Equipment & Service Talk

CruiseCraft only fits electronics and other equipment which the company has tested exhaustively. Before introducing any new piece of equipment, the component is fitted to a research and development vessel and tested vigorously.

Sometimes the equipment is installed into vessels belonging to Team CruiseCraft members - particularly into the vessels of those for whom hardcore, off-shore work is a normal part of boating life..

Depth Sounders- Show Your Sensitive Side

Turn off the Auto function if you want to get the most out of your echo sounder. That's the advice every gun fisherman will give you. But what happens when you leave the cocoon of comfort that is the Auto function? What are the functions you have to adjust and what can you expect to see? Furuno's Shane Beardmore has prepared a handy guide that is very informative and easy to comprehend.

Click here to read Shane's guide.

Spark Plugs - Heat Ranges
Straying from an outboard manufacturer's recommendations on spark plugs is one of the easiest, but most damaging and expensive mistakes that can be made.

Interchanging spark plug brands can become a 'nearest' match rather than an 'exact' match. But near enough is not good enough and could cost boat owners thousands of dollars in repairs.

Heat range is one of the most important issues. Sometimes another spark plug manufacturer's recommended 'equivalent' plug can be incorrect by two or more heat ranges - enough to cause poor running or serious engine damage.

That damage can include piston crown melt-downs as a result of much higher temperatures being generated in the combustion chambers. There also are other major differences between spark plugs - for example some have resistors built into them, others don't.

Sometimes people deliberately use a wrong spark plug - one without a resistor instead of one with a built-in resistor - in order to overcome problems associated with tired ignition systems which are running out of puff. The components of the 'tired' ignition system are beyond their useful life. They therefore create too much resistance along their wiring to work effectively and cannot provide the charge needed at the sparking end.

Some owners think that by using a plug without a built-in resistor, they can reduce the load on the ignition system and that their engine will work fine as a result.

Wrong.

That kind of thinking just triggers off another series of issues such as false alarms going off in warning systems, or entertainment systems suffering from electrical interference.

Steering - Do Yourself A Good Tturn
Steering your powerboat through a couple of imaginary 'figure eights' down the driveway at home is one of the best turns you can do for your outboard.

You don't even need the motor running with a water supply to the impeller - just leave the motor turned off and start steering while the boat is sitting on the trailer.

That on-shore, going nowhere slalom will help lubricate the steering system on your outboard. That means there's far less chance of you finding a seized steering system next time you are at the ramp.

The on-shore drive should be performed every couple of weeks. Just turn the steering wheel back and forth, from full left lock to full right lock, a few times. The action should be enough to lubricate most push-pull type steering mechanisms used on modern outboards and won't hurt the older cable type systems either.

Bow rail ladder

The bow rail ladder idea grew out of a removable step that hooked on to the bow rail. This version, now available as a factory option, allows a person to be dropped off or collected bow-first from a boat ramp, jetty or beach. No more of those annoying little bumps on the ramp. Simply flick back the Velcro retaining strap and the ladder drops down and extends. Once aboard, simply lift the ladder back into position and snap the Velcro back into place. How secure are they? Well, we’ve seen them going through serious waves without even flinching, primarily because the design is very secure and they also are presented in end elevation to any oncoming seas.      

John Daffy - My Orca Outsider 625

A safe way to stow your radio aerial on some smaller CruiseCraft models such as the Explorer 500, is to use a length of platic tubing. Slip a length of plastic tubing over one end of the aerial and then let is slide down so you can slip the other end of the plastic tube over an aft cleat.

That way there is no pointy end of the aerial exposed which otherwise might poke a youngster in the eye. Also saves the aerial from "flogging" when you are towing your boat.