She's finally home!! Rickk's 230

[John Jones]

Is it charging with 13.6 or more volts when running?  I don't know about that motor but on many the tach pulses come from the same box that regulates the battery charging.  On my 225 OMC when the tach quit so did the charging system.

[RickK]

I don't know - I'll have to put a meter on it and/or watch the chart-plotter which has a voltage reading on it (I think the fuel flow gauge does too).  I tried to start the boat and found the #1 battery dead or too low to start it .  Flipped to all and it started right up.  The receipt from SaraBay says they "found no codes", so I'm assuming everything is ok in there.

[JimCt]

Wonder why the battery was low?  Any dates indicated on the scratch-offs on the batteries?

[RickK]

If I remember right, Mar or May 06 on both batteries.  Maybe the guys working on it left the switch on?  I charged both batteries up.
On a recent trip to Marine Surplus I bought 3 on/off switches and a 30amp circuit breaker.  I need to get the rest of the hardware and I'll be ready to finish the control circuitry - then I'll know what is going on back there.

[RickK]

Well, I found out what the problem was with the battery - the end of the cable was loose and needed to be replaced.  Works fine now.

Finally got a chance to take the 230 out yesterday to test the job the mechanic(s) had done on the carbs. Seems to idle ok in neutral (about 800 rpm) and the rpm at the top is around 5300, approx 37-38 mph.  Fuel flow seems to be back where it should be too - the manual says about 27 gph max which is about where it was.  Cruising at 4000 rpm was about 28 mph and about 14 gph.  
Decided to take her on the outside and run from New Pass in Sarasota to the Venice Jetties - a good 16 mile run in the gulf.  Wind was 10-15 from the S-SE and I was heading south - 2-3s with whitecaps all the way.  Was able to keep it about 22-23mph the whole way without being too uncomfortable (should have planned a little better and reversed the route). So, after the 45 minute run, the motor was good and warmed up and I started seeing a problem: when I put the motor in forward at idle, it would start missing and if left alone, would cause the motor to die.  It would start right back up and idle in neutral fine but when loaded, it runs rough at idle.  Bump it up a little and it runs fine.  So, I guess it's back to the mechanic. Probably needs the idle raised just a tad.

[JimCt]

Idle jets may be mis-adjusted.  If you have the book it should describe adjustment procedure.

[John Jones]

I know that is aggravating.  Hopefully it's just a tweak that is needed.

[RickK]

Idle jets may be mis-adjusted.  If you have the book it should describe adjustment procedure.

I think they have some warrantee on this - I'll call them tomorrow on my way to Detroit

[RickK]

I know that is aggravating.  Hopefully it's just a tweak that is needed.

I would think it is 6 tweaks - that's why I won't do it.  After their warrantee (I hope they have one) runs out I might try to tackle it. Other wise I may have to call Ray and take Colin out on it and let him adjust it on the water.

[RickK]

I think we've hit page 18 because I'm getting that same "No posts exist for this topic" bug again now.

[Irish Rover]

Hello RickK,

Saw the new pictures of the boat; beautiful!!

I am thinking about adding an aft bimini to my 245 and I was wondering if you added the bimini or if it was on the boat when you purchased it?

I was wondering what measurements it is and if you are happy with the height and length?  Does it get in the way when fishing or trolling?

I think I have to get one or my wife, kids and I will turn to lobsters.

If you don't have the measurements don't worry about it.  

Thanks

Justin

[RickK]

Hello RickK,

Saw the new pictures of the boat; beautiful!!

Thanks Justin.  She's coming along nicely - Cosmetically, she's just about as far as I want to take her.  I am going to redo the decals but that is about it.

I am thinking about adding an aft bimini to my 245 and I was wondering if you added the bimini or if it was on the boat when you purchased it?

I was wondering what measurements it is and if you are happy with the height and length?  Does it get in the way when fishing or trolling?

I think I have to get one or my wife, kids and I will turn to lobsters.

If you don't have the measurements don't worry about it. 

Thanks

Justin

If you look at page one of this thread you'll see the "before" and then look at page 10,11 for the "after" (I think 12 has the cover) - all custom with total vinyl enclosure and now, total screen enclosure too
I'm sure the back bimini will get in the way of fishing unless you're diggin' straight down for the deep ones. Trolling should not be bad until you have to reel them in.  This boat (and yours) is made for heading out and diggin' so the bimini would be a welcome cover from the sun on your boat. I haven't been way out yet - 1) Need a kicker (waiting for you to rig yours, so I can see what my options are    ) 2) Haven't quite had the time to use the boat, let alone go for an all day trip yet 3)I'm not a big deep sea fishing fan - I don't mind going out but I really love the skinny water. 

I bought this boat more for relaxing and cruising around, maybe to the bahamas and keys eventually (I've had the 170 for 19 years now and the 230 will probably be around awhile too).  It is way more comfortable than the 170 and that makes my wife happy when she's with me.  She didn't like the way the 170 handled in sloppy water.  "Too bumpy"!!  I really think she needs a hover craft
The main reason I did the back bimini was to give us some shade over a big hangout place - we had it up yesterday, in the middle of the day it was perfect. When we start camping in the boat, the total bimini, the vinyl and screens will really help. The bimini will help keep everything in the back dry, the vinyl is for the sudden storms we get here in the summer - nothing like being couped up in the hot cabin waiting out a rough storm, huh.  Now I can zip in vinyl on one side of the boat or all around and sit it out in comfort. The screens will be awesome for the bugs.  I hope the mesh is small enough to block the "no-see-ums" we have here - like flying teeth and they tear you up.

We're still waiting for some pix of your boat - do you have a hard top?  You see how my 2 biminis join into one big one - if you are worried about the back one getting in the way of trolling have your canvas guy make it so it folds forward, so you can get it out of the way when fighting the fish.  A good canvas guy will be able to figure it out. If you have soft tops like me, you can use these pix to show your canvas guy what you want.  If you have a hard top and just want a big bimini in back, that won't be a big deal - figure 8 x 8 or so.  I wanted a continuous bimini so I wouldn't have "leaks" of water coming in. My buddy has a 250 Explorer with hard top and rear bimini and he has that "gap" that leaks water.
Sorry I babbled so much.

[Irish Rover]

Morning RickK,

I saw the pictures on page 10-12.  Really nice!!!  You can do anything or go anywhere now without fear of weather.

I have a soft top bimini over the helm that needs to be replaced.

I saw a boat with a platform in the back like mine that had a custom kicker mount.  It was a boat for sale in Florida.  Basically it had a regular transom mount that was mounted on a flat piece of aluminum.   The aluminum was welded to two inch aluminum square pipe in an elbow right angle with another flat piece welded to the pipe and then bolted to the boat.

I will try to get the address.

Talk with you later.

Justin

[RickK]

I have a soft top bimini over the helm that needs to be replaced.

If you want a continuous bimini all the way back, the biggest thing for the canvas guy to do is bridge the width difference between the helm bimini and the aft one.  If I had to do this over again, I'd talk more with the canvas guy to figure out a way to fold the aft top forward and have it boot up right behind the helm top instead of folding up to the rear. Oh well.

I saw a boat with a platform in the back like mine that had a custom kicker mount.  It was a boat for sale in Florida.  Basically it had a regular transom mount that was mounted on a flat piece of aluminum.   The aluminum was welded to two inch aluminum square pipe in an elbow right angle with another flat piece welded to the pipe and then bolted to the boat.

Sounds like an easy mount to make - or maybe you could work something into your platform like this?  This pic had me confused briefly, until I realized the boat is an I/O or Inboard and this was the kicker - pretty small kicker to push that big boat though, I would think. Unless he already has dual engines and this is just for trolling.

[Irish Rover]

Interesting set up.  You are right, that 9.9 must be for trolling.  But I guess it would get the job done if there was no head wind.

Thanks for the idea.  I couldn't find the picture of the one I was talking about.

I will talk with my canvas guy about the bimini being continuous when I get it done this spring.

Justin