New Boat - Throttle Lever Issues

[begone]

So yesterday I launched the boat for the first time. It wouldn't start, I almost blew (it was windy) into other slips and into a retaining wall. Luckily someone got a rope and pulled me to safety. I had to call the dealer frantically trying to get the boat to start so I wouldn't wreck it. I was in the boat by myself. The thing that fixed it was wiggling the shifter - then it started. WTH?

Anyways - so this lever - there is NO FEEL in it. It's tight and hard to ease into drive, and when you "THINK" you put it into Neutral it is not. The distinction between Drive and Neutral is so vague, and I'm also worried about the sensor when in neutral to tell the boat to start.

How is your guy's throttle levers - Tight, Loose, About Right? This is not my first boat and I've driven many in the past. This is the first time I've encountered an issue like this and vagueness/tightness to a throttle. Does it need to be worked in - which kinda sounds absurd to begin with.

Any insights? Thanks in advance.

FYI, the boat ran great when we got it out on the open water. It was not a good day to go out - lots of white caps out there on Lake Ray Hubbard, I was impressed on how well it took a beating. Very solid.

[Av8tor]

We purchased our 14 Z3 at the end of last season and I was surprised at how different the throttle was (throttle-by-wire) compared to the style I previously had (throttle-by-cable). Just make sure it's locked in the neutral position and you are not pulling the release up when you shift from drive/reverse to neutral so it can lock in the neutral position. The first weekend we had our boat out, the wife thought you had to pull the release up to shift from drive or reverse to neutral and when she was slowly coming into the dock to pick me up she goes to get out of the seat she puts it in neutral and as she's stepping out of the seat puts her hand on the throttle and had the lock pulled up and slams it into forward and hits the dock.

I must say though, the throttle is awesome once you get used to it.

[ChrisBarnes05-12-84]

I had similar circumstances once. They can recalibrate it I'm almost positive. They will find neutral then adjust accordingly.

[chpthril]

So my first question is, did your dealer not notice this during their rigging sea trial? Did your salesmen not notice it when he sea trialed the boat prior to you coming to do your delivery inspection and yet a 3rd sea trial? Sorry, but its a pet peeve of mine to hear dealers unwrapping boats and letting new buyers just pull them away. This is wrong in sooooo many ways.

There typically is an adjustable set screw to adjust the tension. I have noticed these newer generations of throttle levers, used by most of the boat builders, are very smooth with faint detents. Talltigeguy nearly launched me off the swim platform on the demo Z3 a couple years ago because it was so soft and easy you couldnt tell it was in gear.

[JohnZ3]

So yesterday I launched the boat for the first time. It wouldn't start, I almost blew (it was windy) into other slips and into a retaining wall. Luckily someone got a rope and pulled me to safety. I had to call the dealer frantically trying to get the boat to start so I wouldn't wreck it. I was in the boat by myself. The thing that fixed it was wiggling the shifter - then it started. WTH?

Anyways - so this lever - there is NO FEEL in it. It's tight and hard to ease into drive, and when you "THINK" you put it into Neutral it is not. The distinction between Drive and Neutral is so vague, and I'm also worried about the sensor when in neutral to tell the boat to start.

How is your guy's throttle levers - Tight, Loose, About Right? This is not my first boat and I've driven many in the past. This is the first time I've encountered an issue like this and vagueness/tightness to a throttle. Does it need to be worked in - which kinda sounds absurd to begin with.

Any insights? Thanks in advance.

FYI, the boat ran great when we got it out on the open water. It was not a good day to go out - lots of white caps out there on Lake Ray Hubbard, I was impressed on how well it took a beating. Very solid.

One thing that has served me well over the years, never un-tie a boat until it's running. This applies to both the trailer or the docks.
Problems are easier to fix when you are not drifting away.

[Dandy]

There have already been alot of good points made on here. Chpthril wondering about your dealer assisting you at delivery and demo sea trial is a good thing especially if you haven't owned a boat before or haven't owned an inboard.

Av8tor pointing out that you don't need to lift the shift collar to go into neutral is very helpful as well. This is the case with just about every boat that I have been in. If you don't lift this when shifting into neutral, it should LOCK/STOP in the neutral position. If it does not, get it to your dealer ASAP as this is a big safety issue.

When we got our boat last year the throttle took alot of getting used to. At first it was very stiff and would make for very quick takeoffs as we had to push it so hard, we would overshoot all the time. The good news is that after a little use, it became very smooth and easy to operate.

Good Luck

[supremedevice]

As Dandy mentioned the throttle will break in over the course of this season. I was in a similar situation as you when we first got ours and was very frustrated with the feel of the throttle. Actually, first day when we were loading the boat back on the trailer my wife accidentally SLAMMED it in reverse and sucked up rocks because the throttle was so stiff. Ouch.

In a few months however it became pretty smooth. So I would say stick with it for a while.

[Travism]

My new Z3 was stiff as mentioned but by the end of the summer it has super smooth operation. To compare driving the fly by wire to a cable driven is like driving a kia to a Ferrari

[myers]

Not going to throw the place i bought my boat under to large a bus, but i would advise getting friendly with the service department where you bought your boat. The sales people that delivered my boat for trial were terrible. They did not check the boat out before we went out. We were about .5 mile from boat launch and boat shut off we spent the next 3 hrs waiting for someone to tow us back. Ever since i requested no sales people only service and they were great, and new more about the boats than sales.

[begone]

One thing that has served me well over the years, never un-tie a boat until it's running. This applies to both the trailer or the docks.
Problems are easier to fix when you are not drifting away.

I will do from now on. Great advice.

[Surf406]

I for one will throw out my dealers name and it's Montana Boat Center I've bought many boats through them and every time has been a great experience from the day I ordered to the delivery date. I agree with chpthril I think some of the dealers out there are lacking in the rigging dept but none the less enjoy your boat and I hope everything works out

[boardman74]

If your used to a older style cable throttle, the throttle by wire ones are very touchy. They are even worse when they are new. After 20-30 hours they seem to wear in and get far less touch. Plus by then you have figured out how to smoothly run it. They are definitely different. The neutral to F or R is not at clean either. Reverse is touchy at first also. You will really hit it hard in reverse a few times in the beginning I can almost guarantee. You will get used to it.

[begone]

What's interesting in just this one thread of about 10 people is that a couple folks already bumped their boat into docks or other mishaps cause of the throttle lever problem, I almost did serious damage to my boat as well. I did leave it into drive when I thought it was in neutral and hit the dock, but it didn't scratch the boat, just frustrating. Seems like an issue that brand new boat owners shouldn't have to deal with right out of the box. I'm not sure how well cars would be received if you had to "Work In" the throttle over several miles of use and in the meantime deal with a problematic throttle pedal. Seems boat building 101. Smooth Throttle - Check.

[Travism]

I think its more because everything is new. When my I took delivery of our z3 the dealer spent a fair amount of time on the lake with us, he showed that it was stiff and would work in as well as to never actuate the lock mechanism accept to go from neutral to forward or neutral to reverse. If you just pull the lever back without touching the lock it will end up in neutral every time.

[rensink]

What's interesting in just this one thread of about 10 people is that a couple folks already bumped their boat into docks or other mishaps cause of the throttle lever problem, I almost did serious damage to my boat as well. I did leave it into drive when I thought it was in neutral and hit the dock, but it didn't scratch the boat, just frustrating. Seems like an issue that brand new boat owners shouldn't have to deal with right out of the box. I'm not sure how well cars would be received if you had to "Work In" the throttle over several miles of use and in the meantime deal with a problematic throttle pedal. Seems boat building 101. Smooth Throttle - Check.

I am surprised this was not picked up by your dealer during a water-test but any who I had a boat that similar (13 Z3) and we ended up adjusting the shift cable once some time passed it smoothed out though. I after awhile found myself during the first couple hours having it hang in gear/upper rpm idle and when I shifted into neutral I would almost jiggle the shifter to ensure it was in neutral and the RPMs would fall back to normal idle. The dealer and I noticed it right away I'm interested to see how the Indmars shift though..