New to Me Boat Questions

[TruckDrivingFool]

I've been around boats since I was kid but up until now all I've owned is small aluminum tiller fishing boats. So of course when I brought home a new boat today I thought I knew how these worked so I didn't ask. Now that I'm home, threw a battery in it, and have fiddled with them I wish I had.

The control upper left is what I think runs the trim/tilt since the orange hose coming out of it runs back to the trim cylinder on the motor. However now I'm thinking its more just tilt since it doesn't do anything by just moving the stick from one extreme to the other. Only thing I can figure is that its suppose to work like a jack to tilt the motor up. Is that how its suppose to work? Any help on how it should be operated would be great.

On the throttle controls under the key is a switch. I know for sure it has action like a momentary on to the up, possibly up and down but couldn't really tell if its just a sloppy switch or dual action. I didn't mess with it too much since it wasn't doing anything. I'm sure someone can tell me what its suppose to control or typically controls.

Finally (for now) if anyone knows much of anything about AeroCraft FG boats I be thankful, can't find a CG plate but did find a Water Wonderland build plate that shows model# YO and serial # 1164

What I do know is or at least what the title says is that its a 1972 (just like me) 18' AeroCraft, that started its life as an Indiana Police boat according to the PO who explained thats why the nav light on the bow is red and blue.

 

[cr2k]

Re: New to Me Boat Questions

Never seen a handle like that. My guess is a tilt pump?

The switch under the key switch is the choke. You should hear a click in the engine if it is working. May have to take the cover off. It controls a solenoid that closes the choke.

And finally I am sorry I no nothing about that boat.

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

Re: New to Me Boat Questions

Thanks, Thanks, and no problem.

After finding an iBoats thread from about 5 yrs ago through a google search saying it was like basically a hydraulic jack, I fiddled some more and got it to work. However it would seem to be low on fluid since it won't quite lift the motor high enough to engage the tilt latch. Anyone suppose it uses regular hydraulic oil?

 

[dsiekman]

Re: New to Me Boat Questions

Can't really help you with your questions, but that's a pretty sweet looking boat! Looks like she's in good shape for a '72. Enjoy!

 

[Fireman431]

Re: New to Me Boat Questions

Check the fluid level in the tilt/trim housing and make sure that it's to the correct level. If it's underfilled, you could burn something up.

The choke switch should be held in the "up" position after the key is turned to the on position. You should hear the choke lever click (like was mentioned). When the engine starts and runs for a minute, releasing the lever should allow it to return to the normal position. This is assuming it is a dead-man switch and not a 2 or 3 position switch.

The bow lights were probably red/green, but age & sun fade turned the green to blue. Even the police don't have the authority to change their navigational lights to red/blue. They have to add the emergency lights to the boat, just like you would a cop car. They're not exempt from maritime laws. Replace the bow lens/lamp.

 

[CHAWK46]

Re: New to Me Boat Questions

I bought an AeroCraft just like that when I was 15 except it was aqua blue. Had a 50 hp Merc on it. The next year I put a Merc 110 straight 6 on it. Boy did that boat fly. It was rated for 80 hp max. Didn't have a fancy tilt like that.

Man, that was almost 40 years ago.

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

Re: New to Me Boat Questions

The tilt literally works like a jack. You pump the handle back and forth and it raises the motor. The reservoir is just a blind cavity sealed with a screw on cap (the larger knurled knob) with no fill line. When the motor is down there is still room in res and when pumped up as far as it will go the res is empty. Which is what makes me think if I added fluid it would go all the way up, but worry about getting too much in it and having troubles from expansion with temp changes. Testing is in order but I'd hate to ruin it by adding the wrong oil and having it be incompatible.

The lens is definitely blue, I haven't got around to doing much investigation on it but wonder if it doesn't have a secondary yellow bulb in it to make it appear green at night since there is a switch labeled "Starboard Light" on the dash. I had wondered about the legality of leaving it and just mounting separate correct nav light just because its kinda cool.

Thanks D it definitely needs work but I like it.

Chawk thanks for the info on that.

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

Re: New to Me Boat Questions

I also meant to add thanks for the choking info I was confused at first since there is a choke knob on the front of the motor but after reading the sticker under cowl I now understand that it has manual, auto, and off positions. So your explanation of how to work it clears things up, since I watched the choke shut when I flipped the switch but couldn't figure out how it did any good when the choked pops back open most the way open as soon as I hit the key (not holding the switch up).

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: New to Me Boat Questions

Also on that control the small flat lever you can pull up is for warm up.
It idles the motor high then you ease it down.
While cranking the motor when trying to start it you may need to lift that choke switch up several times.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: New to Me Boat Questions

I saw an old boat with a blue lens recently and wondered about it.
Yiou will have a hard time finding the lens that matches. Stick with the original and plead color blindness!
or try boat junkyards.

 

[saginawbayboater]

Re: New to Me Boat Questions

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i've been around boats since i was kid but up until now all i've owned is small aluminum tiller fishing boats. So of course when i brought home a new boat today i thought i knew how these worked so i didn't ask. Now that i'm home, threw a battery in it, and have fiddled with them i wish i had.

The control upper left is what i think runs the trim/tilt since the orange hose coming out of it runs back to the trim cylinder on the motor. However now i'm thinking its more just tilt since it doesn't do anything by just moving the stick from one extreme to the other. Only thing i can figure is that its suppose to work like a jack to tilt the motor up. Is that how its suppose to work? Any help on how it should be operated would be great.

On the throttle controls under the key is a switch. I know for sure it has action like a momentary on to the up, possibly up and down but couldn't really tell if its just a sloppy switch or dual action. I didn't mess with it too much since it wasn't doing anything. I'm sure someone can tell me what its suppose to control or typically controls.

Finally (for now) if anyone knows much of anything about aerocraft fg boats i be thankful, can't find a cg plate but did find a water wonderland build plate that shows model# yo and serial # 1164

what i do know is or at least what the title says is that its a 1972 (just like me) 18' aerocraft, that started its life as an indiana police boat according to the po who explained thats why the nav light on the bow is red and blue.

TDF, I found your post on the Aercraft YO while I was surfing the net. I too have a YO that I don't know much about. It seems the company had switched ownership so much that the trail of information is limited.

I bought my Aerocraft near Detroit about 10 years ago. It's funny because I live about 20 minutes from St Charles Michigan where the boat was built supposedly.

The Yo model is York according to fiberglassics website.

I never paid any attention to the blue light, but after reading your post, I went and looked, and sure enough mine is blue as well.

I have read your thread on the resto and have been watching for updates. I would like to do the Transom and stringers on my boat in the near future. It has been fun to watch your progress.

Take care!

 

[saginawbayboater]

Re: New to Me Boat Questions

View attachment 157251View attachment 157250View attachment 157252View attachment 157253View attachment 157254

TDF, I found your post on the Aercraft YO while I was surfing the net. I too have a YO that I don't know much about. It seems the company had switched ownership so much that the trail of information is limited.

I bought my Aerocraft near Detroit about 10 years ago. It's funny because I live about 20 minutes from St Charles Michigan where the boat was built supposedly.

The Yo model is York according to fiberglassics website.

I never paid any attention to the blue light, but after reading your post, I went and looked, and sure enough mine is blue as well.

I have read your thread on the resto and have been watching for updates. I would like to do the Transom and stringers on my boat in the near future. It has been fun to watch your progress.

Take care!

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

Re: New to Me Boat Questions

Welcome to Iboats SBB!

I tried to pm ya but you must not have enough posts for that yet(anti spam thing) Good thing you sent a friend request as I don't make it up to this section very often and probably would of missed your reply.

I'm going to try and paste your reply into my resto thread to try and keep the info all together. I'll also add a reply there to avoid a double post of the same content.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: New to Me Boat Questions

I had the same manual tilt/trim jack, on a smaller smoker craft Alum. fishing boat, it worked with a 40 merc outboard and was what I called a cheap version of trim/tilt. And they do work, however you must use caution when on plane using one of these. I made the mistake of releasing the trimmed out position while on plane (causing the bow to dive) and darn near did a header over the windshield. Once you get her out and running you can fiddle around, but do not just empty the cylinder while on plane, it's very dangerous. The system is very simple, just needs more hydraulic fluid IMO, if it isn't pumping up enough.

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

Re: New to Me Boat Questions

Thanks for the warning GB I looked at it more as a tilt unit. I could see it working but not well for adjusting trim.