www.iFourWinns.com :: View topic - New 2003 H200 Owner

Do you have the one piece instrument cluster (looks like a car instrument panel) instead of the separate gauges that boats usually have? If so they do sometimes have problems and there are postings on the forum on how to get the gauges working. Always check the sending units first because they can fail as well. Some have converted the one piece unit to a more conventional boat dashboard with separate gauges. You definitely want that temp gauge working because with boats, if the raw water impeller is worn you can have overheating, and not only will the engine overheat, but the exhaust system which is water cooled can overheat too and burn up the rubber exhaust tubes. That can be dangerous because it can let water in the boat.

The backfiring could be old fuel. I'd add some premium gas to what you have in the tank to raise the octane level some because stored gas often is lower in octane which is not good for the engine. I'd also think about changing the fuel filter (the big one that looks like an oil filter). You need an oil filter wrench to remove that filter. When you do that be careful as it will be full of gas. If you have a large glass jar, pour the gas into it and let it sit. If you see a layer of water at the bottom of the container, it is probably water in the fuel and you might think about getting the gas tank cleaned out. When you replace the filter, fill the new one with gas and make sure to put oil on the gasket. Filling it with gas makes the engine easier to start after replacing it because the fuel pump does not have to fill the filter full of gas.

Good luck with the boat, they are good boats but they all need maintenance. Since it's a new to you boat, having a good marine mechanic go through it is a good idea, unless you have owned boats before and know how to check everything yourself.

Author:	Cybertron3 [ Sun Apr 29, 2012 8:07 am ]
Post subject:	New 2003 H200 Owner
Hi! I just got my first motorboat - a 2003 H200. I am very happy with it so far (only been out a couple of times so far). It is in great shape and has had a life in racks (not kept in the water) by a single owner. I have been browsing around the forum and there is a huge amount of information here - it will certainly keep me busy for a while! I am putting together a list of things I should do to the boat as a new owner and some ideas for longer term projects. I have noticed the temp and tach gauges do not work (I will be investigating those today). The engine also seemed to backfire a few times when I went out the other day. I am not sure how old the fuel is in it or if it has been treated, so I am going to add some stabilizer today. Is there anything I should keep an eye out for? I am really excited about my h200- it seems like it is going to be a great boat

Author:	LouC [ Sun Apr 29, 2012 8:40 am ]
Post subject:	Re: New 2003 H200 Owner
Do you have the one piece instrument cluster (looks like a car instrument panel) instead of the separate gauges that boats usually have? If so they do sometimes have problems and there are postings on the forum on how to get the gauges working. Always check the sending units first because they can fail as well. Some have converted the one piece unit to a more conventional boat dashboard with separate gauges. You definitely want that temp gauge working because with boats, if the raw water impeller is worn you can have overheating, and not only will the engine overheat, but the exhaust system which is water cooled can overheat too and burn up the rubber exhaust tubes. That can be dangerous because it can let water in the boat. The backfiring could be old fuel. I'd add some premium gas to what you have in the tank to raise the octane level some because stored gas often is lower in octane which is not good for the engine. I'd also think about changing the fuel filter (the big one that looks like an oil filter). You need an oil filter wrench to remove that filter. When you do that be careful as it will be full of gas. If you have a large glass jar, pour the gas into it and let it sit. If you see a layer of water at the bottom of the container, it is probably water in the fuel and you might think about getting the gas tank cleaned out. When you replace the filter, fill the new one with gas and make sure to put oil on the gasket. Filling it with gas makes the engine easier to start after replacing it because the fuel pump does not have to fill the filter full of gas. Good luck with the boat, they are good boats but they all need maintenance. Since it's a new to you boat, having a good marine mechanic go through it is a good idea, unless you have owned boats before and know how to check everything yourself.

Author:	Cap'n Morgan [ Sun Apr 29, 2012 8:02 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: New 2003 H200 Owner
2003 do not have the vdo auto style cluster. That is a non issue with a 2003. Glad you like your H200. Good boat if you are vertically challenged. Minimal knee room on it if you have long legs at the helm. /-

Author:	Misterbulbous [ Mon Apr 30, 2012 3:22 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: New 2003 H200 Owner
congratulations. We don't believe you until you post a picture

Author:	ardy [ Tue May 01, 2012 2:51 am ]
Post subject:	Re: New 2003 H200 Owner
Misterbulbous wrote: congratulations. We don't believe you until you post a picture +1

www.iFourWinns.com https://www.smwebhead.com/phpBB3/

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Author:	PDACPA [ Tue May 01, 2012 7:09 am ]
Post subject:	Re: New 2003 H200 Owner
+2 on pics. Doesn't exist without pics Sign up for a free photobucket .com account and make a ifourwinns album. Load your pics there and use the IMg share option. Pretty easy. Congrats

Author:	jacknbella [ Tue May 01, 2012 7:15 am ]
Post subject:	Re: New 2003 H200 Owner
Welcome aboard!

Author:	Jafo4U [ Tue May 01, 2012 9:15 am ]
Post subject:	Re: New 2003 H200 Owner
PICS!!!

Author:	Cybertron3 [ Wed May 02, 2012 10:47 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: New 2003 H200 Owner
Pictures! http://www.flickr.com/photos/85072191@N ... 513478516/

Author:	Cybertron3 [ Wed May 02, 2012 11:02 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: New 2003 H200 Owner
LouC wrote: Do you have the one piece instrument cluster (looks like a car instrument panel) instead of the separate gauges that boats usually have? If so they do sometimes have problems and there are postings on the forum on how to get the gauges working. Always check the sending units first because they can fail as well. Some have converted the one piece unit to a more conventional boat dashboard with separate gauges. You definitely want that temp gauge working because with boats, if the raw water impeller is worn you can have overheating, and not only will the engine overheat, but the exhaust system which is water cooled can overheat too and burn up the rubber exhaust tubes. That can be dangerous because it can let water in the boat. The backfiring could be old fuel. I'd add some premium gas to what you have in the tank to raise the octane level some because stored gas often is lower in octane which is not good for the engine. I'd also think about changing the fuel filter (the big one that looks like an oil filter). You need an oil filter wrench to remove that filter. When you do that be careful as it will be full of gas. If you have a large glass jar, pour the gas into it and let it sit. If you see a layer of water at the bottom of the container, it is probably water in the fuel and you might think about getting the gas tank cleaned out. When you replace the filter, fill the new one with gas and make sure to put oil on the gasket. Filling it with gas makes the engine easier to start after replacing it because the fuel pump does not have to fill the filter full of gas. Good luck with the boat, they are good boats but they all need maintenance. Since it's a new to you boat, having a good marine mechanic go through it is a good idea, unless you have owned boats before and know how to check everything yourself. Thanks for the advice! The instrument cluster is separate (as the cap'n pointed out above). I took a look at the back of the gauges and I am going to try to test them out with a multimeter this weekend. I will also try the premium gas when I fill up this weekend. Hopefully it will clear it up. I'll also check out the fuel filter! I am going to get the maintenance history from the marina where I purchased it. I am fairly sure it was well cared for judging by the shape it is in, but it is always good to double check!

Author:	Flying Sushi [ Thu May 03, 2012 5:36 am ]
Post subject:	Re: New 2003 H200 Owner
Welcome aboard!

Author:	Misterbulbous [ Thu May 03, 2012 10:38 am ]
Post subject:	Re: New 2003 H200 Owner
thanks for the pics. Looks very well maintained. I have the same boat, but with the bench seat along the back and the captains seats(?). You'll have a lot of fun in that one. Oh yeah. If you have kids, I'd HIGHLY recommend the full swim platform. I was dead set against it when I bought my boat new, but wife talked me into it. We love it and literally live on it when the boat is in the water. Extremely handy.

Author:	aguyindallas [ Thu May 03, 2012 11:48 am ]
Post subject:	Re: New 2003 H200 Owner
Misterbulbous wrote: Oh yeah. If you have kids, I'd HIGHLY recommend the full swim platform. I was dead set against it when I bought my boat new, but wife talked me into it. We love it and literally live on it when the boat is in the water. Extremely handy. 99.999% of people with these size boats LOVE having an extended platform....why would you be so dead set against it?

Author:	Misterbulbous [ Thu May 03, 2012 1:38 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: New 2003 H200 Owner
Misterbulbous wrote: thanks for the pics. Looks very well maintained. I have the same boat, but with the bench seat along the back and the captains seats(?). You'll have a lot of fun in that one. Oh yeah. If you have kids, I'd HIGHLY recommend the full swim platform. I was dead set against it when I bought my boat new, but wife talked me into it. We love it and literally live on it when the boat is in the water. Extremely handy. Not sure where you got your statistics, but if you must know...I bought my H190 in 2002, and at the time, the swim platform (to me) looked HUGE!...almost like a pool table on the back of the boat. Now, sure I'm exaggerating, but it just didn't look right to me. We were spec'ing our boat out and I was pretty sure I didn't want THAT on the back of my boat, but my wife talked me into it. Yes, I love it. It's great. I'm in the 99.999% category, just saying that my first impression was that it made my boat look like a mini-van or something. That's all.

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Author:	LouC [ Thu May 03, 2012 2:21 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: New 2003 H200 Owner
I think if you have kids who will be jumping off the stern a lot the ESP makes a lot of sense because it's safer, they will be well out in front of the prop because of the extended platform. The only downside to them is if you do your own work, they get in the way of R+R-ing the outdrive which for me would be an issue because I do all my own work, but if I had little ones I'd still probably have one.