Frantic first time out

[scottnjay]

After reading some of the posts here I figured I would add my own first time. I had just bought my first boat used and took it to the lake to have some fun fishing. It was a cold rainy day, and the lake was really low. An experienced buddy and I were looking for walleye, but since the lake was so low we weren't sure where to go. We were in about 6 feet of water and the wind was drifting us towards shore (about 1/2 mile away) and it just kept getting shallower and shallower. In about 3' we decided that we better move since we weren't catching anything anyway but the motor wouldn't start. I tried everything, but it just wouldn't crank over. So I figured my battery was too far dead so we would just use one of the trolling batteries. I was still pretty calm, but getting more worried all the time. We got the trolling battery out and swapped, but this didn't work either so we then had to put it back in and try to use the troller to get home. We were in about 2.5 feet of water at this point and I was getting both pissed and frantic since I couldn't get the troller to work with the battery back in due to the lousy contact I was able to get. At this point I was just starting to use the paddle to go into a 5 MPH headwind when my buddy smacks the throttle and gets the motor to start. We were in a little over 2 feet when we finally got moving. If we hadn't got it going it would have been 1/4 mile hike in 2 feet of water not counting muck dragging a boat to shore. After that I let the motor run almost all day I was so scared to shut it off, but we caught the only two walleye had that day so I guess it was worth it. Now I can laugh about it. At least my wife wasn't with me. She'd have never set foot in the boat again.

 

[PatPatterson]

Re: Frantic first time out

I had a similar situation, but it was pure stupidity on my part. We had been out fishing for a couple of hours, and not getting much done, so we decided to move. I cranked, and nothing happened. Checked everything out, and couldn't figure out what was wrong. I was beginning to worry about it, because we were a mile and a half from the ramp, and I didn't relish the idea of going all the way back on the trolling motor. I got up to go over everything one more time, resigned to the long troll. Couldn't find anything at all. Went up to put the trolling motor in the water, and when I bent down to get it, there, hanging from my belt loop, was my kill lanyard. I had gotten up to anchor, and not removed it from my belt loop. Replaced it, and she started right up. I felt 1" tall.

 

[beezee28]

Re: Frantic first time out

Capt Kidd, been there and done that. I was out on my friend's boat, we both were fishing and was packing up to get back to the dock. Start the engine and was running fine. It was getting rough getting back to dock and hit some wave about 2 feet tall. Suddenly the enigine quit running. It was an outboard, took the cover off and check all the connection and also the fuel buld to see that fuel was flowing. Gas tank was half full. My friend thought that the plug was bad and since he has spare the change those and still the engine would not start. By now it was dark and eventually he called for help and was towed back to dock. Left everything as is on the boat and the next day he had a mechanic to look at the problem. In a matter of a few seconds the mechanic told him that the kill switch was not set in properly. He push it into place and the engine start the first time he hit the switch. The mechanic charge him a hour's worth. BTW, did not catch any fish...

 

[ndemge]

Re: Frantic first time out

had a similiar on my '71 van<br /><br />Wouldn't start, figure selenoid on the starter<br />...remove starter, put on new selenoid, still nothing........<br /><br />As my dad drives up the driveway (he lives next door) he yells from his window, "Put it in Neutral!"<br /><br />Fires right up. It was JUST out of park and Neutral safety switch engaged, so close I didn't notice on the PRNDL. Oh well, it's got a new selenoid now.

 

[Tom2697]

Re: Frantic first time out

I had a similar experience with the kill switch only I was about 6 miles from my dock when my engine quit. Turns out, I forgot the lanyard at home yet the engine still ran! Salt corrosion interfered with the contacts. Eventually, the switch cleaned itself and refused to let the motor restart. I was fortunate enough to have some 100# leader onboard that, when wrapped around the pin, allowed the motor to run. I now keep an extra lanyard on board and clean the switch fairly regularly.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Frantic first time out

Originally posted by ndemge:<br /> <br />As my dad drives up the driveway ... he yells from his window, "Put it in Neutral!"<br /><br />

You know how your outboard won't start in gear? Well mine died on Toledo Bend one windy day last winter, bumped a tree-top while easing through an uncleared area. I had the cover off ready to start trouble-shooting before I discovered it was still in forward.<br /><br />I've also done the lanyard thing at least twice this summer. I bet that's more common than launching unplugged.