My first Boat Targa V18

[BroadwayBill]

I chose to forgo the jumper cables in replacement with a jumper box from Menards. I do have to check it from time to time to make sure it to is charged but it does have additonal ports on it for plugging in appliances to charge or run too if needed. Like a cell phone charger. Takes up a little less space than a good set of jumper cables do as well.

Just a thought.

Bill

[rnnonmt]

I picked up the boat this week and took it out yesterday for the first time. Tested all the livewells pump in/out feature, bildge, lights, radio, fishfinders, terrova etc etc and everything worked. Had a fun day out on the lake with my wife for about 4 hours playing. Couple things I noticed:

The dealer didnt install my little rubber plug in my hbird xducer mounted on the stern so I had quite the rooster tail spray going on. The boat must have thought is was supposed to spray like a jetski. I found the rubber plug and put it in. Problem solved.

Since the boat/motor is brand new I am going through the break-in procedure. 5-10 second burst of WOT and hitting 42-45 rather quickly, lots of 300-500 rpm changes every few minutes and no prolonged idling. With the motor trimmed all the way and getting up on plane cruising about 30mph 3300/3400 rpm I started to trim the engine. It doesn't take much trim out/up before I hear the rpms increase and pick up a mph or two and can reduce the throttle to stay at 30 mph. Hear is the question: Is it normal after getting on plane to only need maybe 3-5 bumps of the trim switch up before it picks up speed? Trim indicator only moves maybe 3 needle widths up the scale. Indicators shows 1/8 from full down. Any more trim up than this seems to start the rpms to increase irradic and the boat slows down. I am assuming the prop is no longer effecient because it is too high mixing with less water/more air. Is trimming an engine/boat supposed to be this delicate? There was only 2 of us in the boat (approx 350lbs), full tank of gas (37 gallons), maybe 100lbs of gear. Useful load of the boat is 6 passengers or 900 lbs. The motor depth is mounted in the middle of the 5 holes.

Lastly a few times the continous chime came on when going from cruising speed to a gradual slow idle. Remote oil tank is full, small oil tank mounted to the engine is full, water pressure gauge was always indicating pressure and water outle pisser was always shooting a nice stream out the back of the engine. The chime would only stop after going to neutral. You could immediately go back to fwd and engine would run fine. For some reason this only happened when my wife was driving. She thinks the boat doesn't like her.

Thanks, Brian

[oldschooltiller]

The tracker I had would take a bunch of trim. But yes, once you trim it to max speed/rpm it won't take much to go to far from that point.


Glad you like the boat. They look really nice-even up close when I checked them out at the Portage IN BPS.

[bob1]

Good luck with the new boat!

Bob

[rnnonmt]

Been out 4 times in 3 days and wanted to post an update. Took a good friend out fishing today and he made a comment about when I kicked on the bilge pump and it ran for about 5 or 6 minutes and we had only been on the lake for 2 hours. He said you shouldnt have much if any water at all in the boat even if you were out for a week. So after we fished for a couple more hours the bilge had about the same amount of water pumping out. "you definitely have a good leak." long story short when I got home I dragged out the garden hose and started to fill the bilge with water. After a bit I found the leak. Water was leaking between the aluminum skin and the rubber grommet for the front live well. I imagine this is where the front live well intake is. Anyone have a picture of what this grommet looks like from the inside and why it may be leaking? Just curious. I'm still under warranty so it will be going back to the dealer for them to fix. Anyone else have this happen? Thanks Brian

[Junior58er]

Did the front live well have any water in it that was simply running out when it was opened? Was the boat angled on the driveway so water from the rear would flow forward and is that what you mean by leaking from the intake?

[Gotaf7]

Very simple fix you have to remove the panel under your dash the one with the little bungee cord on it it is held wiht 2 phillips screws by removing this panel you will have access to the plumbing for your front livewell all you need to do is tighten the big plastic nut on the outlet fitting. I have the same boat mine was leaking there also tightened it up all is good.

[lou gill]

Originally Posted by rnnonmt

Been out 4 times in 3 days and wanted to post an update. Took a good friend out fishing today and he made a comment about when I kicked on the bilge pump and it ran for about 5 or 6 minutes and we had only been on the lake for 2 hours. He said you shouldnt have much if any water at all in the boat even if you were out for a week. So after we fished for a couple more hours the bilge had about the same amount of water pumping out. "you definitely have a good leak." long story short when I got home I dragged out the garden hose and started to fill the bilge with water. After a bit I found the leak. Water was leaking between the aluminum skin and the rubber grommet for the front live well. I imagine this is where the front live well intake is. Anyone have a picture of what this grommet looks like from the inside and why it may be leaking? Just curious. I'm still under warranty so it will be going back to the dealer for them to fix. Anyone else have this happen? Thanks Brian

I am not sure Larson was that far off......Just saying

Lou

[rnnonmt]

Originally Posted by Gotaf7

Very simple fix you have to remove the panel under your dash the one with the little bungee cord on it it is held wiht 2 phillips screws by removing this panel you will have access to the plumbing for your front livewell all you need to do is tighten the big plastic nut on the outlet fitting. I have the same boat mine was leaking there also tightened it up all is good.

Gotaf7. Thx for the reply. Which panel under the dash are you referring to? Is it a floor panel or the capered vertical panel under the passenger console?

[rnnonmt]

Originally Posted by Junior58er

Did the front live well have any water in it that was simply running out when it was opened? Was the boat angled on the driveway so water from the rear would flow forward and is that what you mean by leaking from the intake?

No we never used the front live well. It was bone dry inside the well. I have the leak on video. Maybe I can figure out how to post a video on here. Might have to put it on YouTube and link it here.