21
UNDERSTANDING YOUR BOAT
Most boat owners like to perform at least a certain amount of their boat maintenance themselves to ensure continuing good
performance and reliability.
To avoid unnecessary trips to the service center, it might be useful to have a checklist, which can be run through
systematically, in the hope of pinpointing the problem quickly. The boat can be divided into three categories - jet unit, engine,
and hull.
If something is "wrong" with the boat it is usually poor acceleration and load carrying, coupled with excessive fuel
consumption or engine RPM's. It could be unusual noise coming from the mechanicals, or possibly just poor top speed. All of
these things may be present to some degree, but the usual complaint is that the boat is just plain "gutless".
TACHOMETER
The most important single instrument on the boat when considering performance drop-off is the engine tachometer.
The great thing about jet boats is that the engine RPM's should remain the same throughout the life of the boat, regardless of
age, loading, water conditions, towing, whatever.
There is no situation where the RPM's should be different from when the boat was new, and as an owner, you will
know what these are. At any time, you should be able to open the throttle fully and get exactly the same maximum reading you
have been used to. Or perhaps you are finding it needs more RPM's to cruise your normal load? RPM's are a most important
indicator of proper operation of the boat.
It is important at this stage to feel confident that your tachometer is reading accurately.
Now we come to our check list, and determination of which major area is the problem. The simplest way is a check
on the RPM's first. They could be normal, high, or low, and this will pin point the place to look:
