Hey everyone. I hope y’all are having a nice summer and finding some fish in this windy weather. I’m looking to learn to service my 2008 Whaler Outrage; it has a 135 Merc Verado. I want to learn because last time it was pretty expensive to have the dealer do it. Basically I want to learn to check the filters, fluid levels, and anything else of importance to keep my motor in top shape. For example: my SmartCraft gauge is reading ‘Check Pitot’, and I don’t have a pitot tube; also, the tach is spiking, which I’m guessing is a related issue. I’ve never had a problem with the motor performance-wise (knock on wood), and I’d like to keep it that way (probably wishful thinking). Would anyone here be willing to show me how to do this? Or even recommend me someone in the area who is good at this stuff and would allow me to drop in and see how it’s done?
Also, I’d like to learn how to do some gel coat work. I understand this job requires some skill, but if I could fix some of the nicks and small gashes on the hull that’d be awesome. I hate seeing them when I look up at the bottom of the boat while it’s on the lift…
Thanks, everyone. Tight lines!
I’ve found the self-made tutorials on YouTube to be rather helpful, typically the drunken redneck type (OK, tongue in cheek humor there) working under the shade tree. Just review several of them to make sure they all take similar steps. It’s worked miracles on my F150 and save me some cash.
Sea Hunt 207CC,Yam 150
www.abfishcharters.com
The forward edge of the lower unit has a pitot (tiny hole) to pick up water pressure, which translates to speed on the speedometer. This hole can easily become clogged when running in shallow water…sand, pluff mud, etc. Check to see if it’s clogged with a fine wire, much like freeing the “pee hole” from the water pump/cooling system. Usually there is a small tube running up the inside of the foot into the upper cowling, and then along with the engine harness up to the helm and attached to the speedometer. It can become disconnected and should be checked. The pitot tube always has to be reconnected if you drop the lower unit to service the water pump, etc.
Good luck. Also, my son in Columbia is a (starving) mechanic who comes down to do light service work…and can save you big $$$ if you don’t want to do it yourself.
“Wild” is on the money with cleaning the pitot tube out. Another spot to check is along the left side of the motor. You should see some black tubing that comes out of the lower cowling and is snaked along your throttle and steering cables to the spedo on your console. There should be a coupling near the engine cowling with a couple zip ties. You can seperate the tubing there and use compressed air to check you dont have a pinched line or bad spedo. 99.9% its debris in the pitot tube but I’ve had a pinched line or dirt in the line. Shoot the air toward the pitot first make sure its clear. Then shoot air to the spedo to make sure its working. Dont use 90 psi to the speedo, just enough to make it jump. The Tach is electrical, check the connections to the tach I’ll bet they’re loose or corroded. Go to an auto parts store and get a can of “Eletrolytic grease” its a small red and white can and has a wand that screws onto it. Disconnect every electrical connector on your boat (cannon plugs, automotive) and put some of that grease on it, even inside the so-called waterproof connections to include the o-rings. Put it on all of your battery connections too. The grease will prevent moisture/water from corroding the connections.
18’ CC 115 Yamaha “AWOL”
AMMO
“Providing the Enemy the opportunity to die for his country”
You can also purchase the shop manual for your engine on sites like boats.net and amazon. You can get pretty much any part you need off boats.net after you plug in your model number and serial number of your engine. There are chapters in these books that tell you step by step how to service your engine, change pumps, filters… I always purchase a shop manual when I get a new engine. They help me save money with the small stuff, and would probably save me more if I were more mechanically inclined.
The boat and motor section on here is good too. There are several guys who monitor it and are quick to give advice and help if you can describe your symptoms.
19’6" Key West Bayreef