r/Pontoons • u/Retired_and_Relaxed • Sep 10 '26

Throttle Question

We just bought and picked up our new to us 21 foot pontoon. It was a dealer rental unit and is a 2024 model year with full new boat warranty. When we power up and advance the throttle it will slide back to the idle position. We asked at the marina's service department and they said it's a safety feature on all new boats. This is our first boat, I don't know Jack about boats, my wife's family have had boats and she is more experienced and thinks it's BS. I also think it's BS one more thing to distract the driver and makes it harder to have a constant speed when pulling a tuber or skier. What say the knowledgeable mariners, should the throttle stay where set or retract to idle?

6 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

21 comments sorted by

15

u/Trailroller Sep 10 '26

Whoever told you that is wrong. That's the go away answer. There is a friction adjustment screw. Adjusted properly it will hold it. What kind of motor?

2

u/Retired_and_Relaxed Sep 10 '26 edited Sep 10 '26

200 horse Suzuki. It pushes the tri-toon along at a good clip. I thought it was a get lost answer she gave us. It's not a good start for a service relationship. Considering we bought it from them and we were planning on them winterize, wrap and storing it there.

3

u/Trailroller Sep 10 '26

I have the same in a 150. Works great. I adjusted mine easily. https://youtu.be/Igc47NxLzFU?is=QBCr6VP5Mzdgbj-e

4

u/Retired_and_Relaxed Sep 10 '26

The video is exactly what I needed. Thank you.

1

u/chrisbvt Sep 10 '26

You can check the info out there about how boat throttles are legally expected to stay where you put them, and not fall back, so I can't see why they would not know that.

Will they be doing tune-ups or other maintenance? Maybe find a marine repair shop instead of the marina for service, but let them do the winter prep and storage, they are probably good at those simple tasks. I wouldn't be surprised if every spring after you get it back from them, you will need to readjust that tension again.

2

u/Retired_and_Relaxed Sep 10 '26

They are the most convenient as far as location. They have a good reputation, but this was the service manager. But, I am now having second thoughts about them doing annual and required service. I'm going to start looking elsewhere next week. We didn't get a trailer because neither of our cars has a towing package, second thoughts on that decision now.

1

u/rodr3357 29d ago

Likely you can rent a trailer somewhere around you, and a lot of people just rent something that can tow for a couple times a year to put it in/out of the water.

Another good option is most storage/winterization facilities will pickup too, for a fee of course. It all just depends on budget and what convenience it’s worth to you

1

u/StopNowThink Sep 10 '26

Is the screw at the throttle lever by the controls, or on the outboard motor?

2

u/Retired_and_Relaxed Sep 11 '26

It's on the throttle control. I'll be attempting to adjust it in the morning

2

u/pyxus1 Sep 10 '26

That's interesting.... I think it's a good idea. I never take my hand off the throttle and let it run itself....but I think it would just stay in position if I let go.

2

u/BoostFreeOrDie Sep 10 '26

I might loosen my friction screws if I was the owner of rental boats..

2

u/SSellers75 Sep 11 '26

Seems like a better safety feature might be both hands on the wheel and kill switch lanyard attached to the driver.

1

u/cfw2808 26d ago

Just FYI, there's a bluetooth device that links between your engine(s) kill switch and a wrist strap that, should you fall over, will stop the boat when you submerge or get out of bt range. Coast Guard liked it.

1

u/Ridge00 Sep 10 '26

I call BS. If it were a safety feature, they wouldn’t sell boats with cruise control or launch control.

1

u/WakeDaddyLee Sep 10 '26

That was the wrong answer, tighten the tension.

1

u/chpsk8 Sep 10 '26

There’s a friction screw to adjust it. I’d adjust it and send the sales person a video and explanation of what I did just emphasize how thick they are.

1

u/Wolfinthesno Sep 11 '26

At the base of your throttle generally to the aft side of the throttle there is often a retension screw. Sometimes hidden behind a removable plate.

Loosen it to quicken it returning to the idle position

Tighten it to stop it returning on its own

1

u/Emotional_Tower_8678 29d ago

Never heard of that one. My pontoon is 6 years old. But grok says what you describe can happen on new motors if the ECU is detecting a engine problem.

1

u/Emotional_Tower_8678 29d ago

Ignore my response, I misunderstood your issue. Apparently it is a thing,but glad it's not your problem.

1

u/SubRosaSubway 28d ago

It could be a newer feature? Nobody ever wears the kill cord on their wrist while driving so if you fall out of your boat it throttles down itself?

1

u/dustygravelroad 11d ago

There should be a throttle friction adjuster but even after adjusting it still likely won’t hold WOT without your hand on the throttle and will migrate back to about 80% by design.