The Boat The Boat DoctorDoctor
the problem you are experiencing,
especially at low rpm — too little water
is moving through the system. Borrow
a temperature gun and work your way
back through the system. I think you’ll
find a restriction in the outlet side
because once you increase the rpm
and get more water f lowing through, it
cools down.
Hard Steering
[ Q ] Boat Doc, I have a 1988 Wellcraft
220 Elite XL. When I’m cruising
down the lake and pull back on the
throttle, the lever gets to a certain spot
and becomes tough to move. When it
gets past that spot, it gets easier for
the rest of the way, but the boat steers
hard to the right. It is something I
have to be ready for. It also does it
when shifting to reverse. Any hints
would be welcome. Thank you.
TERESA VONDERA
Via email
[ A ] Since the throttle lever is sticking,
it sounds like the cable is binding.
Given the age of your boat, the cable
is probably stretched and needs to be
replaced. In regard to the pull to the
right, get the longest trim tab possible
that can mount on the underside
of your drive’s cavitation plate and
adjust it all the way to the right before
tightening the mounting bolt.No Going Back
[ Q ] Boat Doctor, I have a 1991
Wellcraft 170 Sport with a 135 hp
MerCruiser sterndrive. It is having
difficulty with reverse. When I pull
back on the throttle, sometimes thegears don’t engage, and it makes a
grinding noise. If I pull back on the
throttle harder, the engine will stall.
Other times, the reverse works, but if
I pull the throttle all the way back, the
engine stalls. How can I fix this?
JOSEPH FORSTER
Columbus, Ohio[ A ] The problem is in the inner
shift cable and/or shift slide in the
bell housing of the drive. You need
to remove the drive and look at the
stainless-steel shift slide in the exhaust
area and the inner shift cable. The
latter could be sticking, and the former
could be stretched. If it’s the shift slide,
you should be able to clean it up and
lubricate it. If the cable is stretched, it
might need to be replaced.Fuel Starved
[ Q ] Doc, after my boat’s motor
warms up at a slow speed of 2 to
3 mph, it backfires through the
exhaust. I’ve been trying to get
this fixed for several years, with no PHOTO: COURTESY BOATZINCS.COMEurope’s leading inflatable boat brand
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