I just got a new to me 86 SeaRay Sundancer 26' earlier this month. I've broken this up into three parts to help with questions, background, and numbers.
After running for about an hour and turning engine off, basically have to sit for another hour before it will start back up. Boat runs great (to me) while in the water at low speed/cruising speed/wide open. The issues start once I drop anchor and shut the engine down.
So I think I have a fuel filter issue or a vapor lock issue, and want to ask if my troubleshooting plan makes sense?
The long(er) background.
New to me boat. First day on the water ran great. Was able to turn off and restart without any issue multiple times over 3-4 hours. Due to miscommunication between me and seller, I ran her out of gas - I heard "she has 3/4 tank" and I think he implied "the gauge reads 3/4 full". Sender unit and gauge have both been replaced now and I have an accurate reading on my tank.
Friendly passerby was able to tow me back to dock and I refueled the next morning. Restarted right back up and ran fine. Took her out for a bit of a shakedown (since wifey-poo was worried I had a lemon). Docked and left sitting for a few hours then started back up and ran fine for an hour upriver to the permanent dock.
Two days later was out in the late afternoon (around 80-85 degrees here in NC) and ran fine for 60-90 minutes. Stopped and shutdown to let the kids swim for about 30 minutes. When restarting initially had difficulty - cranked without starting - let sit for a minute and repeated no start - let sit for another minute and gave throttle and started back up. Boat ran fine back to the dock.
Two days later same thing (a little warmer outside). Ran for 60-90 and dropped anchor to eat lunch/swim. No start for about 5-6 cycles of trying. Let sit for 20 minutes and repeated with no luck. Plenty of gas in the tank so I was a bit stumped. Pulled fire arrestor and manually pumped the throttle at the carb - I wasn't getting fuel but what looked like fog/vapor.
Another 20 minutes and no luck starting decided to call SeaTow for a lift back in. As last resort, I pushed the circuit breaker on the engine (nothing happened that I know of - no click or reset) and tried again. Sputtered and died. Tried one last time and started right up. After explaining to SeaTow they were a good luck charm made it back to dock with no issue.
Last Sunday started a little rough. Took two attempts before it started (pumped throttle and cranked with no start - let sit for a minute then repeated and started fine). Ran good for 3-4 hours without stopping (low throttle, cruising, wide open; mostly cruising speed). Based on the last time out, we didn't stop along the way, just down river then back upriver.
Reading some of the forums, when back at the dock I let motor idol for 5 minutes to "heat soak", turned blowers on, and opened the deck lid. Turned off and let sit for 5 minutes and tried to restart. Naturally no luck, so decided to start troubleshooting better.
I don't have all the numbers for the boat, but can post tomorrow. Here are the basics without the numbers:
'86 SeaRay Sundancer 26'
Mercruiser (Chevy) V8
Alpha 1 Outdrive
Original Thunderbolt Ignition previously replaced with an HEI (I think MSD but don't quote me on that)
Sorry if getting to here was time consuming, but figured providing details could be helpful to someone.
1. Since I ran out of gas, I plan on replacing the fuel/water separator, since I assume I may have sucked something from the tank that gets unhappy when hot.
2. I'm not sure if there is another filter in the system that I should check, or if I should flush the line? I assume start at the carb and work back to the tank. I'm not clear from other posts if there is a secondary strainer at the carb.
3. I've also read my vent line from the fuel tank may be clogged. Is there a simple way to check and/or repair if it is?
4. Are there any other things I should check/repair at this point? I've read an additional spacer between the manifold and carb may be a solution, but not sure if that is needed yet. Also read the choke may be sticking, but not sure that makes a lot of sense with the condition I have.
I do have the service manuals, but they aren't a lot of details beyond the fuel/water separator replacement.
I'm planning on doing 1-3 at the dock this weekend, then a test run for about an hour and try a restart at the dock.
Advice/guidance appreciated.
After running for about an hour and turning engine off, basically have to sit for another hour before it will start back up. Boat runs great (to me) while in the water at low speed/cruising speed/wide open. The issues start once I drop anchor and shut the engine down.
So I think I have a fuel filter issue or a vapor lock issue, and want to ask if my troubleshooting plan makes sense?
The long(er) background.
New to me boat. First day on the water ran great. Was able to turn off and restart without any issue multiple times over 3-4 hours. Due to miscommunication between me and seller, I ran her out of gas - I heard "she has 3/4 tank" and I think he implied "the gauge reads 3/4 full". Sender unit and gauge have both been replaced now and I have an accurate reading on my tank.
Friendly passerby was able to tow me back to dock and I refueled the next morning. Restarted right back up and ran fine. Took her out for a bit of a shakedown (since wifey-poo was worried I had a lemon). Docked and left sitting for a few hours then started back up and ran fine for an hour upriver to the permanent dock.
Two days later was out in the late afternoon (around 80-85 degrees here in NC) and ran fine for 60-90 minutes. Stopped and shutdown to let the kids swim for about 30 minutes. When restarting initially had difficulty - cranked without starting - let sit for a minute and repeated no start - let sit for another minute and gave throttle and started back up. Boat ran fine back to the dock.
Two days later same thing (a little warmer outside). Ran for 60-90 and dropped anchor to eat lunch/swim. No start for about 5-6 cycles of trying. Let sit for 20 minutes and repeated with no luck. Plenty of gas in the tank so I was a bit stumped. Pulled fire arrestor and manually pumped the throttle at the carb - I wasn't getting fuel but what looked like fog/vapor.
Another 20 minutes and no luck starting decided to call SeaTow for a lift back in. As last resort, I pushed the circuit breaker on the engine (nothing happened that I know of - no click or reset) and tried again. Sputtered and died. Tried one last time and started right up. After explaining to SeaTow they were a good luck charm made it back to dock with no issue.
Last Sunday started a little rough. Took two attempts before it started (pumped throttle and cranked with no start - let sit for a minute then repeated and started fine). Ran good for 3-4 hours without stopping (low throttle, cruising, wide open; mostly cruising speed). Based on the last time out, we didn't stop along the way, just down river then back upriver.
Reading some of the forums, when back at the dock I let motor idol for 5 minutes to "heat soak", turned blowers on, and opened the deck lid. Turned off and let sit for 5 minutes and tried to restart. Naturally no luck, so decided to start troubleshooting better.
I don't have all the numbers for the boat, but can post tomorrow. Here are the basics without the numbers:
'86 SeaRay Sundancer 26'
Mercruiser (Chevy) V8
Alpha 1 Outdrive
Original Thunderbolt Ignition previously replaced with an HEI (I think MSD but don't quote me on that)
Sorry if getting to here was time consuming, but figured providing details could be helpful to someone.
1. Since I ran out of gas, I plan on replacing the fuel/water separator, since I assume I may have sucked something from the tank that gets unhappy when hot.
2. I'm not sure if there is another filter in the system that I should check, or if I should flush the line? I assume start at the carb and work back to the tank. I'm not clear from other posts if there is a secondary strainer at the carb.
3. I've also read my vent line from the fuel tank may be clogged. Is there a simple way to check and/or repair if it is?
4. Are there any other things I should check/repair at this point? I've read an additional spacer between the manifold and carb may be a solution, but not sure if that is needed yet. Also read the choke may be sticking, but not sure that makes a lot of sense with the condition I have.
I do have the service manuals, but they aren't a lot of details beyond the fuel/water separator replacement.
I'm planning on doing 1-3 at the dock this weekend, then a test run for about an hour and try a restart at the dock.
Advice/guidance appreciated.
