Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

I'll just start out by saying I'm new to boating. By me telling this may save another new boater from a afternoon of head scratching and cussing while others look on.

Today was the first splash of the pontoon I've been repairing, it all started great. Unloaded and it actually floated, I was thrilled. Started motor and it ran great. While my uncle parked my truck, I waited and kept the boat in position by going foward and backwards. Things were going great till I gave it a more throttle in reverse and the motor tilted up and out of the water. No biggie, just a simple newbie mistake not locking the motor down. Mistake 1 fixed.

Mistake number 2 still has me burning. During the time I was going foward and backwards waiting for my uncle, it just died. It restarted but started surging and would die as soon as I put it into gear. In the automotive world, surging means it's running lean. Thinking it sucked something up in the main jet, i pulled the float bowl. I found a few small pieces of dirt or whatever, but nothing that would concern me. Put it back together, it ran great for a minute or two. After 3 hrs of messing while it was in the water, I finally pulled it back onto the trailer. Trailered it back to our cottage 1/4 mile away and started dissconnecting the battery and fuel tank. That's when I saw it. The small vent I had to open on the tank cap. I never knew there was a vent on the cap, now I do.

I learned a few things today, just hope this helps a few people.

Justin

It happens to the best of us.

In the meantime, put the water muffs on it, and run the engine out of the water to make sure it's all working properly. At least you're mechanical. Next time out, you'll be okay.

At least it floats. I've been known to forget the stopper before on a full hulled boat, and had to run with a stick wrapped in plastic bags.

Welcome to the world of 'tooning.
I have a comment on mistake #1.
It is a good idea to keep the motor tilt mechanism unlocked while you are underway.
If you are cruising the lake and run over a submerged log or stump or other debris, the motor can
rise up and over the debris without doing damage to your lower unit. If the motor is locked down,
the debris can tear up your lower unit. The situation you had only occurs when motor is in reverse. Just remember not to give too muck throttle in reverse.
Good luck.

I believe we have all, at one time or another, forgot the vent on the cap and the boat plug! I'd usually remember the vent once the engine started to bog. And as for the plug, my dad's aluminum boat was a little leaky. I'd usually pull the plug once underway to let the water that soaked into the boat, drain out. But once all the water was all out, I'd forget to put the plug back in. Once we stopped, I'd soon realize it as the water started pouring in from the drain. Don't let it bother you. Just be glad you are able to enjoy the water!

I keep my motor linkage adjusted so the motor is un locked in neutral and forward but locked in reverse, and the only time I close the tank vent is over the winter.

autotec.... everybody has one of "those" moments... don't let it get you down..... the very first time I put my boat in the water it wouldn't fire.. brand spanking new boat and motor... just wouldn't fire... checked everything I could think of... had lights, had stereo, just couldn't get the motor to fire.... got pissed off and took it home... 20 minutes later my neighbor comes over and I tell him about the boat not starting... he asked " is it in neutral? "..................... ah, that will never happen to me again..... live and learn, right?

ROLAND wrote:autotec.... everybody has one of "those" moments... don't let it get you down..... the very first time I put my boat in the water it wouldn't fire.. brand spanking new boat and motor... just wouldn't fire... checked everything I could think of... had lights, had stereo, just couldn't get the motor to fire.... got pissed off and took it home... 20 minutes later my neighbor comes over and I tell him about the boat not starting... he asked " is it in neutral? "..................... ah, that will never happen to me again..... live and learn, right?

This happened to me also--
It was very embarrassing--
But funny.

steveiam wrote:

ROLAND wrote:autotec.... everybody has one of "those" moments... don't let it get you down..... the very first time I put my boat in the water it wouldn't fire.. brand spanking new boat and motor... just wouldn't fire... checked everything I could think of... had lights, had stereo, just couldn't get the motor to fire.... got pissed off and took it home... 20 minutes later my neighbor comes over and I tell him about the boat not starting... he asked " is it in neutral? "..................... ah, that will never happen to me again..... live and learn, right?

This happened to me also--
It was very embarrassing--
But funny.

LOSERS WHOE DOES THIS! Especially their first time out!!!

curtiscapk wrote:

steveiam wrote:

ROLAND wrote:autotec.... everybody has one of "those" moments... don't let it get you down..... the very first time I put my boat in the water it wouldn't fire.. brand spanking new boat and motor... just wouldn't fire... checked everything I could think of... had lights, had stereo, just couldn't get the motor to fire.... got pissed off and took it home... 20 minutes later my neighbor comes over and I tell him about the boat not starting... he asked " is it in neutral? "..................... ah, that will never happen to me again..... live and learn, right?

This happened to me also--
It was very embarrassing--
But funny.

LOSERS WHOE DOES THIS! Especially their first time out!!!

Don't let any of it bother you. I've got plenty of "Duh" stories regarding boating. Be glad there actually wasn't anything wrong with the motor. Keep in mind...these aren't going to be your last mistakes.

It's good to know I'm not alone. I think the vent was a issue, but not the main one. I woke up early and headed back to the lake house, played around and still couldn't get it started. What I finally found was a torn fuel pump diaphragm. Thanks again everyone for making me feel better. LOL

Justin

Another thing most of us have overlooked at one time or another is the kill switch.
Been there.....done that!

Adding on to Steve & Roland's posts: Not having the throttle in the neutral position as well as remembering to insure the kill switch lanyard is in and the switch is in the "run" position!
The first one I figured out on my own; the second one took a call to a local Charger dealer. Both embarrassing, but certainly not fatal to my somewhat exalted self-esteem--mainly because I never told my wife!

Okay, just sitting here and remembering some of the dumb things I've done over my many years but this one ( and it has nothing to do with boating ) is my " dumbest " goof up ever... I was 21 years old, just moved out from home and was in my first apartment. Had moved to a very small town for my first "real" job... So I'm in this little apt and I go in the kitchen to heat up a single mans favorite meal, otherwise known as a tv dinner.... now mind you it's an old apartment with old appliances. I turn the switch on the oven and get the tv dinner ready to go in but I don't feel any heat from the oven... ahh, old oven, gotta light it... so I go thru a whole freaking box of matches and cannot get the damn thing to light.. so I'm all pissed off and I call the landlord and complain.. he comes right over... when he gets there I tell him i"ve tried to light the oven for nearly an hour but it just won't light.... he was an older man, he didn't say a word, just slowly scooped all the matches up into a pile and picked them up, closed the over door and then turned another dial on the top of the stove... as he did so, he turned and looked at me and said 2 words: IT'S ELECTRIC....... I could have freaking died.... And THAT will never happen to me again.....

Okay, just sitting here and remembering some of the dumb things I've done over my many years but this one ( and it has nothing to do with boating ) is my " dumbest " goof up ever... I was 21 years old, just moved out from home and was in my first apartment. Had moved to a very small town for my first "real" job... So I'm in this little apt and I go in the kitchen to heat up a single mans favorite meal, otherwise known as a tv dinner.... now mind you it's an old apartment with old appliances. I turn the switch on the oven and get the tv dinner ready to go in but I don't feel any heat from the oven... ahh, old oven, gotta light it... so I go thru a whole freaking box of matches and cannot get the damn thing to light.. so I'm all pissed off and I call the landlord and complain.. he comes right over... when he gets there I tell him i"ve tried to light the oven for nearly an hour but it just won't light.... he was an older man, he didn't say a word, just slowly scooped all the matches up into a pile and picked them up, closed the over door and then turned another dial on the top of the stove... as he did so, he turned and looked at me and said 2 words: IT'S ELECTRIC....... I could have freaking died.... And THAT will never happen to me again.....

I might not have fessed up to that one. That is real funny!

smltooner wrote:Another thing most of us have overlooked at one time or another is the kill switch.
Been there.....done that!

Yeah i almost named my boat Kill Switch!