I just got a new Grizzly 1648 with a Mercury 9.9 4-stroke. I love the boat and man is that engine quite! However I have a problem the engine is SO quite that when I pull it back to idle I can't tell if it is still running without looking back for the little water stream coming out of it. If I could pull it back to idle and KNOW it was still running that wouldn't be a problem but it seems like the idle is set SO low that it tends to die 50% of the time. So here is my question.

Is it common to have the idle set so low that the engine dies?  It doesn't matter if the engine is warm or cold (of course it is worse when it is cold)

And the second question is how hard is it to adjust the idle? Is it something I could do or should I take it back and let the boat dealer do it? Dealer is about an hour and a half away so I would rather do it myself.

Thanks for the help everyone.

You need to check a service manual.  Most likely the dealer will have to make the adjustments.  Most of the newer motors are ECU controlled and you can't just go in a turn a screw like in the old days.  Everything has to be syncronized so if you change one setting, it affects several other.

Well I guess that means I will be making a trip soon. > Kinda sucks since I have only had it on the water 3 times and I already have to take it back for work! Oh well maybe it will get fixed and I won't have any more problems. Anyone else running that engine here that has or had the same problem and got it fixed? Anyone that hasn't had any problems that can make me feel better about my choice?

Call the dealer, maybe it is a field adjustment, could save a 3hr trip and probally won't be able to get it in and right back out without a wait. Pick up a service manual for it, it might come in handy in the future.

Is there another mercury dealer near you to adjust it,or is there a

tohatsu or nissan egine dealer nearer,since tohatsu makes mercury fourstrokes in the portable models?