Used FSH 190 Sea Trial / Test Drive

[BigBlueJeep]

Hi everyone - wanted to ask some questions on your experience for sea trials for an FSH 190. I spent some time searching the entire forum and I've found some good info and checklists and feel pretty confident to conduct one, but had a few specific questions that I was hoping FSH owners could share their experience.

- On a sea trial anything specific to look for leaks in the drain lines? I know there are known issues and that they can be fixed, but any advice on what/where to look other than just checking every compartment.

- During the trial should the bilges be on at all and removing water? Another way to ask is what's acceptable amount they will be operating.

- I was planning for at least 30 min driving under different conditions (i.e. stop/start, WOT, sharp turns, across wake, etc). Do you think that's too long, not enough? Appreciate any advice and don't want to keep the owner out longer than necessary.

- Newb question here - Should the cooling outlet pee holes be running the entire time the engine is on? Anything to look for here?

Any other advice on sea trial would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance!


This is my first post but I've been all over the forum for the last 6 months. We've been searching boats for awhile now and feel confident on the 190 (or 210 if I could find one) This is a great community and lots of info, reminds me of the Jeep forums I'm on and the advice I received and offered over the years. There's a joke in the Jeep community that you can spot the newbie when they ask questions like "what the biggest tires I can put on my Jeep without a lift ..., can you run 35's on stock gears ..." Hopefully I get through that stage for FSH boats soon and be able to pay back the advice down the road.

Anyone looking to sell a 190 or 210 in the Central or W Coast Florida?

 

[Gunner]

Different boat but the pisser should always be passing water if the boats in the water, sometime if its running on a hose it won't pee. My boat is very dry the only water I get is from water backing up from the clean out drain line and that only occurs if I backed up quickly or for any distance. Even then the water in the lower parts of the boat is very minimal. Dont worry after driving the boat if water is sitting on top of the clean out plugs that is a common occurrence.

 

[Elliott]

My bilge never comes on, and the most water I see below deck comes from very heavy rain (it is in an open stack with a small roof at the marina). If the engine is on, you should see water coming from the pee hole (the higher the rpm the more water). My FSH usually does pee during the flush depending on water pressure, but I am flushing it at the marina within 10 minutes of it coming out of the water (engine is still hot).

I would ensure that the owner flushed the engine with an anti-salt rinse (Salt Away, Salt-X, Salt Off and etc.) after every use in salt water. I flush the engine and spray down (using a garden mixer on the end of the hose) the cockpit and hull each time with the anti-salt solution.

Closely inspect the engine bay for corrosion, if used in salt water, and looking at the clamps on hoses is a good way to determine if rust is present (they tend to rust first). Also, the owner should be using an anti-corrosion spray (I use Corrosion-X) in the engine bay to protect everything (metal and electrical).

Good luck.

 

[BigBlueJeep]

Thanks guys, this is really good info and a few things I wasn't thinking of.

Anyone have input on how long you would run sea trial. I'm thinking 30 min of on-water time.

 

[Liveto99]

30 min should show any problems, it may take 30 seconds for water to come out of the pee hole after starting the motor. I would fun it wot for 10 min to see if any overheat issues when it is run hard.