Well, got the boat on the water for 1st time...many problems..

[The Wright Stuff]

Well I finally got the boat on the water today. It was the first time Ive tried running it. It went worse than expected. I have a 1973 16ft fiberglass boat running a 1988 Mercury 50 HP.<br /><br />Got out there and pumped the bulb til it was hard, raises the fast idle lever half way, held in the choke and it cranked right up, only to die 10 seconds later. After that it wouldnt start. I checked the fuel and the bulb was still tight. Thought I might have flooded it. Waited 10 minutes, raised the fast idle all the way up, and cranked it with no choke, took a little bit but it started. <br /><br />Thought I was money. I was wrong. I visually checked the OB and noticed a leak coming from under the cowling near the tell-tale and a film on the water...uh oh. Removed the cowling and saw that the tell-tale rubber nozzle was rotted and was spewing water into the cowling, no big deal....but where was the film and the oil spots on the water coming from? Followed the fuel line and traced it back to the carbs and there was fuel steadily pouring out of them. NOT good. Let it run for a few minutes hoping it would miraculously heal itself and it didnt. <br /><br />So I knew I was going to have to take it home. Well it was already on the water having taken it off the trailer(stupid me). So I figured it wouldnt hurt to run the OB long enough to retrailor it. Well tried to put it in gear but I could not lower the fast idle lever all the way down without it dying. Another problem. So I just slammed it down really fast and put it in reverse at the same time. That worked. Thought I was golden...wrong again. Backed about 100 feet from the dock and threw it into forward and tried to turn....CRAP. I can only turn LEFT!! It would turn left and back to dead center but not an inch right. So after some carefull backand forth and about 10 minutes I got it back to the dock and threw a dock line. So I just killed it and had to get soaked hand loading it onto the trailer.<br /><br />So overall,<br />fuel spewing from the carb area<br />steering screwed up<br />will not idle without the fast idle lever raised some. <br />rotten tell-tale spout(not a biggie)<br /><br />Well I was thinking this day would be alot more fun than it was. Im just very PO'd about it and just feel really down that everything went so bad. At least it didnt blow up. Thats about the only good thing I can say about it.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Well, got the boat on the water for 1st time...many problems..

Sounds like you need to rebuild the carbs. That seems to be the source of the multiple problems. Thankfully you didn't blow a gear shifting it so hard. That would've been far more of a disaster than all your current problems combined. <br /><br />Not sure about the steering thing unless something is broken in the helm or way out of whack back by the motor.

 

[Link]

Re: Well, got the boat on the water for 1st time...many problems..

BTDT once... 20+ years ago. Since then it's always been pre-checks and start the motor and run it on ear muffs in the driveway before heading out. <br />But at least you were on the water and remembered the plug!

 

[2cycle]

Re: Well, got the boat on the water for 1st time...many problems..

The Wright Stuff,<br /><br />Anyone here (99%) that's honest will admit to days like yours and worse. I have experienced the same frustration and encourage you to look forward to the sense of satisfaction that you will have after you get her going with this forum's help. Once you get the carbs rebuilt, follow the manual specs for setting the idle mixture screws because the engine will not accelerate under load if it's running too lean. I had to learn this on "Frustrating Day at the Lake/Take 2" last year. Good luck!

 

[The Wright Stuff]

Re: Well, got the boat on the water for 1st time...many problems..

Well, I got the steering freed up most of the way. Just took some WD-40 and a little elbow grease.<br /><br />As for the carbs. Exactly how difficult of a job is it to do? Keep in mind I am someone with very limited mechanical know how and experience. I do have the repair manual with the instructions but is this something I can do or should I just pay the $110 for the shop to do it? Thanks.

 

[Scali]

Re: Well, got the boat on the water for 1st time...many problems..

why not try to clean them first, run a strong solution of Seafoam through the suckers.

 

[The Wright Stuff]

Re: Well, got the boat on the water for 1st time...many problems..

I should have done that before I ran it the first time. But with the fuel spewing from the carbs, Im guessing that I blew a gasket on the carb. Was probably just old and dry rotted. So Ill have to have them torn down to fix that.

 

[dszjlane]

Re: Well, got the boat on the water for 1st time...many problems..

Don't feel so Bad about a unsuccessful Sea Trial.I had several of those last season with my 1965 Merc 650 before I got it running just right, But now she purrs like a kitten. All thanks to the help of the guys on here. By the way I also had to learn the lesson of pre-tripping my outboard in the dirve way with the muffs on the HARD way. Good Luck

 

[shipoffools]

Re: Well, got the boat on the water for 1st time...many problems..

Wright Stuff,<br /><br />Take heart! With a little mechanical know how, a good manual and some sage advice from this forum, you will prevail. A carb cleaning is not that difficult and the first place to start, If the moter has not been run in awhile they are probably pretty gummed up folow the manual directions and flush them good with a suitable cleaner. It will pay to get new gaskets and while you are messing around a fuel pump rebuild is a $15 part and about 15 min work well woth the trouble if the motor is gummed up.Also check and replace the fuel lines to the carbs to prevent future cracking.<br /><br />As for spending $110 to have the carbs cleaned etc. if you go this route make sure you know who you are dealing with. This forum is loaded with horror stories about getting older outboards serviced. It's hard to find a mechanic that is more intersted in keeping your old motor alive than his boss is selling you a new one.<br /><br />Good luck! and have fun!