ElDeBo 1997 Electrec Powered Pontoon Boat User manual

Congratulations onyour purchase of theElDeBoelectric
poweredpontoonboat.Muchofthe information relatingtothe
ElDeBo issimilartootherpontoonboats,however, because it
is poweredbyanelectricmotorinsteadofgas,knowledgeof
theon-boardpowerandrechargingsystems will helpavoid
imanticipated powerdepletionand enhance reliability of your
new boat.Readthismanualcarefullyandkeepitforfuture
reference.Most of thequestionsyoumighthaveaboutyour
boatare addressed inthismanual.Refertothesketchinthe
back of this manualto familiarize yourself with thenomencla-
ture andfeaturesofthe ElDeBo.
L BASIC MATERIALS
A. Hull andDeck
The hull anddeck of theElDeBo(anacronymforElectricDeck
Boat) arethermoformed from a coextrudedABSandCentrex
plasticlaminate.Thematerialhasmorethantwicetheimpact
resistance of fiberglass (FRP), equalorhighergloss,andisfar
more resistanttochalkingandfading.TheABS/Centrex
material isrepairableusingsimilarproceduresandmaterials as
fiberglassrepairs(seeMaintenancesection - p.17). All other
componentmaterialswereselectedfortheirresistanceto
corrosion in a marineenvironment.Theentire railing systemis
weldedstainlesssteel. All fastenersaxeeitheraluminumor
stainlesssteel.TheElDeBohas a weldedtubularaluminum
frame betweenthedeckandpontoons/hull.Thecanopymate-
rial is a vinyl coatedcottonandpolyesterblend.Itwasselected
for itsresistancetomildew,fadingandtearing.Thecanopyis
enclosedin a weatherprotectiveboot.
B. Flotation
The ElDeBoismanufacturedtoNationalMarine
Manufacturer's Association (TnGVIMA) constructionandsafety
standards. Both pontoonscontainclosedcellpolystyrenefoam
to providethe necessary flotation tosupporttheboat'srated
weight carryingcapacity.TheElDeBois capable of carrying its
ratedcapacityeven if both pontoonsbecomecompletely
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flooded. Eachpontoonhas a bilgepumpinstalledatthestem.
Periodically openthe access hatchesandcheckforaccumulated
water from rain andcondensation.Pumpthepontoonsoutto
avoid carryingunnecessaryweightinthepontoons.Thebilge
pumpsareconnectedviafusedcircuit.Thefuseislocatedin
theelectrical junction boxunderthestarboardhelm seat.
C. Lighting
The ElDeBoisoutfitted with completenavigation lighting.
There axeredandgreenbowlightsandan"allround"stem
light mountedtothecanopy.Therearealsonineindividual
courtesylightsthat illuminate the floor, boarding areas andhelm
controls. All lightingis12 Volts DCandisfusedintheelectri-
cal junctionboxunderthestarboardhelm seat.
II, TAKING DELIVERY
A. Upondeliveryof your new ElDeBo youshouldreceive:
1.WarrantyRegistration Card- Pleasereadand fill outthe
registration cardandsendittoLeisure Life Limited.
2. Loose Parts Package - Locatethe package oflooseparts
thatarepacked with theboat.Youshouldhave:
(2) Batterytie-downstraps
(1) Male 12VDC electrical trolling motorplugforthebow
(1) Male 12VDC electricalaccessoryplugforthehelm
(1) Blackandredstripedbatteryjumper wire
(1) Rudderblade with pinandring
(1) Entertainmenttable with pedestal
(1) Motor prop with nutandshearpinandtwo spare shearpins
(1) Battery wiring schematicdiagram
(1) GuestBatteryChargerowner'smanual
3.Fuses and Prop Pins - Extra fusesaresealedin a plastic
bagandtapedtotheinside of theelectricaljunctionboxcover
in thestarboardhelmcompartment.
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4. MSO(Manufacturer'sStatement of Origin) - Think ofit as
you would a title to a car.It'syour proof ofownershipandyou
will needittoregisteryourboat with thestate.
It would be valuable at thispointtomake a permanentrecord
ofthe following information in case futureserviceorparts are
required. Theserialnumber is foundonthe silver metaltag on
the rearofthestarboardpontoon.
Serial Number:
Date ofPurchase:
Purchased From:
5. Batteries - If the dealer has notprovidedbatteriesforyour
boat, purchase four 12 volt DCDeepCycle RV/Marine batter-
ies. They should be sizeF27andhave105 to 165amphours of
capacityeach. Carefully follow thebattery installation instmc-
tions that are locatedin a plasticsleeveunderthestarboard
sidecushion.Theinstructionsinclude a schematicdiagramof
the batterylocations and cormectionsand a detailedinstruc-
tion sheet foldedundertheplasticcovereddiagram.
NOTE: Newbatteriesarenotnecessarily fully chargedwhen
you buythem.Youmaywanttoattachthe leads from the
battery charger to thebatteries per thediagramandpluginthe
charger. This will ensureyourbatteriesare fully charged on
your first excursion.
CAUTION: Beforeyouconnectthegreen tagged wiresin
thestarboardcompartment,makesurethepositive(red)
and negative (black)wiresintheportsidecompartmentare
nottouchingeachother.Connecttheshortredandblack
stripedjumperwirelast.
B. Transporting The ElDeBo
Do nottransportyourboat with thebatteriesinstalled. A short
trip from thelaunchsite to thecottage is fine, butthebatteries

should beremovedduringextendedtrips,toavoiddamaging
the charger from shifting batteries. Besuretoalsoremovethe
helmarmrest,seatcushionsandsideseatcushions,andthe
velcroattachedcoverplatesoneachsideofthehelmrest.
Store theminyourtowvehicletopreventthem from blowing
off while trailering.
C. ApplyingRegistrationDecals
Apply yourboat registration numbersinthe location recom-
mendedbyyourstate.Cleanthe hull surfacewherethe decals
will beapplied with detergent/soapandwaterorsome kind of
spraycleaner.Rinse thoroughly. Donotuse a chemicalsolvent
or acetone because itmayattackthe hull material. Makesure
the surfaceiscleananddryandthetemperatureisabove50
degrees Fahrenheit. Follow applicationdirectionson decals.
IIL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
A. BatteryInstallation
The ElDeBo hasboth a 12 volt DCelectricalsystemand a 24
volt DCelectricalsystem. Only themotorand helm battery
monitor ran on24 volt DC. All othercomponents (lights,
pumps,radioand accessory plugsockets)operateon12 volt
DC. The ElDeBo musthaveatleast four 12 volt DCbatteries
in ordertooperateboththe24 volt DCsystemandthe12 volt
DC systemandtoprovide adequate ran time. Refertothe
diagram and written instractionsontheunderside ofthe star-
board seat cushion.
Purchase only groupF27size Maruie/RV DeepCyclebatteries
for your ElDeBo. DO NOTUSE AUTOMOTIVE BATTER-
IES. Although automotivestartingbatteriesare12 volt DC,
they arenotdesignedtoprovide a constant flow of mediimi
amperage output. When anautomotivebatteryisrundown
until totally discharged,there will besomepermanentlossof
overall capacity. Also, automotivebatteriesdonothave
threadedpostconnectorsfor multiple wire attachments.

In contrast,DeepCycle Marine/RV batteries are designed to
provide a steady flow of power andcan be rechargedagainand
again toor neartheir original ratedcapacityeventhoughthey
may havebeendischarged until "dead."PurchaseDeepCycle
Marine/RV batteries from a dealer or anywhere 12VDC batter-
ies are sold.
B. BatteryCharging
One of themostconvenientfeatures of the ElDeBo, is that it
has a built-in batterycharger with enoughcapacitytocharge
four deep cyclebatteries in12 hours or lessdependinguponthe
degree ofdischarge(howmuchthebatteries are rundown).
The batterychargeroperates on 110/120 volt AChousehold
current andconvertsthisenergy to20 amps of 12 volt DC
current (10ampsDCthrougheachpairofoutputwires from
thecharger).Thecharger is designedtoautomaticallyreduce
its 12 volt DCamperesoutput as thebatteriesreach full charge.
This featurepreventsbatterydamage from overcharging. The
chargermaintainsthebatteriesin a state offull charge as long
asit is pluggedin.
If batteries areat differentdischargelevelswhencharging is
started,themoredeeplydischargedbattery will be charged at a
higher level until allbatteries are equal, at which timeallbatter-
ies will be charged at thesamerate. After batterieshavebeen
fully charged,thecharger will automaticallyswitchtomainte-
nancemode to keepyourbatteries at peakcharge while avoid-
ing thepossibilityofovercharging. NOTE: Read the Guest
BatteryChargerinstructionmanualcarefully before charg-
ing the batteries. Themanualalsocontainswarranty and
service information.
CAUTION:THEBATTERYCHARGEROPERATES ON
110/120 AC (STANDARD HOUSE HOLDCURRENT).
FOLLOW THESESAFETYPRECAUTIONS TO PRE-
VENTINJURYORDEATHFROM ELECTRIC SHOCK.

Be surethattheextensioncordusedtobring 110/120 Volt
AC powertotheboat(typicallymooredata dockorona
trailer inyourdriveway)isprotectedbya Ground Fault
Circuit Interrupter (GFCI). Iftheextensioncordoutlet
accidently fell into thewater,anyoneinthewaternearthe
extensioncordwouldreceive an electricshockthatcould be
fatal unless the circuitwasprotected by a GFCI A GFCI
inunediately stops the flow ofelectricityif a directshortoccurs.
The maleplug from thebatterycharger is purposelymadeshort.
This ensures thattheextensioncordconnection is inside the
batterycompaitmentandprevents the connection from drop-
ping into thewater or beingexposed to rain or highwaves.
NOTE: Alwayskeeptheseatcushioninstalledoverthe
batterycompartmentwhentheextensioncordisconnected
tothecharger. Thecompartment is formed sothe cushion will
sit inplacewithoutpinchingtheextensioncord. DONOT
STOREANYGEAR,TOOLS,ROPE,ETC. IN THE
BATTERY COMPARTMENTS.
C. Battery Charge Level Indicators
There are twobattery charge level indicators on the ElDeBo.
One is located at thehelm.Theother is twopair of red and
greenindicatorlights (LED'S) onthecharger.The charge
indicator at thehelm will readthestateof charge ofallthe
batteries as if they are a single 24 volt DCbattery.Thehelm
charge indicator is basically a voltmeterthatattempts to read
thestateofvoltageoutput of thebatteries at a pointintime.
The helm charge indicator will be greatlyaffected if there is a
draw on thebatteriesi.e.themotor is mnning,lights areon,
thestereo is on, etc. Read thehelmchargeindicatoronly
whenthereisnothingdrawingpowerfromthebatteries.
A complicatingfactor is that 12 volt DCbatteries will tend to
"rebound"(increaseinvoltage) if they are allowed to remain
idle forsometimeafter a powerdrain is disconnected.Deter-
mining thestateof charge of thebatteries by viewingthe charge

level gauge atthe helm immediatelyaftereverythingisturned
offwill provide a "worst case" charge level reading.
The gauge will actuallyshow a small increaseinchargethe
longer thebatteriesare left idleduetothereboundeffect
describedabove. NOTE: Toavoidbeingstrandedwith
deadbatteries,hmitthedistancetraveledfromshoreorthe
nearestrecharginglocationastheindicator begins toread
1/2chargewhenallpowerdrawsareturnedoff.
The batterychargerhastwopair ofred andgreenindicator
lights thatindicatethebatteries'"stateofcharge".Asyouplug
in thechargertoan110/120 volt ACextensioncord,oneor
both redlights will comeon. During this phase thecharger
provides the"bulk"oftheenergytorechargethebatteries. As
the batteries'voltageincreases(increasesinstateofcharge),
both theredandgreenlights will comeon.Thechargerenters
the "absorption" phase. Theredhghtsindicatethebatteries
needsomecharging. When only thegreen light ison,the
chargerentersthe "float" stage andkeepsthebatteriesatpeak
chargecondition(thebatteriesare fiiUy chargedandreadyto
use). Theremaybesomediscrepancybetweenthestateof
chargereadingsonthecharger LED's andthe gauge atthe
helm. Defertothe helm gauge as a moreaccuratereading.
When thechargerispluggedinthe helm gauge needlemay
register abovethe full chargemark. Thehelm gauge will only
read thetrue state ofcharge ofthebatterieswiththe
charger disconnectedandallothersystemsoff(seebattery
charger troubleshootingguideinthebackoftheGuest
manual).
D. 12Volt DC Electrical SystemFeatures
The ElDeBo hasseveralcomponentsthatarepoweredby12
Volt DC:the navigation hghts,bilgepumps,stereoradio,
courtesy lights, andtwoaccessoryplugs.
1.NavigationLights
The ElDeBo isequipped with portandstarboardbowhghtsand
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an all-round light inthecenter of thecanopy.Thelightsare
controlled by a switchlocatedontheelectricalcontrolpanelon
thehelmand3 ampfuselocatedinthe junction boxunderthe
starboardhelm seat. Atduskordawnorduringthehoursof
darkness,bothbowandall-roundlightsmustbeonwhenthe
boatismoving. If you areanchoredor drifting, youmusthave
theallround light on.Thecontrolswitchhasthreepositions:
Anchor (all-round light only)
• Off
•Navigation(bothbowandall-roundlightson)
Be surethelightsarenotobstmctedby gear or accessories.
2.BilgeFumps
Each pontoonisequipped with a bilgepumptoremoveconden-
sation andaccumulatedwater seepage from rain. Both pumps
arecontrolledby a threepositionswitchatthehelmand a 2
ampfuselocatedinthe jimction boxunderthestarboardhehn
seat. Moving theswitchtotherightactivatesthestarboard
pump. Moving theswitchtothe left activatestheportpump.
The centerpositionisoff. NOTE: Eachpump will only re-
move thewaterdowntoabout a 1/2"to3/4"beforeitsucksair.
Oncethisoccurs,it will notremoveanymorewateranditcan
beshutoff Toavoidunnecessarywear,donotrunthe
pumpsdry. Theresidual1/2" of water is ofno consequence
and will notharmanythinginthepontoon.
Accesseachpumpthroughthecircularinspectionplateoneach
side of thereardeck.Removethe wing nutatthetop of the
mounting stand.Then lift theentirepumpassemblyuptothe
access portforcleaning.Inspectthepumpsperiodicallyand
cleanout pieces of foam thatmayclogthewaterintake fins.
3.Radio/Tape Player
The AM/FM radio cassette playerismanufacturedfor a marine
application. Theelectricalcircuitryisprotectedbyan in-line3
amp fuse thatislocatedbehindthestereobody.To access the
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fuse,removethe four screwsintheperimeteroftheradio
mounting panelandslidetheradipout of its mountinghole.
The in-line fuseisintheplasticcapsuleonthepowerleads
leading from theradio. A spare fuseislocatedunderthecover
of theelectricaljunctionboxunderthestarboardhelm seat.
4. Courtesy Lights
Your ElDeBo isequipped with ninecourtesylightsthatare
positioned atentrypointsaroundthedeck.Theselightsare
controlled byan on/off switchatthehelm.The7.5ampfuse
for thecourtesylightsislocatedintheelectrical junction box
locatedunderthestarboardhelm seat. A spare fuseistapedto
theinsidesurface of the jimction boxcover.
5. Accessory Sockets
The ElDeBo hastwo12 volt DCaccessorysockets.Oneis
locatedatthe foot of thestarboardbow swivel chairandthe
otherislocatedbelowtheradio.Thelattersocketis like a
cigarettelightersocket.It'sdesignedforportablephones,PC's,
12VDC refrigerators,etc.Thesefemalesocketshave a male
counterpartlocatedintheloosepartspackage.Thebowmale
plug canbeattachedtoany12 volt DCaccessory,butisprima-
rily designedforan auxiliary trolling motor. Both plugsarepart
of an 8 gauge wire circuit with an in-line 50ampfuselocatedin
the starboard batterycompartment.Thefuseholderispartof
thepositive(+)redleadinthestarboardbatterycompartment,
NOTE: Donotexceeda combined50amp 12VDC draw
from bothaccessorysocketplugs. Refertotheaccessory
specificationsfortheampdrawratingofeachapphance.
The bowelectricalmaleplughas a redpositive(+)leadand a
blacknegative(-)lead.Connecttheaccessorytothemaleplug
accordinglyandremovethe50ampfuseandreplaceit with a
fuse20%greaterthantheratedampdrawoftheaccessory(s)
that will beconnectedtothesocket(s).Thehelmaccessory
sockethas a maleplug without leads.Connectthepowerleads
coming from theappliancespertheinstructionspacked with the
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maleplugs.
E. 24VoltDCElectricMotor
The ElDeBo is powered by a 55 lb.thrust 24 volt DCelectric
trolling motor.Forproperoperation, install four 12 Volt DC
F27 deep cyclebatteriesinthebatterycompartments(two in
thestarboardside;twoin the port).Instructionsforhow to
connectthe wiring harnesses are locatedunderthestarboard
seat cushion. Theyconsistofa wiringschematicencasedin
plasticanda detailedtwo page installation guide foldedand
slid undertheschematicwiringdiagram.Donotbeintimi-
dated bythewiring.Itlookscomplicatedbutitisnot.
Every wireis tagged foritsrespectivebatteryandwhether
itispositive(+)or negative (-).Just follow theinstructions.
If you don't you risk creating a shortandthatmay ruin the
wiring harness.
The motor is controlled by a rotaryswitch at thehelm. This
control switchprovides five forward speeds andtworeverse.
The higherthe speed setting,thehighertheelectrical amperage
drawn from thebatteries. Minimizing the use of thehigh speed
(No. 5) setting will significantlyextendthe life of themotor and
theruntimebeforebatteryrecharging is needed.
The following tableprovidesestimatedcontinuous mn times
available from fourF27 series 12VDC deep cyclebatteries
beforethere is a noticeablelossinperformance as batteriesrun
down.
APPROXIMATERUNTIME
USING FOUR
F27SERIES 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
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The motor is protected by a 40 ampresettablecircuitbreaker
located at the helm. If thecircuitbreakertrips,power is inter-
rupted from tlie batteries to themotor.Itindicatesthemotor or
motor circuitry is drawingexcessive amperage from thebatter-
ies. Checkthemotor/prop.Themost likely cause is weeds or
fishing line is wrappedaroundtheprop.
IV. ENTERTAINMENTTABLE
The entertainmenttable is supported by a pedestal.Oneendof
thepedestal fits in a socketontheundersideofthetableandthe
other end fits into a floor socket.Thetablecan be stored by
hangingit from thestern rail stanchions(uprightsupports).
Simply snap thembberclips to the vertical rail stanchions and
threadthepedestalthroughtheelastic straps hanging from the
underside of thetable.Snapthetableon from outsidethe rail
andthreadthepedestalthroughthe straps ontheinside of the
rail. Thepedestal will farther secure thetable to the rail.
V.DRAINOUTLETS
The ElDeBo has three floor drainsthatchannelwaterover-
board from the deck.Twoof these drains are located at the
foot of the helm andone is underthecarpeted floor assembly at
thebow.Periodicallycleanleaves or otherdebris from therear
floor drains. Eachbatterycompartmentalso has a drain to
preventwater from accumulatingin these compartments.
Periodically checkthedrains to ensuretheyarenotplugged.
The twolargestoragecompartmentslocatedunderthe helm
seats alsohavedrains.Theportsidecompartmentcan be
pluggedandused as a cooler or filled with waterandused as a
livewell. Thestarboardcompartmentcan be used to store life
jackets,canopyboot,andother gear. NOTE: Donotusethe
starboard compartmentasa coolerorlivewell. Donot
allowwatertocontactthe12 VDC electricaljunctionbox.
VI. LAUNCHING AND OPERATION
A. Launching
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WhenevertheElDeBoislaunched from a trailer,takecertain
precautionstoprevent damage tothe boat ormotor.
1. Make sure themotorisinthe"UP"position.To place the
motorinthe"UP"position, grab theblackhandleand lift
straightup until it stops, tumtheblackhandle from the6:00
o'clockpositiontothe8:00o'clockpositionandlowerthe
handleinto a retainernotch.Themotorisnow secured inthe
"UP" position.
2. Checkthewaterdepth.TheElDeBohasdraft:(how deep it
sitsinthewater)-underthe following conditions:
Draft Conditions
5"No passengers, no cargo, motor"UP"
15"No passengers, no cargo, motordown -
"RUN" position
9.5"Carrymgmaximumload(800#),motor"UP"
19.5"Carryingmaximumload(800#),motor
down-"RUN" position
Make sure thewateris deep enoughtolowerthemotorand
depart with theloadbeingcarried.
Review the following check list priorto departure from shore.
1. Unplugthe extension cordifitis connected tothebat-
terycharger. Hangit, secure it,orremoveit from thedockso
thatitwon't fall intothewaterorbe exposed torainorsplash-
ing. Replace thecushion / lidoverthebatterycompartment.
2. Checkthebatterymonitor gauge atthehelmbeforeturning
on anyelectricalsystem.Make sure thebatteriesare fiiUy
charged oratleast50% charged for a veryshortexcursion.
3.Make sure thereareenoughPFD's (life jackets)forall
passengers. Insistthatallchildrenandanyadultswho
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cannotswimputon PFD's.
4. Checktheweatherandwaveconditions. High waves and
high windscanimpaircontrolandforward speed of theElDeBo
due to thepower limitations of theelectricmotor.Evenif
currentweatherconditionsarerelativelycalm,anticipated wind
direction andvelocity changes should be taken into consider-
ation. A wonderfuloutingonthewatercanquickly be turned
into an unpleasantexperienceiftheboat gets blowntotheother
end of thelake.
5.Checktheskegandmotor / prop.Makesurethey are
operableandfree of weeds,debris,fishing line andotherob-
structions. If theprop is fouled,removethehelmarmrest.
Reachdown into themotor well and grasp thestraponthe end
of the gas shockabsorber (see diagramunderthearmrest).
Pull onthestrap to disconnecttheshockabsorber.Grasp the
aqua colored lift handle,swingthecableout of thenotchand
pull upward.Slidethecablestop into thejaws of theretainer
bracket.Themotor is nowinthe"service/inspection"position.
Remove therear access hatchlidandcleartheprop.Reverse
theprevious sequence to placemotorinthe "RIM" position.
B. Operation
MAKESURETHEBOAT IS INATLEASTTWO FEET
OF WATER. Therearethreepositionsforthemotoronthe
ElDeBo.
A,"RUN" position - themotor is completelysubmerged
andallthewaydown.
B, "UP"position - themotor is lifted straight up andthe
black lift handle is turnedtothe8:00position.
C, "INSPECTION/SERVICE" position - themotor is lifted
andswung upto thereardeckinspectionport.
To operatethe ElDeBo:
1.Lift thearmrestandvisuallydetermine if themotor is inthe
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UP, INSPECTION, orRUNposition.
a.IfitisintheRUNposition,simplytumthecontrol
switch toforwardorreverseandsteeraway from thedock.
b. If it isintheUPposition, grasp theblack lift handle, lift
upslightly,andtumthehandletothe6:00positionand
lower themotor until itstopsatthemountingbracket.
Replacethearmrest,selectthedirectionand speed and
steeraway from thedock.
c. If it isinthe INSPECTION position, grasp theaqua lift
handle, lift shghtlytodisengagethecablestop, pull the
cableforwardout of theretainerbracketand allow the
motor toswingdowntotheRUNposition.Onceitis
down, repositiontheaquahandleinthebracket. Then
reach down,grasptheshockabsorberandsnapitonto
the ball pivot. Replacethearmrest,selectthedirection
and speed andsteeraway from thedock.
2. Tosteertotheright,pushthehandletotheright.Tosteer
to the left, pushthehandletothe left.
3. Both speed anddirectionarecontrolledbythe speed switch.
There aretworeverse speed settingsand five forward speed
settings.Notethatactual speed isdeceiving.Becausethereis
little tononoise from themotorandsplashingwater,thereis
little sensation of speed. Watchingtheshorelineprovides a
sense of speed.
The higherthe speed setting,themoreamps(energy)themotor
will draw from thebatteriesandtheshortertheoveraUruntime
betweenbatteryrecharges.Usehigh speed whenyouhonestly
want togoatmaximum speed orare trying toovercomeresis-
tance from wind and/orcurrent. Windy conditionsofferresis-
tancethatthemotormustovercome.Loweringthecanopy will
helpreduce wind resistanceandextendruntimes. Motorlife
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will besignificantlyextendedifthe#5highspeedsettingis
usedconservatively.
CAUTION: Neverrapidlyshiftfromthe#4or#5 FOR-
WARD speedtothe#2 REVERSE. This canseriously
damagethemotorandshortenitslife.Alwaysrotatethe
knobcounterclockwisefromforwardtoreverse.
4. After an hour orso of run time, turn offallthepowerdrains
to the batteries(lights,radio,motor) and checkthestate of
batterycharge.Youshouldplan tobe onthereturnleg of your
outing prior to thebatteriesreaching50%charge.
5.Watchforshallowwaterandunderwaterobstmctions.Steer
away from them or quicklyraisethemotortothe"up"position
to avoiddamagingtheprop or motor.Try to avoid areas with
thick aquaticvegetation.Weedscan foul thepropandresultin
aloss of performanceand an inefficientconsumptionofenergy
from thebatteries. NOTE: Themotorandwiringarepro-
tectedbymanualresettable40ampcircuitbreakeratthe
helm. If thepropstrikes an object or becomes fouled and
cannottum or adds a lot of resistance to therotationofthe
prop,theampdraw fiom thebatteries will suddenlysurge and
trip thecircuitbreaker.Clearanyobstraction fiom theprop
beforeresetting(pushingin)thecircuitbreaker.
If thecircuitbreakertripswhenthere isno apparentevidenceof
thepropstriking an object,thenit is probablyimpeded by rope,
weeds or fishing line entwinedaroundthepropandshaft.
Checktheprop tobe sureit is freeofdebrisandturnseasily
prior to eachdeparture.You can access theprop by positioning
themotorinthe"inspection/service"position. Lift uponthe
circuit breakertodisconnectpowertothemotor. Openthe
centerrear access coverandthoroughlyexaminetheprop.
Remove anydebris. Look forcracksintheblades.Makesure
thepropturnseasily.

The prop is protected by a shearpinthroughtheshaftthat fits
into a recess inthehuboftheprop. If thepropstrikes an
underwaterobjecthardenough, the shearpin is designed to
breakbeforethebladesofthepropbreak(seediagram).Al-
ways be sureyouhave a coupleof spare shearpinsonboard.
There are two spares intheaccessorypack.Theaccessory
packalsoincludestheprop,nut,batterystrap, etc.
VII. DOCKING
Docking the ElDeBo will take a little practice.Theboat is a
somewhatbulkycraftanditmoves with a certainamountof
inertia andmomentum. When youapproach a dock orare
going to beachtheboat,aimtheboat at a targetpointand use
only enough speed tokeeptheboatmovinginthatdirection.
Youwill obtain best results by switchingthemotor on andoff
and allowing theboat'smomentumtocarryitinthedesired
direction. Toomuch speed resultsinovershootingthetarget or
hitting thedock. This couldscratchtheboat or cause
unneccesaryabrasion of the hull surface as theboatstrikes the
shore. NOTE: Avoidbeachingthe boat onconcreteor
asphalt boat ramps.Theyareextremelyabrasive.
VIII. TRAILERING
If you planonfrequently trailering the ElDeBo or storing iton a
trailer, we stronglyrecommendpurchasingthetrailerthatwas
specifically designedfor it. Your dealercanorderthistrailerfor
you. Ifanothertrailer is used,ensurethatallsupportbunks are
atleast 10 feetlong,carpeted,andaremade ftom 2"x6" mate-
rial turnedwidesideup. A minimumoftwobunkssupport-
ingeach pontoon are required. Thetrailershouldhave a
minimum weightcarryingcapacityof800lbs. Also thebow
"V" blockshould be rotated soitis in a "<"positionand
catches the vinyl rubrail initsjaws. DO NOTPUTEX-
TREME PRESSURE ON THEROPETOSECURETHE
BOAT TOTHE TRAILER. Securingtheboatsnugly is
enough.Therearetwostainlesssteeleyesunderthestemdeck
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on eitherside ofthe rudder. Attach additionaltie-downropes
or straps cross ways to the trailer frame.
The ElDeBo can be powered up onthe trailer only about
halfway. Attempting tousethemotortopushitonfarther will
possibly damage themotor if it strikesthe trailer frame.
Oncetheboatis partially positionedintheproperlocationon
the trailer, raisethemotortothe"UP"positionandusethe
winch to pull theboat into position.Remember,there is a
stainlesssteelboweyemountedonthecenterlineunderthebow
deck. Attachthewinchropeonlytotheboweye.Donot
attach ittothemooringcleatsor rail supports.
WARNING: Forextended trailering positionthemotorin
the"inspection/service''position.Usea ropetotiethe
motorinthe "Inspection/Service" positionas if youwere
going toinspecttheprop fromthedeckoftheboat.Don't
dependonthesteelliftcabletoholdthemotorupwhile
trailering.
IX. MOORING
Whenever the ElDeBo is left at a dock,useboatfenders or
someothercushioningtopreventtheabrasionandbumpingof
the boatagainstthedock which can cause hull anddeck
scratches. When moormgtheboat by anchormg or attachment
to a buoy,usethebow eyes (one at thebow;two at thestem)if
possible.Otherwisetie offto a cleat.
If the boatis left unusedformorethan a day,itis a goodideato
cover the seats with theoptional seat covers or theboat with a
mooring/storage cover(seeorder form inbackofowner's
manual). This will keeptheboatcleanand reduce weathering
of thecarpetand seats.
X. MAINTENANCE
A. Hull andDeck
17

4
Thehull anddeck of theElDeBoarethermoformed from ABS
plastic with a laminationofCentrexplasticas a surfaceweather
protection cap.Theplasticmaterialcanbedamaged,weakened
or dulledbyvarioustypesofchemical based cleaners,especially
thosethathaveanabrasiveincorporatedinthemoraresolvent
based. Forinstance. Soft Scmb,v/hichis a goodcleaner, will
dull thehighgloss finish because itcontainsanabrasive.Clean-
erssuchasFantastik,TopJob (with ammonia),Janitorin a
Dmm, 409,etc.are fine. A mixtureof45%isopropylalcohol
andwater will also work well. DO NOT usegasohne,ac-
etone, kerosene, Lestoil, Pine-soloranycleanerwitha
solventbase.
The boat'slustrecanbeenhanced with anapplicationofauto-
motive waxthatissuitableforclear-coatfinishes. A good
application of wax (New Finish is a particularlygoodpolish)
will maketheboatmucheasiertoclean. Avoidusingcleaner
waxesbecausetheycontainanabrasive. Usethemonly
when scuff markscannotberemoved with usualcleaning
methods.
Remove mild scratches with automotivepolishingorglazing
compound.Applyin a circularmotion with hghtpressure.An
orbital pohshingmachinecanbeused with light pressure,butdo
not letitrotateinonelocationtoolongasthiscould cause heat
build up. DO NOT useautomotiverubbingcompoundasit
istooabrasive.
Repaircracksorpunctures with the same materialsandproce-
duresusedtorepairfiberglass. NOTE: Itis difficult torestore
thesurfacetothesmoothnessandlustreofanundamagedarea.
B. SteeringSystems
The ElDeBoissteeredbyturningthemotormuch like an
outboard.Thesteeringmechanismrequires little maintenance.
All componentpartsarestainlesssteelorplastic.Keepingthe
mechanismcleanandreasonablydustfiee will helpensureits
18
I

durability. Once a year usea non-watersolublelubricantonthe
vertical motorrisershaft.Simplywipe a lightcoaton with a
•rag alongthelengthwhereit passes throughthemounting
bracket.SuperLube grease or sprayworks well. Petrole-om
Jelly (Vasoline), usedsparingly,alsoworks well. Useit onthe
ends of thesteering cables wheretheyattach to themotorriser
shaftandthesteeringarm will keepthemquietand reduce
wear.
Too muchlubricantattractsdirt.WD40 and othersolvent
based lubricantsevaporateandleave little lubricantbehindand
as a resultdon'twork as well asa heavierlubricant.It is still
betterthannothing. A teflontypelubricantworksmuchbetter.
XI. OFF-SEASONSTORAGE
Disconnectandremovethebatteriesandputthemin a cleandry
areaforstorage.Keepthem fully chargedandprotectthem
from freezing.Covertheboattokeepdirtanddebris from
accumulationon it. This will alsogreatly reduce theaffects of
weatheringonthe seat cushions,carpetandcanopy.
Pumpallthewateroutofeachpontoonprior to storage. Do
not allowthepumps tobe submergedinwaterandthewater to
freeze.Theice will crackthepumphousingand ruin it.

(TEM
WIRE COLOR
GAGE
ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS
(TEM
WIRE COLOR
GAGE
n^OM
T6
1
DARK BROWN
16
BILGE PUMPSWITCH- STARBOARD(LETTERA)
BILGE PUMP- STARBOARD SIDE
2
DARK BROWN
16
BILGE PUMPSWITCH- PORT(LETTERC)
BILGE PUMP- PORT SIDE
3
DARK BLUE
16 COURTESY UGHTSWITCH(LETTERE)
COURTESY UGHT
4 DARK GRAY
16
NAVIGATION UGHTSWrTCH(LETTERn
NAVIGATION UGHT
5
RED JUMPER 16
NAVIGATION UGHTSWITCH(LETTERJ)
NAVIGATION UGKTSWrfCH(LETTERG)
6
RED JUMPER 16
NAVIGATION SWITCH(LETTERK) ANCHORSWTTCH(LETTERH)
7
DARK GRAY
16 NAVIGATION UGHTSWffCH(LETTERH) ANCHORUGHT
8
UGKT BLUE
16 COURTESY UGHTSWITCH(LETTERD) TERMINALBOX(LETTERN)
9
UGHTBROWN
16
BILGE PUMPSWfTCH(LETTERB) TERMINALBOX(LETTERL
10
UGHTGRAY
16
NAVIGATION UGHTSWfTCH(LETTERJ) TERMINALBOX(LETTERM)
11
RED 10
TERMINALBOXPOSITIVE(LETTERP) BAIIhKY T POSITIVE(LETTERX)
12
BL^CK
10
TERMINALBOX(LETTERQ) BATTERY"A"NEGATIVE(LETFERW)
13
BL\CK
16 TERMINALBOX(UETTERR)
COURTESY UGHT
14
BUCK
16
TERMINALBOX(LETTERs)
BILGE PUMP- STARBOARD SIDE
15
BLACK
16 TERMINAL BOX (LLIILH 1)
BILGE PUMP- PORT SIDE
16
BUCK
16
TERMINAL BOX
LETTER U BOWUGKT
17 BUCK
18
TERMINAL BOX [LETTER V! ANCHORUGKT
o
V
o
3 AWP
7.5 AUP
o
BATTERY
"A"
CONTROLPANEL
(INSIDE OUT)
BOW
ELDEBO
12VDG WIRINGSCHEMATIC
Rev. D / 9-23-97