you're going to laugh HARD

[gunnymartin]

O.K. save the laughs and the ridicule to the end. It will get better.
I don't know for sure I know how to start my boat. It's a IO mercruiser in a dixie. There is a normal ignition switch with a couple levels of switch. The first half turn gives electricity to the accessories (gauges, etc) then the second step is to start the engine.

The throttle is on a long handle next to the Drivers seat. The throttle cable pulls when I push the lever foward or backward. There is a button there that is labeled "bow up" and "bow down". Those raise and lower the outdrive when pushed.... Obviously to change angle of engine. There is a button that is labeled "trailer" that when I push it the outdrive raises to help put it on the trailer without dragging the propeller. There is a button on the bottom where the handle pivots that says "throttle only" that seems to release the handle from cables that appear to be attached to the outdrive.....? putting it in neutral????
There is a button on the handle right where my fingers go when the grip is held that is unlabled.

My question is,
Some tractors have to be in neutral to start.
Some cars have to be in park to start.
Some cars have to have the clutch pushed to start......

So, how do I start my boat?


Thanks for the ridicule and for the help.

 

[Don S]

Re: you're going to laugh HARD

Here's a link to a Merc owners manual. You didn't mention any year but the info will be close enough for what you are asking.

http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Owner/gas/86017101.pdf

 

[oops!]

Re: you're going to laugh HARD

no such thing as a stupid question here.

read what don gave you.....it has all the answers.

DO NOT START YOUR BOAT IN THE DRIVE WAY WITH OUT A GARDEN HOSE GOING TO THE DRIVE LEG. !!!!!!!!!

the engine throttle must be in the upright position and the shifter will seem to be "locked"....

you can use the throttle only selection to add fuel and accellerate the engine speed (kinda like stepping on the gas pedal in nutral)

turn key.

may i suggest that you also take a safe boating course....(we all have, and allways look for more advanced courses )

you can also find a friend that has a boat and ask them to show you how the systems work.

one more thing before you head out on the water.......in the back of your boat.....under the drive leg.....there is a hole in the boat......this is called the garboard drain......the hole must be plugged with a proper plug....if not your boat WILL sink !.....

(and yes....a lot of us have put our boats in the water without the drain plug in......much to our embareassment :redface

cheers and happy boating
oops

 

[SuzukiChopper]

Re: you're going to laugh HARD

oops! you forgot the other very critical step of running the blower before starting!! :-O

Just figured it was worth a mention

 

[wajajaja02]

Re: you're going to laugh HARD

see this post of mine, maybe your problem, too
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=277137

 

[45Auto]

Re: you're going to laugh HARD

Sounds like you've got most of the buttons figured out. Yes, the boat DOES have to be in nuetral to start if it's working right!

The "Bow up" and "Bow down" buttons tilt the drive as you said. The "Bow up" button will only let the drive come up a limited amount. This is because there are a set of side plates on the outdrive and another set on the gimbal ring that take the side loads when you turn the boat. If it comes up too high the side plates on the drive are above the side plates on the gimbal ring and the drive is unsupported for side loads.

The "trailer" button is used to raise the drive up above the side support plates described above. You shouldn't run the drive in the trailer position unless you absolutely have to, it's unsupported for side loads and VERY hard on the u-joints (lots of angle).

The button on the bottom where the handle pivots is used to disengage the drive from the throttle. When you push that button in you can rev up the engine just like a car in nuetral and the boat won't go.

The button on the handle right where your fingers go must be pressed to take the handle out of the nuetral position. The handle shouldn't move if you just accidently bump it or shove on it in the nuetral position. You have to press the little button right where your fingers go to let you put it in gear.

Have fun and good luck!

 

[gunnymartin]

Re: you're going to laugh HARD

thanks everyone. All good advice. One thing though..... what does the blower do? I know what the bilge is and how hte pump is supposed to work, I am reading manuals everyone is sending. thanks for all the good info.
I live in a small fishing village in NC..... not really, but there are a lot of boaters here. I'm doing my best to try to get this thing going until I have to call one of them in for a drivers-ed.

thanks

 

[ziggy]

Re: you're going to laugh HARD

the blower sucks air and possible fuel vapors out of the bottom of your bilge where fuel vapors would congregate if they are present. fuel vapors are very explosive when mixed with any spark source. so the blower evacuates this area of your boat of possible fuel vapors to the outside where they can dissipate w/o issue. it's a very important safety feature of any i/o powered boat. the uscg now wants us to run the blower 5 min. prior to turning the key to start the engine. another very good way of determining if fuel vapors are present is to open the engine hatch and have a sniff. if you smell fuel. don't try to start the boat until you've determined why it smells like fuel. it shouldn't have the smell of fuel vapors at all.....

 

[BodunkPHilroe1]

Re: you're going to laugh HARD

Always double check the "kill" switch. We have all tried to start our boats with the switch in the off position.

 

[rjlipscomb]

Re: you're going to laugh HARD

Simply put, yours is probably something similar to this:

There is a hose (or pair) resembling the dryer vent on the back of your clothes dryer which supply fresh air (in) to the engine bay and a hose (or pair) which exhausts the air (out) of the engine bay. Inside one of the exhaust air (out) hoses is an inline air blower which when turned on pulls the fresh air into the engine bay and exhausts the air out of the engine bay through the exhaust hose.

Remember always, turn on the exhaust blower and open the engine bay cover before starting the boat. If you smell gas, DO NOT START THE BOAT!

 

[wajajaja02]

Re: you're going to laugh HARD

Allways Run The Bilge Blower B4 Boarding Passengers And Durring Fueling.

 

[180shabah]

Re: you're going to laugh HARD

And Durring Fueling

NEVER run the blower during fueling!

You do need to run it AFTER fueling and before restarting though.

 

[wajajaja02]

Re: you're going to laugh HARD

i stand corrected, and every one should be off the boat while fueling, actually people should exit their cars too.

 

[dbkerley]

Re: you're going to laugh HARD

One blew up in AL? this weekend with blowers running while fueling. 34 footer I think. Blew everyone including the dog off the docks and into the water.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: you're going to laugh HARD

NEVER run the blower during fueling!

You do need to run it AFTER fueling and before restarting though.

I have never heard of that. Most all of the marinas I have ever been to have a sign that states "No blower, no fuel" in regards to the I/O's.

 

[SuzukiChopper]

Re: you're going to laugh HARD

I have never heard of that. Most all of the marinas I have ever been to have a sign that states "No blower, no fuel" in regards to the I/O's.

That just means you have to have a blower before they'll fuel you up. It states NOTHING about when to run them. After and not during sounds right to me. You don't want to do anything that'll cause a spark while dumping fuel in to your boat.

 

[wajajaja02]

Re: you're going to laugh HARD

thinking about it, dangerous thought me thinking, the blower could suck in flumes to the bilge from the fueling, so best to run it after it over to vacate the bilge with clean air.

 

[180shabah]

Re: you're going to laugh HARD

thinking about it, dangerous thought me thinking, the blower could suck in flumes to the bilge from the fueling,

That is exactly what happens.

 

[cr2k]

Re: you're going to laugh HARD

Now back to the starting procedure...

After running the blower for 3-5 minutes.

Push the button by the lever pivot and squeeze the handle release and move the lever forward to pump the carb a few times (like pushing the gas peddle to prime the engine and set the choke) then move it slightly forward of straight up just a little in to the "feel of resistance" (slightly open carb). Now turn the key to start. Be ready to pull back the lever if the engine revs too high.

When shifting in to forward or reverse you should shift quickly. There are no synchros in the drive just in or out and slow shifting will damage the shift dogs.

Give it a few minutes to warm up and you are ready.

AND TO REPEAT NEVER start the engine out of the water with out the earmuffs on a garden hose. 15 seconds will kill the water pump impeller and cost around $150 for parts and labor to replace.

Don't forget to raise the drive all the way (trailer) when you remove the boat form the water. Aluminum skegs grind off in about 6 feet and props cost $150.

Don't hesitate to ask any questions here. We wouldn't be here if we didn't want to help.

You can find safe boating courses on-line at www.boatus.com

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: you're going to laugh HARD

Also, keep the blower running any time you are under planing speed (i.e. not at cruising speed)