2800 Survey Gotchas? Also Suggestions!

[codingparadox]

Hey all! We're in contract for a 1999 2800 SCR that we're going to be surveying/sea trialing this week. Anything in particular to look out for? This boat has the 7.4/B3, so the usual things to check on the B3 are obvious, but is there anything less standard to look out for when we survey? The boat looks like it's in very good shape, so I'm not expecting anything fishy.

Part 2 - Assuming the survey goes well and we close out next week, is there anything suggested to do on these boats right out of the gate? We'll probably immediately stick a water filtration system on (same thing I did on our Meridian), an inverter, and a fuel flow sensor, but that's just personal preference stuff. Any must-do awesome ideas that should have come from the factory?

[speedysprocket]

What’s the water filtration and what flow sensor do you use?

[codingparadox]

I installed one of these systems (the 512) on our 408:

Model-500-512-UV-Water-Purifier

Slightly over 200$ shipped, ~20$ of fittings, and wired the UV bulb into the water pump line so if water's pumping, it's cleaning. Super easy install. Water tastes awesome on the boat and never have to worry about getting sick.

Will probably install the Garmin GFS-10 fuel flow sensor, but don't know yet.

[mmwjr]

Inspect/replace bellows and exhaust.

[codingparadox]

Trying to answer this thread but have posts stuck in moderation...

[codingparadox]

Originally Posted by speedysprocket

What’s the water filtration and what flow sensor do you use?

I'll try posting again and see if it doesn't get stuck in moderation land this time (replied two days ago to no luck...)

The water filtration system I installed on the Meridian is:
Model-500-512-UV-Water-Purifier

I got the 512 model (12V powered), and just plumbed it in series off the power to the water pump, so if the pump is on, the UV light is too. It works super well -- showers and faucets at the same time have full pressure, and the water tastes awesome and we don't have to worry about safety at all. Couldn't be happier with it, and will probably stick a 312 on the new boat if it's a little smaller (need to email the company to verify, otherwise I'll just go with a 512 again.)

For the fuel flow sensor, I'm not sure yet, but I'll probably try out the Garmin GFS 10 to start -- the boat has a Garmin system in it that's presumably NEMA 2000, so it'd be easy to just plug into the network. They're super cheap on Hodges Marine.
https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/11561#specs

Sea trial is tomorrow, mechanic survey is Tuesday, and hull survey is Thursday. Bought some new cleats to put on the dock today, will install them in the snow tomorrow, and possibly by this weekend we'll have a boat on the dock!

[codingparadox]

It's letting me post very short messages, but long messages are ending up in a moderation queue somewhere. Well, someday they'll hopefully be posted...

[shrew]

Originally Posted by codingparadox

It's letting me post very short messages, but long messages are ending up in a moderation queue somewhere. Well, someday they'll hopefully be posted...

It's not the length of the message. It's your total number of posts (2 & 3 respectively) and the fact that your posts have URL links in them. This is a mechanism to prevent spam.

You'll need a few more posts to build up some credibility before you can post pictures and links.

[shrew]

Moderated posts have been approved.

[codingparadox]

Had the mechanical survey today and did a jaunt around the lake. Found some basic stuff: valve cover gaskets leaking so smells like burning oil after WOT for a while, one of the riser gaskets starting to leak, trim tabs don't seem to be working. Owner should be fine fixing all of that.

One question, though -- with 3 of us on board, a full tank of gas, and no water, with no trim tabs (presumably stuck all the way up), we maxed out at exactly 30.0 kt on the lake (no wind) at WOT for a while. My impression was that, with the 7.4 MPI, the 2800 should be doing more like 36 kt at WOT, and cruise at 25-26 kt. We need to get the trim tabs checked at the haulout on Thursday morning, but does this boat need constant down trim to reach max speed, or is it just to get on plane then you back it off? On our big Meridian we run with tabs full down on plane for max efficiency, weirdly enough.

[mmwjr]

Extended trim tabs add drag so being all the up should yield top speed. What was the WOT? Is the bottom free of marine growth?

[codingparadox]

WOT showed as ~4550 on the tach. It's being hauled Thursday morning for hull survey/to check the bottom and identify props.

[mmwjr]

Originally Posted by codingparadox

WOT showed as ~4550 on the tach. It's being hauled Thursday morning for hull survey/to check the bottom and identify props.

Your WOT is right on are you certain about how you measured speed?

[oldno7]

I can run 37mph (on a gps) at about the same rpm.
This is at 3600ft elevation though.

So at sea level you should definitely be getting more.

general rule of losing 3% per thousand feet of elevation gain.

[mmwjr]

Originally Posted by oldno7

I can run 37mph (on a gps) at about the same rpm.
This is at 3600ft elevation though.

So at sea level you should definitely be getting more.

general rule of losing 3% per thousand feet of elevation gain.

The OP said he did 30 kt which is 34.5 mph so he is pretty much there.

[oldno7]

Originally Posted by mmwjr

The OP said he did 30 kt which is 34.5 mph so he is pretty much there.

Agree, Mike

Not knowing, I was curious if he would gain 10% +/- over my speed at sea level.

Lots of factors for sure.

[codingparadox]

Measured 30.0 kt with navionics on my iPhone 6S -- dash was showing more like 38 mph, so it's reading a bit high. This is on Lake Washington, which is effectively sea level. If ~35mph is what's expected then we're okay, I'm just reading a bunch of conflicting stuff on various forum posts and boat postings with the same configuration elsewhere.