Engine hatch not operating...where to look first??
 

I just purchased a new to me 288 Intimidator and the engine hatch is not functioning. The guy I purchased the boat from was opening it manually and I would like to make it operational again. I see that it is ran off hydraulics so this is something new to me and if someone could point me in the right direction as to what to look at first that would be great!

First thing I would check is if it is getting 12 volts to the Pump? If it isn't then check the ground and the fuse/circuit breaker.

Padraig

Voltage to the switch is kinda important too, then toggle and check for voltage at the actuator.

I am not familiar with the hydraulic hatch lifts. Do they have their own pump or do they utilize the trim or Tab Pump?

Padraig

They have their own motor typically mounted at the base at least in my experience.

Yes it runs off the trim tab pump. That's what makes it kind of confusing for me, never seen anything like it before! I thought maybe all 288's were like this

A lot of boats use a trim pump with an alpha drive ram to lift the hatch. It should be a pump that is solely for that hatch, not shared with another system.

I would assume what you are talking about is similar. You can break the pump/motor down and see if it is one or the other. Or get on ebay and buy a new pump for a couple hundred bucks.

If the boat has the bennet style trim tabs, the hatch and tabs both run off the same pump. Normally mounted to the engine bulk head. The newer boats we switched to an electric hatch ram.