I got a boat...help needed!

[Jguru23]

Great shape and looks good! I try starting it and it would turn over but not fire up. I added new fuel and at times I can get it to fire but it then dies when I release the key.

Things to know:
It sat for 2 years with just under 1/4 tank of fuel in it (5 gallons or so).
I could not drain the fuel so I added 10 gallons of premium.
I figured the battery was fine because it would turn over. Dial said 12v.
I charged the battery and it stayed red for almost a day before turning green.

What should my next steps be before bringing it to a Marina?

 

[Scott06]

Great shape and looks good! I try starting it and it would turn over but not fire up. I added new fuel and at times I can get it to fire but it then dies when I release the key.

Things to know:
It sat for 2 years with just under 1/4 tank of fuel in it (5 gallons or so).
I could not drain the fuel so I added 10 gallons of premium.
I figured the battery was fine because it would turn over. Dial said 12v.
I charged the battery and it stayed red for almost a day before turning green.

What should my next steps be before bringing it to a Marina?

First what are you working on year and engine or better yet serial number off the engine.

Did you test the boat out before you bought it?

You need to determine if you are getting spark, getting gas, and have compression.

Do a compression test before you waste a bunch of time trying other things.

Take coil wire off distributor put it near a ground and crank it over see if you get a spark or better et use a cheap spark gap tester.

Pump the throttle (assuming it is carbureted) see if gas is coming our the accelerator pump circuit.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Great shape and looks good!

Sounds like a cut and paste out of the advertisement that got you to buy the boat.

What should my next steps be before bringing it to a Marina?

Take it back to the seller and demand your money back.

I'm pretty serious about my statement above. However, you are likely stuck with buying a boat that it sounds like you didn't test in the water first. Never do that again. If you can't test a boat in the water, don't buy it....until you are an experienced boat buyer.

If the fuel line has a primer bulb, pump the primer bulb. It's possible that after two years there is no fuel in the line.

Scott06 is right. Do a compression test (also something you should have done before buying). It sounds like you have enough battery, so the problem is either fuel or spark.

 

[Scott Danforth]

What are we working on?

Not sea trialing a boat means you just gambled your money and most likely lost

All fiberglass boats look good, however most have structural issues that you can not see unless you are significantly experienced.

Adding good fuel to bad fuel just makes lots of bad fuel

The whole fuel system from the tank thru the pickup and anti-siphon valve to the fuel pump to the carb/injectors must be cleaned prior attempting to run

Do a compression check before spending more money at the marina than you paid for your boat

If the compression numbers look good, then you need to do all the other maintenance the prior owner didn't do, such as raw water impeller, gear case oil, ignition service, and if this is an IO, removing the drive, inspecting the alignment, gimbal bearing, and U-joints

 

[Mad Dog 2]

As was said “More information on boat needed” O/B, I/O or Inboard? 2 stroke or 4 stroke?
The boat may not be a bad deal just a lot of unknowns.

 

[Mad Dog 2]

Problem boats or boats with unknowns bought at appropriate discount can be a good deal.