Any PQ owners know who makes the hatch lifts for a 99 380 Avenger? Mine has been going slow lately and the gears puked this week end. I called PQ today and left 2 messages and nobody called back. Their isn't any manufacters ID on the motor,I know sombody else has had the same problem. Any leads would be appriciated.

Tecla Co. Inc.
1250 Ladd Road, P.O. Box 9027, Walled Lake, MI 48390


Unfortunately the Ram that these folks make for PQ is the weakest POS I have on the boat. The original one that was for the 280 was so weak that Tecla made a HD one which was replaced under warranty. That HD ram is about 5% better than the original. Why on earth they don't use a quality ram is beyond me. What is a couple extra bucks on a boat of this calibar?

The one I have now talks minutes for it to fully open. Sometimes it just does not operate, , putz with the switch for awhile and whalla it works again.

You guys with the 02's, did PQ finally install a working ram?

It works better than the old ones BUT it still is not up to snuff with the rest of the boat! Is is still slow but is a "heavy duty" unit, Mark Winia at PQ indicates. They should just go with a hydraulic unit and tap in off of one of the 4 trim pumps. I can't imagine that you would be running the tabs and raising the engine hatch at the same time...

BillR has a few more thoughts I'm sure. I know that RexMarine sells an "accelerator" that did wonders for a friends 40' SuperHawaii.

HP500EFI thanks fothe reply I'll try to call them tomorow. Sounds like youv'e the same symtoms. The gears are made of crap plastic and from all the weight they finally puked! VYPER 340 thanks for the reply, I put that accellerater on and it didn't make any differance but probably striping the gears. I just saw an ad in Poker Run mag. and they had a hydraulic unit just out on the market. It cosisted of a hyd. ram and they used pump just like the trim and tab pump, maybe you have an idea here! The unit looks like the hot set-up but it's got to be steep on the gingles. Any body else had any luck on an other set up?

The screw jack that Fountain uses is by far the best I"ve seen. They go up like NOW!!! If mine ever fails (knocking hard on the wood desk) I will research and replace it with what ever manafacture they are using. I also find it hard to believe that after all these problems PQ has not changed over to a different make

HP500efi called Tecla today they told me I had the old desighn with motor out the side witch worked well untill PQ made the hatches heavier. they have a new desighn now that handles the heavier load and that I would notice a big difference,and since PQ changed hands so did the supplyer of the rams and life goes on. Should have it in a couple days. I also talked to World Class Marine today about there Hyd. unit {it's in the new Poker Run America mag.} it's deffinatly a neat set-up but to put the hatch up and down momma would not agree on spending 1200 bucks on. What happened on the days when the UPS guy would take cash and she would't now how much it costs! Scott thanks for the reply.Will call a Fountain dealer tomarrow and see if I can get a supplyer of their rams.

Goomba II, I would be interested in seeing a picture of your new ram from Tecla if you have a way of taking a picture and posting it.

My "revised" ram still has the motor mounted off to the side of the actuator, granted the motor is twice the size of the original, but it still don't work good

I too would like to see a picture.

I "guess" I have a ram by a different supplier since my boat is a 2002. But it is slow as . . . . well you know.

When you guys say slow just how slow?

My 98 380 hatch goes up in about 10sec.

Scott,


AS IN REAL SLOW


When it works, it takes at least a minute sometimes da wife needs to help help it along and that makes us

I agree that the hatch is very heavy (ever try and lift it manually?)
. If for some reason I need to get under the hatch quickly (as in an emergency) forget it.