How - Why does it happen?

B

Bubba1235

No longer on Forums
Joined
May 25, 2008
Messages
588
78 for the high here today and the weekend forcast is for more of the same. Hey, great time to get one of the boats in the water and take a couple friends out and check out the local lake.

So I hook on to one of the ski boats and pull it into the drive way, dewinterize, hook up the muffs, put the fresh charged battery back in, hit the key and nada...

Spend 30 minutes going over everything, starter solenoid is DOA. Ok, I've got one on my shelf so toss it in, reconnect everything and engine cranks but no fire. More fussing around and something is wrong that isn't a five minute troublshoot and repair.

I'm certain it's nothing major and I'll get it figured out but,,, how and why does this happen? I mean the boat was in perfect running order, gave it a full tune up before storing it, put fuel stabilizer in, fogged the engine, etc., etc. by the book. Are there "Winter Gremlims" that attack only boats? My tractor that sat all winter started on the first try and it sure wasn't babied like the boats are so what gives? Are the boating gods rolling on the floor laughing?

It just doesn't seem fair... :(
 
tomdinwv

tomdinwv

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 22, 2008
Messages
665
Re: How - Why does it happen?

I feel your pain Bubba. Did you hold a proper ceremoney before dewinterizing? That is the only way I know of to ward off those gremlins.:p Hope you get her figured out and fixed quickly. Good luck man!
 
ezmobee

ezmobee

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 26, 2007
Messages
23,767
Re: How - Why does it happen?

Boats break way more when they're sitting then when they're used. Best thing you can do for a boat is run it. Don't know why.
 
r.j.dawg

r.j.dawg

Ensign
Joined
May 30, 2011
Messages
993
Re: How - Why does it happen?

Bubba1235 said:
Are there "Winter Gremlims" that attack only boats?
Click to expand...
Yes there are. But not only boats. They are the same ones that after they are done with boats, they go on to tangle up your Christmas lights that you spent two hours carefully rolling up before they got put away. :facepalm:
 
R Socey

R Socey

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jan 9, 2011
Messages
501
Re: How - Why does it happen?

Use it or loose it - ain't that how the saying goes?
 
oops!

oops!

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Oct 18, 2007
Messages
12,932
Re: How - Why does it happen?

moisture in the parts !

it starts corrsion...

that and murphy is a jerk !
 
southkogs

southkogs

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 7, 2010
Messages
15,086
Re: How - Why does it happen?

With the marine industry in the shape that it's been in Bubba, there's a reasonable chance the local boat dealer/mechanic is just breaking in while you're not looking. Just sayin'
 
roscoe

roscoe

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
21,861
Re: How - Why does it happen?

Here is a common winter gremlin.


House%20Mouse.jpg
 
P

Philip_G

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 6, 2010
Messages
634
Re: How - Why does it happen?

uh, because it's a boat and that's what they do?
 
Fireman431

Fireman431

Rear Admiral
Joined
Sep 17, 2007
Messages
4,292
Re: How - Why does it happen?

It's an imperfect world and thing break. It's only machinery...fix it. We don't have to winterize here, but my FIL in Connecticut swears by draining the water completely and using Stabil...period. No fogging or anything else. Covers it up in the winter and uncovers it in the Spring. Every year he puts a hot battery on, primes the bulb, and it fires in 3-4 seconds. No fail. Fogging may not be helping you.
 
Scott Danforth

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
51,887
Re: How - Why does it happen?

Bubba1235 said:
I'm certain it's nothing major and I'll get it figured out but,,, how and why does this happen? I mean the boat was in perfect running order, gave it a full tune up before storing it, put fuel stabilizer in, fogged the engine, etc., etc. by the book. Are there "Winter Gremlims" that attack only boats? My tractor that sat all winter started on the first try and it sure wasn't babied like the boats are so what gives? Are the boating gods rolling on the floor laughing?

It just doesn't seem fair... :(
Click to expand...

well, maybe you need to not baby the boat, and treat it like the tractor? seriously, though, probably had a bit of moisture or condensation which then lead to corrosion. you will find it.
 
FastFission

FastFission

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Sep 3, 2011
Messages
134
Re: How - Why does it happen?

This may be a sailing thing, but I've always been told that there's no nautical problem that cannot be solved with the assistance of sufficient rum...
 
B

bassman284

Commander
Joined
Jun 24, 2006
Messages
2,840
Re: How - Why does it happen?

FastFission said:
This may be a sailing thing, but I've always been told that there's no nautical problem that cannot be solved with the assistance of sufficient rum...
Click to expand...

Well, yeah, for Jobu. Along with incinerating a live chicken. This sport is not for the faint of heart
 
ziggy

ziggy

Admiral
Joined
Jun 30, 2004
Messages
7,473
Re: How - Why does it happen?

I mean the boat was in perfect running order, gave it a full tune up before storing it, put fuel stabilizer in, fogged the engine, etc.,
Click to expand...
imo, dubs is ontoit. ya do the tune up in the spring. my old rig has breaker points. these glaze over every winter. enough for no contact. this equals no run condition. every spring i gotta emery cloth the points to get spark. also. fogging can't help spark plugs fire either. their all oil soaked from the fogging.
i started mine yesterday. like you, it didn't just fire right up. when it finally did i let it warm up. then went and did my tune up. like replace breaker points and spark plugs. set dwell. then she fired up like usual. which in my case is like it's fuel injected. ya can't let go of the key fast enough.
i also go through as many connections i can get to and remove them and emery cloth them too. specially the batt. terminals, both ends of both wires. ya'd be surprised how tarnished the connetors are. dull brown to start with, shiney brass after some emery cloth. a notable difference.
sea trial today if all goes well with work.
hope ya get out soon
 
F

foodfisher

Captain
Joined
Feb 18, 2009
Messages
3,756
Re: How - Why does it happen?

[Murphy was an optimist.... Considering todays festivities, that's good CYA
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top