Short videos from the WaterCar shop on driving, boating, caring for and shipping your WaterCar. Each episode sums up what the video covers and links to the full video on YouTube.
These videos were filmed on the WaterCar EV. Equipment and part locations can differ by model and options, so keep your owner's manual (PDF) handy and ask us if anything looks different on yours.
The complete walkthrough. It covers powering on, raising and lowering the wheels, the dash layout, driving on land, going into the water, getting on plane and driving back out.
Turn on both batteries first (the 12 volt under the rear seat and the main battery under the front footwell floor), then flip the two red master switches beside the driver's seat.
Two rocker switches on the dash move the wheels: the left one moves the front wheels, the right one the rear. Hold the switch until the pump tone changes. Each cycle takes about 20 seconds.
Road controls are on the right side of the dash. Marine controls, including the Mercury key and safety lanyard, are on the left.
Into the water: drive straight in, never at an angle. Once afloat, lower the outboard and start it (never run it dry). Move a safe distance from shore, straighten the wheels, then raise the rear wheels and then the front.
Coming out: line up straight with the ramp, lower the front wheels and then the rear, trim the outboard partway up, and set the land motor to forward. Once the wheels have traction, shut off the outboard and drive up.
The full after-use routine, shown after a day in salt water: flush the outboard, wash, rinse, then protect the metal with WD-40. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
Flush the outboard with fresh water. Connect a garden hose to the flush port and turn the water on before you start the motor. Check for the stream of water, run it in neutral for the time Mercury recommends, then refit the yellow O-ring and black cap.
Pull the rear bilge drain plug while you wash, and put it back before you go in the water.
Rinse, then cover everything in soap (a foam cannon on a pressure washer helps; a garden hose works too). Spend extra time on the rear hubs, lug nuts, front suspension, axles and hydraulics.
Do not flood the dash and electronics. Mist them or wipe them by hand.
After the final rinse, spray WD-40 on the metal parts: suspension, hydraulics, hubs, lug nuts, hinges and cleats. Use more if the boat will be stored. The video shows where to be careful around the brakes.
Fitting the hub into the propeller and mounting it.
Grease the hub so it slides in. Grease comes in a bag with the part.
Tap it home with a dead blow hammer until it sits against the washer.
Fit the cone-shaped pieces the right way round, slide the prop on, add the locking washer and nut, then bend the tabs up against the nut so it cannot back off.
How to shut off all power before your WaterCar is shipped, and how to turn it back on.
Turn the key off and switch both main battery switches off.
Press the off button on the 12 volt battery. Hold the button on the main battery (48 or 72 volt, depending on options) for 3 seconds until the light flashes.
To turn it back on, press both battery buttons, switch the two switches on and turn the key on.
