1977 Seafari 2006 Etec 150

[Bushwacker]

Originally Posted by Vezo, Part II

. . . is the Viper seriously a bow lifter? No wonder it's requiring some tab no matter of engine trim.

Discovered a non- contacting service in the Perko battery selector. Go straight to Both then back to One!

Discovered raw water pick-up sea-cock was also open, as well as the plastic T inline valve. Yesterday's rain seems to have had no effect on skeg lowering. At rest, I think she slowly took water on up to the base of the on deck live well. Then began leaking into bilge. She would have kept this up until she was on the bottom this morning.

Filled boat with freshwater waiting for float to activate, when I found number one batt not connecting, flipped to both and bilge activated. Now I have no reason to believe float is hard wired. Is this even possible??? . . .

The Raker is actually BRP's bass boat prop, so even more of a bow lifter than the Viper, which is listed as a "general purpose bow lifting prop" on Pg 10 in BRP's prop selection guide. However as Gillie says, the 20' SeaCraft hull was designed for a light motor of 300 lbs or less, but since most modern motors in the 100-150 hp range tend to weigh around 400 lbs or even closer to 500 lbs on many 4-strokes, the heavier motors work best on a SeaCraft with a stern lifting prop that will help offset the engine weight. I didn't recommend the Rebel, because although it is a stern lifting prop with very large heavily cupped blades much like the Merc Mirage, my dealer says the small block 2.6L V-6 can't spin it fast enough, so it's typically used on the bigger 3.3-3.4L 200-300 hp motors. I've run the 14.5" x 15" pitch Cyclone and it turns 5400-5450, so it's the perfect prop for a an early 150 E-TEC on a Seafari. The optimum rpm on later 150 E-TECs is higher, up around 5500-5800 so the Cyclone has a little too much pitch for them.

I forgot that your boat evidently has a leaning post-type live well, so I'd put some water in it and make sure it's not leaking into the bilge. I think a bilge pump should be wired direct to the battery with it's own separate fuse, because I like to be able to shut off everything else on the boat with the battery switch when I'm not aboard.

[Capt Terry]

Michael-
After the dealer raised the engine twice I raised it to hole #4 (the bottom hole) using Bushwacker’s method. The engine is at max height without re-drilling the transom. My transom has two sets of mount holes: the original from the 1976 Merc 150, then the last must be from the 1985 Merc 150. The current top hole is about two inches above the original set. A more precise way to tell you where the engine is, as close as I can measure it, is 2" higher than if it were sitting flat on the aluminum extrusion on top of the transom. Measuring the height of the A/V plate above the keel may not be too accurate the way my boat sits on the trailer: my results about 1.5". I don't have a current photo of the A/V plate underway, but it looks similar to what Bushwacker recently posted. I could possibly go another hole higher, but am satisfied with the current results. I am running the ETEC 150 HO which at WOT should run 5500-5600 and up to 5800 rpm lightly loaded. For watersports I am running a SST High Five 5B 13.5" x 17P prop at 41.2mph at 5710rpm WOT (lightly loaded, two people, half tank, bimini down). Last week with three people in the boat, lots of food & beverages, and barefoot boom I pulled a 185# barefooter at almost 40 mph. .Same engine height and similar test conditions on the SST Cyclone 4B 14.5" x 15P was 40.8mph at 5280rpm (so the speed was not bad, but the engine was not reving fast enough The performance of the Cyclone was good and it picked up speed much more quickly than the High Five, but it gave me more speed variation at 18mph for wakeboarding and did not rev high enough. Bushwacker liked my Cyclone on his ETEC 150 on his Seafari. The Powertech 4B 15” x 15P (same conditions again) gave me 38.0mph at 5340 rplm WOT.













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[Vezo, Part II]

If not for my friend Paul, I'd never have. Been sitting here here for beer yesterday. Today she would have been on the bottom. Pulled her last night and she survived the BS rain. Today, I fortunately advised my new girl aft portion of skeg should be above WL 1 inch. Go to make a cocktail and BeeAtch lowered to trim mode. Electronically or hydraullicly. She's going back to the trailer until I can get this sh!t figured..

F'in Weber activates up at same time. Hardly used. One in SC, one in HB. Only one of two models made in China... Friggin hungry!

[Vezo, Part II]

Aluminum extrusion? Is that what I should call it next time I'm with you at Zig-Zags?

Just the check please.

[Capt Terry]

Michael-
Zig Zags? You must have me confused with one of the other Terrys. Maybe aluminum cap would have been more understandable. Most aluminum, unless cast or hogged from a billet, is extruded to get the final shape. For instance a sliding door track is an aluminum extrusion. Under high pressure the aluminum is forced through a die of the desired shape- kind of like squeezing tooth paste out of a tube.

You are correct, never take a new boat on a long trip. Check her out first where you can easily be towed if necessary. Sorry about your troubles, just think of all the stories you have for the next CSC gathering! A good looking boat, BTW. Of course I always thought the Seafaris were tops!

[Vezo, Part II]

Apologies to each and all Terry's. I was being a SA over the aluminum plate over transom cap.

I'm dumbfounded with the issues I'm having with electrical, plumbing and now hydraulically. Got her safely on the trailer again last night. My OMC mechanic of twenty years is now telling me to drag her 300 miles back to SC. Almost makes sense now that my boating connection here is gone.

If I have a short in Batt. One position, which appears to have everything in the stern connected to the positive, is it very possible, when turned to off the bilge pump is dead? And if so, then same for float switch?

Though my Refurbished 1982 Whaler 15 (sold), the 88 under construction, the 79 MA, and even my brothers Jersey Speed Skiff, all had much simpler systems, I watched/assisted with all installations. Feel pretty dumb expecting this one to be as new.

[Vezo, Part II]

He has gotten me dialed in...

He likes the prop that I'd like to replace. However, he had full working knowledge of bait well, as well as electrical, and was able to correct by memory.

Sea cock closed, and splitter "T", (red), closes of a bunch of way s to evacuate water from livewell. Apparently she floated from Fri to Mon w/out rain. Monday's rain had trailing edge of skeg sinking. Not near close enough to activate Float. Biggest mistake...she will not take on water with deck plugs pulled! Definition of self-bailing! Plugs in finds a way into bilge. My Bad.

Thank You All,

Vezo, Part II

[McGillicuddy]

turn·key ˈtərnˌkē
noun, archaic
1. a jailer.

adjective
1.of or involving the provision of a complete product or service that is ready for immediate use.

Sounds like the seller may have been the former and you are now in boat jail.

You need this:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/boat...clickid=3x2988

Kind of a get out of jail free card. Best darn boat owners book out there...this one is old but the basic lessons remain true.

Cheers

[Vezo, Part II]

Actually Gillie, it was my bad not contacting him immediately. Great guy, great intentions with every aspect of design and function. All I had to do was pull deck drain plugs and she doesn't take on a drop (on the deck, or anywhere else, for that matter). He was plagued by the idea of water leaking anywhere in the boat. Had it out many times overnight. Stayed on the phone until everything was explained and understood.

At a certain point, the deck filled until high enough to find a way into the bilge. Only thing I've lost is the starboard trim tab. Switch activates pump but no fluid making it to the piston actuator. Hope I didn't flood contacts while rinsing bilge with fresh water. All I can figure. Bow lifting prop definitely kicking my ACE!

I'm really digging my new sled!!!

Part II

[Vezo, Part II]

Denny, this pic may not be the best for your questions about the steering system, but I'm here until Monday.