17 days and 450 miles,can i call it shaken?

id. painter · 05-07-2003, 08:32 AM

Ive been trying to get as many hrs. on my boat as possible , before i try and chase tuna. I havent the chance for a real shake down like you all talk about (chinook to Bonne. and back). When can i call it shaken down, enough.. I had it out again last weekend and the wind blew hard ,, 25-30mph and i ran for miles in it, and nothing has rattled off yet.Im starting to feel like im getting some level of confidence built up. Ill keep using it every chance i get . It has run perfect since the missing at the wind river.I was trying hard to get it to do it again and i cant.... id. p.

Orca · 05-07-2003, 08:46 AM

My personal opinion - you're there. Prepare for the slaughter!

Miss B Haven · 05-07-2003, 09:21 AM

Do you have your fuel burn rate figured out? That was what the PDX-Bonne suggestion a while back was all about. ( or a fuel flow meter installed). :smile:

id. painter · 05-07-2003, 09:45 AM

Miss B. you just had to ask , didnt you, No and no. The consumption thing is not exactly figured ,but approx. Ive been getting close to 4 miles per gallon, on several combined trips (some at sea level and some at my elevation) But i really dont know what it will take for extended periods at sea in differing waters. I was going to try and survive (live) without a comsumption meter for a while , im trying to get the rest of the essential goodies . I will have 78 gal of fuel on board.
Personally im most worried about a break down at sea. I dont have the experience working on motors to feel like i can do much more than change a plug at sea, and i know nothing about this new motor (ive taken the hood off twice , just to look at it.) It looks nice , Hi ho. id. p.

id. painter · 05-07-2003, 12:14 PM

I did ask the dealer on my last motor. He said that i should turn three screws a 1/4 turn, but that it wasnt essential. I took the boat to Ilwaco and fished 9 days there and Canada without a sign of trouble (ran great)and i didnt turn the screws.This was a 75hp. Merc. same year as my new motor. I will ask a mechanic ,but, i took this motor to Ilwaco last Aug. and it ran great for 5 days at sea level, so, im thinking that it was something else. But it will bug me till i get enough time on the motor to be convinced its not comming back, like another 17 trips. id. p.

Slow Roll · 05-07-2003, 11:27 PM

id. painter,
After your engine hiccuping on you at the Wind, have you talked to the manufacturer about there being any issues with elevation? I remember when my dad bought his last motor (Johnson), the factory tuned it for the elevation of where he lives (Eastern Montana).

Something to consider, I am not sure how the elevation will affect the newer motors if at all.

Paul B.

id. painter · 05-08-2003, 08:27 AM

O.K. I ask about the elevation thing and my new motor. The answer was a big NO. The Merc Optimax is a fuel injected motor (like a car) and there is no adjustment needed. So, i still have no idea what was going on. The guy mentioned that it was most likely a fuel thing (, no kidding). id. p.

Son of an Okie · 05-08-2003, 11:07 PM

ID P.,

I've got a Mercury Optimax outboard too, the 135 Saltwater model. About the only time this thing will miss a little is when it's cold outside. After it warms up, all is OK. Had a problem with it fouling the factory plugs when it was new, but the dealer changed them out in 2000 and it hasn't done it since. Gotta love the fuel economy. I've got a 40 gal. tank in my Intruder and it takes me a long way before the gas gauge needle even moves. Guess the only thing I could ever recommend is to never touch the lever to increase RPM while in neutral, for some reason my motor doesn't like that. And it's not necessary with fuel injection anyway.

The Okie's kid

id. painter · 05-08-2003, 11:21 PM

Thanks for the input Okie boy. I havent done any thing but run the motor. Maybe im over reacting.Ill be back in the water this weekend at 7000 ft above sea level(Hebgin Lake Mt.) Im going to keep running the heck out of it and see what happens.
Talking about fuel economy. I have calculated that im getting near 4 m.p.g.. I was thinking this sounds a little too good ... What do you get for an average in ocean conditions? id. p.

id. painter · 05-08-2003, 11:33 PM

Okie son,,, Are you talking about the lever that increases the R.P.Ms for warm up ,idling. id.p.