ElDeBo 1997 Electrec Powered Pontoon Boat Owner's manual

Congratulations

on your

purchase

of

the ElDeBo electric

powered pontoon boat. Much of the

information

relating to the

ElDeBo

is similar to other pontoon boats, however,

because

it

is

powered by an electric motor instead of gas, knowledge of

the on-board power and recharging systems

will

help avoid

imanticipated

power depletion and

enhance

reliability

of

your

new

boat. Read this manual carefully and keep it for future

reference. Most

of

the questions you might have about your

boat are

addressed

in this manual. Refer to the sketch in the

back

of

this

manual to

familiarize

yourself

with

the nomencla-

ture

and features of the

ElDeBo.

L

BASIC

MATERIALS

A.

Hull

and Deck

The

hull

and deck

of

the ElDeBo (an acronym for Electric Deck

Boat)

are thermoformed

from

a

coextruded ABS and Centrex

plastic laminate. The material has more than twice the impact

resistance

of

fiberglass

(FRP),

equal or higher gloss, and is far

more

resistant to chalking and fading. The ABS/Centrex

material

is repairable using similar procedures and materials

as

fiberglass repairs (see Maintenance section

-

p. 17).

All

other

component materials were selected for their resistance to

corrosion

in

a

marine environment. The entire

railing

system is

welded stainless steel.

All

fasteners axe either aluminum or

stainless steel. The ElDeBo has

a

welded tubular aluminum

frame between the deck and pontoons/hull. The canopy mate-

rial

is

a

vinyl

coated cotton and polyester blend. It was selected

for

its resistance to mildew, fading and tearing. The canopy is

enclosed in

a

weather protective boot.

B.

Flotation

The

ElDeBo is manufactured to National Marine

Manufacturer's

Association

(TnGVIMA)

construction and safety

standards.

Both

pontoons contain closed cell polystyrene foam

to

provide the

necessary

flotation

to support the boat's rated

weight

carrying capacity. The ElDeBo is

capable

of

carrying

its

rated capacity even

if

both

pontoons become completely

1

flooded.

Each pontoon has

a

bilge pump installed at the stem.

Periodically

open the

access

hatches and check for accumulated

water

from

rain

and condensation. Pump the pontoons out to

avoid

carrying unnecessary weight in the pontoons. The bilge

pumps are connected via fused circuit. The fuse is located in

the electrical

junction

box under the starboard helm

seat.

C.

Lighting

The

ElDeBo is outfitted

with

complete navigation

lighting.

There

axe red and green bow lights and an "all round" stem

light

mounted to the canopy. There are also nine individual

courtesy lights that

illuminate

the

floor,

boarding

areas

and helm

controls.

All

lighting is 12

Volts

DC and is fused in the electri-

cal

junction box under the starboard helm

seat.

II,

TAKING

DELIVERY

A.

Upon delivery of

your

new

ElDeBo

you should receive:

1. Warranty Registration Card - Please read and

fill

out the

registration

card and send it to Leisure

Life

Limited.

2.

Loose

Parts Package

-

Locate the

package

of loose parts

that are packed

with

the boat. You should have:

(2)

Battery tie-down straps

(1)

Male

12VDC

electrical

trolling

motor plug for the bow

(1)

Male

12VDC

electrical accessory plug for the helm

(1)

Black and red striped battery jumper

wire

(1)

Rudder blade

with

pin and ring

(1)

Entertainment table

with

pedestal

(1)

Motor

prop

with

nut and shear pin and two

spare

shear pins

(1)

Battery

wiring

schematic diagram

(1)

Guest Battery Charger owner's manual

3. Fuses and Prop Pins

-

Extra

fuses are sealed in

a

plastic

bag and taped to the inside

of

the electrical junction box cover

in

the starboard helm compartment.

2

4.

MSO (Manufacturer's Statement

of

Origin)

-

Think

of it

as

you

would

a

title

to

a

car. It's your

proof

of ownership and you

will

need it to register your boat

with

the state.

It

would

be

valuable

at

this point to make

a

permanent record

of the

following

information

in

case

future service or parts

are

required.

The serial number

is

found on the

silver

metal tag

on

the

rear of the starboard pontoon.

Serial

Number:

Date

of Purchase:

Purchased

From:

5.

Batteries

-

If

the

dealer

has

not provided batteries for your

boat,

purchase

four

12

volt

DC Deep Cycle

RV/Marine

batter-

ies.

They

should

be

size F27 and have 105

to

165 amp hours

of

capacity each.

Carefully

follow

the battery

installation

instmc-

tions

that

are

located in

a

plastic sleeve under the starboard

side cushion. The instructions include

a

schematic diagram of

the

battery locations

and

cormections and

a detailed instruc-

tion

sheet

folded under the plastic covered diagram.

NOTE:

New batteries are not necessarily

fully

charged when

you

buy them. You may want to attach the

leads

from

the

battery

charger

to

the batteries

per

the diagram and plug in the

charger.

This

will

ensure your batteries are

fully

charged

on

your

first

excursion.

CAUTION:

Before you connect the green

tagged

wires in

the starboard compartment, make sure the positive (red)

and

negative

(black) wires in the port side compartment are

not touching each other. Connect the short red and black

striped jumper wire last.

B.

Transporting

The

ElDeBo

Do

not transport your boat

with

the batteries installed.

A

short

trip

from

the launch site

to

the cottage

is

fine,

but the batteries

should

be removed during extended trips, to avoid damaging

the

charger

from

shifting

batteries.

Be sure to also remove the

helm arm rest, seat cushions and side seat cushions, and the

velcro attached cover plates on each side of the helm rest.

Store

them in your tow vehicle to prevent them

from

blowing

off

while

trailering.

C.

Applying Registration Decals

Apply

your boat

registration

numbers in the

location

recom-

mended by your state. Clean the

hull

surface where the

decals

will

be applied

with

detergent/soap and water or some

kind

of

spray cleaner. Rinse

thoroughly.

Do not use

a

chemical solvent

or

acetone

because

it may attack the

hull

material.

Make sure

the

surface is clean and dry and the temperature is above 50

degrees

Fahrenheit.

Follow

application directions on

decals.

IIL

ELECTRICAL

SYSTEMS

A.

Battery Installation

The

ElDeBo

has both

a

12

volt

DC electrical system and

a

24

volt

DC electrical system.

Only

the motor and

helm

battery

monitor

ran

on 24

volt

DC.

All

other components

(lights,

pumps, radio and

accessory

plug sockets) operate on 12

volt

DC.

The

ElDeBo

must have at least

four

12

volt

DC batteries

in

order to operate both the 24

volt

DC system and the 12

volt

DC

system and to provide

adequate

ran

time.

Refer to the

diagram

and

written

instractions on the underside

of the

star-

board

seat

cushion.

Purchase

only

group F27 size

Maruie/RV

Deep Cycle batteries

for

your

ElDeBo.

DO

NOT USE

AUTOMOTIVE

BATTER-

IES.

Although

automotive starting batteries are 12

volt

DC,

they

are not designed to provide

a

constant

flow

of

mediimi

amperage

output.

When

an automotive battery is run down

until

totally

discharged, there

will

be some permanent loss of

overall

capacity.

Also,

automotive batteries do not have

threaded post connectors for

multiple

wire

attachments.

In

contrast, Deep Cycle

Marine/RV

batteries

are

designed

to

provide

a

steady

flow

of

power

and can

be

recharged again and

again

to or

near their

original

rated capacity even though they

may

have been discharged

until

"dead." Purchase Deep Cycle

Marine/RV

batteries

from

a

dealer

or

anywhere

12VDC

batter-

ies

are

sold.

B.

Battery Charging

One

of

the most convenient features

of

the

ElDeBo,

is

that

it

has

a

built-in

battery charger

with

enough capacity to charge

four

deep

cycle batteries

in 12

hours

or

less depending upon the

degree

of discharge (how much the batteries

are

run down).

The

battery charger operates

on

110/120

volt

AC household

current

and converts this energy

to 20

amps

of

12

volt

DC

current

(10 amps DC through each pair of output wires

from

the charger). The charger

is

designed to automatically reduce

its

12

volt

DC amperes output

as

the batteries reach

full

charge.

This

feature prevents battery damage

from

overcharging.

The

charger maintains the batteries in

a

state

of full

charge

as

long

as it

is

plugged in.

If

batteries

are at

different discharge levels when charging

is

started, the more deeply discharged battery

will

be

charged

at

a

higher

level

until

all batteries

are

equal,

at

which

time all batter-

ies

will

be

charged

at

the same rate.

After

batteries have been

fully

charged, the charger

will

automatically switch to mainte-

nance mode

to

keep your batteries

at

peak charge

while

avoid-

ing

the possibility of overcharging.

NOTE:

Read

the

Guest

Battery Charger instruction manual carefully

before

charg-

ing

the

batteries.

The manual also contains warranty

and

service

information.

CAUTION: THE BATTERY CHARGER OPERATES

ON

110/120

AC

(STANDARD

HOUSE

HOLD CURRENT).

FOLLOW

THESE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

TO

PRE-

VENT INJURY OR DEATH FROM

ELECTRIC

SHOCK.

Be

sure that the extension cord used to bring

110/120

Volt

AC

power to the boat (typically moored at a dock or on a

trailer

in your driveway) is protected by a

Ground

Fault

Circuit

Interrupter

(GFCI).

If the extension cord outlet

accidently

fell

into

the water, anyone in the water near the

extension cord would receive

an

electric shock that could

be

fatal

unless

the

circuit was protected

by

a

GFCI

A

GFCI

inunediately

stops

the

flow

of electricity if

a

direct short occurs.

The

male plug

from

the battery charger

is

purposely made short.

This

ensures

that the extension cord connection

is

inside

the

battery compaitment and prevents

the

connection

from

drop-

ping

into

the water

or

being exposed

to

rain

or

high waves.

NOTE:

Always keep the seat cushion installed over the

battery compartment when the extension cord is connected

to the charger.

The compartment

is

formed

so the

cushion

will

sit

in place without pinching the extension cord.

DO NOT

STORE ANY GEAR, TOOLS, ROPE, ETC.

IN

THE

BATTERY

COMPARTMENTS.

C.

Battery

Charge

Level

Indicators

There

are

two battery

charge

level

indicators

on

the

ElDeBo.

One

is

located

at

the helm. The other

is

two pair

of

red

and

green indicator lights

(LED'S)

on the charger. The

charge

indicator

at

the helm

will

read the state of

charge

of all the

batteries

as

if

they

are

a

single

24

volt

DC battery. The helm

charge

indicator

is

basically

a

voltmeter that attempts

to

read

the state of voltage output

of

the batteries

at

a

point in time.

The

helm

charge

indicator

will

be

greatly affected

if

there

is

a

draw

on

the batteries i.e. the motor

is

mnning, lights

are on,

the stereo

is

on,

etc.

Read

the helm charge indicator only

when there is nothing drawing power from the batteries.

A

complicating factor

is

that

12

volt

DC batteries

will

tend

to

"rebound" (increase in voltage)

if

they

are

allowed

to

remain

idle

for some time after

a

power drain

is

disconnected. Deter-

mining

the state of

charge

of

the batteries

by

viewing the

charge

level

gauge

at the

helm

immediately after everything is turned

off will

provide

a

"worst

case"

charge

level

reading.

The

gauge

will

actually show

a

small

increase in charge the

longer

the batteries are

left

idle due to the rebound effect

described above.

NOTE:

To avoid being stranded with

dead batteries, hmit the distance traveled from shore or the

nearest recharging location as the indicator

begins

to read

1/2 charge when all power draws are turned off.

The

battery charger has two pair

of red

and green indicator

lights

that indicate the batteries' "state of charge". As you plug

in

the charger to an 110/120

volt

AC extension cord, one or

both

red lights

will

come on.

During

this

phase

the charger

provides

the "bulk" of the energy to recharge the batteries.

As

the

batteries' voltage increases (increases in state of charge),

both

the red and green lights

will

come on. The charger enters

the

"absorption"

phase.

The red hghts indicate the batteries

need some charging.

When

only

the green

light

is on, the

charger enters the

"float"

stage

and keeps the batteries at peak

charge condition (the batteries are

fiiUy

charged and ready to

use).

There may be some discrepancy between the state of

charge readings on the charger

LED's

and the

gauge

at the

helm.

Defer to the

helm

gauge

as

a

more accurate reading.

When

the charger is plugged in the

helm

gauge

needle may

register

above the

full

charge mark.

The helm

gauge

will

only

read

the true

state

of charge of the batteries with the

charger

disconnected and all other systems off (see battery

charger

trouble shooting guide in the back of the Guest

manual).

D.

12 Volt

DC

Electrical

System Features

The

ElDeBo

has several components that are powered by 12

Volt

DC: the

navigation

hghts, bilge pumps, stereo radio,

courtesy

lights,

and two accessory plugs.

1. Navigation Lights

The

ElDeBo

is equipped

with

port and starboard bow hghts and

7

an

all-round

light

in the center

of

the canopy. The lights are

controlled

by

a

switch located on the electrical control panel on

the helm and 3 amp fuse located in the

junction

box under the

starboard helm

seat.

At dusk or dawn or during the hours of

darkness, both bow and all-round lights must be on when the

boat is moving.

If

you

are anchored or

drifting,

you must have

the all round

light

on. The control switch has three positions:

Anchor

(all-round

light

only)

•

Off

• Navigation (both bow and all-round lights on)

Be

sure the lights are not obstmcted by

gear

or

accessories.

2. Bilge Fumps

Each

pontoon is equipped

with

a

bilge pump to remove conden-

sation

and accumulated water

seepage

from

rain.

Both

pumps

are controlled by

a

three position switch at the helm and

a 2

amp fuse located in the

jimction

box under the starboard hehn

seat.

Moving

the switch to the right activates the starboard

pump.

Moving

the switch to the

left

activates the port pump.

The

center position is off.

NOTE:

Each pump

will

only

re-

move

the water down to about

a

1/2" to 3/4" before it sucks air.

Once this occurs, it

will

not remove any more water and it can

be shut off

To avoid unnecessary wear, do not run the

pumps dry.

The residual 1/2"

of

water

is

of no

consequence

and

will

not harm anything in the pontoon.

Access each pump through the circular inspection plate on each

side

of

the rear deck. Remove the

wing

nut at the top

of

the

mounting

stand. Then

lift

the entire pump assembly up to the

access

port for cleaning. Inspect the pumps periodically and

clean out

pieces

of

foam

that may clog the water intake

fins.

3. Radio/Tape Player

The

AM/FM

radio

cassette

player is manufactured for

a

marine

application.

The electrical circuitry is protected by an

in-line 3

amp

fuse

that is located behind the stereo body. To

access

the

8

I

fuse, remove the

four

screws in the perimeter of the radio

mounting

panel and slide the radip out

of

its

mounting hole.

The

in-line

fuse is in the plastic capsule on the power leads

leading

from

the radio.

A

spare

fuse is located under the cover

of

the electrical junction box under the starboard helm

seat.

4.

Courtesy Lights

Your

ElDeBo

is equipped

with

nine courtesy lights that are

positioned

at entry points around the deck. These lights are

controlled

by an

on/off

switch at the helm. The 7.5 amp fuse

for

the courtesy lights is located in the electrical

junction

box

located under the starboard helm

seat.

A

spare

fuse is taped to

the inside surface

of

the

jimction

box cover.

5.

Accessory

Sockets

The

ElDeBo

has two 12

volt

DC accessory sockets. One is

located at the

foot

of

the starboard bow

swivel

chair and the

other is located below the radio. The latter socket is

like

a

cigarette lighter socket. It's designed for portable phones, PC's,

12VDC

refrigerators, etc. These female sockets have

a

male

counterpart located in the loose parts package. The bow male

plug

can be attached to any 12

volt

DC accessory, but is prima-

rily

designed for an

auxiliary

trolling

motor.

Both

plugs are part

of

an

8

gauge

wire

circuit

with

an

in-line

50 amp fuse located in

the

starboard

battery compartment. The fuse holder is part of

the positive(+) red lead in the starboard battery compartment,

NOTE:

Do not exceed a combined 50 amp

12VDC

draw

from

both accessory socket plugs.

Refer to the accessory

specifications for the amp draw rating of each apphance.

The

bow electrical male plug has

a

red positive(+) lead and

a

black negative(-) lead. Connect the accessory to the male plug

accordingly and remove the 50 amp fuse and replace it

with

a

fuse 20% greater than the rated amp draw of the accessory(s)

that

will

be connected to the socket(s). The helm accessory

socket has

a

male plug

without

leads. Connect the power leads

coming

from

the appliances per the instructions packed

with

the

9

male plugs.

E.

24VoltDCElectricMotor

The

ElDeBo

is

powered

by

a

55

lb. thrust

24

volt

DC electric

trolling

motor. For proper operation,

install

four

12

Volt

DC

F27

deep

cycle batteries in the battery compartments (two

in

the starboard side; two in

the

port). Instructions for how

to

connect the

wiring

harnesses

are

located under the starboard

seat

cushion.

They consist of a wiring schematic encased in

plastic and a detailed two

page

installation

guide

folded and

slid

under the schematic wiring diagram. Do not be intimi-

dated by the wiring. It looks complicated but it is not.

Every

wire is

tagged

for its respective battery and whether

it is positive (+) or

negative

(-). Just

follow

the instructions.

If

you

don't

you

risk

creating a short and that may

ruin

the

wiring

harness.

The

motor

is

controlled

by

a

rotary switch

at

the helm.

This

control

switch provides

five

forward

speeds

and two reverse.

The

higher the

speed

setting, the higher the electrical

amperage

drawn

from

the batteries.

Minimizing

the

use

of

the high

speed

(No.

5)

setting

will

significantly extend the

life

of

the motor

and

the run time before battery recharging

is

needed.

The

following

table provides estimated continuous

mn

times

available

from

four F27

series

12VDC

deep

cycle batteries

before there

is

a

noticeable loss in performance

as

batteries run

down.

APPROXIMATE RUN TIME

USING

FOUR

F27 SERIES

12VDC

DEEP

CYCLE

BATTERIES

Speed

Four

Batteries

1

6.0

hours

2

5.0

hours

3

4.5

hours

4

4.0

hours

5

3.0

hours

10

The

motor

is

protected

by

a

40

amp resettable circuit breaker

located

at

the

helm.

If

the circuit breaker trips, power

is

inter-

rupted

from

tlie

batteries

to

the motor. It indicates the motor

or

motor

circuitry

is

drawing excessive

amperage

from

the batter-

ies.

Check the motor/prop. The most

likely

cause

is

weeds

or

fishing

line

is

wrapped around the prop.

IV.

ENTERTAINMENT TABLE

The

entertainment table

is

supported

by

a

pedestal. One end of

the pedestal

fits

in

a

socket on the underside of the table and the

other

end

fits

into

a

floor

socket. The table can

be

stored

by

hanging it

from

the stern

rail

stanchions (upright supports).

Simply

snap

the mbber clips

to

the

vertical

rail

stanchions

and

thread the pedestal through the elastic

straps

hanging

from

the

underside

of

the table. Snap the table on

from

outside the

rail

and thread the pedestal through the

straps

on the inside

of

the

rail.

The pedestal

will

farther

secure

the table

to

the

rail.

V. DRAIN OUTLETS

The

ElDeBo

has

three

floor

drains that channel water over-

board

from

the

deck. Two of

these

drains

are

located

at

the

foot

of

the

helm

and one

is

under the carpeted

floor

assembly

at

the bow. Periodically clean leaves

or

other debris

from

the rear

floor

drains.

Each battery compartment also

has

a

drain

to

prevent water

from

accumulating in

these

compartments.

Periodically

check the drains

to

ensure they are not plugged.

The

two large storage compartments located under the

helm

seats

also have drains. The port side compartment can

be

plugged and used

as

a

cooler

or

filled

with

water and used

as

a

livewell.

The starboard compartment can

be

used

to

store

life

jackets, canopy boot, and other

gear.

NOTE:

Do not use the

starboard

compartment as a cooler or livewell. Do not

allow water to contact the 12

VDC

electrical junction box.

VI.

LAUNCHING

AND

OPERATION

A.

Launching

11

Whenever the ElDeBo is launched

from

a

trailer, take certain

precautions to prevent

damage

to the

boat

or motor.

1.

Make

sure

the motor is in the "UP" position. To

place

the

motor in the "UP" position,

grab

the black handle and

lift

straight up

until

it

stops,

tum the black handle

from

the 6:00

o'clock position to the 8:00 o'clock position and lower the

handle into

a

retainer notch. The motor is now

secured

in the

"UP"

position.

2.

Check the water depth. The ElDeBo has draft: (how

deep

it

sits in the water) -under the

following

conditions:

Draft

Conditions

5" No

passengers,

no

cargo,

motor "UP"

15" No

passengers,

no

cargo,

motor down

-

"RUN"

position

9.5" Carrymg maximum load (800#), motor "UP"

19.5" Carrying maximum load (800#), motor

down-"RUN"

position

Make

sure

the water is

deep

enough to lower the motor and

depart

with

the load being carried.

Review

the

following

check

list

prior to

departure

from

shore.

1.

Unplug the

extension

cord if it is

connected

to the bat-

tery charger.

Hang it,

secure

it, or remove it

from

the dock so

that it won't

fall

into the water or be

exposed

to rain or splash-

ing.

Replace

the cushion

/

lid over the battery compartment.

2.

Check the battery monitor

gauge

at the helm before turning

on

any electrical system. Make

sure

the batteries are

fiiUy

charged

or at least 50%

charged

for

a

very short excursion.

3. Make

sure

there are enough PFD's

(life

jackets) for all

passengers.

Insist that all children and any adults who

12

cannot swim put on

PFD's.

4.

Check the weather and wave conditions.

High

waves

and

high

winds can impair control and forward

speed

of

the ElDeBo

due

to

the power

limitations

of

the electric motor. Even if

current weather conditions are relatively calm, anticipated

wind

direction

and velocity

changes

should

be

taken

into

consider-

ation.

A

wonderful outing on the water can quickly

be

turned

into

an

unpleasant experience if the boat

gets

blown to the other

end

of

the lake.

5. Check the skeg and motor

/

prop. Make sure they

are

operable and free

of

weeds, debris, fishing

line

and other ob-

structions.

If

the prop

is

fouled, remove the helm arm rest.

Reach down

into

the motor

well

and

grasp

the strap on the

end

of

the

gas

shock absorber

(see

diagram under the arm rest).

Pull

on the strap

to

disconnect the shock absorber. Grasp

the

aqua

colored

lift

handle, swing the cable out

of

the notch and

pull

upward. Slide the cable stop

into

the jaws

of

the retainer

bracket. The motor

is

now in the "service/inspection" position.

Remove

the rear

access

hatch lid and clear the prop. Reverse

the previous

sequence

to

place motor in the

"RIM"

position.

B.

Operation

MAKE SURE THE BOAT

IS

IN AT LEAST TWO

FEET

OF

WATER.

There are three positions for the motor on the

ElDeBo.

A, "RUN"

position

-

the motor

is

completely submerged

and all the way down.

B,

"UP" position

-

the motor

is

lifted

straight

up

and the

black

lift

handle

is

turned to the 8:00 position.

C,

"INSPECTION/SERVICE"

position

-

the motor

is

lifted

and swung

up to

the rear deck inspection port.

To

operate the

ElDeBo:

1. Lift

the arm rest and visually determine

if

the motor

is

in the

13

UP,

INSPECTION,

or RUN position.

a. If it is in the RUN position, simply tum the control

switch

to forward or reverse and steer away

from

the dock.

b.

If

it

is in the UP position,

grasp

the black

lift

handle,

lift

up slightly, and tum the handle to the 6:00 position and

lower

the motor

until

it stops at the mounting bracket.

Replace the arm rest, select the direction and

speed

and

steer away

from

the dock.

c.

If

it

is in the

INSPECTION

position,

grasp

the aqua

lift

handle,

lift

shghtly to disengage the cable stop,

pull

the

cable forward out

of

the retainer bracket and

allow

the

motor

to swing down to the RUN position. Once it is

down,

reposition the aqua handle in the bracket.

Then

reach

down, grasp the shock absorber and snap it on to

the

ball

pivot.

Replace the arm rest, select the direction

and

speed

and steer away

from

the dock.

2.

To steer to the right, push the handle to the right. To steer

to

the

left,

push the handle to the

left.

3.

Both

speed

and direction are controlled by the

speed

switch.

There

are two reverse

speed

settings and

five

forward

speed

settings. Note that actual

speed

is deceiving. Because there is

little

to no noise

from

the motor and splashing water, there is

little

sensation

of

speed.

Watching the shoreline provides

a

sense

of

speed.

The

higher the

speed

setting, the more amps (energy) the motor

will

draw

from

the batteries and the shorter the overaU run time

between battery recharges. Use high

speed

when you honestly

want

to go at maximum

speed

or are

trying

to overcome resis-

tance

from

wind

and/or current.

Windy

conditions offer resis-

tance that the motor must overcome. Lowering the canopy

will

help reduce

wind

resistance and extend run times.

Motor life

14

will

be significantly extended if the #5 high speed setting is

used conservatively.

CAUTION:

Never rapidly shift from the #4 or #5

FOR-

WARD

speed to the #2

REVERSE.

This

can seriously

damage the motor and shorten its life. Always rotate the

knob counterclockwise from forward to reverse.

4.

After

an

hour

or so

of

run

time,

turn

off all the power drains

to

the

batteries (lights, radio, motor)

and

check the state

of

battery charge. You should plan

to be

on the return leg

of

your

outing

prior

to

the batteries reaching 50% charge.

5. Watch for shallow water and underwater obstmctions. Steer

away

from

them

or

quickly raise the motor to the "up" position

to

avoid damaging the prop

or

motor. Try

to

avoid

areas

with

thick

aquatic vegetation. Weeds can

foul

the prop and result in

a loss

of

performance and

an

inefficient consumption of energy

from

the batteries.

NOTE:

The motor and wiring are pro-

tected by manual resettable 40 amp circuit breaker at the

helm.

If

the prop strikes

an

object

or

becomes

fouled

and

cannot tum

or

adds

a

lot

of

resistance

to

the rotation of the

prop, the amp draw

fiom

the batteries

will

suddenly surge

and

trip

the circuit breaker. Clear any obstraction

fiom

the prop

before resetting (pushing in) the circuit breaker.

If

the circuit breaker trips when there

is no

apparent evidence of

the prop striking

an

object, then it

is

probably impeded

by

rope,

weeds

or

fishing

line

entwined around the prop and shaft.

Check the prop

to be

sure it

is

free of debris and turns easily

prior

to

each departure. You

can

access

the prop

by

positioning

the motor in the "inspection/service" position.

Lift

up on the

circuit

breaker to disconnect power to the motor.

Open the

center rear

access

cover and thoroughly examine the prop.

Remove

any debris.

Look

for cracks in the blades. Make sure

the prop turns easily.

The

prop

is

protected

by

a

shear pin through the shaft that

fits

into

a

recess

in the hub of the prop.

If

the prop strikes

an

underwater object hard enough,

the

shear pin

is

designed

to

break before the blades of the prop break (see diagram). Al-

ways

be

sure you have

a

couple of

spare

shear pins on board.

There

are

two

spares

in the accessory pack. The accessory

pack also includes the prop, nut, battery strap,

etc.

VII.

DOCKING

Docking

the

ElDeBo

will

take

a

little

practice. The boat

is

a

somewhat bulky craft and it moves

with

a

certain amount of

inertia

and momentum.

When

you approach

a

dock

or are

going

to

beach the boat, aim the boat

at

a

target point and

use

only

enough

speed

to keep the boat moving in that direction.

You will

obtain

best

results

by

switching the motor

on

and off

and

allowing

the boat's momentum to carry it in the desired

direction.

Too much

speed

results in overshooting the target

or

hitting

the dock.

This

could scratch the boat

or

cause

unneccesary abrasion

of

the

hull

surface

as

the boat strikes

the

shore.

NOTE:

Avoid beaching the

boat

on concrete or

asphalt

boat

ramps. They are extremely abrasive.

VIII.

TRAILERING

If

you

plan on frequently

trailering

the

ElDeBo

or

storing

it on

a

trailer,

we

strongly recommend purchasing the trailer that was

specifically

designed for

it.

Your

dealer can order this trailer for

you.

If another trailer

is

used, ensure that all support bunks

are

at least

10

feet long, carpeted, and are made

ftom

2"x 6"

mate-

rial

turned wide side up.

A minimum of two bunks support-

ing each

pontoon

are required.

The trailer should have

a

minimum

weight carrying capacity of 800 lbs.

Also

the bow

"V"

block should

be

rotated

so it is

in

a

"<" position and

catches

the

vinyl

rubrail

in its jaws.

DO

NOT PUT EX-

TREME

PRESSURE

ON

THE ROPE TO SECURE THE

BOAT

TO THE

TRAILER.

Securing the boat snugly

is

enough. There are two stainless steel eyes under the stem deck

16

on

either side

of the

rudder.

Attach

additional tie-down ropes

or

straps

cross

ways

to

the

trailer

frame.

The

ElDeBo

can

be

powered

up

on the

trailer

only

about

halfway.

Attempting

to use the motor to push it on farther

will

possibly

damage

the motor

if

it

strikes the

trailer

frame.

Once the boat is

partially

positioned in the proper location on

the

trailer,

raise the motor to the "UP" position and use the

winch

to

pull

the boat

into

position. Remember, there

is

a

stainless steel bow eye mounted on the centerline under the bow

deck.

Attach the winch rope only to the bow eye. Do not

attach

it to the mooring cleats or

rail

supports.

WARNING:

For extended

trailering

position the motor in

the "inspection/service'' position. Use a rope to tie the

motor in the

"Inspection/Service"

position as

if

you were

going

to inspect the prop from the deck of the boat. Don't

depend on the steel lift cable to hold the motor up while

trailering.

IX.

MOORING

Whenever

the

ElDeBo

is

left

at

a

dock, use boat fenders

or

some other cushioning to prevent the abrasion and bumping of

the

boat against the dock

which

can

cause

hull

and deck

scratches.

When

moormg the boat

by

anchormg

or

attachment

to

a

buoy, use the bow

eyes

(one

at

the bow; two

at

the stem) if

possible. Otherwise tie

off to

a

cleat.

If

the

boat is

left

unused for more than

a

day, it is

a

good idea to

cover

the

seats

with

the optional

seat

covers

or

the boat

with

a

mooring/storage

cover (see order

form

in back of owner's

manual).

This

will

keep the boat clean and

reduce

weathering

of

the carpet and

seats.

X.

MAINTENANCE

A.

Hull

and Deck

17

4

The hull

and deck

of

the ElDeBo are thermoformed

from

ABS

plastic

with

a

lamination of Centrex plastic as

a

surface weather

protection

cap. The plastic material can be damaged, weakened

or

dulled by various types of chemical

based

cleaners, especially

those that have an abrasive incorporated in them or are solvent

based.

For instance.

Soft

Scmb, v/hich is

a

good cleaner,

will

dull

the high gloss

finish

because

it contains an abrasive. Clean-

ers such as Fantastik, Top Job

(with

ammonia), Janitor in

a

Dmm,

409, etc. are

fine.

A

mixture of 45% isopropyl alcohol

and water

will

also

work

well.

DO

NOT

use gasohne, ac-

etone,

kerosene,

Lestoil,

Pine-sol or any cleaner with a

solvent base.

The

boat's lustre can be enhanced

with

an application of auto-

motive

wax that is suitable for clear-coat finishes.

A

good

application

of

wax

(New

Finish

is

a

particularly good polish)

will

make the boat much easier to clean.

Avoid using cleaner

waxes because they contain an abrasive.

Use them only

when

scuff

marks cannot be removed

with

usual cleaning

methods.

Remove

mild

scratches

with

automotive polishing or glazing

compound. Apply in

a

circular motion

with

hght pressure. An

orbital

pohshing machine can be used

with

light

pressure, but do

not

let it rotate in one location too long as this could

cause

heat

build

up.

DO

NOT

use automotive rubbing compound as it

is too abrasive.

Repair cracks or punctures

with

the

same

materials and proce-

dures used to repair fiberglass.

NOTE:

It is

difficult

to restore

the surface to the smoothness and lustre of an undamaged area.

B.

Steering Systems

The

ElDeBo is steered by turning the motor much

like

an

outboard. The steering mechanism requires

little

maintenance.

All

component parts are stainless steel or plastic. Keeping the

mechanism clean and reasonably dust fiee

will

help ensure its

18

I

durability.

Once

a

year

use a

non-water soluble lubricant on the

vertical

motor riser shaft. Simply wipe

a

light coat on

with

a

• rag

along the length where it

passes

through the mounting

bracket. Super Lube

grease

or

spray works

well.

Petrole-om

Jelly

(Vasoline),

used sparingly, also works

well.

Use it

on the

ends

of

the steering

cables

where they attach

to

the motor riser

shaft and the steering arm

will

keep them quiet and

reduce

wear.

Too

much lubricant attracts dirt. WD40

and

other solvent

based

lubricants evaporate and leave

little

lubricant behind and

as

a

result don't work

as

well

as a

heavier lubricant. It

is

still

better than nothing.

A

teflon type lubricant works much better.

XI.

OFF-SEASON STORAGE

Disconnect and remove the batteries and put them in

a

clean dry

area for storage. Keep them

fully

charged and protect them

from

freezing. Cover the boat to keep dirt and debris

from

accumulation on

it.

This

will

also greatly

reduce

the affects

of

weathering on the

seat

cushions, carpet and canopy.

Pump all the water out of each pontoon prior

to

storage.

Do

not

allow the pumps

to be

submerged in water and the water

to

freeze. The ice

will

crack the pump housing and

ruin

it.

(TEM

WIRE

COLOR

GAGE

ELECTRICAL

CONNECTIONS

(TEM

WIRE

COLOR

GAGE

n^OM

T6

1

DARK

BROWN

16

BILGE

PUMP SWITCH - STARBOARD (LETTER A)

BILGE

PUMP - STARBOARD

SIDE

2

DARK

BROWN

16

BILGE

PUMP SWITCH - PORT (LETTER C)

BILGE

PUMP - PORT

SIDE

3

DARK

BLUE

16

COURTESY

UGHT SWITCH (LETTER E)

COURTESY

UGHT

4

DARK

GRAY

16

NAVIGATION

UGHT SWrTCH (LETTER n

NAVIGATION

UGHT

5

RED

JUMPER

16

NAVIGATION

UGHT SWITCH (LETTER J)

NAVIGATION

UGKT SWrfCH (LETTER G)

6

RED

JUMPER

16

NAVIGATION

SWITCH (LETTER K)

ANCHOR SWTTCH (LETTER H)

7

DARK

GRAY

16

NAVIGATION

UGHT SWffCH (LETTER H)

ANCHOR UGHT

8

UGKT

BLUE

16

COURTESY

UGHT SWITCH (LETTER D)

TERMINAL BOX (LETTER N)

9

UGHT BROWN

16

BILGE

PUMP SWfTCH (LETTER B)

TERMINAL BOX (LETTER L

10

UGHT GRAY

16

NAVIGATION

UGHT SWfTCH (LETTER J)

TERMINAL BOX (LETTER M)

11

RED

10

TERMINAL BOX POSITIVE (LETTER P)

BAIIhKY

T POSITIVE (LETTER X)

12

BL^CK

10

TERMINAL BOX (LETTER Q)

BATTERY "A" NEGATIVE (LETFER W)

13

BL\CK

16

TERMINAL BOX (UETTER R)

COURTESY

UGHT

14

BUCK

16

TERMINAL BOX (LETTER s)

BILGE

PUMP - STARBOARD

SIDE

15

BLACK

16

TERMINAL

BOX

(LLIILH

1)

BILGE

PUMP - PORT

SIDE

16

BUCK

16

TERMINAL

BOX

LETTER

U

BOW UGKT

17

BUCK

18

TERMINAL

BOX

[LETTER

V!

ANCHOR UGKT

o

V

o

3

AWP

7.5

AUP

o

BATTERY

"A"

CONTROL PANEL

(INSIDE

OUT)

BOW

ELDEBO

12VDG

WIRING SCHEMATIC

Rev.

D /

9-23-97

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