Newbie here--just got a v20

[reelapeelin]

Originally Posted by phatdaddy

i hope it is just your tach, but sometimes a tach not reading is a symptom of another problem. i'd verify the charging system on the boat is doing it's thing first.

Welcome to the site, Chrissy!...Phatdaddy's ZACKLY right...could be the tach, could be something else...could just be a bad connection. STRONGLY recommend you find and make friends w/a good, honest Mercury marine tech to check it out...spending money in the wrong direction can be worse than paying for someone to do it for you.
Teleflex makes great, affordable tachometers for your motor...just be sure, whatever you buy is a universal tach so when you repower, you can continue to use it.
I have a brand new one I'll sell you cheap...I THOUGHT I needed one and turns out I had one tucked away when I set up the V20 I have now. Let me know and I'll post pics, etc if you are interested.