OK, here's the story.

I bought the boat in Feb, 2005 from a dealer in Hammond, Louisiana.

When I took the boat from the dealer, I did not experience any change
in oil level during the first 30 hours of operation. Then in June 2005
I changed the oil in the engine and drive for the first time. After I
changed the oil, I observed that the level in the reservoir dropped
about an inch after first trip. I added lubricant and the level kept
on dropping during the next 2-3 outings - but each time it was a
smaller amount. First time it was an inch, but the subsequent times if
might have been a 1/2 inch or so. Eventually after 3 or 4 times I took
out the boat it remained stable. Then, in April this year I replaced
the oil again, and exactly the same thing happened. My engine has
about 150 hrs now. I use the boat year round (the advantage of
Louisiana climate),




Mr Wizzard wrote:
"katekebo" wrote in message
oups.com...

Mr Wizzard wrote:
"katekebo" wrote in message
ups.com...
You say that every time you take the boat out you have to add about 2
oz. of lubricant.


On my drive I experience exactly the same thing during
the first 3, maybe 5 times I use the boat after an oil change.

Oh really?? Well, this was only the second time out after
they (dealer) changed the drive gear lube, and pulling the
drive for annual maintenance. Still doesn't explain why it
was doing this *before* I took it in - boat was run all
last year without doing this. So what type of drive you
have, and what year ?

2005 Alpha I Gen. 2 with 3.0L 4-cyl, in a Bayliner 175.

Damn, thats the exact same boat I got!! Tell me more here.
How many hours on it, and did it EVER use any lube *before*
you did this lube change?

"katekebo" wrote in message
ups.com...
OK, here's the story.

Man, this is very helpful information, 'preciate dat!.
So, the rest of the boat been good/Ok to you ?



I bought the boat in Feb, 2005 from a dealer in Hammond, Louisiana.

When I took the boat from the dealer, I did not experience any change
in oil level during the first 30 hours of operation. Then in June 2005
I changed the oil in the engine and drive for the first time. After I
changed the oil, I observed that the level in the reservoir dropped
about an inch after first trip. I added lubricant and the level kept
on dropping during the next 2-3 outings - but each time it was a
smaller amount. First time it was an inch, but the subsequent times if
might have been a 1/2 inch or so. Eventually after 3 or 4 times I took
out the boat it remained stable. Then, in April this year I replaced
the oil again, and exactly the same thing happened. My engine has
about 150 hrs now. I use the boat year round (the advantage of
Louisiana climate),




Mr Wizzard wrote:
"katekebo" wrote in message
oups.com...

Mr Wizzard wrote:
"katekebo" wrote in message
ups.com...
You say that every time you take the boat out you have to add
about 2
oz. of lubricant.


On my drive I experience exactly the same thing during
the first 3, maybe 5 times I use the boat after an oil change.

Oh really?? Well, this was only the second time out after
they (dealer) changed the drive gear lube, and pulling the
drive for annual maintenance. Still doesn't explain why it
was doing this *before* I took it in - boat was run all
last year without doing this. So what type of drive you
have, and what year ?

2005 Alpha I Gen. 2 with 3.0L 4-cyl, in a Bayliner 175.

Damn, thats the exact same boat I got!! Tell me more here.
How many hours on it, and did it EVER use any lube *before*
you did this lube change?

Mr Wizzard wrote:

Man, this is very helpful information, 'preciate dat!.
So, the rest of the boat been good/Ok to you ?

Yes, I have been very satisfied with the boat. I had zero issues with
the boat itself, and all problems have been self-inflicted. I hit
something one day and chopped off half of the skeg. The water here is
very murky so you can't see what's below. I suspect it was a block of
concrete or something like that. This happened when the boat was very
new, over one year ago, and it was nicely repaired by a local boat shop
/ Mercruiser dealer - they cut off the old skeg and welded a new one in
its place - you really can't see that it's not original.

I also had to replace the prop because the original one was bent /
damaged in the same incident. I opted to replace the prop with the
stock aluminum one. It gives me decent performance, and I prefer to
use a "soft" and weak prop, so in case I hit something again, the prop
will sacrificy itself instead of stripping the gears.

As for the boat, it's very austere, but that's why I like it - there
are few things to go wrong and take care of. I do all the maintenance
myself. I use it mostly on the local bayous and lake Pontchartrain -
it's a big lake and it develops a nasty chop on windy days. I also
like the fact that it's easy to tow, and I can still get 22 mpg even
when towing the boat.

Of course there are better boats. Ideally I would prefer to have a
four-stroke outboard motor and higher freeboard, but similar sized
boats with these characteristics are at least 50% more expensive. So
for the price, the 175 is unbeatable. Actually most people I have
talked with here can't believe that I paid so little for a brand-new
boat - they expect the boat to cost at least 20 to 30% more.

Yup - same impression with mine. $9,999.99 from Bayliner.
Something like $13,100 out the door with everything including
first-time boater accessory kit (anchor, fire bottle, fenders, etc).

So I gotta bring up another nagging issue - the engine noise,
and/or valve tapping noise at very low idle: when totally
warmed up, I hear what sounds like lifter/tappet noise.
But of late, it sound more like wrist pin/piston slap noise,
almost sounds like its 'dieseling'. But runs/sounds fine at
higher speeds. You notice any of that? (with engine cover off)

Also, found another tip that I should share with you. On mine,
very -RARELY- when I come off the throttle relitevly quick
after racing around a bit, the idle would get really really slow,
and run rough, and almost die (may have once or twice).
Anyways, I discovered that if I flip on the blower when it
gets in this mode, it goes right away.

So when you had your incident, how did you get it back to
the launch? Limp it back ? Was the vibration bad with the
bent up prop?

And Lastly, how did you and the boat survive Katrina?
(what was it like, where was the boat, where were you etc)

Thanks.


"katekebo" wrote in message
ups.com...

Mr Wizzard wrote:

Man, this is very helpful information, 'preciate dat!.
So, the rest of the boat been good/Ok to you ?

Yes, I have been very satisfied with the boat. I had zero issues with
the boat itself, and all problems have been self-inflicted. I hit
something one day and chopped off half of the skeg. The water here is
very murky so you can't see what's below. I suspect it was a block of
concrete or something like that. This happened when the boat was very
new, over one year ago, and it was nicely repaired by a local boat shop
/ Mercruiser dealer - they cut off the old skeg and welded a new one in
its place - you really can't see that it's not original.

I also had to replace the prop because the original one was bent /
damaged in the same incident. I opted to replace the prop with the
stock aluminum one. It gives me decent performance, and I prefer to
use a "soft" and weak prop, so in case I hit something again, the prop
will sacrificy itself instead of stripping the gears.

As for the boat, it's very austere, but that's why I like it - there
are few things to go wrong and take care of. I do all the maintenance
myself. I use it mostly on the local bayous and lake Pontchartrain -
it's a big lake and it develops a nasty chop on windy days. I also
like the fact that it's easy to tow, and I can still get 22 mpg even
when towing the boat.

Of course there are better boats. Ideally I would prefer to have a
four-stroke outboard motor and higher freeboard, but similar sized
boats with these characteristics are at least 50% more expensive. So
for the price, the 175 is unbeatable. Actually most people I have
talked with here can't believe that I paid so little for a brand-new
boat - they expect the boat to cost at least 20 to 30% more.