boat won't start

jssearay

jssearay

Active Member
Mar 7, 2019
116
central ohio
Boat Info
1998 sea ray 215 express cruiser
Engines
5.7 mercruiser w/alpha 1, trailer boat, fresh water usage
new to us 1998 sea ray 215 express.............previous owner got it started before we purchased, the guy doing the prepurchase inspection got it started just fine, started fine when we sea trialed it.........now, three weeks later, i go out to start it.......hooked up water, turned on batteries, followed manual procedures, engine turns over, but no start..........repeated procedure, tried pumping throttle before starting, tried during starting..nothing....didn't want to kill the batteries so i quit, packed everything up, and went back in the house.........i am not a really mechanical guy, but does anyone have any ideas?.....did i not pump enough, too much, looked for a fuel shut off switch and found nothing........battery was still turning engine over quickly and i didn't really smell fuel...gonna give it another try today....thanks
 
Is the boat on the trailer or in the water? I think by your statement hooked up the water it is still on the trailer? So here are some questions....Are you sure the shift lever is in neutral? Has someone bumped the kill switch? Have you checked the fuse panel?
 
Our first boat did same thing. It would not start for us. Turned out there was water in gas tank.
 
Boat on trailer in driveway, water hooked up, batteries charged and on, in neutral, kill switch is in on position, all gauges working, almost like no spark or getting no fuel......will check fuses tomorrow.......tried again today, same results......if not fuse, headed to shop........thanks to all
 
Carb motor?
Any fuel from the accelerator pump?

Fuel injected? How about a fuel pressure test? Or at least push on the schrader valve and see if there is pressure. (Use a rag and eye protection)
 
5.7 mercury carb motor......don’t know what a schrader valve is..........I didn’t check the carb, but I didn’t smell gasoline.......thought I was missing something simple, evidently not......I quit working on my own stuff, including vehicles, long ago.......yea, gets expensive, but you can’t take it with you.......as I say “I love propping up the economy”....hahaha.....just ask my rv guy.........
 
Thanks again for the help
 
try a couple taps on the carb with a plastic mallet- might have a stuck float if you aren't smelling any fuel.
 
update for anyone that cares, took the boat to my new marine mechanic.............problem was gunked up needle valve and a weak accelerator pump...........after a carb rebuild, he tells me runs like a charm...........so picking up this morning, and hopefully get out on the water (first time for me in this boat) either sunday or monday..................
 
jssearay said:
update for anyone that cares, ....
Click to expand...

We do care. Many times people post about a problem but somehow the solution doesn’t get mentioned. This thread becomes a resource for someone down the road that may have the same issue, maybe years from now.

Thanks for the follow up, and enjoy your day on the water!
 
Espos4 said:
We do care. Many times people post about a problem but somehow the solution doesn’t get mentioned. This thread becomes a resource for someone down the road that may have the same issue, maybe years from now.

Thanks for the follow up, and enjoy your day on the water!
Click to expand...
Amen, I hate when the answer isn’t posted, thank you for following up on this, glad she is fixed
 
crappy fuel! now go enjoy!
 
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