Beginners questions

[neilda]

I'm very new here and a novice - but I'm close to buying a RIB and hope to be an enthusiastic contributor in the future. However, there's a million questions - most of them seemingly completely idiotic to those with lots of experience....

I do have a few on engines.

One of the boats I'm interested in has an Envinrude FICHT 150hp. Soooo, I'm thinking it's similar in lots of ways to a motorcycle engine - it needs servicing, oil changing etc.

1. How many hours should go between services?
2. Do you keep a log of the hours (I can't imagine I'd be organised enough to do that).
3. Do those who service engines come to your boat to do it?! If not, how on earth do you get the thing off?
4. Do you need to flush out the engine with clean water? How is this done and how often?

Really sorry if they're silly questions, I'm just trying to get my mind tidy on some of these things.

Thanks....

PS I'm happy to exchange knowledge on my specialist subjects!

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by neilda

One of the boats I'm interested in has an Envinrude FICHT 150hp. Soooo, I'm thinking it's similar in lots of ways to a motorcycle engine - it needs servicing, oil changing etc.

1. How many hours should go between services?
2. Do you keep a log of the hours (I can't imagine I'd be organised enough to do that).
3. Do those who service engines come to your boat to do it?! If not, how on earth do you get the thing off?
4. Do you need to flush out the engine with clean water? How is this done and how often?

Fichts are 2 strokes.
First, read this,check the engine year and hours:-
http://rides.webshots.com/album/562074007KleoKb

1) I do mine yearly or between about every 50-100 hours whichever comes 1st and spray the engine block with anti corrosion stuff 3 to 4 times a year.

2)On many new tech engines, the engine does it for you and will have a viewable hour meter. Otherwise, it's down to guesstimation.

3)Some minor services can be carried out in the water,others need the boat either on a trailer or lifted out.

4)Yes, as often as possible-usually at the end of every day of use.

[neilda]

Thanks for that - mind getting settled!

How is the engine flushed?

Didn't realise the FICHT was 2 stroke. D'oh!

PS, thanks for that link. That puts an interesting perspective on that engine.

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by neilda

Thanks for that - mind getting settled!

How is the engine flushed?

Flush muffs like these-with a handy flushing guide in the listing attached to a hose, or in a large tank if you're lucky and one is available.

[willk]

Originally Posted by neilda

4. Do you need to flush out the engine with clean water? How is this done and how often?

Nos's answer for this one is bang on. You then have to consider all those boats tied up on moorings and marinas. It begins to explain why no-one is overjoyed to discover that second-hand rib they travelled to see has anti-fouling on.... but then again, how do those ancient engines on the wee fishing boats survive lying out for years and years?

Originally Posted by neilda

PS I'm happy to exchange knowledge on my specialist subjects!

Do tell!

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by willk

Nos's answer for this one is bang on. You then have to consider all those boats tied up on moorings and marinas. It begins to explain why no-one is overjoyed to discover that second-hand rib they travelled to see has anti-fouling on.... but then again, how do those ancient engines on the wee fishing boats survive lying out for years and years?

Do tell!

I think the flush issue is that, it's a good thing to do when ever possible. I had inboard engined boats which lived on the water previously. None of them dissolved or fell to bits. Interestingly, a 5.7ltr V8 in my Rinker was blown to bits by frost because I hadn't drained it down properly. Boats left in the water down this way, are not frost affected due to water temp.

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by willk

but then again, how do those ancient engines on the wee fishing boats survive lying out for years and years?

I think mostly they actually don't-they are just cheap throwaway engines that get replaced with like when they die.

[neilda]

Flush-Muffs! So that's how it's done - and a new word for the vocabulary. If your boat is dry stacked, I assume the yard can help with flushing?

Specialist subjects are probably cars and recording studios. So if any of you lot have a sea-shanty that requires a 32 track digital session?

I went to see a Revenger 715 today (just got back). Very nice, but I'm a bit wobbly about the Evinrude FICHT, it's had about 150-200 hours.....

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by neilda

Flush-Muffs! So that's how it's done - and a new word for the vocabulary. If your boat is dry stacked, I assume the yard can help with flushing?

Specialist subjects are probably cars and recording studios. So if any of you lot have a sea-shanty that requires a 32 track digital session?

I went to see a Revenger 715 today (just got back). Very nice, but I'm a bit wobbly about the Evinrude FICHT, it's had about 150-200 hours.....

What year was the FICHT and a 150 on the back of a 7m boat seems a little small.

[neilda]

It's an 05 Engine I believe - could be 04 manufactured.

[Hightower]

Mine is a 04 engine too. Is that one badged a DI?

After buying a low hours used engine, the dealers that fitted it had to replace the Oil pump staight away due to the old one being fauly. This is the only problem I've had since owning it for nearly 2 years.

I think the Evinrude released the Etec series the following year

[Chris]

Originally Posted by neilda

It's an 05 Engine I believe - could be 04 manufactured.

At that age it is probably a DI or Ficht Ram.

Either of these should be OK. Its the older Fichts that I would run away from.

But on a rib that size 200HP would be a minimum for me.

[Downhilldai]

Originally Posted by Chris

.. Its the older Fichts that I would run away from.

Yes, I think they were ok from 2003, but older ones had a tendency to self-destruct.