Unfortunately, First day out didnt work out

[wildracing22]

I am been stir crazy for 2 months to get her in the water, Finally nice weather she is ready to go...So I Thought. I go to take off for the water this morning and the wife stops me with a excel spreadsheet of groceries. Are you serious? You went as far to break it down on a spreadsheet? What ever, this cant take too much of my time. I hit up the store with boat in tow, 1hr later done!! Finally on to the lake, I arrive at the lake run through the checklist, dip her in go to turn the key and......of course, dead batt.

After waiting around for 20 minutes a gentleman shows up whom had jumper cables with him, he offers to help me get her jumped. Finally Vroom, its alive....yes, im going fishing!! Get ready to back it off the trailer and Eeeeekkk, wtf is that!! I kill the engine after realizing its my belt, this isnt your belts loose eek. This is a pulley has stopped spinning kinda eeek.

I strap her back to the trailer and go home, head between legs

Now, I am back on the computer where I have been browsing all winter dreaming of the day that I resume my affair with the water.

 

[GXL205 Deke]

Re: Unfortunately, First day out didnt work out

Bummer

 

[redone4x4]

Re: Unfortunately, First day out didnt work out

thats funny, my wife has 2 spreadsheets, one for day trips and for weekend trips. actually it helps, cause you can add to it as you remember stuff. As for the boat, thats the reason that I start it up the day before every time we are gonna go out. well, you still got the groceries for the next trip!

 

[Bucks45]

Re: Unfortunately, First day out didnt work out

What a bummer. Have you figured out what's wrong with it?

 

[BTMCB]

Re: Unfortunately, First day out didnt work out

Sorry can't be of help but I can offer sympathy. Better luck next time!

 

[madurodave]

Re: Unfortunately, First day out didnt work out

sorry man. I hit the water last sat all loaded up for bbq and fun and 1/2 way to beach spot, my outdrive sounded like it fell off. Broke 4 teeth off upper, broke housing...yeehaw. Had my buddy tow us to beach, drank all day and played and he towed us back. moma drove us home.

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Unfortunately, First day out didnt work out

I am been stir crazy for 2 months to get her in the water, Finally nice weather she is ready to go...So I Thought. I go to take off for the water this morning and the wife stops me with a excel spreadsheet of groceries. Are you serious? You went as far to break it down on a spreadsheet? What ever, this cant take too much of my time. I hit up the store with boat in tow, 1hr later done!! Finally on to the lake, I arrive at the lake run through the checklist, dip her in go to turn the key and......of course, dead batt.

After waiting around for 20 minutes a gentleman shows up whom had jumper cables with him, he offers to help me get her jumped. Finally Vroom, its alive....yes, im going fishing!! Get ready to back it off the trailer and Eeeeekkk, wtf is that!! I kill the engine after realizing its my belt, this isnt your belts loose eek. This is a pulley has stopped spinning kinda eeek.

I strap her back to the trailer and go home, head between legs

Now, I am back on the computer where I have been browsing all winter dreaming of the day that I resume my affair with the water.

Sorry for your Delima.

I check to make sure everything is functioning before heading to the water.

 

[tractoman]

Re: Unfortunately, First day out didnt work out

X2 on the start it the day before. I also normally put a 2 amp charger on for a couple hours the day before just for good measure. Let us know what you find on the pulley, and the silver lining is, I bet you don't go out with a dead battery again.

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Unfortunately, First day out didnt work out

Yup, doubly agreed, just finished digging the muffs out from under the christmas decorations. Plan to take our first outting for the season this weekend, but first a quick start-up in the driveway to make sure everything is in order. Even got both batteries on the charger for the night.

Man, that would be crappy though, specially the poster with the bad outdrive. That's a crappy, super crappy, way to start the season.

Ian

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Unfortunately, First day out didnt work out

I trickle charge my Batts the night before and I run the motor on the muffs for a few minutes before heading for the lake.

I'm waiting for my neighbors to complain because I'm running the Motor at 6:00am. I test everything becaue I'm paranoid getting stuck on the water.

 

[capt sam]

Re: Unfortunately, First day out didnt work out

learn from it and move on, stuff happens, it'll get better.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Unfortunately, First day out didnt work out

Sorry that happened. It illustrates why I do not go fishing on opening day of the season. The ramp is clogged with folks who assumed that their boat would just start up and be great after a winter on non-use. That trick never works.

 

[ovrrdrive]

Re: Unfortunately, First day out didnt work out

I'm confused... Just who's head was between your legs?

If it was the wife's at least the day wasn't a total loss!!!

Sorry, just trying to cheer you up. Live and learn. When the battery first went out on my old boat for the next 6 months I cranked her up on the muffs in the driveway before I left the house just to be sure. Even that isn't a guarantee but it helps.

 

[wildracing22]

Re: Unfortunately, First day out didnt work out

***UPDATE***

Ok, So i removed the serpentine belt and found the sea water pump was locked up, after so hateful words I finally got it off. Why is it that every time something breaks its on bottom of the engine in the tightest of spots? Anyway, got it off and of course the impeller was mangled every way possible.

I made it to the store and bought a rebuild kit, came home put the new impeller in the housing, reassembled and remounted. Ok, all pulleys are spinning now.

I am new to boating, I bought a set of water muffs today after this problem occured, I now am worried that there may be some other problem though.

I put the muffs on and turned up the water fired the engine and all seems well but I noticed that I am not getting any water out of the exhaust. Is there something else wrong? Should I be seeing water coming out of the prop? I have a Mercruiser 350 mag mpi and bravo three outdrive.

 

[smarks]

Re: Unfortunately, First day out didnt work out

I put the muffs on and turned up the water fired the engine and all seems well but I noticed that I am not getting any water out of the exhaust. Is there something else wrong? Should I be seeing water coming out of the prop? I have a Mercruiser 350 mag mpi and bravo three outdrive.[/QUOTE]

How long did you run it on the muffs? Could be the thermostat didn't open?
Mine comes out by the transom... Also, if I put the muffs on one way they operate better than another way. I have the rectanular type and if I install them with the longer part on the horzontal it dosen't get enough water to the engine and it will run hot. If I install them with the longer edge on the vertical everything runs cool. I'm running a I/O 4.3 Cobra. Hope this helps some. Regards
Steve

 

[wildracing22]

Re: Unfortunately, First day out didnt work out

Ok, Now i am starting to get that warm fuzzy feeling. After a hour of research I am finding info that says that on bravos you will more likely see the water come out near the gimbal ring then the hub. I noticed some water pouring from up there and wondered how? Well apparently it is supposed to come out there unless at higher rpms... Yea, Problems fixed, Cost me roughly a hundred bucks, a couple busted knuckles, and some a sore back but, I'm going fishing in the morning!!

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Unfortunately, First day out didnt work out

Way to Go.

Happy Boatinig.

 

[wildracing22]

Re: Unfortunately, First day out didnt work out

*** FINAL UPDATE****

2nd attempt at maiden voyage: Success!!

We had a great day on the lake, I was overly paranoid about wheter or not the pump was working properly. Everything went as smoothly as one could want and we caught some really nice crappie to boot. Thanks for all the replies, this is turning out to be one of the better forums that i visit!!

 

[justwannahavefun]

Re: Unfortunately, First day out didnt work out

Congrats on your day! Which lake did you go on today? I live in the Columbus area as well.

Chris

 

[DYLBOSS]

Re: Unfortunately, First day out didnt work out

I had a similar day last week. Decided to go out on my own for the first time. Ran the boat with my wife the previous week just fine. Launch the boat, wouldn't start. Drained the battery trying to start her. Gave up, and retrailered. Drove immediately to the service marina that just tuned things the prior week. Of course, engine started immediately. Guy told me I didn't prime the carb enough (5 throttle thrusts prior to turning the key). I've never had to do that before, which bewildered me. Anyway, left red faced :redface: