks

Well he said it was up on blocks in a shed. Does that solve the other half?