Arminius
Well-Known Member
- Oct 30, 2019
- 1,068
- Boat Info
- Bowrider 200 Select, 2003
- Engines
- 5.0L MPI, 260 hp w/Alpha 1 Drive
How's this thing work (compared to a familiar big outboard)?
First time starting my first 2003 sterndrive in a tub last week. New impeller, oil and filters. Gauges said it worked fine but it is different and advice will be appreciated. 5.0 L MPI, OM600590, Seawater cooled; Manual, Single Point Drain system. There is no piss hole so is there anyway to see water flow from the pump in sterndrive? My diagram indicates if I turn the round blue handle, water should come out of little drain tube way under it.
How do I handle weeds? My outboards would lose power and honk. Shut her down, raise the motor, and the weeds would usually fall off or I could reach them from swim platform. This 200BR has a full width 2' foot built in platform. Do I carry a brush on a long handle if I don't want to go swimming?
I had a Hydrostream pushed by a 220 hp EFI Mercury 2-stroke last. Trim down, hit it, trim up as speed increases and boat gets light till it's cavitating with the through the hub exhaust loud, then down a tad. Rough water required more hull in the water for stability. Got a feeling this heavy is going to be much less responsive to trim. 19" High 5 screw.
Then there's the matter of the primitive OBD port with no cheap Chinese smartphone adapters to read the codes. Is there a CEL? I read I can short A & B and count the continuity pulses on two other leads on a VOM, convert to 2 digit numbers, and check the chart. Leave shorted and swing the throttle to WOT and back to clear codes. Cars had these a long time ago.
Anyway, I bought this pristine 330 hr boat in the Fall, have dewinterized, happy it runs, and looking forward to putting it in water. I had anticipated rack storage so I wanted to get everything fixed first.
Any advice, basic or otherwise, will be appreciated. Freshwater lake use only. no fishing.
First time starting my first 2003 sterndrive in a tub last week. New impeller, oil and filters. Gauges said it worked fine but it is different and advice will be appreciated. 5.0 L MPI, OM600590, Seawater cooled; Manual, Single Point Drain system. There is no piss hole so is there anyway to see water flow from the pump in sterndrive? My diagram indicates if I turn the round blue handle, water should come out of little drain tube way under it.
How do I handle weeds? My outboards would lose power and honk. Shut her down, raise the motor, and the weeds would usually fall off or I could reach them from swim platform. This 200BR has a full width 2' foot built in platform. Do I carry a brush on a long handle if I don't want to go swimming?
I had a Hydrostream pushed by a 220 hp EFI Mercury 2-stroke last. Trim down, hit it, trim up as speed increases and boat gets light till it's cavitating with the through the hub exhaust loud, then down a tad. Rough water required more hull in the water for stability. Got a feeling this heavy is going to be much less responsive to trim. 19" High 5 screw.
Then there's the matter of the primitive OBD port with no cheap Chinese smartphone adapters to read the codes. Is there a CEL? I read I can short A & B and count the continuity pulses on two other leads on a VOM, convert to 2 digit numbers, and check the chart. Leave shorted and swing the throttle to WOT and back to clear codes. Cars had these a long time ago.
Anyway, I bought this pristine 330 hr boat in the Fall, have dewinterized, happy it runs, and looking forward to putting it in water. I had anticipated rack storage so I wanted to get everything fixed first.
Any advice, basic or otherwise, will be appreciated. Freshwater lake use only. no fishing.