Advice Concerning My 1998 Supreme Boat

[David Lloyd]

Hey Guys - I need a little advice concerning my 1998 Supreme Boat with a 20 HP Mariner. I posted this question on the other Ark Fly Fishing site, but those guys are just having a little fun with my post - I really was looking for some serious advice - Thanks - Here is the post:

I have had this boat for nearly 3 years and it performs Great!!! I took it home to clean the scumline and replace the rubber water pump impeller on my Mariner 20HP Jet outboard. I replaced the waterpump and ran the outboard in a 55gallon drum. Easy job and new pump perfect!!

Took the clean boat with new waterpump back to the Little Red and launched it to take back to it's boathouse.

I immediately noticed 2 NEW different things about the performance - Top Speed seem to be lower - Boat would run about 25 MPH with 1 person - Now it was running 21 MPH top speed. Boat seem to be slightly dragging feeling???

Also, water turbulence was churning up around the back of the boat, causing water to splash over into the rear of the boat??? This has never happen!!!

Stopped to re analyze all changes I had made to work preformed???

OnLy things I changed:

When pulling the lower unit to replace W/P, I pulled the trim pin so I could lift motor highest tilt. This trim bracket has 5 hole adjustment - I think it originally was in the 2nd hole - I had it placed in the 1st hole - Tried all 5 holes in the river - Was not hole 4 or 5 - Those actually lift the jet out of the water - Had to be 1, 2 or 3

I also cleaned up the impeller fins with a file - There were rough edges on the impeller and I cleaned them up. Impeller only fits one way, so it is correct???

I noticed the is an adjustment on the Forward/ Reverse nose of the outboard - Like a Cam adjuster - It didn't seem to make any difference - Reverse and Forward work Great - Water pump is pumping Great!!

What could be Wrong???

I use to run this boat up and down the river and never have to check if water is coming over the back bow of the boat - - Now something has changed??

I never disconnected the motor from the Boat - Please help with advice - All Ears!!

David Lloyd

901-277-7710 mobile

[David Lloyd]

JUST FIGURED IT OUT!!!!! I just looked at some pictures of the boat when I 1st bought it. A close up picture of the Outboard motor quickly revealed the problem. I put the cavitation pickup foot on backwards. I have the deep end of the wedge at the bow and the sharper end pointing back - That part bolts on with 6 bolts and can be installed either way - I clearly remember thinking the deep wedge was forward - The picture revealed different - That is the problem - I knew something wasn't right, but couldn't see anything wrong until I looked at the old picture - I have a Game plan when I return to the River Thursday!!!