www.iFourWinns.com

Well, as a new boater I have successfully gone through the locks twice, gassed up (ouch) and generally enjoyed my new boat even though the weather here in Chicago has not been cooperative and it is a pain to maneuver my boat in and out of my slip (or just my fear of concrete columns!). I still need to tackle anchoring and night riding, but it's baby steps. A couple of things I still need to do and wanted some advice:

#1) Last weekend was the first weekend that I had some guests who needed to use the head. For Chicago boaters I am in River City and apparently the pump out is not working so I couldn't pump out at the end of the day (who knows when that will be fixed). Some friendly folks at the marina had previously offered to help me there, but now I will need to go to Monroe or Bunham. One question. I have a 2001 248 Vista -- do I need to buy any type of adapter when using the pump-out at these marinas? Any hints for that process would be great.

#2) Last weekend was the first time that I had flushed out the fresh water tank and the pump was primed and worked for cold water, which was nice. Is there a separate tank that needs to be filled for hot water? When I turned on the hot water I still got some antifreeze. I know I need to look in the manual, but if people know, great. (I also may have screwed up the hot water heater because I turned it on thinking the hot water tank was full and I know that can be a problem -- I am hoping that there was still some anti-freeze in there and I turned it off right away).

#3) Like all new boat owners getting on plane is still a challenge. One general question: My approach is to raise the trim as I give it more throttle. If my bow is still angled up I used the trim tabs. When the bow comes down should I then lower the trim? A friend suggested that with lighter loads I should try only using the trim and not the tabs. I have a Volvo 5.7 GS duo props with less than 250 hps. Again, I know I can look up targets for RPMs and MPHs, but just wanted to know other people's thoughts (including on targets).

Thanks, everyone here has been very helpful.

P.S. Ben, you had offered to help me through the locks previously and I was able to muddle my way through twice now, but I will give you a PM one of these weekends and hopefully we can hook up on the river or lake. Thanks.

#1 The pump out facility will have any adapters needed to pump the tank out.

#2 The hot water tank is fed from the cold water tank. You need to run the hot water valves on all facets to flush the antifreeze out and top off your fresh water tank. If you have the power to it without being full you may have damaged the element, I guess you will find out on that one.

#3 The way I get up on plane is before I am ready to get started, I put my tabs all the way down, make sure the drive is all the way down and give it full throttle. As the rpms start to come up, I start to alternate bumping the drive up, then the tabs up. You will see each time you bump them up, the hull will come up on plane. You will have to practice to see the optimum drive and tab position, but for me, when on plane the drive is up slightly and the tabs are down slightly. If i don't have the tabs down just a little the bow porposes.

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Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

First off welcome to the fickle world of Chicago boating. I'm up at Belmont Harbor on D dock. Come on by and say hello some time.

1. No adapter is needed, all the pump outs in the harbor system have rubber nipples that will fit into your pump out tank. With the prices of gas right now, be sure to use the waste deck fill and not the fuel I always use the water hose at the pump out station and fill the tank once or even twice with fresh water and pump it out again. This also brings up the topic of head treatment. After a pump out is when you should add your treatment of choice. I've tried many and had the best luck with Odorlos

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/51729/377%20710%201513/712/Marine%20Sanitation/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/20/0?N=377%20710%201513&Ne=712&Ntt=Marine%20Sanitation&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&page=CategoryDisplayLevel1&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=11&subdeptNum=209&classNum=214

2. The whole water system is a closed loop. The water heater will get filled when you fill your holding tank and your pump pressurizes the system. It can take a few minutes to make sure all the air is out. I turn on all the faucets on the boat, turn the water pump on and once there is no more air coming out of any of them I begin turning them off starting with the faucet furthest from the pump. You'll definitely get some antifreeze, you might even want to run a whole tanks worth of water through the system. You also might consider running some cleaner like below through the system

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/366667/377%20710%201530/712/Freshwater%20Systems/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/0/0?N=377%20710%201530&Ne=712&Ntt=Freshwater%20Systems&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&page=CategoryDisplayLevel1&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=11&subdeptNum=27&classNum=279

3. The suggestions for trimming are accurate. Trim all the way down, then as you pick up speed raise the trim to help push the boat forward. I wouldn't think that engine with duoprops should have any problem bringing the boat on plane. How many people aboard? Are you sure it's propped properly?

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-Tom
2003 298 Vista

Regarding #1, "jsimon" is correct. The pump outs are like big wet-n-dry vacs. You simply suck it all out. The only thing I'd add is I usually run another gallon or three of lake water immediately back in to the head and waste tank and then suck it dry again for a second time. Keep an old gallon jug onboard with the top cut off to use as a water scoop. This gets any stubborn residuals out of the tank. Always use marine toilet paper, chemicals and encourage your passengers to do "#2" at the dock restrooms.

#2, yes, it's all one big looped fresh water system. I would fill up your fresh water tank (15 gallons) and run all faucets both hot and cold and purge the tank dry once or twice per year (usually spring and fall). Consider using water conditioner. You can buy it cheap at Walmart. It's the same stuff they use in RVs. Put a capfull or two into your freshwater tank and it keeps it "fresh". Your hot water heater is fed directly from the cold water system and may have a couple gallons of water in it. BTW, your hot water tank will heat up while underway using heat from the engine.

#3, your planing techniques will vary depending upon how many passengers you have on board, where the passengers are sitting, wind, waves, etc. As jsimon said, put your tabs all the way down (usually by pressing 'up' on the rocker switch) and your outdrive all the way down. Push your throttle up to about 3200 RPM and back her down a little as the RPMs will increase as she gets on plane. With a couple passengers on board you should be able to keep on plane around 3000 RPMs. The more weight the more RPMs. Adjust your tabs slowly... hold the button down for no more than 1 second increments while on plane for safety and control. Once you are on plane you will bring up your tabs and/or outdrive a little bit to get your bow out of the water.

Good luck!

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Vic
"Byte Me"
1989 Vista 245
Lake Norman, NC

Good point that is never really clear. Typically the rocker switches relate to bow position not tab position. Pushing up on the tab switch pushes the tabs down and your bow up. We have a huge lake to play around in. My best advice is get out there and run around 25mph and play with the tabs to see how they affect your boat.

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-Tom
2003 298 Vista

Thanks, everyone. Those all sound like good tips. Hopefully it will stop raining here in Chicago and I can get back to figuring this stuff out. Seriously, thanks for the tips.

Zelena, Advice is not free on this board, we require to see a photo of your boat!

Welcome to the board!

Best ideas have already been given, just get out on the lake and play around with drive and tab settings, you will find what you like and works best for you.

To flush the fresh water system, I use bleach, couple table spoons per gallon, run through system and let sit for 6 hour to a day, but no more. Flush, fill, rinse, fill again and put a dash of baking soda for fresh taste! No need to go buy expensive chemicals when you have them in your own kitchen.

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2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

Baking soda, eh? Never heard that one before but I'm all about home remedies.

I'm curious, define "dash"..... Like a teaspoon per 10 gallons perhaps?

Good tip, thanks!


Vic

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Vic
"Byte Me"
1989 Vista 245
Lake Norman, NC