TOPIC: Newbie checking in.

Morning all, my name is Dan and I'm new here but not new to boating.

Nearing retirement, I bought a 14ft. Star Craft with a 28hp 2 stroke from the original owner. I like it a lot, but my son live very close to blue water and has a 4 year old, I gave him the boat.

I just bought a 1962 16ft. MFG Edinboro, The dash plaque says "Beachcomber" and I couldn't find out anything about it.
It came on a good trailer with a 60hp 2 stroke for $1,000. I heard it run, but the owner says at high RPM it falls flat. I've ordered a new fuel filter and fuel pump rebuild kit, WIDE open to any suggestions you may have.

Unfortunately it sat without its full covers on, next to a barn under a tree, so vacuuming, pressure wash & repeat has been my week. The factory covers are shot and I will have some made.

I look forward to learning more about this cool open bow.

Thanks, Dan

You might want a water pump impeller and a carb rebuild kit too.

Grab a couple spark testers too, depending on how many cylinders you have, You'll wanna make sure you have good strong spark on each cylinder. When the engine reaches temp it can make some of the electrical go haywire if its on its way out.
Testing compression on each cylinder is a good idea as well, it will give you a good idea of what the health of each cylinder is.
You generally want it to be within 10% difference on each cylinder.
That's one slick boat though! Happy boating!

Morning,

I found a rubber vacuum line from the Tach to the transom, but not connected to the engine. Any idea where it may slip in? I assume if it goes to the carb, then someone's sucking unnecessary air.

Dan

I am guessing your "vacuum" line is the hose that connects to the speedometer. There should be a pitot pickup mounted to the transom that sticks under the surface and catches water pressure that it sends to your speedometer. Has nothing to do with the engine or runability.

OK Thanks. The tube is connected to the Tachometer and runs aft, the Speedometer is electrical.

Check again, you have that backwards.

Sounds like you may be needing a jar of smoke soon too.

Whoever sold you the boat was blowing smoke. Jim is right, you have it all backwards. If you look at the back of the speedometer you can see that the tube pushes over the hollow inlet of the speedometer back, only electrical would be a connection for a light.
(cut and paste)
Manual Boat Speedometers
A manual speedometer, by definition, uses an instrument that measures speed by the movement caused by the water itself. As of writing, there are two distinct kinds of manual speedometers.

Another simple test is to attach that tube to the back of your speedometer and blow into the other end of the tube, Your speedometer will move from the air pressure you are blowing.

Pitot Tube Speedometer
A pitot tube speedometer (also called a pitometer) uses a long, hollow, narrow triangle tube with two holes mounted to the transom to measure speed. It entails the movement of water to displace air pressure and cause movement on the gauge. Here's how it works:

The pitot tube, situated under the boat, allows water to pass through as the boat moves across the surface of the water. This water is then fed into two different holes.
The inside of the tube contains nothing but air pressure. When the water pushes up into the holes, it displaces this air in the chamber.
As the water is pushed into and up the tube, it moves the air pressure thus causing changes in the gauge on the boat's speedometer.
At faster speeds, more water enters the tube hole. This in turn displaces more air pressure, further pushing the needle and increasing the reading of the speed of the boat.

I don't see anywhere in this thread the year, make or model of engine BUT from blowing up the picture it appears to be late 80s or 90s Merc.
Maybe late enough that speedo pick-up is built into lower unit? In that case, the black vinyl tubing will be run down to the lower unit & no seperate pitot tube will be installed on boat.

Thank you, the boat's buttoned up for winter but I can climb in and look around. Pretty sure I won't need a Tach when I have a 2 stroke dirt bike screaming in the back seat.

Jim, the boat is a 1962 MFG Beachcomber. (picture above). Engine is a Mercury 60hp 2 stroke, #A952796.

Dan

Your speedometer pitot (pick-up) is built into the lower unit.
The hose you refer to should be routed down the transom bracket to a hose barb & I assume it is indeed hooked up. Or maybe the prior owner left a previously installed pitot on the transom & is using it?