I have a 2000 32 ft Fountain with Twin 502 MPI. When I check my oil on the lift (boat is level) oil is ok, when I drop it in the water it shows low. Where should the oil level, on the lift or on the water. I read on the forum a while back that it should be checked at the approximate running level of the boat on plane.

boat in water. at rest.

if you fill it when it's in the water. Check it again right after running hard to make sure it isn't over filled and getting whipped up by the crankshaft. That will cause more heat and loss of HP.

Good question. With this boat in particular (friend has one) I would check either level or at the angle you run (Cruise+) at but not the level it sits in the water. You would likely be overful due to the extreme stern droop angle at rest.

So how do you duplicat the angle of cruise? Obviously your not going to check the oil while cruising. Theres got to be a better way. How about this one.

1.Take a level, small plastic one from HD or LOWES(the kind with double stick Tape.
2. Run boat at cruising speed and apply the level inside the EC and perminatly afix it with resin at the end of the day
3. Then all you need to do when out of the water is jack the trailer up until the level is @ cruising angle and check the oil.
4. It will be perfect everytime.

Then you dont need to wait until the last minute to check the oil.

Just an idea. My 2 cents

being a fellow beak boat owner Ive wondered the same thing, then this exact question was posed to Teauge in Powerboat....he said to put the boat on the trailer and angle the trailer so the attitude of the boat is the same as it would be when running at speed (approx level or slightly nose up).......I agree.........my personal spin has been to change the oil, then you know the correct amount of oil is in the motor according to your manual, then put the boat in the water and make another mark on the dipstick when the boat is in the "ass down attitude"........ I have found it will appear "overfull" in the water but "normal" with the boat on the trailer.......doug

I think that getting the bottom of the boat level would be as close as the running altitude. Basically they way it sits on the trailer with the trailer being level.
The way they sit in the water at rest, the rear drops at least a foot.