Speedometer is not working on 1994 Rinker Boat?

Question

I have a 1994 Rinker 181 Bowrider. It has a 3.0L Mercruiser Alpha 1. The speedometer is not working...does not even flench when going down the water. Does anyone know what I should check out or a possible cause? Thanks

Answer 1

steplift and yidoeno are both right! In my world we call your boat maker Stinkers not Rinkers! Ha Ha. I'm sorry. The style of speedo that is more accurate are the wheel type. To save money your boat mfg. used the other style (pitot tube). Your tube could also be plugged with sand. Take air tank and gently blow it out; have someone else at dash to see if speedo moves; CAUTION it does not take a lot of pressure to move the gauge. MPH is really not important! Running your engine at around 3000 to 3200 RPM is more important; and proper size of prop. If you really want to know how fast you are going, buy that GPS as mentioned by yidoeno; but buy a hand held that way it won't get stolen, and you can also use it in your car!

Answer 2

What s on the backside of the speedo gauge?

If there is a hose attached, follow it.

Answer 3

These  speedometers operate on a pilot tube, that are mounted on the transom. Sometimes it will "kick up" when the boat encounters trash in the water.  Sometimes you can push it back down with a boat hook, or just reach down and push it back in place.  Sometimes the tube pulls off, simply put it back on.

     Now having said all this, this type speedometer want work at all below 10 MPH, and are very inaccurate above that.  So, don't worry about it, or spend several hundred $$$$ to get a digital "marine" instrument.  These use a paddle wheel pick-up, that works much better.

Answer 4

There is a pitot tube pick-up at the back of the boat make sure that it has not "tripped up" and if so just push it down. Boat speedo's (most) work off water pressure. So if the tube is down then make sure that the tubing is still connected and in good shape. Cgeck the feed line all the way to the speedo head. From there you will have to check out the speedo-head.

Answer 5

get a gps there more accurate anyway

check the wheel in the back see if it moves