Boat "getting heavier" or Merc 4.2 diesel losing power?
 

Started the new season to find my Conquest 23 with Merc 4.2 D-tronic
diesel on a Bravo III seemed to have "lost" 300-400 rpm at WOT. After
many visits by mechanic and Merc distributor with laptops, replacing
fuel injection electronics, rigging up a clean fuel tank etc - the
conclusion was "the boat got heavier" and they propped it down from
24" to 20" to get it back to 3800 rpm.

Well, the only thing added to the boat since I bought it from new is a
fold-away table and some fishing rods and she's cleaned top and bottom
every winter - so I'm pretty skeptical!! I don't think a new whaler is
likely to be soaking up water in her hull either.

She's very lightly used but serviced every year. No smoke and sounds
sweet to my ears - even the wife likes the whining of the turbo!

Anyone got experience of this engine? Thoughts?

Thanks
Peter

Boat "getting heavier" or Merc 4.2 diesel losing power?
 

A friend of mine with a boat lift claims his 24 ft. fiberglass boat will soak
up water? ??

Boat "getting heavier" or Merc 4.2 diesel losing power?
 

Not uncommon. Not sure of the reason. I had 2 pontoon boats that both lost
4 mph on top end thru the first year (boats were not left in the water and
pontoons were clean). Also, my 24' cabin cruiser lost about 300 rpms on the
350 Mercruiser thru the first year on the new engine (again, boat was
trailered and never left in the water and hull was clean). This was a used
boat so the hull should have already absorbed what water it was going to.

If anyone has an answer - I would love to hear it.
Only my speed boats have not seen this happen.


--
Tony
my boats at http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com

"Peter Jones" wrote in message
om...
Started the new season to find my Conquest 23 with Merc 4.2 D-tronic
diesel on a Bravo III seemed to have "lost" 300-400 rpm at WOT. After
many visits by mechanic and Merc distributor with laptops, replacing
fuel injection electronics, rigging up a clean fuel tank etc - the
conclusion was "the boat got heavier" and they propped it down from
24" to 20" to get it back to 3800 rpm.

Well, the only thing added to the boat since I bought it from new is a
fold-away table and some fishing rods and she's cleaned top and bottom
every winter - so I'm pretty skeptical!! I don't think a new whaler is
likely to be soaking up water in her hull either.

She's very lightly used but serviced every year. No smoke and sounds
sweet to my ears - even the wife likes the whining of the turbo!

Anyone got experience of this engine? Thoughts?

Thanks
Peter

Boat "getting heavier" or Merc 4.2 diesel losing power?
 

Boat "getting heavier" or Merc 4.2 diesel losing power?
 

Depending on the engine, you may lose RPM's. They have reformulated diesel.
Most of us diesel pickup truck owners have noticed a decrease in milage.
Bill

"Peter Jones" wrote in message
om...
Started the new season to find my Conquest 23 with Merc 4.2 D-tronic
diesel on a Bravo III seemed to have "lost" 300-400 rpm at WOT. After
many visits by mechanic and Merc distributor with laptops, replacing
fuel injection electronics, rigging up a clean fuel tank etc - the
conclusion was "the boat got heavier" and they propped it down from
24" to 20" to get it back to 3800 rpm.

Well, the only thing added to the boat since I bought it from new is a
fold-away table and some fishing rods and she's cleaned top and bottom
every winter - so I'm pretty skeptical!! I don't think a new whaler is
likely to be soaking up water in her hull either.

She's very lightly used but serviced every year. No smoke and sounds
sweet to my ears - even the wife likes the whining of the turbo!

Anyone got experience of this engine? Thoughts?

Thanks
Peter

Boat "getting heavier" or Merc 4.2 diesel losing power?
 

John,
Surveyors have meters that can check the moisture level in a hull. I
don't know if these meters are available for rental but the original poster
might want to inquire into this.
Paul

"John" wrote in message
om...
(Peter Jones) wrote in message
. com...
Started the new season to find my Conquest 23 with Merc 4.2 D-tronic
diesel on a Bravo III seemed to have "lost" 300-400 rpm at WOT. After
many visits by mechanic and Merc distributor with laptops, replacing
fuel injection electronics, rigging up a clean fuel tank etc - the
conclusion was "the boat got heavier" and they propped it down from
24" to 20" to get it back to 3800 rpm.

Well, the only thing added to the boat since I bought it from new is a
fold-away table and some fishing rods and she's cleaned top and bottom
every winter - so I'm pretty skeptical!! I don't think a new whaler is
likely to be soaking up water in her hull either.

She's very lightly used but serviced every year. No smoke and sounds
sweet to my ears - even the wife likes the whining of the turbo!

Anyone got experience of this engine? Thoughts?

Thanks
Peter

Pete, yes, boats so soak up water. But if the boat was out of the
water all winter (was it) it's very unlikely it has much in it. Why
not have the boat weighed? It's a good method of seeing what has
happened. I'd be concerned about that loss in RPM's.

Boat "getting heavier" or Merc 4.2 diesel losing power?
 

Pete, yes, boats so soak up water. But if the boat was out of the
water all winter (was it) it's very unlikely it has much in it. Why
not have the boat weighed? It's a good method of seeing what has
happened. I'd be concerned about that loss in RPM's.

I was told that the closed foam construction on the Whaler meant that
it would not soak up water unless there was significant damage to the
hull or damage to a through-hull drain etc.

Perhaps I should see if I can weigh her..

Boat "getting heavier" or Merc 4.2 diesel losing power?
 

Perhaps that explains why I can no longer bench press my 28' Wellcraft :^)

Seriously though, a boat hull does not dry out significantly over a
winter, unless its under ideal conditions.


In article ,
(John) wrote:



Pete, yes, boats so soak up water. But if the boat was out of the
water all winter (was it) it's very unlikely it has much in it. Why
not have the boat weighed? It's a good method of seeing what has
happened. I'd be concerned about that loss in RPM's.