Boat won't start because...ah...duh!

[tawood]

Got my boat out with the help of my 11 year old son for some walleye fishing.
I got to the ramp, put in the boat, pulled out with the electric trolling motor, and the tried to start the I/O--- no go! I've ran it several times this week on the muffs with no problems, and I'm a maintenance fanatic, so I was sure everything SHOULD be working. But, after about 30 minutes of cranking while floating around the river: NOTHING!
After alot of cursing I gave up and pointed the boat (slowly) back to the dock. About half way back, I noticed the dead man tether lying on the floor!!!! Bingo! Started in half a second now!
Now I'm a member of the forgotten plug club, AND the forgotten tether club!
Tim

 

[sailors hornpipe]

Re: Boat won't start because...ah...duh!

im a newbie what is a dead man tether is it the lanyard that hooks to your ignition?

 

[solar7647]

Re: Boat won't start because...ah...duh!

im a newbie what is a dead man tether is it the lanyard that hooks to your ignition?

Yes.....It kills the engines if it is removed. You should have it cliped to you so if something happens to you it will kill the engine.

 

[tawood]

Re: Boat won't start because...ah...duh!

Yes.....It kills the engines if it is removed. You should have it cliped to you so if something happens to you it will kill the engine.

I always wear a PFD, but I can't wear the tether when fishing...I have to move around the boat constantly, setting lines, rigging rods, etc. 1 reason I don't fish by myself.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Boat won't start because...ah...duh!

Put that in the data base for the next time it won't start, I ride motorcylces and quickly learned to always check the kill switch.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Boat won't start because...ah...duh!

Those simple things that can frustrate the most !!!

 

[tawood]

Re: Boat won't start because...ah...duh!

I knew it was something simple...I'm just glad I figured it out before I loaded the boat back on the trailer and drove the 2 hours home!

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Boat won't start because...ah...duh!

I'm glad i'm not the only one this year... Got the boat out of storage, towed it home and put new plugs in after spinning it over a couple times to blow out the fogging oil. I couldn't figure out why it wouldn't even pop. Nothing, had fuel, had air, had spark... oh wait, i DON'T have spark, probably because i didn't actually plug the tether back in!

 

[JoLin]

Re: Boat won't start because...ah...duh!

I'm always careful to wear it when I'm alone or when the water is rough. Soooo, I bought my boat at the beginning of last season, was always careful to make sure it was in place before starting the motor, wore it a couple times, etc.

Two weeks ago I was cleaning up and repairing some wiring behind the dash. Removed the kill switch... and there weren't any wires attached to the back of it!

It probably caused trouble at some point and a PO just bypassed it. Had a chuckle over that. I'll be installing a new one.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Boat won't start because...ah...duh!

I'm always careful to wear it when I'm alone or when the water is rough. Soooo, I bought my boat at the beginning of last season, was always careful to make sure it was in place before starting the motor, wore it a couple times, etc.

Two weeks ago I was cleaning up and repairing some wiring behind the dash. Removed the kill switch... and there weren't any wires attached to the back of it!

It probably caused trouble at some point and a PO just bypassed it. Had a chuckle over that. I'll be installing a new one.

I inadvertently test mine at least 6 times per outing. You know... get up, walk toward forward fishing seat, snap.

 

[cvtech1]

Re: Boat won't start because...ah...duh!

I have a 17 ft 77 model Glastron 140 Johnson, when I bought the boat it had no tether switch. Recently had to have the(key) switch replaced and still no tether. Why?

 

[Bluegills Unlimited]

Re: Boat won't start because...ah...duh!

I had a "Boat won't start because...ah...duh!" moments

Sitting in the water, boat is docked. I just drove it here...so it runs, right?
But now I cant get it started. Turn the key...nothing, Click the choke, hear it click, power t&t working, bilgepump working.

Figured it was the starter, and was getting ready to push/pull it onto my trailer when I realied.

The throttle lever was engaged to quarter throttle.

15 minutes later...lol Glad I was by myself

 

[lncoop]

Re: Boat won't start because...ah...duh!

Been there done that. Just glad I didn't damage anything in the motor tapping around on solenoid etc. until I figured out it was still in gear.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Boat won't start because...ah...duh!

I think I bought a couple of boats like that. I went to look at a boat on Craigslist a few years ago, the guy said it had ran fine the year before but absolutely nothing after sitting all winter. Being in a hurry and already seeing that the boat was super clean, plus super cheap, I paid the man, hitched it up and left. (My thinking was that the boat was worth double what I he was asking even without the motor).
The following weekend, I spent 15 minutes looking for the tether so I could try to start it up. I found it in a side pocket tangled up in some old rope. I clipped it in place, turned on the hose, pumped up the fuel bulb, and it fired right up. I never did find anything wrong with it. I was actually a bit leery on it's first run waiting for some mysterious gremlin to surface and leave me out on the water but it never did. It wasn't till I came back in that day and shut down when it dawned on my that the seller probably had forgotten about the tether.

 

[SnapperHunter28]

Re: Boat won't start because...ah...duh!

I think I bought a couple of boats like that. I went to look at a boat on Craigslist a few years ago, the guy said it had ran fine the year before but absolutely nothing after sitting all winter. Being in a hurry and already seeing that the boat was super clean, plus super cheap, I paid the man, hitched it up and left. (My thinking was that the boat was worth double what I he was asking even without the motor).
The following weekend, I spent 15 minutes looking for the tether so I could try to start it up. I found it in a side pocket tangled up in some old rope. I clipped it in place, turned on the hose, pumped up the fuel bulb, and it fired right up. I never did find anything wrong with it. I was actually a bit leery on it's first run waiting for some mysterious gremlin to surface and leave me out on the water but it never did. It wasn't till I came back in that day and shut down when it dawned on my that the seller probably had forgotten about the tether.

Expensive "forget"

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Boat won't start because...ah...duh!

I bought my first decent-sized boat when I moved to Minnesota. My father was coming to visit, right around the fishing opener, so I had to work hard late in the winter with snow on the ground to get the boat ready to go.

I only had one test run before Dad arrived. At the time, I was 59, and my dad was 80. We hooked the boat up, drove to the lake, and I launched the boat really smoothly.

Dad hopped in, and I hopped in. I pushed the choke button and turned the key. The starter turned the engine over just fine. But no fire. It just wouldn't start. I was frustrated and embarrassed. I tried it several times, but with no luck at all.

So my Dad, who had been sitting there quietly, like he always does, said, "You mind if I try it, son?" "Go ahead," I told him, but I was sure it wouldn't start and we'd be loading the boat back on the trailer.

So, he got out of his seat, went to the back of the boat, and connected the fuel hose to the outboard and gave the bulb a couple of pumps. "Try it now," he said.

Now, you have to understand that such a thing is typical of my father. He loves doing things like that. We laughed a long time over that boneheaded mistake on my part, and spent a great morning fishing together. It was probably the last time Dad and I will go fishing together. He's 86 now, and isn't traveling much any more.

A good laugh is worth a million bucks!

 

[Woodnaut]

Re: Boat won't start because...ah...duh!

I bought my first decent-sized boat when I moved to Minnesota. My father was coming to visit...

Great story CA.

I've done the old crank-without-the-tether-in before. On my engine the alarm sounds if it is cranked without the tether in place. Of course, for some people it still takes a minute or two to figure it out.