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We're floating!!!!

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Kas
Deckhand

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USA
16 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/31/2004 : 13:05:32

Hi All,

After what seemed like forever, we finally have a boat that floats in our slip!

We put her in yesterday and I checked on her early this morning (didn't get much sleep last night) and she hadn't taken on any water, which seems to be an unusual condition for our boat. So we're happy campers and looking forward to many good times on our boat this summer.

I have a question about some engine problems I'm having though. I have an 86 or 87 Johnson sailmaster long shaft and it seems quirky. It takes many tries to pull start the beast, and by the time it starts I usually am totally whipped and have a headache from the exertion. Earlier this season before the new wing keel leaked, we had the boat in and the engine hooked up to battery for the electric start with a freshly charged dual purpose battery and the engine started great with the push of a button. We had never been able to get it to work before and I thought this was better than a cold beer on a hot day. Anyway, we were only able to use the electric start maybe five times before it stopped working. I push the button now and there is no response at all. Could this simply be that we need to recharge the battery? The only use the battery had gotten otherwise had been to test the lights, and use the depth finder a bit. But since we had not recharged the battery since we put it on the boat, I'm hoping that we just need to recharge the battery.

Any ideas?

Thanks ya'll!

Kelly
Adventurous #5553
1987 C25 SR/SK2WK

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 07/31/2004 : 15:28:44

Check the fluid levels, recharge the battery and make sure your connections are clean and tight.

A lead-acid battery loses a bit of charge every day, even with nothing connected. The best thing you can do to extend battery life is to never let it sit in discharged condition.

Edited by - on

atgep
Master Marine Consultant

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1009 Posts

Response Posted - 07/31/2004 : 16:46:04

Congrats on the floating boat first of all. Remember, it is the small victories that win the war.

The engine:
I have had my share of gremlins on my 96 sailmaster. The only thing that it has done right is start reliably. 3 pulls and it starts.

Your problem sounds like an ignition problem. Could be a weak spark at hand cranking speed that is corrected with the starter. Check for a bright blue spark with the plug removed and the plug grounded.

If you are mechanicly inclined you might be able to read out the ignition system. Parts can be had at NAPA through the "Siera catalog" It is a marine parts catalog that Napa keeps behind the counter.

If you cannot come up with anything simple here consider a mechanic. The engine should start by hand to give me a warm/fuzzy. It cost me 2 hours worth of labor to fix my wayward carb that never was quite right before. Even if I sell it which I am leaning to, I will get a lot more $$$ because it runs well now.

Good luck, Tom.

Edited by - on

atgep
Master Marine Consultant

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1009 Posts

Response Posted - 07/31/2004 : 16:54:03

I forgot that you have an OLD style 9.9 They were better motors that the plastic riddled thing I have. Check out this link for everything you ever wanted to know about your motor.

http://www.pugetsoundanglers.org/Fishing%20Info/Johnson%209.9_15.htm

The info there is as good as it gets..

Tom.

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 07/31/2004 : 19:13:25

A thought about the hard starting... has the gasoline (pre-mixed?) been sitting around for months? Might be a case of 'stale fuel'.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 07/31/2004 : 21:00:27

I seem to remember that my old Johnson 9.9 required that I have the throttle in a certain postion when starting. After having found the sweet spot, starting the motor became a one pull affair.

Edited by - on

Kas
Deckhand

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USA
16 Posts

Response Posted - 07/31/2004 : 22:26:55

Thanks guys. I'll check the fluid levels and re-charge the batteries. And thanks for the link too. I don't think I'm mechanically inclined enough to work on my own engine, but I suppose I could try during the off season. What's the worst that could happen, right?

Edited by - on

megrier
1st Mate

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USA
55 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2004 : 10:01:56

I have the same exact issue with my sailmaster. If I keep a good charge on the battery it will start right up with full choke. If the battery gets too weak, it will not crank the engine at all. I thought that I had a bad conection for the starter botton originally. After giving the battery a full charge it worked fine again.

I have 2 batteries and only use the starting battery to start the engine and use the deep cycle for lights and radios.

Greg

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2004 : 15:37:51

I have an 82 9.9 johnson sailmaster, I use two car batteries in the starboard settee. I have never had an issue with insufficient power. My power switch is set to "both" 24/7. I sail with a stereo running four speakers, an iPod playing and charging at the same time, a GPS, a Hummingbird, my phone plugged in and charging, and at night my lights. My shore-power charges my batteries from my guest charger, I never run the engine more than 5 minutes so it does not contribute to the charging much. I had problems with my motor due to over heating from a bad impeller and used to crank for extended periods of time, (to no avail). I have never seen any degradation of the power available to me. It sounds like your starter is drawing too many amps. When I bought my boat and OB the start switch was bad, they do die.

Edited by - Frank Hopper on 08/02/2004 15:39:19

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2004 : 07:28:21

Thanks for all your help guys. I think I'll try re-charging the batteries. Unfortunately, our new marina does not have shore power so I have to lug the beasts all the way home. No complaints though, really. I love my new dock! Much better than dry-slipping.

Edited by - on

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.