New H180 SS owner.... any good advise for a newbie?

mhc73 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 25, 2012 10:36 pm

Hi everyone. I'm a new boat owner and a forum newbie. I bought my H180 SS last week and am waiting for the ice to come off up here so I can lake test. I have never owned an I/O motor boat and my only experience is with outboard motors. It has a 4.3 L. Mercruiser with an Alpha leg.

Any helpful hints would be great...

Also, motor break in advise....

Thanks in advance

Regards Marc

LouC · **Posted:** Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:55 am

Well compared to an outboard, the I/O will probably be a lot quieter (if the OBs were the old 2 stroke carb versions) and smoother running, but you have to be aware you cannot trim them up as far as an OB for shallow running because you will start to over-stress the U-Joints in the driveshaft. The basic thing with I/Os is that the drive system is more complex than an OB, although the engine itself can be simpler and easier to work on/repair than a modern OB. In freshwater I'd say an I/O is fine, in salt the OB takes less maintenance over time.

kneel · **Posted:** Thu Apr 26, 2012 6:08 am

Number one advice... buy a replacement prop, store on board with large pair of vice grips... that rock is waiting for you :-)

ardy · **Posted:** Thu Apr 26, 2012 6:29 am

Firstly welcome to the forum
Second enjoy the boat
Thirdly post some pics
and finally don't hesitate to ask questions, lots of people with a lot of experience here

ric · **Posted:** Thu Apr 26, 2012 9:42 am

Good advice? Just don't beat on it. Take care of it, it will take care of you. Abuse it, it will abuse your wallet.

theoriginalgiga · **Joined:** Mon Apr 09, 2012 10:47 am **Posts:** 26

"cleanliness is next to godliness". While this advice is good for your entire life, I HIGHLY recommend it for your boat. While working on my project, the boat I pulled my stern drive from was just horrible and the transom mount plate is just in horrible condition. So I'd say keep the boat out of nasty weather, clean your decking when you're done with your boat for the day, make sure to properly winterize your engine when you plan on storing it, like your car make sure your oil is clean and it runs smoothly. Just like anything else maintenance will save your wallet in the future. If you just got the boat, I'd do a tuneup on it (oil, plugs, wires, etc.) just to be safe, no one needs a junk engine right?

Cap'n Morgan · **Posted:** Thu Apr 26, 2012 10:08 am

Your engine manual will detail how to break in the new motor. Follow it. I will be doing the same with our new boat.

kneel · **Posted:** Thu Apr 26, 2012 10:09 am

theoriginalgiga wrote:

If you just got the boat, I'd do a tuneup on it (oil, plugs, wires, etc.) just to be safe, no one needs a junk engine right?

I believe he got a new boat, based on his sig.

theoriginalgiga · **Joined:** Mon Apr 09, 2012 10:47 am **Posts:** 26

wow I'm slow today haha, thanks for pointing that out

mhc73 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 26, 2012 9:18 pm

Thanks everyone...
I do have a brand new boat, that's why I'm so cautious, I don't want to hurt my new baby.

The first purchase I made was an a stainless high 5 and a prop lock. My take off is in the boat.

What's everyone's advice for break in? That's my main concern. I never abuse my toys especially when you take them so far from home. Just want the reliability down the lake.

I have a lake property and my boat is stored on a lift for the summer months. I just have to figure out a canopy system to tuck it up and away so it stays spotless. I do plan on removing the carpets early in the season for fishing and only plan on using them when we have a long family outing or my babies get wet and cold. Carpets keeps the toes a bit warmer. Our primary use will be water sports and touring with some fishing. Had to sell it to my wife like it was a perfect multi purpose boat.

I am waiting for my swanky new cover to arrive. I had it made and hopefully it will get shipped soon. Couldn't pay the $900.00 for a trailering cover from the dealer...

I'll attach some trailered pics with water photo's later as its going to snow.... again. :oops:

mhc73 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 26, 2012 9:27 pm

I'm having no luck getting my pics on the forum. Any tricks? Same as my Avatar, I can't make it small enough?

theoriginalgiga · **Joined:** Mon Apr 09, 2012 10:47 am **Posts:** 26

I ended up putting them on photobucket and then used the links it generates and put them in my post. I believe the max size of any picture, linked at least is 1024x768. Maybe that's the same limitation uploading them to the site?

Misterbulbous · **Posted:** Fri Apr 27, 2012 8:10 pm

If you've boated before, ignore my 1st suggestion...

1. Learn to tie knots. My first boat was a '72 Sea Ray, bought in 1992. I got out on the lake, went to my dock and realized the only knot I knew was the "tie your shoes knot".

2. Don't agressively scrub the gelcoat. I let my first (and current) FW Horizon 190 build up a generous dose of scum on the waterline and decided to use a somewhat agressive scouring pad to clean it. It left tons of micro scratches (that only I can see), but nothing is worse than that feeling of knowing you did something wrong.

3. Always cover it up. Don't be the guy who lets birds and spiders crap all over the boat, let rain soak everything, etc. Covering can add ten to twenty years to the boat life.?

4. Don't be convinced you need a 10000 watt stereo. You can't listen to it while your driving, and when your sitting idle, a "normal" stereo unit is probably sufficient to be pleasing.

5. Develop a ritual or pattern for loading on and off the trailer. Follow the pattern and you can avoid a lot of mistakes or damage...raise the outdrive before putting in and out, turn the engine OFF before pulling out of the water. Been there, done that on my sea ray. LOL.

LouC · **Posted:** Fri Apr 27, 2012 9:55 pm

Also don't neglect the needed maintenance for stern drives. That means that the drive has to be removed periodically to check the bellows to make sure there is no water in there, to check the gimble bearing and ujoints and the input shaft seal. This is the main difference between OBs and I/Os. On the other hand the engine in an I/O is usually simpler than a modern OB.

TX H210SS · **Joined:** Thu May 27, 2010 9:10 am **Posts:** 1488

Break In....as mentioned, read manual and follow instructions.....basically you want to vary your rpms constantly during first 20 to 30 hours. Avoid letting the idle for extended periods of time and don't bog her down. Use suggested fossil oil until you get about 70 plus hours on boat then you can switch to synthetic if you wish, again using suggested oil type for synthetic.......that's pretty much it but there is more maintenance to address such as fluid changes, winterizing, low unit inspections and impeller changes etc...

Basically you don't want to take her out for innertubing your first rattle out of the box...don't run her wide open....and dont putt putt around all day. Swap the oil and filters at 20 hours or when u see oil starting to change color, whichever is first. Check that oil often...I usually checked mine every other time I stopped the boat....can use oil during break in...that's normal. Also use stabil blue with ethanol trtmt in fuel....gas these days sux.

Use this break in time to get used to the boat and how she handles...I normally ran mine at 1/4 to 3/4 throttle during break in.....hope this helps answer your question.

Oh...enjoy your boat and have fun...welcome aboard.

www.iFourWinns.com

New H180 SS owner.... any good advise for a newbie?

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