"New" Boat Report

[Carl]

Busy as heck with Family and Work but I wanted to drop ni really quick for a report:

FINALLY had the maiden voyage for my "new" 14' Smokercraft Voyager Semi-V.

All I can say is dang what a difference over the old 1440 mv jon!
Incredibly stable, me & the boy can get up & walk around and the boat just sits there. And tons of room with the wide open floor.
25 Merc gets her up & moving quick. She was a little hard to get started at first but then cranked up on 1/2 pull the rest of the day. Think I just need to figure out how she likes to be cold-started.
50# TM is great, nice not to have to paddle anymore while fishing.

Only a couple of draw backs:
The Magna II FF that came with it is not working, not getting correct readings from the transducer. Gonna have to work on that and/or get a new plug for my Cuda.

The other is that she draws more water at the stern than my old boat. Thinking I will need to move the fuel tank forward before duck season.

Will try to post some pics tomorrow.

 

[Brad Bortner]

There isn't anything you can do to make a Merc like to be cold started. everyone I've ever had or operated ran fine but was always difficult to start when cold.

 

[Carl]

Well, now that aint encouraging!!

I guess I'll just have to put some elbow grease behind the old pull start.

 

[Bob B]

Brad that is not true. I have two late 1990's 25s and they both start on the second pull in NE weather. IE way below 32.
You need to keep a good stabilizer in the gas if you store for any time now that we all run ethanol.
You need to keep an eye on the plugs because they are 2 stroke and we do a lot of low speed running setting decoys and such.
The carb is an easy rebuild and the only time I had to do it was due to a bad tank of mixed fuel from the old blend to the new that had stratified.
Carl.
Buy the factory service book on ebay or from a dealer. Do not bother with the SELOC book. It dosnt cover the motors well.

Keep the prop in good shape and change the impeller and gear lube once a year just because. Be sure to use a new Merc impeller and seal washer on the Lube drain screws.

I took the electric start off my second motor. That is how well it starts.
Looking for a new power head for motor #2 now due to a sheared off impeller causing an over heat due to the motor starting just fine in temps well below 32. Broke Ice for 1\2 mile before the power head overheated due to low cooling water flow.
Best we could figure is the Sierra Impeller sheared the bushing when it froze on the trailer during drain down the night before the hunt which took place in the early AM.
In the 25 class the Merc 2 stroke is a very good motor.
Power to weight is very good and parts are very well supplied. They made a lot of them.
I would drill the T stat so you get a flow from the pump even when the Tstat is closed. The commercial version of the motor(Marriner, My First) has that and it is a good idea.
I would buy another used one in a hart beat if the shaft was straight and inside the motor cover was clean.