a quick what does this button do question

P

ProfitOfDoom

New Member
Jan 7, 2010
188
Eastlake,OH
Boat Info
1987 268 Sundancer
Engines
454 Mercruiser/Bravo Three
Im new to my sea ray boat,as well to stern drives in general.
I have a 87 sundancer and seen 2 buttons 1 said to trailer,I assumed it lifts the outdrive up to the proper height to pull it out of the water?
The other button on the side says quicksilver and has a bulb above it,does this do the opposite and lower the outdrive to even?
 
Stern drives will usually have the following capabilities, though implemented differently.

Assume some of this is obvious....
- push lever forward: trans goes into forward, engine speed increases
- pull lever backward: trans goes into reverse, engine speed increases
- center lever: trans into neutral, engine idle
- throttle only - there is probably a way (often a knob at the pivot point of the lever) to move the lever and increase the throttles without engaging the transmission
- trim up / down - moves the outdrive up and down for changing boat plane
- trailer - simply trims the out drive all the way up (beyond trim up/down)
 
ProfitOfDoom said:
Im new to my sea ray boat,as well to stern drives in general.
I have a 87 sundancer and seen 2 buttons 1 said to trailer,I assumed it lifts the outdrive up to the proper height to pull it out of the water?
The other button on the side says quicksilver and has a bulb above it,does this do the opposite and lower the outdrive to even?
Click to expand...

I have the same thing I'm not sure either. I have the original Mercruiser manual at home I will see what it says to night.
I think the other guys are thinking you are talking about the trim button on the throttle
Do you have the trailer button on the stern too?
 
My best guess would also be the up/down trim button, if the bulb feels like it has 3 positions: centered and momentary up and down positions. The trailer button will lift it all the way up, for trailering. When in the water, you need to lower it all the way. Then as you accelerate you can raise it some to find the sweet spot on plane.
Only other thing I can think of is it's the button to disengage the transmission so you can use the control as throttle only...to start the engine.
You should have all of those buttons at a minimum, somewhere on the controller.
 
Gunn said:
The trailer button will lift it all the way up, for trailering. When in the water, you need to lower it all the way. Then as you accelerate you can raise it some to find the sweet spot on plane.
Click to expand...

How do you know when you hit the "sweet spot"?
 
midolo said:
How do you know when you hit the "sweet spot"?
Click to expand...

The sweet spot is between Plowing and Proposing where you can feel the boat get a little light basicly the best MPH for the RPM. I usually go to where the bow wants to start bouncing then bring it down till it levels off with no tabs.
 
Optimum trim level is highest MPH without prop blow-out or porpoising.When you over trim the drive the engine will increase rpms but decrease speed...usually you will hear this or the bow of the boat will start to bounce.You can trim the drive in or put a little trim tab down.Ideally, you want less drive trim.Tabs just tend to make the boat drag.
 
My '87 230 Weekender has the same buttons. The trailer button (square, about half way up the handle) is for use as described by Chumbly. The Quicksilver button with the bulb (mine is mounted seperately on the side panel next to the throttle assembly) from what I've been told is part of an anti corrosion system. When I push the button the bulb lights up green. I am going on the assumption that it would not light or possibly be red if there was a problem. I had my boat for three years before I found someone that even thought they might know what that unit was for. The info I just shared is still all I know.
 
Scott I think you might be on to some thing there,We know it has nothing to do with the trim. I have the Original 87 Mercruiser Operation and Maintenance Manual and it says nothing about that button I'm thinking it might of been an option. I am going to the Marina this weekend maybe they have an Idea what it is or how it works.
 
Yea scott,thats how exactly mine is on the side panel. I have throttle with forward and reverse,and pop it out just for throttle with no transmission. Trim button on the throttle lever,and trim tabs on the dash as well as trailer button. I havent pushed it so dont know what color it lights up.
But what is the corrosion system?
 
What I stated earlier is really all I know. My boat has been kept on a lift since I've owned it, so I haven't been too concerned about it. Therefore I haven't really searched the manual for info on that particular system.
 
scott young said:
What I stated earlier is really all I know. My boat has been kept on a lift since I've owned it, so I haven't been too concerned about it. Therefore I haven't really searched the manual for info on that particular system.
Click to expand...

Scott is this what you are talking about?

P3310107.jpg
 
That image of the switch is labeled "Quicksilver", which is what Mercury marine labels their throttles under. So I doubt is has anything to do with the mercathode system or corrosion, for that reason. But otherwise, I have no idea!
 
Yes, that is exactly like mine. It had been a while since I had looked at mine when this discussion started. I had mentioned it possibly lighting up red. Now that I have looked at it agian i believe it would only light up green or not at all. Bottom line, whatever color or not at all, I still have no idea what it really means. We have owned our boat for five years now and I have treated that unit as if it wasn't there, seemingly with no ill effect.
 
Somebody out there should know what it is so we will have to wait for an answer and keep digging for out self, I am going to post the question in the 268DA & Weekender thread and see if any one there knows.
 
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