So the saga continues.....
Saturday, after a fair amount of fiddling, cleaning, futzing and putzing, Lee and I loaded up and headed to the lake. I had planned on pics to document the event, but alas, none were taken. I'll do better next time.
Our buddy was running the zebra mussel inspection station and made it as easy as possible. We had the boat bone dry and I had already Hotsy pressure washed her down, so given that and the fact that she had come out of salt water, the inspection went well and it was off to the boat ramp.
Loaded lunch and the dog in the boat and stuck her in the water. Fired her up, slid her into the lake and took off (well, took off after Lee returned from parking the truck and trailer....)
All went fairly well for a while. The boat performed about as I had expected given she was at almost 8000' and was propped for sea level. About 4500 RPM was all she had, but got on step amazingly well all things considered.
Now the fun begins....
While at about 4K, starboard motor stalls and dies. Immediately restarted while still underway. Same thing happens again, but I avoided a full stall by tapping the choke. Dropped RPM to about 3K and everything smoothed out, sounds like fuel starvation. Repeated the 4K runs with repeated results, then she got better and was cruising at 4K fine. Must have been hiccups from travel and such...or maybe not....
So we pulled into a cove for a bite. Port motor was idling about 1K lower than port, so might as well fix that, right? Well, while sitting on the step making minute idle adjustments, engine coughs and dies, then no start. Port engine has a primer bulb (new Moeller), starboard has no bulb. Wind is picking up as usual and she is heading toward the shore/cliffs/rocks. OK, try to fire starboard motor, no start. Pump primer on port motor, won't get hard and no start. Finally while lee is pumping bulb and I am cranking with intermittent choke application, I get port engine to fire and get us going. We decide to head in and work out the new details. Combination of bulb pumping, choke clicking, underbreath cussing and positive thoughts get us to the ramp.
Get her loaded on the trailer with a fair amount of which cranking and head home. Alls well that ends well.
So back at home, I discover a loose hose clamp on the starboard motor fuel pickup tube on the tank and what I think is a wonky Moeller primer bulb on the port motor. Got her back up and running by using a crappy little Facet electric pump to re-prime the system. Checked all hose clamps, most mostly tight, Racors clean and flowing, quick connections seem tight with no leaks and I even disassembled a couple engine fuel pumps and diaphragms are look like new with no sighs of any leakage.
As of now, I have 2 new OMC bulbs coming and 2 new 13.75x13 props on their way (may have to get them cut down to get 5500 or so RPM, but these were the best "fit" I could find for 8000')
I did sea test the boat briefly in Port of Everett and had none of these issues.
Ah, the trials and tribulations of a new boat....
As an aside 9and to continue to test my pic posting skills), here is a shot off the back as I worked on her in the driveway during a freakish could burst. It was just like the Perfect Storm...
:thup
