69Alumacraft
Cadet
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2010
- Messages
- 7
I'm not sure if this is the best place to post this because I'm not sure if it's a motor problem or a fuel tank/line problem.
My step-son bought a 1969 16' Alumacraft boat with a 100 Merc outboard last year for $500. After he bought it, we were able to run the engine up in the driveway without any problem, but when I took it out for it's "maiden voyage" (40 years after it was built
) as I was trying to fill the tank I had to limit the pump to a slow trickle, taking about 20 minutes to put in 5 gallons.
After putting it out on the water (after having to charge the battery) and idling through the marina's no-wake zone, I tried to open it up and it had a hard time getting up to speed and eventually died. I looked at the primer pump and it was sucked in on itself. With the battery already low, I wasn't able to get it restarted and had to get towed back to the marina.
After thinking about it, the consensus was that the vent for the fuel tank was clogged or something because of the inability to fill the tank properly. After getting the boat back home, my step-son and father-in-law tried blowing on the vent port and it appeared to be open and flowing properly.
The only thing that we can think is wrong now is that the metal fuel tank has rusted to the point that the lines are clogged. Before I drop the money on a new tank (I appear to be the main financier behind the boat these days) I'd like to hear other people's opinions on what might be wrong.
Any help would be appreciated!
My step-son bought a 1969 16' Alumacraft boat with a 100 Merc outboard last year for $500. After he bought it, we were able to run the engine up in the driveway without any problem, but when I took it out for it's "maiden voyage" (40 years after it was built
) as I was trying to fill the tank I had to limit the pump to a slow trickle, taking about 20 minutes to put in 5 gallons.After putting it out on the water (after having to charge the battery) and idling through the marina's no-wake zone, I tried to open it up and it had a hard time getting up to speed and eventually died. I looked at the primer pump and it was sucked in on itself. With the battery already low, I wasn't able to get it restarted and had to get towed back to the marina.
After thinking about it, the consensus was that the vent for the fuel tank was clogged or something because of the inability to fill the tank properly. After getting the boat back home, my step-son and father-in-law tried blowing on the vent port and it appeared to be open and flowing properly.
The only thing that we can think is wrong now is that the metal fuel tank has rusted to the point that the lines are clogged. Before I drop the money on a new tank (I appear to be the main financier behind the boat these days
) I'd like to hear other people's opinions on what might be wrong.Any help would be appreciated!