pitot problems

[kettles]

I have an 1985-6 four-winns freedom 16 that I bought a year ago, and I have some questions about the speedo/pitot. This is the first boat other than a little john boat I have had, so i know little. When we first got the boat the speedo wasn't showing any speed, and so we flipped the pitot down (it was pointing straight back) and it worked fine. But when we went to about 35 mph, it would flip back up, and therefor no longer indicate speed.

Now, I was on my friends boat the other day, and their speedometer works fine, and their pitot is straight back!

I am confused on which way it is supposed to be. If it is supposed to be straight back, why wont mine work that way, and if it is supposed to be down, why does mine not stay down, and why does my friends work up...

Do I need a new pitot?

Any clarification would be much appreciated!

-Kevin

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: pitot problems

They are spring loaded to flip up if you hit something.The one on your boat has a weak spring or is just to loose.
Not sure why your friends speedo works tilted up.

Anyway,Easy cheap fix.Pitots are about 6 bucks...
Be sure to use some 3M 4200 sealant on the screws...

 

[jammer]

Re: pitot problems

I have an 1985-6 four-winns freedom 16 that I bought a year ago, and I have some questions about the speedo/pitot. This is the first boat other than a little john boat I have had, so i know little. When we first got the boat the speedo wasn't showing any speed, and so we flipped the pitot down (it was pointing straight back) and it worked fine. But when we went to about 35 mph, it would flip back up, and therefor no longer indicate speed.

Now, I was on my friends boat the other day, and their speedometer works fine, and their pitot is straight back!

I am confused on which way it is supposed to be. If it is supposed to be straight back, why wont mine work that way, and if it is supposed to be down, why does mine not stay down, and why does my friends work up...

Do I need a new pitot?

Any clarification would be much appreciated!

-Kevin

Concure the Pilot should be facing down. Hopefully it is just a bad spring or even a screw that needs tightened. They operate on just water pressure. You'll see a tube coming from it that then goes to your speedo. It's a nice simple set up. Now if you do end up replacing the pilot know that they pretty much all work. If you can match the one you have you won't have to re-drill the holes for it. Also make sure you get the proper sealent.

 

[kettles]

Re: pitot problems

Thank you very much, I thought it was something like that.

 

[jammer]

Re: pitot problems

Thank you very much, I thought it was something like that.

If you said thank you to me you're welcome Since you are new to a pilot..another thing you will find. On my bass boat if I get it really rough water the speedometer will just stop working. It's fine. Sometimes when the boat is launched out of the water or in really rough water it just needs to build up the pressure inside of it again. Next, if you get the chance, test out the accuracy of it by using a gps speedometer. Maybe you or a friend will have one.

Happy boating.