Took new boat out for the first time

aborgman

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Mar 30, 2007
Messages
210
So I took the Mystery Boat (http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=307360) out for its maiden voyage on Saturday.

All in all, things went well... and it didn't strand me on the lake so I can't complain.

She runs out 28-29mph with my wife and I in the boat, and handled nicely during the half hour I was out. There were only a few issues -

1) It's been 10 years since I backed a boat on a trailer into the water - and the rust shows. Luckily it was expected, so I picked a time when no one would have to wait around on me.

2) Either drain plug is leaking a touch, or there are some leaky rivets. Nothing to worry about, but a little water in the bilge.

d) Motor died once: Decided to make one final run down the river and back, (had been running continuously for 20-30 minutes at this point).

Ran down to the dam at full throttle, made a sharp turn and started heading back. A couple hundred yards later the motor just quits. Running along full throttle and just shuts off.

Turn the key - it cranks over but doesn't even try to start. I go back to make sure we didn't run it out of gas, and notice that while we do have gas - the primer bulb is soft.

Gave the primer bulb several good squeezes, turned the key and we were on our way again. Best guess? Low fuel level and a sharp turn made the gas slosh away from the pickup tube in the tank, it sucked up an air bubble and lost prime...

--
aborgman
 

Willyclay

Captain
Joined
Sep 8, 2006
Messages
3,263
Re: Took new boat out for the first time

Couple of possibilities come to my mind: 1) Carburetor float/inlet valve stuck as a result of the "sharp turn" and 2) Fuel starvation from poor/no ventilation of the fuel tank. Good luck with the project!
 

aborgman

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Mar 30, 2007
Messages
210
Re: Took new boat out for the first time

Couple of possibilities come to my mind: 1) Carburetor float/inlet valve stuck as a result of the "sharp turn" and 2) Fuel starvation from poor/no ventilation of the fuel tank. Good luck with the project!

Tank was ventilated - and had no problem running the half hour before, or the 5 minutes back to the ramp after. So I don't think that was it... float sticking - that I can see.

I still think the likely culprit was fuel sloshing to one side and exposing the pickup tube - we're talking about a portable tank with only a couple inches of fule in the bottom of it...
 
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