mtfoyre
Seaman Apprentice
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2006
- Messages
- 42
So I just bought a 1968 21' Thompson cuddy a week ago. I was anxious to try it on the water but took the week until Saturday to make sure everything I knew of was lake-ready.<br /><br />Saturday I got to the ramp with my wife, kids and brother. I was a little nervous about the launch, but it went well enough. Picked everyone up at the courtesy dock and away we went.<br /><br />Our first stop was the marina on the other side of the lake. My brother wanted some live bait so we swung over there and docked. He got what he wanted and we decided to head up north to the more remote parts of the lake.<br /><br />We were scooting along and were basically in the middle of the lake when suddenly I hear a "clunk" and the motor died. I tried cranking a couple times and it would turn over but not fire.<br /><br />Okay, no big deal I think. I'll just take a look. After 30 minutes of not finding anything obviously wrong with it I tried firing again...nothing. 
<br /><br />So I start trying to get ahold of the park to see if I can get a tow. I can, but it'll take a while. I flag down a nearby boat with tubers and they agree to give me a tow after they get a little more tubing done.<br /><br />We drop the anchor and wait. My kids try to get some fishing done while I look further into the motor. I still have no idea what's wrong...there's fuel and air, so it must have something to do with spark.<br /><br />Anyway, after 45 minutes or so the nice folks on the other boat come over, we tie up and they haul us back. I give them some cash and gatorades for their trouble and we pack up and go home.<br /><br />The next day I was inspecting the motor and still couldn't find a problem. Decided to turn it over to see what happened and it fired right up! I didn't even have to use the choke!<br /><br />I parked her in storage and will try again next week after (hopefully) nailing down what happened.<br /><br />One good thing: my brother and I make a great team launching and retreiving. I think it took us 5 minutes for either one. Not bad considering neither of us had been on a boat in over 10 years
<br /><br />So I start trying to get ahold of the park to see if I can get a tow. I can, but it'll take a while. I flag down a nearby boat with tubers and they agree to give me a tow after they get a little more tubing done.<br /><br />We drop the anchor and wait. My kids try to get some fishing done while I look further into the motor. I still have no idea what's wrong...there's fuel and air, so it must have something to do with spark.<br /><br />Anyway, after 45 minutes or so the nice folks on the other boat come over, we tie up and they haul us back. I give them some cash and gatorades for their trouble and we pack up and go home.<br /><br />The next day I was inspecting the motor and still couldn't find a problem. Decided to turn it over to see what happened and it fired right up! I didn't even have to use the choke!<br /><br />I parked her in storage and will try again next week after (hopefully) nailing down what happened.<br /><br />One good thing: my brother and I make a great team launching and retreiving. I think it took us 5 minutes for either one. Not bad considering neither of us had been on a boat in over 10 years 
