www.iFourWinns.com :: View topic - New guy on the water

Welcome Taza, from another new guy, I can second Graham's comments. Everyone is extremely knowledgable and helpful. Things I have learned in my short time here:

Impellers wear out (alot).
Change your fluids religously
Sundowner owners eventually own Vista's
Your boat will never go as fast as you want it to
Your boat will fail to start once you put it in the water and park your vehicle
Cap'n Morgan knows every website there is that deals with parts and boats
Ric still doesn't have a boat

Welcome!

Those compression numbers suck, time for some rings!

ric wrote:

Those compression numbers suck, time for some rings!

Repair manual says 125 to 150 is acceptable, so you are not too far gone. It might improve with some use. If the engine has hardly been used for the past year, you should re-check them after putting a few hours of fresh running time on it.

Author:	Taza [ Thu Jul 19, 2012 1:19 pm ]
Post subject:	New guy on the water
Hi Newbie to the board,pick my boat up 4th August 1997 sundowner 205 5.7ltr GLi Live in the UK. Are parts still available for the boat. Where can I get a boat manual from. And boat specifications. Cheers Taza

Author:	204Angler [ Thu Jul 19, 2012 1:30 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: New guy on the water
Welcome! If you go to http://www.fourwinns.com/ and go down to where it says, past product info...should have plenty of info for your boat!

Author:	Graham R [ Thu Jul 19, 2012 4:59 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: New guy on the water
Taza, Welcome. I'm also in the UK, in North Wales. A Sundowner owner since 2001 ( a 1999 225 and now a 2004 245). I've been on this forum for quite a few years (it's not like UK forums, there's no cliques or resentment towards newcomers). Very helpful members here. Graham

Author:	NiagaraChillin [ Thu Jul 19, 2012 6:12 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: New guy on the water
Welcome Taza, from another new guy, I can second Graham's comments. Everyone is extremely knowledgable and helpful. Things I have learned in my short time here: Impellers wear out (alot). Change your fluids religously Sundowner owners eventually own Vista's Your boat will never go as fast as you want it to Your boat will fail to start once you put it in the water and park your vehicle Cap'n Morgan knows every website there is that deals with parts and boats Ric still doesn't have a boat Welcome!

Author:	JeffLW [ Thu Jul 19, 2012 6:55 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: New guy on the water
NiagaraChillin wrote: Welcome Taza, from another new guy, I can second Graham's comments. Everyone is extremely knowledgable and helpful. Things I have learned in my short time here: Impellers wear out (alot). Change your fluids religously Sundowner owners eventually own Vista's Your boat will never go as fast as you want it to Your boat will fail to start once you put it in the water and park your vehicle Cap'n Morgan knows every website there is that deals with parts and boats Ric still doesn't have a boat Welcome! Very true!

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New guy on the water https://www.smwebhead.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=9879	Page 1 of 2

Author:	ric [ Thu Jul 19, 2012 7:06 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: New guy on the water
Spot on! Welcome! Plenty of parts are still available, if they are not specifically designed from four winns and a general marine part, it's usually Attwood brand

Author:	PDACPA [ Thu Jul 19, 2012 11:52 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: New guy on the water
Welcome! Post pics when you get some!

Author:	Taza [ Fri Jul 20, 2012 1:59 am ]
Post subject:	Re: New guy on the water
Cheers Guys Graham I spend every weekend on Anglesey where my boat will be stored,I own a tractor and launch on Sandy Beach,my other two mates own Four Winns Liberators. Take care Taza

Author:	Graham R [ Fri Jul 20, 2012 2:24 am ]
Post subject:	Re: New guy on the water
Taza, Small world; we used to have a static caravan on the Sandybeach caravan site until 2006 ! Graham

Author:	LouC [ Fri Jul 20, 2012 7:20 am ]
Post subject:	Re: New guy on the water
Congrats on the boat, that is a nice size boat especially if it's the first one. If you are in salt/brackish water keep in mind that the manifolds and risers should be checked and most likely replaced every 5-7 seasons, ask when this was last done.

Author:	Taza [ Sun Jul 22, 2012 2:57 am ]
Post subject:	Re: New guy on the water
The bpat is a five our drive away so I have had a marine Engineer check out the Engine, the boat has hardily been used this year its 1997 Engine 5.7ltr GLi 450 hours. Compression readings 1,2,3 150 4,5 125 6 130 7 125 8 140 Engine mounts good Engine Oil Good Outdrive Oil Good Rams Good Anodes need replacing Starter Good Steering Good Engine Clean Riser Gasket needs replacing on starboard side Forward & reverse good Drive pulley corroided Oil pressuer 48 Trim Gauge Faulty any thoughts Taza

Author:	LouC [ Sun Jul 22, 2012 3:24 am ]
Post subject:	Re: New guy on the water
sand and paint the pulley with Rustoleum paint replace the anodes (usually have to do this yearly if the boat is kept in the water). compression test results are OK pull BOTH risers and check the manifolds, risers and replace if there is a lot of flaking rust or clogged passages, or if the sealing surface for the gasket is eroded by rust. If those gaskets do not seal you will get water in the cylinders. If salt water it will shorten the life of the engine. Riser gaskets are the Achilles Heel of I/O cooling systems and if you neglect them you will regret it trust me. Volvo trim gauges have sending units that fail often, I would probably not bother to fix that. Oddly the one that lasted the longest on my OMC Cobra is an aftermarket Sierra sender

Author:	ric [ Sun Jul 22, 2012 10:21 am ]
Post subject:	Re: New guy on the water
Those compression numbers suck, time for some rings!

Author:	rpengr [ Mon Aug 20, 2012 3:04 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: New guy on the water
ric wrote: Those compression numbers suck, time for some rings! Repair manual says 125 to 150 is acceptable, so you are not too far gone. It might improve with some use. If the engine has hardly been used for the past year, you should re-check them after putting a few hours of fresh running time on it.

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Author:	ric [ Mon Aug 20, 2012 3:19 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: New guy on the water
rpengr wrote: ric wrote: Those compression numbers suck, time for some rings! Repair manual says 125 to 150 is acceptable, so you are not too far gone. It might improve with some use. If the engine has hardly been used for the past year, you should re-check them after putting a few hours of fresh running time on it. It's not the numbers themselves, it's how they vary so much. An engine will run fine with 90psi across the board.. just maybe not as chipper as it was new but it will run. It's the 150psi to 125psi spread that's bothersome. That's an indication that something is going wrong, usually head gasket since Chevy did not use MLS head gaskets (stupid). On a marine engine you can't test the coolant for hydrocarbons with a sniffer, all you can do is a leakdown test.