Gabriellii
Recruit
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2021
- Messages
- 5
Well … I bought my first boat …
1997 Four Winns Horizon RX - 4.3 GL, VP Cobra SX outdrive. 18’ open bow. The HOBBS meter says 740 hours, but it doesn’t work, so it has at least that on it. It is a
Sorry if I’m going to ask a bunch of dumb new guy questions that have been answer a hundred times is 25 different posts (I did look first).
The guy I bought the boat from had it for 2 years and put it in the water twice, he changed the outdrive oil, but I think that is the only maintenance he did. He had no maintenance history information.
Questions:
I noticed (last night) that there is a 4” tear in the gimbal boot … so there is going to be a boot replacement in my immediate future. This process is well documented on this forum … happy for that! I put the product number from the outdrive ID tag into VP’s site and it comes back with “SX-C1 (AQ)” … is the AQ significant? I see SX-C1 listed in various parts lists, but not with the AQ.
The boat has a “growl” when under a load anytime the stern drive is not centered. If I trim all the way down and hold button up for about 3 seconds, and the helm is straight, it doesn’t growl, but pretty much any deflection from that and it growls. Bad gimbal bearing? U-Joints? VP says replace the drive shaft… is that really the solution or am I ok pressing in a new set?
I read on a post on this forum that there is supposed to be some “anode maintenance” performed … what does that mean? The drive has a large half-circular anode on the leading edge.
The owners manual lists top speed at 47 with 4200 - 4600 rpm. I get 42 (showing on boat speedometer) at 5200 … the prop has been replaced with a stainless 14.25 R 21. The manual says it should be a 14.25 x 23 … is this a concern?
We have taken it out a couple times and the temp gauge doesn’t quite reach 120 degrees after at least 30 minutes running. When I put my hand on the exhaust manifold they are just warm … I didn’t measure the temp, but based on feel I’m guessing they jive with the temp gauge at somewhere around 100 - 110 degrees. You could leave your hand on the manifold for several minutes with no discomfort … is this normal? I believe I read somewhere that the water pump I have is a ‘stay-cool’ pump. It is remotely mounted and spun by its own dedicated pulley. I did take it apart, the impeller is in excellent condition. I polished the inside of the pump housing and reassembled.
I appreciate any thoughts you can give ‘the new guy’ … thanks.
Darin
1997 Four Winns Horizon RX - 4.3 GL, VP Cobra SX outdrive. 18’ open bow. The HOBBS meter says 740 hours, but it doesn’t work, so it has at least that on it. It is a
Sorry if I’m going to ask a bunch of dumb new guy questions that have been answer a hundred times is 25 different posts (I did look first).
The guy I bought the boat from had it for 2 years and put it in the water twice, he changed the outdrive oil, but I think that is the only maintenance he did. He had no maintenance history information.
Questions:
I noticed (last night) that there is a 4” tear in the gimbal boot … so there is going to be a boot replacement in my immediate future. This process is well documented on this forum … happy for that! I put the product number from the outdrive ID tag into VP’s site and it comes back with “SX-C1 (AQ)” … is the AQ significant? I see SX-C1 listed in various parts lists, but not with the AQ.
The boat has a “growl” when under a load anytime the stern drive is not centered. If I trim all the way down and hold button up for about 3 seconds, and the helm is straight, it doesn’t growl, but pretty much any deflection from that and it growls. Bad gimbal bearing? U-Joints? VP says replace the drive shaft… is that really the solution or am I ok pressing in a new set?
I read on a post on this forum that there is supposed to be some “anode maintenance” performed … what does that mean? The drive has a large half-circular anode on the leading edge.
The owners manual lists top speed at 47 with 4200 - 4600 rpm. I get 42 (showing on boat speedometer) at 5200 … the prop has been replaced with a stainless 14.25 R 21. The manual says it should be a 14.25 x 23 … is this a concern?
We have taken it out a couple times and the temp gauge doesn’t quite reach 120 degrees after at least 30 minutes running. When I put my hand on the exhaust manifold they are just warm … I didn’t measure the temp, but based on feel I’m guessing they jive with the temp gauge at somewhere around 100 - 110 degrees. You could leave your hand on the manifold for several minutes with no discomfort … is this normal? I believe I read somewhere that the water pump I have is a ‘stay-cool’ pump. It is remotely mounted and spun by its own dedicated pulley. I did take it apart, the impeller is in excellent condition. I polished the inside of the pump housing and reassembled.
I appreciate any thoughts you can give ‘the new guy’ … thanks.
Darin