1600BR setup and overheat problem.

[byrd]

I have a 1600br with a factory mounted 115 Optimax. I have a total of 28 hours, and a water pump failure. The mechanic says the outboard is mounted too high. It came mounted in the second hole (from the top) in the mounting plate at the top transom hole. The mechanic says it needs to go down at least an inch.

Furthermore, it came from the factory with analog gauges that include a temp and water pressure gauge. Both are hooked up, but the temp gauge does not work. Mercury says it is impossible to hook an analog temp gauge up to that outboard (although checkmate installed them), and that's the reason it does not work.

I'm in Portland Or...a long ways away from Ohio.

Any suggestions with regards to how high the Optimax should be mounted, and comments about the water pump and gauges?

The prop that came with it is a stainless stiletto three blade prop.

The mechanic is scheduled to lower the outboard on Tuesday.

I intend to call Checkmate on Monday, but they haven't been very helpful so far.

 

[CHECK16]

With no jack plate I would say between 3.5 and 4" below the pad would be fine.You should get plenty of water at that height.

Many of us run temp gauges on our outboards.So I don't understand why you can't run one on your Opti.

 

[Chris E]

i've been away from the business for quite a while now, but i believe your mechanic is right, anolog gauges can't be hooked up to an optimax motor. i'm not sure if aftermarket gauges have a workaround or not. you should have a "system monitor" installed, or optimax gauges installed.

if checkmate put anolog gauges in instead of optimax, that would have been a case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing.

 

[byrd]

I just got in touch with Checkmate. The new management were much more helpful than the old! They suggested that the cavitation plate above the prop should ideally be 1-2" above the bottom of the hull. I will go to the shop tomorrow, and check it. (They are closed on Monday.)

They are also checking with Merc reference the gauges.

And, the prop is a stainless 22 three blade laser. My mistake.

Any experience or recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[CHECK16]

I took a few measurements .
That should put the center of your prop shaft about 4-4.5" below the pad.

 

[JW]

If your motor is mounted only 'one hole up' then your dealer is smoking crack or doesn't know a thing about performance boats and checkmates. Show us a digital picture of the transom clamp bracket and a picture of the propshaft in relation to the pad with the engine trimmed level and we'll straighten that guy out.

 

[byrd]

Thanks. I'm picking the boat up tomorrow as is, and will attach pictures of the transom clamp bracket and prop shaft.

Can you describe the "pad" and where you are measuring to 4" to 4.5" from to the middle of the prop shaft?

Thanks again for your help.

 

[xsive]

You absolutely can use analog gauges, but are limited on which ones...Temp gauge won't work. I've attached a link to a helpful document that shows which ones you can use.

The smartcraft gauges are great and would be a nice upgrade. I'd go with a smarttach and then as many "link" gauges as you want.

I think it was Family and Performance Boating Magazine or Hot Boat Magazine (both out of business now) that had a set up article on that boat with a 115, whether it is an OptiMax or not shouldn't make a difference, check there for engine height. I wouldn't necessarily call someone clueless or say that your boat is set up poorly now. It really depends on how you use your rig. Adding a 5-6" manual plate would be a nice upgrade that allows you to optimize your set up.

http://wwwarchive.mercurymarine.com/uploads/3250/570/MercuryMariner75-90-115_Optimax.pdf


Oh ya, I would save your dime and not bother calling Checkmate for set up help.

I've also attached a link to show you what you can monitor via smartcraft gauge or gauges....

http://www.mercurymarine.com/precisionrigging/smartcraft/smartcraftataglance/engines/outboards.php

 

[CHECK16]

Thanks. I'm picking the boat up tomorrow as is, and will attach pictures of the transom clamp bracket and prop shaft.

Can you describe the "pad" and where you are measuring to 4" to 4.5" from to the middle of the prop shaft?

Thanks again for your help.

Here's a pic to help.

 

[byrd]

Thanks all for your help. I'm sorry it took so long to reply. I let work get in the way of boating again!

I took photos, but can't figure how to attach them. I measured, and the cavitation plate is 2 1/2 inches above the pad. The outboard is mounted in the third hole from the top. The prop is a laser II 22 pitch.

As I mentioned, the Merc dealer here isn't familiar with Checkmates, and insists that the outboard is mounted too high.

Check16 posted a photo of his, and it looks similar from what I can see in the photo, although it doesn't look like his is mounted directly to the transom.

Does this seem correct? Or may the third hole from the top be too high?

Thanks very much for your advise. I really appreciate the help.

 

[Vandalizer]

To get back to the original problem- if it was really mounted too high, you'd be talking about cylinder failure instead of water pump failure. I think they're blowin smoke. To be absolutely sure, you should get a water pressure gauge.

 

[CHECK16]

Thanks all for your help. I'm sorry it took so long to reply. I let work get in the way of boating again!

I took photos, but can't figure how to attach them. I measured, and the cavitation plate is 2 1/2 inches above the pad. The outboard is mounted in the third hole from the top. The prop is a laser II 22 pitch.

As I mentioned, the Merc dealer here isn't familiar with Checkmates, and insists that the outboard is mounted too high.

Check16 posted a photo of his, and it looks similar from what I can see in the photo, although it doesn't look like his is mounted directly to the transom.

Does this seem correct? Or may the third hole from the top be too high?

Thanks very much for your advise. I really appreciate the help.

With all the info you've given your motor should be somewhere around 5"+ below the pad.
There's no way your starving your motor for water at that height.

My motor was bolted to the transom through the third hole down from the top and I never had water temp/press. problems.


This could just be one of those cases where a new part[Water pump] fails.

Use the method I showed you in my PM on getting the proper measurement and let us know what you come up with.
I'm sure your motor does not need to be lowered.

 

[byrd]

Thanks very much for all your replies, and suggestions. It's great to have a forum of such knowledgeable folks available.

I put the boat back in the water this weekend after having the water pump replaced. The pressure gauge does work, and showed good pressure.

Over the winter, I'll have another mechanic install SmartCraft gauges. Next season, I'll be able to precisely monitor temp and pressure, and decide if any modification is needed. For now, the measurements of the prop shaft to the pad are within your recommended specs.

Thanks again for all the help.