Couple questions

[JB007Rules]

Thanks in advance for your time. I have been reading a TON of stuff on here and so far I like what I see from you smart people!!.. I have a 1990 18' yar-craft fiberglass deep v-hull fishing boat with a 90HP Merc 6 cyl outboard 2 stroke motor. Couple of general questions:

Would this boat have a fuel pump? If so what battery is it powered from? If it helps any their is a pumper/primer ball on the fuel line before it goes into the engine.

Is their a fuel filter? if so where would it be located, and how would I replace it in the future and how ofter should I replace it?

Is the water pump impeller and the water pump two different things working together, or just one thing?

Is their any regular maintenace that I should be paying attention to for the bilge pump?, what about the power tilt?

I have a tach gauge that doesn't work, how can I fix this? (the speed, voltage, and fuel gage seem to work fine)

The boat is pulling to the right, but I read the FAQ's on here and figured out how to fix it, but I snapped a socket when attempting to turn that 1/2" bolt because it's so tight... why would it be so tight and how can I loosen it up?

I hear that their is such thing as power trim, I don't have that... can I install it? If so, how much?

Right now their are about 3-4 things that clip onto the main cranking battery (bilge, starter, other pump thing and tilt motor), which makes it a pain connecting and disconnecting the battery. Should I consider installing a wiring block?

Thanks for all of your help, and don't hesitate to hit me up on PM if you'd like to go boating, I'm always doing something!

 

[109jb]

Re: Couple questions

Thanks in advance for your time. I have been reading a TON of stuff on here and so far I like what I see from you smart people!!.. I have a 1990 18' yar-craft fiberglass deep v-hull fishing boat with a 90HP Merc 6 cyl outboard 2 stroke motor. Couple of general questions:

Would this boat have a fuel pump? If so what battery is it powered from? If it helps any their is a pumper/primer ball on the fuel line before it goes into the engine.

Yes it has a fuel pump, but it is not powered by a battery. It is powered by the crankcase pressure. The primer bulb is just for priming.

Is their a fuel filter? if so where would it be located, and how would I replace it in the future and how ofter should I replace it?

There should be a fuel filter on the engine under the motor cover. It is a good idea to have another in-line filter. An inline filter can be placed anywhere in the fuel line from the tank to the motor.

Is the water pump impeller and the water pump two different things working together, or just one thing?

The impeller is part of the water pump.

Is their any regular maintenace that I should be paying attention to for the bilge pump?,

Not for the bilge pump, but do you mean the water pump on the engine?

what about the power tilt?

Not really any periodic maintenance to worry about here

I have a tach gauge that doesn't work, how can I fix this? (the speed, voltage, and fuel gage seem to work fine)

Much too general a description to answer.

The boat is pulling to the right, but I read the FAQ's on here and figured out how to fix it, but I snapped a socket when attempting to turn that 1/2" bolt because it's so tight... why would it be so tight and how can I loosen it up?

The bolt could be corroded in the threaded hole. Try penetrating oil.

I hear that their is such thing as power trim, I don't have that... can I install it? If so, how much?

You said you have power tilt. If you do then you have power trim too.

Right now their are about 3-4 things that clip onto the main cranking battery (bilge, starter, other pump thing and tilt motor), which makes it a pain connecting and disconnecting the battery. Should I consider installing a wiring block?

Are you continually connecting and disconnecting the battery?? You shouldn't need to disconnect the battery at all other than to replace it. Even with a few things on each post this is hardly a problem.

Thanks for all of your help, and don't hesitate to hit me up on PM if you'd like to go boating, I'm always doing something!

 

[JB007Rules]

Re: Couple questions

No i meant the bilge pump for regular maintenance. Thanks for your response.

Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't power tilt mean that with a touch of the button up/down (its on my throttle) the engine lifts out of the water.

I don't disconnect ever (only at the end of the season to stow the battery), but I was reading tons of stuff on the internet that people were saying that to have a dc block mounted would be easier. I DON'T HAVE to do that... granted, I just want no problems at all next season.

The reason I'm asking these questions is because I am new to this (once again, I really appreciate it!!!) and I love working with electronics and whatnot and also love DIY jobs. I plan on installing my brand new fish finder next year, along with a new trolling motor, a new power inverter for 110v, my panasonic CF-M34 touchscreen military laptop for music, a nice stereo system, a couple 12v dc plugs, a grill and maybe a propane powered fridge too. This is my first boat (well not first, but first REAL boat lol), and i want to spend some money and do it myself, possibly break things and learn from my mistakes before I go out and spend $30 - $80k on a new boat.

Thanks again man!

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Couple questions

Ahhhhhhhh, the plot thickens! Now you are looking ahead to at least a second battery, deep cycle "house battery" in addition to your starting battery. And yes, a dual battery switch will keep you from leaving one of those additional power drawing devices on and killing your battery.
Silvertip has several nice wiring diagrams that should be listed as a "sticky" under the electrics, etc. topics.

 

[109jb]

Re: Couple questions

Power tilt does mean that the motor can be lifted out of the water with a touch of a button, but power trim is simply this tilting of the motor in the water. With the motor fully lowered, the motor is trimmed "down" or "in". Tilting the motor away from the transom in a small range from full "down" is the trim range. On some motors the trim range operates slower or may have additional "trim rods", but not all are like this. Basically, the lower portion of the tilt operation is the trim range.

 

[JB007Rules]

Re: Couple questions

I actually already have 3 batteries (2 deep cycle and 1 cranker)... see here: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?p=1880592#post1880592

 

[JB007Rules]

Re: Couple questions

Power tilt does mean that the motor can be lifted out of the water with a touch of a button, but power trim is simply this tilting of the motor in the water. With the motor fully lowered, the motor is trimmed "down" or "in". Tilting the motor away from the transom in a small range from full "down" is the trim range. On some motors the trim range operates slower or may have additional "trim rods", but not all are like this. Basically, the lower portion of the tilt operation is the trim range.

Okay, I understand... but what is that little fin thing that I can adjust with a 1/2 socket if the boat is pulling to the left or right (in my case its pulling to the right), so I need to adjust that little fin thingy to the right... I get that... i thought trim was for adjusting if it was pulling left or right while going.

 

[109jb]

Re: Couple questions

Trimming the motor basically adjusts bow lift of the boat. With the motor trimmed in, the bow will ride low. Trimming out will raise the bow of the boat. Trimming out will get more of the boat out of the water when on plane for faster speed and more efficiency. There is a limit to how much "out" trim you can have, usually when the boat begins to porpoise (bow bobs up and down), or the prop ventilates. Power trim allows starting with the trim in and the boat can get on plane faster and with less bow rise. As you accelerate, the motor can be trimmed out for efficiency. That's a rough explanation.

 

[Jon D]

Re: Couple questions

For one of your ?, in my boat once you plane off and start going the torque of the motor has it lean on one edge and pull a little that way when motor is trimmed all the way down. So once im am moving im will trim up and the boat will then run straight. This only affects me when i am wide open, and the trim up trick works perfect for me

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: Couple questions

Okay, I understand... but what is that little fin thing that I can adjust with a 1/2 socket if the boat is pulling to the left or right

That is called the trim tab and is understandable in the confusion between the terms "power trim" and the "trim tab".