Alternator Belt issues - 1998 Ski Nautique 196 open bow 5.8 - GT-40 EFI engine

[THE HECKLER]

New happy owner of my Nautique. Bought it non-running at quite a bargain. Took very little to get the motor running (200 hours) fortunately now making spray behind the boat.
One thing with this ford motor is that the alternator belt is either slightly out of alignment from the factory or there is just too much distance between pulleys on the slack side.
Seems it will not stay tight or something? Get a strange squeal from it occasionally as well. Using brand new PCM belts now for both alternator and pump applications.
When watching the engine can see the belt almost creep upward within the pulleys when raising the rpms.
Has anybody ever adapted an idler either fixed or tensioner for this particular engine?
Don't want to over tighten it and kill the water pump bearings and such - but it appears to be a design defect to this old engineer!
Am an old chevy hot rod guy so I know my way around engines - not fords though!
Any tips or suggestions appreciated..

[mpost]

Never have to touch mine. set it tight in the prong when I install the RWP and never squeals. My old 84 did occasionally with an old belt. New belt and it was OK. How much deflection can you get out of the belt by pushing on it?

[THE HECKLER]

1/4" as directed in the manual.

[mpost]

Seems it will not stay tight or something? Get a strange squeal from it occasionally as well. Using brand new PCM belts now for both alternator and pump applications.
When watching the engine can see the belt almost creep upward within the pulleys when raising the rpms.
.

When it squeals, has it loosened up or still 1/4" deflection? Maybe new belt stretching? Only other thing I can think of is cleaning the pulleys and belt in case there is some kind of residue on the surface causing the slip.

[THE HECKLER]

when I get back to the house and check it - appears within spec. re-tightened the PCM belt (new) a couple of times. have a cogged v-belt I used from the auto parts store until my order from nautique parts came in with the PCM belts... not a lot of difference... may need to clean the pulleys and apply a bit of belt dressing - good tip mpost.. surely this isn't anything new to the gt-40...??

[Skidave]

Is the alignment ok...meaning pulley to pulley and the alternator is not to far forward or back on the bracket (mean forward bow and back towards the stern). I have had 2 Ford 351s in boats and never had an issue. Wonder if someone replaced the alternator with a different pulley or something of the sorts.

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[THE HECKLER]

it all looks original. has 200 hours.. the eyeball says they are aligned but i need to straight edge it or something. thanks!