Bad ramp ettiquette?

[takirb]

I read alot of posts on other sites about people taking too long at a ramp to launch or load. This intimidated me a great bit when I first started boating, and I actually got pretty quick at it due to those types of posts. My problem now is that my motor may take 10 min or longer to crank if its been a week or two since it was ran. Is it considered bad ettiquette sitting on a ramp that long cranking your motor? I've made the mistake of shoving off prior to cranking, and of course ended up paddling right back. Just wanted to get other people's opinions on someone taking 10min or more to crank up (I often use ramps big enough for 2 boats for this reason).

I've tried to help matters by cranking on muffs the day before, also to make sure things are running fine. But a "hard starting when cold" motor is exactly that, hard to start. Holding in choke for 8-10 count doesn't even work on this one...

 

[JBow]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

Well...not to be a jerk, but if my motor took 10 min to get started I think I would fix it..

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

an engine that takes 10 minutes to start isn't sea-worthy. It shouldn't be in the water until fixed. Your starter isn't going to last long if you continue that.

So you mentioned you are a new boater, so... Primer bulb? Are you pumping it until hard? How about the choke, are you sure it is working? (should be able to hear the solenoid click) Finally, if all that checks out, the carbs might need cleaning. A well running and tuned engine should start nearly instantly, doesn't matter how old it is.

 

[takirb]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

Not a new boater, this is my second boat. The time i had to paddle was my old boat, and i had 2 dead batteries. This motor - the primer bulb primes, choke clicks, motor was newly rebuilt and runs like a champ after it cranks. It just takes forever to start up the first time of the day. Anytime during the day after the initial start/warmup, she fires right up no problem. Its a 77 johnson 115hp. Alot of ppl have older outboards that are hard to start when cold, mine just takes a good 10 min or so when cold and I always hate it if others are launching also. I make room backing down the ramp for other boats to fit beside me just in case

 

[dorelse]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

My 1980 Johnson 235 HP used to be hard to start. I had several small issues that all worked in concert to make mine hard to start when cold. 10 mins is honestly too long, doesn't matter how old it is...something's not right. Its time to find someone who knows old outboards and have them take a look.

I had several things...small air leak at a fuel screen, 2nd fuel pump was clogged, old fuel lines (gunky), etc, and my carbs weren't sync'd correctly....once those were all fixed, it fires right off. I crank it with the choke on a little throttle, (and bulb hard), until it kicks & dies...then a little throttle, choke off and it fires right off every time.

The other option if you don't want to have it looked at is to unload it unpowered using a long rope tied to the bow. Shove off from the trailer and pull it to shore next to the ramp and start it there. Then you're not bothering anyone.

 

[takirb]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

I may do just that. Im going to be taking it out this weekend, and leaving before daybreak, so i don't have the option of warming it on muffs at 6am due to courtesy for my neighbors. I also can't find a trustworthy boat mechanic in my area, so carb syncing/cleaning will have to wait until I have more time to do it myself.

Question answered though, 10 min is apparently too long lol thanks!

 

[veritas honus]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

I may do just that. Im going to be taking it out this weekend, and leaving before daybreak, so i don't have the option of warming it on muffs at 6am due to courtesy for my neighbors. I also can't find a trustworthy boat mechanic in my area, so carb syncing/cleaning will have to wait until I have more time to do it myself.

Question answered though, 10 min is apparently too long lol thanks!

Well, until now, I was wondering why you start the motor the day before you leave, and not right bfore you leave. You already know that you need to get the motor taken care of. I would limit myself to close to shore trips until the problem is fixed. In the mean time, is there a hose with running water for public use at the boat ramp? If not, try to find a place close to the boat ramp, maybe a gas station, or auto parts store that has a hose you can hook up to your muffs. Start your motor and run it for several minutes before you get to the ramp. This is only a temporary solution. Smokingcrater is absolutely right in saying, "an engine that takes 10 minutes to start isn't sea-worthy." Good luck with the motor. Old Johnson's are great.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

I agree with everyone else, a properly running engine should take seconds not minutes to start AN di think you are flirting with disaster here.

What is your starting procedure, you may just be doing something wrong, 2 strokes can be hard to start if you don't do it just right.

 

[etracer68]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

I have a 1987 90HP Johnson, and the choke works once each time it is used, I sometimes have to push it in 3 to 5 times when the motor is cold. Holding it in doesnt make it work more. Maybe mine is differant then yours. But it worked the same way on my 1981 25HP too. I most times start the motor quickly,right after the boat floats off the trailer, and let it warmup while im parking the trailer, and a person is holding the boat at the dock.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

You would be wise to start a thread on your engine in the johnsom forum and get it sorted out.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

Yeah you've got a choke problem. Get that fixed and you should be good to go. These motors don't have real great charging capacity so I'm concerned that after that initial long crank, your battery is going to be pretty weak and may not have enough juice for you later on in the day.

That being said, my '73 Johnson took a little bit to fire that first time of the day also so I used to fire it up on muffs at home for a bit before a I left. Then it always fired right up at the ramp.

 

[takirb]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

Starting procedure - Prime the bulb till it's too tight to squeeze, lift fast idle lever all the way up to "Start" position (labeled on the controls), turn the key to on, then to start, turn over once just to give benefit of the doubt, then hold choke/key in for 8-10 count, turn to start for about 3 secs, bump choke/key while turned. release, turn to start again. I'll let it sit about 30 secs to 1 minute between tries to help save the starter. Then repeat, holding for choke/key in 8-10 count every 3rd try or so. Once she starts, she stumbles a sec like normal, then warms right up and never gives another issue the rest of the day.

My last motor did darn well at using the 8-10 count procedure, but i only took it out in hot summer months, and that's the ONLY thing it did well. Carbs were a mess on that one. That thing wouldn't idle period, and never turned off even when i removed the key and safety lanyard. Having this 115hp running smooth once it's started is a dream come true, so i didn't think hard cold starting was a problem. I'll post in the Johnson Forum.

Admins, please move this post to repair if needed...

 

[robert graham]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

The last thing I do before leaving home for the lake/ramp is start up my motor on the muffs and run it for a few minutes to warm it up and be sure fuel system is "primed" and ready to go when I get to the ramp....seems to work that way, and if I have a problem I can work on it at home and not at the ramp.

 

[takirb]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

I'm glad to hear other people use the muffs at their home day of, thought i was the only one

 

[642mx]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

Yeah.... 10 minutes on the ramp is about 8 minutes too long.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

I had a hard-starting 1988 Johnson 70. Turns out I always had water in the gas. Might check your fuel, seperator, etc.

 

[BTMCB]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

Can't really help much with your "starting" problem. Nevertheless, I feel compelled to compliment you on (1) being concerned that you are slowing things up at the ramp (2) being concerned about running it on the muffs in the early morning hours at home. Sure is nice to see such a "considerate" boater concerned about slowing things down and / or waking the neighbor. Wish there were more like you at my ramp! Good luck and thanks!

 

[takirb]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

LOL thanks! It's not gotten to be a busy boating season here yet, but if i can't get her started quicker by this summer, i'll have to wait till later to launch and muff it up at the house prior to leaving. I never get mad at other boaters taking a bit to launch 'cause i know how boats tend to be sometimes, but knowing that my launch will take at least 10 min after i've backed down, i figured i'd get others' opinions on it. There's a single ramp launch closer to my fishing hole, but i don't use it for that exact reason.

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

takirb. You are skirting the issue. You NEED to address your starting problem. Get it fixed. At some point you will be getting towed in.

 

[dlngr]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

I'm wondering how long it takes to start your car in the morning....