50 HP Merc - Hard Start at Beach

[mayorjones]

Here's a "strange" - I have a 2008 Party Barge pontoon with a '08 Merc 50 HP outboard. It runs and starts great EXCEPT when we stop at the sand bar (Mississippi River in Iowa). Whenever I go to leave, no matter how long we've stayed, the motor starts EXTREMELY hard - as in every time it happens I wonder if it is going to start or not. If I stop out in the middle of the river and turn it off, it fires right back up instantly, but when I'm "beached", its a whole different story.

This is both very frustrating and embarrassing. Any ideas?

Thanks.
Dwight from Iowa

 

[Alumarine]

Re: 50 HP Merc - Hard Start at Beach

When you're beached do you tilt the motor?

 

[mayorjones]

Re: 50 HP Merc - Hard Start at Beach

I do when I try to start it - I don't when it's sitting there prior to that (keeps the "tail from wagging" in the current, if you know what I mean). Might this be a problem?