Question for Crestliner 1850 Sportfish outboard owners

[Islander]

I have noticed that I accumlate a lot of water in the bilge and i was curious if any of the other sportfish owners have a similar problem.. Seems to occur when jiging or drifting wwhen the water comes over the splash well. I have srubbers on the boat and the water sits until I start the boat and motor away. I noticed that the splash well wall where it meets the livewell wall on the starboard side, and battery wall on the port side, is not welded. I was surprised the other day when my automatic bilge pump started ( no complaints with that). Anyways, I was just curoius if others might be having the same problem.

Thanks

Jean

[ebijack]

the answer i was given is that the "O" ring on the plastic cover is not the proper size/material. no replacement as of yet fixes the problem.
hope that helps

[crawlerman]

Thanks for the info. I noticed that it does not seat correctly. Hopefully a replacement O ring will be forthcoming.

[Bryan]

Islander:

I had the same problem with my 2050 Sportfish. I installed rubber slash gaurds over the back of the splash well and cut them around the profile of the motor. It helps quite a bit. I uploaded a picture of my set up so you can see what I am talking about. Hope this helps.

http://www.monarch.net/users/hauffconsulting/pics/splashguards.jpg

[crawlerman]

Bryan, I really like that set up. Did you make these yourself? If not, where did you purchase them? I would install them as well. That would eliminate my probllem all together. Thanks for the feedbback.

Carl

[punch1]

I'm glad I am not the only one dealing with this issue. I have the SportFish 1750 and have had two occasions in the past couple weeks where the water I took on caused a problem becuase my auto switch on my bilge decided to fail. I have a Merc 125 and a 9.9 kicker for a combined weight of 470 lbs. I am looking at a lighter 115 or 130 four stroke which may tip the scales as light as 387 lbs.

I have sinced added a second (back-up) bilge and strongly encouage anyone who fished bigger water to do the same.

I have also ordered a set of the lower cut out splash guards from WhiteCap. They run about $60 and look just like the ones pictured above.

I too have wondered about the seal on the access hole. So what you are saying is that this a known defect? Is it something Crestliner acknowledges? Keep us posted becuase it has been a very dissappointing and frustrating two weeks with these problems I am having.


Patrick Wunsch

"You should have been here last week!"

[David/MN]

For both my 1750 and my current 2050 I had Wave Wacker make a set of covers like Bryan shows in his picture. Mike should still have the templates and I am sure he would make a set if asked........

dw

[David/MN]

Bryan, The 2050 is only rated to a 200, how did you get that 225 on that very nice looking boat?

dw

[perchjerker]

Another reason Im glad my Sportfish came with an I/O. ;-)

[crawlerman]

David, I am going to call Mike and inquire about the wave wackers. It just irks me that this problem exists. My fishhawk was all welder in the spashwell and when i did take water my bilge was always dry. I would like Crestliner to address this problem over the round cover to enter the bilge.

Perjerker, good thing for the I/O :) Keep me informed if you could guys as I chec with wave wackers. Thanks

Carl

[crawlerman]

Punch, do you have a website for whitecap splash guards?

Thanks

Carl

[perchjerker]

You know I wasnt trying to be a smart alec...

Actaully it turned out to be an added bonus. A lot of boats (not just C-liners), have way too low a transom for my tastes.

[perchjerker]

Here ya go.

http://www.whitecapmfg.com/features.html

[Bryan]

Crawlerman:

I had my dealer make them but you could do it yourself for about $15 worth of material. All you need is some 1" wide x 1/8" aluminium flat iron, some rubber belting and some stainless steel screws. It works well.

David/MN

You had to be the guy to notice the motor didn't you. I wondered if anyone would say anything about it. Actually I live in Canada and the recommended horse power rating for the boat is viewed as that, a recommendation. We here in Canada are not required by law or insurance to limit the horsepower to that rating (yet). My friend removed the flooring above his fuel tank and added 2 - 2" strips of aluminium across the top of the fuel tank and secured them to the main frame running length ways either side of the fuel tank. Crestliner then issued him a new plate for his boat indicating max. HP of 225.

[David/MN]

I will find out the deal on the cover. Crestliner does not make the cover, but I know that many other marine manufacturers are using the same cover and have been for some time. If the seal is defective that needs to be addressed agreed, but in the mean time pop the cover and put a little caulk on it........ I will let you know....


dw

[crawlerman]

Okay, thanks Dave for the info. Thanks Perchjerker, called whitecaps and they make a cover for the splashwell. I will order it. Bryan, it was not me who noticed the motor :) wish i could take credit. My dealer mentioned the other day that there may be a problem with that cover. Wonder if Crestliner notifed him..I will ask. Will keep you guys posted. Thanks again

Carl

[guide7]

Do any of you guys have the 25" transom instead of the 21"?
I went with the 25" and have not had the excessive wave splashing yet.
Did deal with some fair waves and have plenty of weight hanging back there. 175 yammy plus T-8 kicker for a total of 580#.
I do work at a custom plastics mfg company and we have made custom splash guards for customers. Normally polycarbonate with thick rubber boots at motor cutouts. It helps to have a good template of what is needed if anyone is interested and is handy enough to figure out a quick removal mounting system.
7 out

[Little Fish]

My dealer had the local hydraulic house make a correctly fitting O-ring for the hatch cover.

[Slim]

I also have the 25" transom, got lucky I guess. The dealer ordered it for me. Never had much water in the bidge at all. I still do have water dripping in the forward compartments under the dash. I have had it in several times, can't fix it. I GIVE UP. I don;t keep anything of importance down there anymore. Too bad, last Crestliner for me.

Slim

[Firetiger]

I have a 1750 sportfish and had a problem with the o-ring not seating correctly. It was inside the groove not being able to touch the plastic outer ring. I took plastic ties and cut off the connecting part and put those under the o-ring to push the o-ring out past the groove edge, I also recaulked the outer ring and replaced the metal srews with #8 bolts. no problems no more.

[punch1]

Firetiger,

Sounds like a goo solution. I will give it a try. Thanks!

Patrick Wunsch

"You should have been here last week!"

[punch1]

Just an update. I put the plastic ties around the cover on the inside ofthe rubber ring and tested it. It worked. I plugged my two drain outlets and filled the motor well with water and no leaks. Thanks for the suggestion Firetiger!

Patrick Wunsch

"You should have been here last week!"

[Bluegill.]

Islander. I have recently perchased a new 2002 1750 Sportfish and have been rigging it with new equipment. I had read your post earlier and was caught by your statement about the splashwell not being welded vertically onto the transum. While I was in the process of installing a transducer, I had the top board by the transom off and was able to look at what you were saying. I, just like you thought that they had failed to weld the verticals on the splashwell to the transom, but after taking the floor portion up in that area, noticed that they had welded it but on the inside where you couldn't see it.
Please take a look at this and let me know if I was seeing correctly or am missing something on this. I guess I will have to address the round access hatch and it's vunerability to leaking also. Bluegill.

[islander]

Thanks Bluegill. That makes sense. I am sure you are right since it does not make sense that Crestliner would not figure that out. I will check that but I am betting you are right. My round hatch does not leak, i checked that. I suspect it's were the power cords comes through the rear starboard wall of the splashwell. My dealer is real good so the problem should be corrected shortly. Thank god for great service after the sale. I am going to install a splashguard for the transome area only. Comes up about one inch or so above where the cut down begins. Should help with the rough water and stop the excess wash in the spashwell. How do you like your Sportfish? Where do you fish?

[shooter]

}> I bought a 1850 sportfish year and have the same leaking problem. Thanks for all the advice it will make repair simple.

Hey, what kind of prop are you guys using? I'm running a 150 optimax with a aluminum 21 pitch. Can't seem to get 5000 RPMS. Thinking of going stainless. Any suggestions????

[Bob Wi]

Shooter,

I bought a 2001 1850 Sportfish this year also. I was having problems getting it on plane and couldn't get it over 4800 rpm's. I took it to the dealer and to make a long story short it has to go back to the factory. My spray is coming out in front of the windshield instead of toward the back when full throttle and trimmed up. The dealer didn't give any specifics but Crestliner says it has to come back to fix. It is fine otherwise and fishes good so they will get it at the end of the season. They dealer tried everything Cresliner sugggested and even went to a 21 pitch prop from the 19 that was on it. I'm also only getting 36 mph out of it (gps and locater). This is with a 125 Merc. I have also noticed the water going into the hole where the cable come out of in the splashwell.

[shooter]

Bob, today I bought a stainless prop and went down to a 19 pitch. I still barely get 5000 RPM's. Maybe I need to bring it back as well. Who did you buy yours from?

[Bob Wi]

I got mine at Cedar Lake Sales in West Bend, Wisconsin. Until I know what is all involved I can't knock the dealership so far except for the dinged up skag that they will repair, at least I know that they test drove it.

[ebijack]

i run a 2001 T182 full windshield/kicker(simular in width/length by an inch) 150 ficht. 17 s.s. 3 blade gives me max rpm/full load 46.5 gps repeatedly, great holeshot tried 19 alum and s.s. bad holeshot etc. hope that helps

[shooter]

ebijack,

What is the max rpm your getting? With the 19 stainless I'm getting 5000 rpm's and about 47 mph on my gps.

[liner]

I run a cvx 182, merc 150 efi with a 21pitch mirage and get 5400 rpms`s. 57 mph on the gps with a light load.

[guide7]

shooter: I have a 2002 s.f. with a 175 hpdi and run a 19M pitch x 14" dia alum prop and turn about 5400 rpm and 55 mph gps. This is with a full gas tank and T8 kicker and 2 peopleon board.
From what I'm reading it looks like the 23 pitch x 14-1/2" dia 3 blade stainless I kept off my old boat will remain as my spare.
7 out

[punch1]

Just an update. I put the White Cap splash guards on last week, (the ones made just for the deep part of the transom cut-out) and also fixed the o-ring leak and cinched up the wire ties on the two rubber boots in the motor well. Took the boat out all day Thursday and Friday on Lake Michigan and didn't have any problems. The splash guards really did the job of keeping water from gushing over the lower part of the transom. Keep in mind that water would come in to the motor well area but at a significantly lesser rate than without.

We had 1 to 2 foot rollers with some whitecaps on Thursday and she was pretty flat on Friday. I'm not much interested in fishing in much bigger waves than I did on Thursday anyways.

Keep us posted on your results!


Patrick Wunsch

"You should have been here last week!"

[crawlerman]

Thanks for the info Punch1. I just got my set of the white caps for my Crestliner. I will be installing them this week. I can see were some water will come in near the engine but the guards should reduce the amount of water significantly. I will let you know as well.

Carl

[ebijack]

5200 rpm