Finally boating ! (Following 1st time boating total disaster)

[ac439]

After my "First time boating total disaster (previous thread)" few weeks ago, I went to the same lake with an experienced boating friend. He showed me how to launch the boat etc. Everything was so easy for him. So, out in the water, we first figured out the water is still shallow (same as last time). Between the two if us, we got the boat further out (no jumping into water), lower the engine, prime and started the engine. I had done more work on the engine for the past few weeks so it started right up, idle nicely and off we went. I drove the boat at a slow cruising speed for about 20 mins, then we decided to full throttle it. Engine picked up speed nicely and the boat planted. Things were so smooth. After about an hour on the lake, we drove back to the ramp, tilted up the engine even before we gets too close. That's where we needed to jump into water because of shallow water. Still, we were not having much problems getting the boat back to the trailer. So, overall, that was a success. My friend said this is not a begineer's ramp because of the shallow water, and many boater power load their boats so there are many holes there too.

Well, I enjoyed the experience today. Just need to find another ramp that I can launch the boat, or wait for more rain to fill up the lakes.

- AC

 

[QC]

Re: Finally boating ! (Following 1st time boating total disaster)

Great!! And I guarantee you will learn something new every trip. No matter how good we can make it look, we still get taught a new lesson the hard way almost every trip . . . It's endless, but that's part of the fun. Wait 'til the first time you jump off because you think it's shallow and you go in over your head. That's a fun one . . .

 

[AguaSki]

Re: Finally boating ! (Following 1st time boating total disaster)

Wait 'til the first time you jump off because you think it's shallow and you go in over your head. That's a fun one . . .

Better yet, wait til the first time you jump in thinking it is deep and the water ends at your knees. Now that's a surprise. Feet first every time will save you from some serious injuries!

 

[valkyr]

Re: Finally boating ! (Following 1st time boating total disaster)

I drove the boat at a slow cruising speed for about 20 mins, then we decided to full throttle it. Engine picked up speed nicely and the boat planted.
- AC

Planted? I'm sorry but that made me LOL

Had mental image of the boat hitting a sandbar and sticking arse up.

 

[JasonB]

Re: Finally boating ! (Following 1st time boating total disaster)

Congrats on the successful trip. I had to stop and think about the planting thing too I was thinking stuck on a sandbar at forst.

Valkyr, check your PM's.

 

[ac439]

Problems today - Re: Finally boating ! (Following 1st time boating total disaster)

Problems today - Re: Finally boating ! (Following 1st time boating total disaster)

Well...Plant..was my typo, I mean plane.

So after last time's success, we (with family) went out again to the lake this morning. This time I had no problems backing the boat to water. We ran into a little bit of problem (basically the left trailer wheel got into a hole and the FWD van of 150hp had problems pulling it out, we released the boat so the van was able to pull the trailer back up). Afterwards, everybody got on to the boat. The water is still very shallow so we pushed the boat further out, lowered the engine, primed the bulb and started the engine. Engine started without problems and we were on the lake crusing. I pushed the engine full throttle, no problems, boat planed.

So, we decided to stop at the middle of the lake and started fishing. No luck, no fish at all (maybe we used shrimp from grocery store instead of night crawler). About an hour fishing, we decided to head back. Engine won't start ! It would turn but no firing. After trying several minutes, the wife suggested to use the trolling motor (glad we brought it) but I didn't bring the deep cycle battery since last time everything went so well. I connected the MinnKota to the battery and with 50 lb of thrust, it pushed the 16' boat forward. It still took us 20 minutes to troll back to the ramp but I was worrying about my starting battery. Since the water was so shallow, we ended up all jumped down to water about 20 feet off the ramp so we can push the boat to shore. I backed my trailer to the same spot but definitely very careful this time not too much to get to the hole again. I used the easy tilt function to let the boat get on the trailer easier and we all went home.

I had help from the Chrysler forum and had the engine's carb and fuel pump rebult and idling adjusted. The engine was tested many times on driveway with a big trash can of water. I have hard times understanding why it won't start warm. I have a lawn tracter, gas trimmer, push mower, pressure washer all using two stroke engines and none of them have warm start problems. I just don't get it. The design should be the same.

Last time went boating with my friend, we didn't shut off the engine but ran it for about an hour at different speed. This time, the wife got upset and wants to get rid of the boat.

- AC

 

[dave4151]

Re: Finally boating ! (Following 1st time boating total disaster)

Way to go for sticking with it.

Have you thought about getting a paddle or two? As long as the boat is floating you should be able to paddle it versus jumping in the water and pushing it. I don?t know what your wind and current situation is but when it?s shallow I raise the outdrive, grab the paddle and kneel down in the front of the boat so I can paddle on both sides of the bow.

The wife may not have such a negative opinion if she doesn?t have to abandon ship.

Good Luck

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Finally boating ! (Following 1st time boating total disaster)

Did you try pumping the primer bulb when you had a no-start condition?​

 

[ac439]

Re: Finally boating ! (Following 1st time boating total disaster)

Well, the water there is so shallow that the boat is hitting the bottom even 10' before touching the ramp so paddling is not an option. Of course, we tilted up the motor or I'll have to replace the pop. We had a 10' PVC pipe and a paddle so we got ourselves as close as we can before jumping into water. The wife expected to jump into the water during retrieval but she didn't expect the main outboard would not start again (and neither did I). After reading more posts in the repain forum, it seems like this is a common problem. I also pumped the bulb firm when it wouldn't start. I have not have a chance to test the boat on driveway yet but am going to do it this Wed. I bet I will have no problems on the driveway, and, till I get the boat to the middle of the lake, we will all scream "HELP !!!".

- AC

 

[john crowe]

Re: Finally boating ! (Following 1st time boating total disaster)

take a can of starting fluid...

 

[ac439]

Re: Finally boating ! (Following 1st time boating total disaster)

Did extensive test on driveway today. After engine warmed up, I let it sit for an hour, went back, started it right up (no choke, no need to pump fuel, no need to put on fast idle). Stopped and restarted a few times, no problems. I let it sitted for another hour, did the same thing, no problems. So the engine passed all tests today. So, I'm scratching my head. I think I just need to keep the trolling motor and make sure both batteries are fully charge for next boating. Isn't this weird? - AC