I am the dumbest man alive.

[DJ_Allatoona]

For two days I couldn't get my older, but usually reliable Mercury 75hp to start. It would just turn/turn/turn/turn and not fire. It usually gives me a harder time in the winter, but this was different. No pop, nothing. I exhausted my main and backup batteries before I gave up. That was Monday.

Today, with both batteries freshly charged, I tried again. Nothing. Turn/turn/turn. No fire. What can it be?

I'm too embarrassed to reveal the extensive troubleshooting I did to try and fix this &^%$# ignition. Chased all the wiring, replaced the plugs (which didn't look that bad) and even the plug wires since I had spares. Tested the coil, stator and trigger. All good. Still no start. Just turn/turn/turn. I'm out of ideas.

So by this afternoon, the second full day of beating my brains trying to get this damn thing started, I'm sitting at the controls, the motor cover is off, I'm at the boat ramp on the trailer, it's starting to rain...I'm thinking about who to call who might be able to help me...

I look down and see the KILL SWITCH LANYARD hanging loose. Slow zoom in to my stupid face.

Clicked up the switch. Motor started first pop.

I've heard of people doing this, but thought it was just a myth. I'm an idiot.

 

[jimmbo]

Consider it an Education, and it only took a couple of days of your time.

 

[Dukedog]

have ya forgot tha "plug" yet???

 

[DJ_Allatoona]

have ya forgot tha "plug" yet???

Haha...noooooo. But now that you brought it up, it will probably be my next thing.

 

[Scott Danforth]

take a sharpie and write the word plug on your trailer tongue and the transom tie down straps.

It will help you remember the plug every time.

 

[Dukedog]

I use ta keep two.. one always in tha drivers seat so it would poke me in tha butt if I forgot...

 

[gm280]

You're only dumb if you ever do it again. Mark it up to a slow education and it will certainly be the first thing you now check... So it was actually a long lesson. JMHO

 

[Chris1956]

That is precisely why a '86 Merc never came with a kill lanyard, from the factory.....Horrible invention...

 

[poconojoe]

Yeah, who even uses that stupid lanyard? I can see the absolute need on a jet ski or snowmobile.
They are more of a nuisance on a decent sized boat.
We were once hanging out on our 18' bow rider and got ready to leave and it wouldn't start. The lanyard was there, but that little switch was slightly ajar, not even noticeable. After I flipped it off then back on, it started right up. I must have bumped it during our stay.

 

[harringtondav]

I did the same 20 yrs ago on a beach camping trip when I accidentally tripped the dead man switch. Key to start: fine. Key back to run: dead. Once I figured it out, the sense of relief canceled out the embarrassment. And that lanyard moved to my seat's rear pocket.

 

[jaytintinger@q.com]

Been there done that, only once!

 

[fishrdan]

Not the lanyard, but I took several hours troubleshooting a low gas tank once... Boat running fine the day before, got it home and parked it in the driveway, it started and then died, and wouldn't start again. This, that, and the other, lots of head scratching, then some fuel down the carb and it fired right off. Hmmmmm. Down-hill slant of my driveway uncovered the fuel pickup, and even though the gauge showed a low tank, but stiil some fuel left, the fuel pickup was high and dry. Dumped in 5 gallons, primed the carb and it fired off and kept running..........

 

[Sirrobin53]

I'm not going to tell my mishaps. There just isn't enough room in this forum.

 

[DouglasW]

I did practically the same thing. This boat is the first I have owned with a kill switch lanyard. On day 2, the engine would not start and I was sure the guy who sold it to me had screwed me somehow. Took 10 minutes to think about the switch. It's a good thing I don't live close to that guy or it would have been very embarrassing ;-)

For those of you who think the kill switch is a useless thing, perhaps your boat only goes 20 MPH ?

Try to think about it as a safety device for the people outside your boat and not just for yourself.

 

[DLNorth]

?? What am I missing, If a '86 Merc didn't come with a lanyard, what is this? where did it come from?


"I look down and see the KILL SWITCH LANYARD hanging loose.
1975 Starcraft SuperSport -- '86 Mercury 75HP"

"That is precisely why a '86 Merc never came with a kill lanyard, from the factory"

 

[GA_Boater]

If you launch at the Blockhouse ramp on Lake Allatoona that DJ uses, someone might tell you about the fisherman found in the water a couple of years ago with his boat circling around. It wasn't pretty.

He was reportedly an experienced boater and it didn't help, but using a safety lanyard may have made a difference. https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/dnr-investigates-allatoona-lake-accident/242162718

 

[Sea Rider]

If your engine is equipped with a kill switch lanyard wear it at all times attached to your life vest if wearing one or at wrist. If you're thrown overboard of your combo when solo boating besides having combo running wildly in circles you oould have other fatal escenarios such as : combo going straight to a crowded beach, running into other boat, running straight to Bermuda while you watch it from a distance.

For me securing a lanyard on my wrist is same as if wearing a car belt. Will never know when strange and stupid situations will come about..

Happy Boating..

 

[Rich672]

Like looking around for my glasses when they are sitting on top of my head!