Cape Dory 270, Owner'S Manual

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water to cool the exhaust gases as they leave the engine. This system
produces a quieter sound and reduces temperatures in the engine room
minimizing the risk of burns and reducing the fire hazard.
There are several maintenance features not covered in the operators
manual which should be mentioned here.
CORROSION
Internal and external engine corrosion can be a slow unnoticeable
process until it is too late. The most common cause of this is from non
or misuse of the engine.
Avoid running the engine whenever possible for periods less than 15
minutes in duration in order for the engine to generate enough heat to
expel any internal condensation build up. This is especially critical
in cold weather when condensation is greater. Short duration usage will
cause internal corrosion resulting in damaged rings and sticky valves.
Running the engine occasionally at full throttle for about 5 minutes
will clean out moisture and carbon build up in the system.
When the engine is not intended to be used for a long period or for lay
up through the winter, introduce oil into the air intake and onto the
cylinders. This will effectively seal the inside parts against the
environment.
Externally if paint chips off or if some corrosion develops, use bronze
wool to clean the surface and spray the area with engine pai
nt..
The normal cruising speed of the boat under power is between 5 and 5-1/2
knots and full throttle will produce a speed of approximately 6 knots.
Excessive hard driving of the engine will shorten its usable life.
The shift and throttle cables are black plastic encased wires which
route through the sail locker to the respective control levers. No
initial adjustment should be necessary after you receive your boat from
the factory.
Readjust the shift cable travel at least once a year making sure that
the transmission gear fully engages in forward and reverse gears.
Should a control cable need to be replaced, it must be replaced with the
same length and style of cable.
Use care when using the throttle controls. On tiller steered boats, the
controls are set up to also shut the engine down by pulling the throttle
all the way back past idle. Become familiar with this characteristic so
that the engine is not shut down inadvertently.
Do not force the shift lever to the ends of its travel. If this is done
repeatedly, the cable will break.
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