87SeaRay230
New Member
- Jun 7, 2010
- 4
- Boat Info
- Stock 87 Sea Ray 230 cuddy, no stereo, no navi
- Engines
- Mericruiser 5.0 or 5.7 not sure
Hello everyone,
I just purchased my first boat. A 1987 Sea Ray 230 cuddy. I have a few mechanical questions on what should be checked and what Things I must watch for to get her ready for this season.
First let me start of by giving you some history on the boat:
-609 hrs
-Dry stored most of its life
-no smells
-some paint fading (I used some rubbing compound and it came back to life)
-no cracks on seats except for some superficial ones on back rest of rear long seat
-Took carpets off but they are ok
-Checked the motor oil level and the power steering container and both where at the right level and clean
-Wood needs attention but looks ok
-Cabin pump and motor compartment pump work
-Tinted windows (tint must go)
-Not moved in a year
-1/2 tank full since last year
-Some scratches in side (about 4) one deep one .5 mm
The previews owner suggested to siphon out the old gas and put some fresh one but being as stubborn as I am I did not listen. Instead I got some fuel stabilizer and added 10 gallons of premium and 5 of regular. I don’t think this was a wise idea.
I took her out the same day I got her (yesterday) and this where the results:
At the beginning Speedo would not work 30 minutes after being in the water it started working. It would also bog if I accelerated it past 160° on the throttle (180° being full throttle)
Initially it was really sluggish and it was probably going about 20mph. 10 minutes later it started loosening up an picked up 30-35, however this bogging was unpredictable and it kept happening all throughout the day sometimes not happened at all. It makes me think it's either bad fuel or some sediment that may clog the jets.
The motor did not feel very powerful and it never got past 35 with a crew of 5.
The other problem I had once I stopped sometimes it would not maintain engine on at idle and transmission would get stuck in forward and not go in reverse. I researched it and it seems like some type of binding in the lines.
The motor run most of the time at a constant 170° but temp climbed to 184°in two occasions
I hope some of you can help me locate some component and give me some advice on what I should do to make it ready for the weekend. I have decent mechanical abilities and go to school for mechanical engineering with a concentration in motorsports. I am getting a little frustrated because I know absolutely nothing about boats and I am finding a little hard to get all the info I need to get the boat running properly.
My questions are the following:
-What are the basic things I must check to maintain power plant and transmission safe?
-Where can I get motor and tranny schematics so I can learn where things are located and what they do?
-Where can I find schematics of my boat so I know where things are located?
-Where is my air filter?
-ideas on why is the motor bogging?
-How do I lubricate the cables and adjust them so I can get them loose?
-where are they located
-How do I repair the scratches?
-How do I restore the paint and make it all shinny again?
-Can I run my boat with the bimmini top on?
-What’s the normal operating temperature and the maximum unsafe temperature?
-What should be my max speed?
-ideas on why it's being sluggish
-What kind of spark plugs and cables should I use, is it a good idea to put something like a Bosch platinum 4?
-Can I get these parts in an auto parts store?
-What type of cap and rotor should I use?
-anything I have missed that I should pay attention to?
I know this is too many questions but any help will be very much appreciated. I will be checking the forum constantly,
Best Wishes,
Mario A. Hernandez
I just purchased my first boat. A 1987 Sea Ray 230 cuddy. I have a few mechanical questions on what should be checked and what Things I must watch for to get her ready for this season.
First let me start of by giving you some history on the boat:
-609 hrs
-Dry stored most of its life
-no smells
-some paint fading (I used some rubbing compound and it came back to life)
-no cracks on seats except for some superficial ones on back rest of rear long seat
-Took carpets off but they are ok
-Checked the motor oil level and the power steering container and both where at the right level and clean
-Wood needs attention but looks ok
-Cabin pump and motor compartment pump work
-Tinted windows (tint must go)
-Not moved in a year
-1/2 tank full since last year
-Some scratches in side (about 4) one deep one .5 mm
The previews owner suggested to siphon out the old gas and put some fresh one but being as stubborn as I am I did not listen. Instead I got some fuel stabilizer and added 10 gallons of premium and 5 of regular. I don’t think this was a wise idea.
I took her out the same day I got her (yesterday) and this where the results:
At the beginning Speedo would not work 30 minutes after being in the water it started working. It would also bog if I accelerated it past 160° on the throttle (180° being full throttle)
Initially it was really sluggish and it was probably going about 20mph. 10 minutes later it started loosening up an picked up 30-35, however this bogging was unpredictable and it kept happening all throughout the day sometimes not happened at all. It makes me think it's either bad fuel or some sediment that may clog the jets.
The motor did not feel very powerful and it never got past 35 with a crew of 5.
The other problem I had once I stopped sometimes it would not maintain engine on at idle and transmission would get stuck in forward and not go in reverse. I researched it and it seems like some type of binding in the lines.
The motor run most of the time at a constant 170° but temp climbed to 184°in two occasions
I hope some of you can help me locate some component and give me some advice on what I should do to make it ready for the weekend. I have decent mechanical abilities and go to school for mechanical engineering with a concentration in motorsports. I am getting a little frustrated because I know absolutely nothing about boats and I am finding a little hard to get all the info I need to get the boat running properly.
My questions are the following:
-What are the basic things I must check to maintain power plant and transmission safe?
-Where can I get motor and tranny schematics so I can learn where things are located and what they do?
-Where can I find schematics of my boat so I know where things are located?
-Where is my air filter?
-ideas on why is the motor bogging?
-How do I lubricate the cables and adjust them so I can get them loose?
-where are they located
-How do I repair the scratches?
-How do I restore the paint and make it all shinny again?
-Can I run my boat with the bimmini top on?
-What’s the normal operating temperature and the maximum unsafe temperature?
-What should be my max speed?
-ideas on why it's being sluggish
-What kind of spark plugs and cables should I use, is it a good idea to put something like a Bosch platinum 4?
-Can I get these parts in an auto parts store?
-What type of cap and rotor should I use?
-anything I have missed that I should pay attention to?
I know this is too many questions but any help will be very much appreciated. I will be checking the forum constantly,
Best Wishes,
Mario A. Hernandez
