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Message 25 of 25
Posted by member Peter on Thursday 26 May 2016
Hi Rob,
Ah Rutland Water, I know it well, Lived very near by when I was a lad. grew up in North Luffenham just a mile away. I remember the valley before it was flooded and used to ride my motor cycle through the valley on the way to college in Oakham. I also helped build the pumping station in the holidays as a student. Enjoy the break.
BR,
Peter
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Message 24 of 25
Posted by member rob mcinnes on Wednesday 25 May 2016
Thanks both Peter and Mike,
Yes, fuel filter fitted.
I'm pretty sure that what came out of the tell-tale was organic, just saw a flash of green as it cleared. Up until then it had been pumping well and has done ever since. But I will keep an eye on it.
No boating for me this weekend I'm afraid. I already have a pre-arranged meet up at Rutland Water in the motorhome. I much prefer the boat, but my wife has Menieres Disease which affects the inner ear which means she gets very sick at the slightest rocking of a boat, so boating is now sadly a single pasttime for me!
We do have some great times in the MH though, and my Boxer, Ruby, absolutely loves it. (she's not a sea dog!)
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Message 23 of 25
Posted by member Peter on Wednesday 25 May 2016
Hi Rob,
Sounds like you have a good one there. As Mike says it is worth keeping an eye on the tell-tale. It could be just the dried scale loosing up after being stored, most of which should go through the main exhaust.
I have the ally plate to start making a rudder safe but just need to see how to fix it, as it will be on the broads/rivers most of the time I wont make it kick up but just in a fixed position. Due to time and weather I am still removing the old paint off the decks. have now done one side and the fore deck and just starting on the last side. I may leave that for next winter as it will be nice to get her back in the water.
have a good Bank Holiday boating.
Peter
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Message 22 of 25
Posted by member mike insall on Tuesday 24 May 2016
Hi Rob, glad you like the new motor, but keep an eye on the telltale water jet!
If it does it again I would get it looked at! When I'm out I check it regularly just in case!
Did they fit a fuel filter btw?
Hope you get some good boating this coming weekend.
Mike
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Message 21 of 25
Posted by member rob mcinnes on Tuesday 24 May 2016
Engine runs like a dream, and very economical.
Steering does wander a bit, so I probably will go for a ruddersafe when I get round to it. I got a bit of a scare when the telltale jet sopped pumping water out, but a quick poke around with a piece of wire cleared the obstruction and all was well. I'm told though that the tell tale is nothing to really worry about as the bore is much smaller than the main cooling and so far easier to block.
For some reason my speed log has stopped working, so I couldn't measure performance, but judging by the quick burst I did give it, it has much more than ample power for the river.
Overall, very pleased.
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Message 20 of 25
Posted by member rob mcinnes on Monday 2 May 2016
Hi Peter,
I will probably get the Ruddersafe fairly soon, hopefully should not be too difficult to fit using the power tilt.
I will see how I get on next weekend as to whether I think it will be necessary or not.
Cheers
Rob
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Message 19 of 25
Posted by member Peter on Monday 2 May 2016
Hi Rob,
Glad you have it finished now. Look forward to hearing how she runs and what sort of performance you get from her. Did you manage to get a rudder safe fitted or will that need to wait now ??
Regards,
Peter
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Message 18 of 25
Posted by member rob mcinnes on Monday 2 May 2016
Finally got my new engine fitted last week. I have only given it a quick run around the Marina so far, but it seems very smooth.
My first real trip will be next weekend, so I will report back then. A local golf course has a ski lake linked to the river, so I am hoping to get permission to try it out on full throttle there.
I could be wrong, but hoping to get about 8/9 knots?
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Message 17 of 25
Posted by member Peter on Monday 7 March 2016
Hi Rob,
Thanks for the link. I think I can make a unit up that will use the mounting holes of the current wing so there will be no need for more holes to be drilled in the Outboard. I will have a look in the workshop this week and see what I have to play with.
BR,
Peter
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Message 16 of 25
Posted by member rob mcinnes on Sunday 6 March 2016
I found an example of a home made Ruddersafe on another forum (Please remove this post if it is against forum rules to link to another forum!)
http://www.vikingowners.org.uk/gallery/ruddersafe/ruddersafe.asp?g=1
Cheers
Rob
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Message 15 of 25
Posted by member rob mcinnes on Sunday 6 March 2016
Yes will do Peter.
Making a rudder safe for our smaller engines shouldn't be too difficult. The complex bit is the spring arrangement which raises the device at higher speeds, which we should not need.
I have read of people making their own in the past, with good results.
Looking at the price, I may have a go myself, otherwise I will be paying for the extra engineering which my boat will not require.
All the best
Rob
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Message 14 of 25
Posted by member Peter on Saturday 5 March 2016
Hi Rob,
Sorry to hear the engine hasn't been fitted yet. It's just that time of year when every one wants to get on their boat and out for Easter.
Had a look at fitting a rudder safe to my Mariner 15 but as it already has a set of wings fitted the rudder safes available wont fit on with the wing in place so it may have to be a choice of either the rudder safe or the depressor wing !!! I may have a look to see if O can make a rudder safe myself. I have the ally plate etc. so may see if I can make some brackets that will mate with the Wing mount.
Hope you get the motor fitted this week and post a photo when done.
Cheers,
Peter
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Message 13 of 25
Posted by member rob mcinnes on Friday 4 March 2016
Well, I went to visit my boat the other day, only to find that the new engine hadn't been fitted.
I 'phoned AC Outboards and they explained that they simply hadn't had time to do it yet. I wasn't exactly delighted as I wanted to use the boat this weekend, but hey ho. I suppose it is the time of year when everybody wants their engines serviced etc.
I'm told it will be some time next week now.
Cheers
Rob
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Message 12 of 25
Posted by member Peter on Saturday 13 February 2016
Hi Rob,
We must have been at Crosshall around 1984 I think. We were there for a couple of years and then moved over to the Nene at Billing when we bought our next boat which was a Shetland 2+2 which was one of the early ones with the double berth underneath the cockpit and a straight 6 cylinder Ford Petrol and Sonic out drive !!! The torque of the engine was always sheering the gears in the drive so we traded it in for a Maclan 22 before moving over to sailing yachts. Now semi retired we have come back to motor boats.
BR,
Peter
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Message 11 of 25
Posted by member rob mcinnes on Friday 12 February 2016
Hi Peter,
I was also at Crosshall for a few years. I had a Seamaster 27 called Kandor, then a Dolphin 22 called Whispers, a Seamaster 725 called Kingfisher and a Landau 20 called Tender to Lindsey.
I know the Neville family who own the marina quite well, and will probably be back at Crosshall before too long. It's a lovely little Marina.
At present, I am moored at L H Jones, St Ives.
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Message 10 of 25
Posted by member Peter on Friday 12 February 2016
Rob,
Hope you enjoy the Ouse, it's a very nice river and brings back many fond memories. Our very first boat, an old Birchwood 18 with an ancient Chrysler 25 2 stroke, was purchased from Priory Marine in Bedford and we cruised all summer up and down the Ouse. We had a mooring at Crosshall Marina at St Neots. We hope to bring Dragonfly over from Norfolk one summer to retrace some of the area.
Peter
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Message 9 of 25
Posted by member rob mcinnes on Friday 12 February 2016
Thanks Mike and Peter,
Some great info there.
The engine being serviced as we speak and has a full service record.
I did ask about the pitch, but can't remember what it was! (Other than it would be fine for an FP).
There is a rev counter in the boat. Prior to the Honda 9.9 she had a Mariner 50 which was stolen, so I think the Honda was just put on in order to sell the boat.
Can't wait to get out on her, unfortunately the river is running a little quickly at the moment!
Cheers
Rob
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Message 8 of 25
Posted by member Peter on Thursday 11 February 2016
Hi Rob,
Looks like a good choice and hope it goes well. I have a set of wings on mine and will be fitting a rudder safe this year before she goes back in the water. Looking at the spec of my 15 I can see now why it has the extra thrust !!! The standard 4 stroke 15 has a 2:1 gear box and takes a 9.25 inch dia. prop as standard but the Big Foot has a 2.42:1 gearbox and takes a 10.3 inch Dia. prop. I will see if I can get a finer pitch for the unit.
A good place for info and service manuals is the link below. They have most of the service manuals on line and are free :-
http://boatinfo.no/lib/mercury/manuals/
Glad you managed to get out for a spin Mike, Hope you had a nice cruise. Just waiting to get some nice clear spells of weather to start work on "Dragonfly" and then get her back in the water.
Peter
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Message 7 of 25
Posted by member Mike Insall on Thursday 11 February 2016
Hi again,
Well I managed to get out today in beautiful sunshine, and decided to do a few slow running tests!
Bearing in mind I have a lightly loaded Hardy 17ft Navi with a 40HP 4 stroke, I note the following – the things I do for the HOC forum!
At tick over I was getting about 1.5 Knots, and at about 4 Kts the engine was running at an comfortable rate (I don’t have a rev counter!) At 6 knots it was starting to growl a bit and I would say it was at about a good 1/2 max revs.
My guess is that the 25 would be absolutely on the nail for your FP, so I’m sure you have made the right choice! Did you find out what the prop pitch is?
Unless you know that it’s been serviced recently, I would get it done if you can. If it’s a FI model it will for sure need a fuel filter – about £50 from Force 4!
We look forward to your report! If you have a rev counter that would perhaps be useful, but I’m not sure about the rudder safe!
Although I can see my OB, I never have to look at it to see where I’m at!!
Good luck!
Mike
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Message 6 of 25
Posted by member rob mcinnes on Thursday 11 February 2016
I had a long chat yesterday with the seller (Adey at A C Outboards, Market Deeping).
He assured me that the engine will be perfect for my intended use, he even told me that he had exactly the same setup on his FP! (some would say "well he would say that" but he is a genuinely nice man who does a lot of business with the marina).
I have now ordered the engine, and they are fitting it in a week or so's time. He even refused to take any money until the installation is complete and the setup is fully tested to my satisfaction.
I will then decide whether to go for the Ruddersafe or not.
I am away in Scotland for a week or so from next Thursday, but will report back on my return.
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Message 5 of 25
Posted by member rob mcinnes on Tuesday 9 February 2016
Thanks Mike,
Very low hours and apparently immaculate, I am off to the marina tomorrow to have a look. I will also ask about pitch.
I'm only interested in river speeds really, but always good to have some power in reserve.
I'm also thinking of fitting a Ruddersafe.
Cheers
Rob
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Message 4 of 25
Posted by member mike insall on Tuesday 9 February 2016
Hi Rob and welcome to the forum.
I feel it partly depends on the condition of the 25. Do you know the hours it's done and does it have a good service history?
If you have say 2 people aboard and a fair amount of gear I would think the 25 would be ok and would be quieter than a 15! I have a 40 hp 4 stroke on a Navi 17 and only get 9kts max although as Peter mentioned that is probably due to the 13 inch pitch prop! But, I do have very good acceleration that can be VERY useful sometimes!
Do you know the pitch on the 25?
I also think that TT is useful!
I have put a set of wings on mine (from Force 4) that I feel may have helped handling at slow speeds a bit!
Lots of Very Good advice on here you will no doubt get in due course!
Good luck, but keep us all updated!
Cheers,
Mike
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Message 3 of 25
Posted by member rob mcinnes on Tuesday 9 February 2016
Thanks Peter.
We tend to stay further inland on the Gt Ouse so it may well be that a newer 15HP would suit our needs better. I did worry about slow speed handling with the 25.
I do like the fact though, that it has power TT, but that of course is not essential.
Loch Lomond might require a bit more power in some conditions, but that is a long way off yet.
Thanks again.
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Message 2 of 25
Posted by member Peter on Tuesday 9 February 2016
Hi Rob,
I have a Mariner 15 4 stroke "Big Foot" on my Navigator which is more than enough for river work. On tick over it will push her along at 5 MPH. For the Broads that is more than enough and really it could do with a finer pitch prop on. Don't forget that the Lakes have a blanket speed limit for power boats of 10 mph so you wont need that much power for the lakes. Not sure about the Scottish lochs. If you intend to go down the bottom end of the Ouse towards the Wash then you should need the extra power for the tidal areas of the river. It may be worth looking at the 25 and getting two props for it one for the river work and one for the lakes and estuary work. I think you will find that the 25 on the River will be just ticking over and slow speed handling will be a bit of a problem in the river channels and locks on the Ouse, the finer prop would help here.
Hope that is of some help.
Peter
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Message 1 of 25
Posted by member rob mcinnes on Tuesday 9 February 2016
Hi,
I've recently joined the forum having purchased a Hardy FP which is moored at St Ives in Cambs.
It has an old Honda 9.9 on it at present, which I think is a bit small for the boat really. I now have the chance of a Mariner 25HP 4 stroke.
Can anybody advise what performance this would give. I'm not interested in planing, but I do plan on visiting the lakes and Loch Lomond at some point in the future, and would like to know if this would be up to it?
Thanks in advance.
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