Boat died today.

[Slippery When Wet]

For people familiar with the St Croix/Mississippi rivers near Hastings/Prescott....Our slip is at King's Cove in Hastings, MN about 1.5 miles NW of Prescott, WI where the St Croix and Mississippi meet. We headed down to Prescott, turned up the St Croix and headed north, got about 3 more miles and while cruising at about 25 MPH my engine cut out, I pulled the throttle back to neutral and then the engine died. It cranks over just fine but will not fire at all. We were dead in the water. Drifting toward the rocky bluff on the east side of the river, I quickly drug out the anchor. I called for help on the VHF radio, but nobody was there. I had my cell phone but had no clue who to call. Finally I got an answer on the VHF from a boater in Prescott that was willing to give me a hand. He towed me back to Prescott to Leo's Landing. I offered him $40 (all the cash I had) and he only accepted $20. From there I had to hire a tow for the mile and a half to our Marina. They charged me for 2 hours even though it only took just over 30 mins to get there. $250...luckily my ins should pay for it with no deductible.

Anyway, the tow boat operator that works for the Marina in Prescott suspects it may be the Fuel Regulator Solenoid that is supposedly known to be a common problem with MerCruiser engines.

Does anybody have any ideas/opinions or similar experience with this issue?

Thanks!

 

[mjmiron]

Sorry to hear about your troubles!
Glad you acted quick enough to keep your boat off the rocks, river is moving pretty swift this week.
I was planning on anchoring north of the Prescott bridge today, I'm in Miss Croix - weather was too iffy so we stayed home instead. I would have been there to help otherwise.
Good luck on your engine issues...

 

[Summer Fun II]

SWW, That really sucks .

They charged me for 2 hours even though it only took just over 30 mins to get there. $250.

WOW I'm not charging enough when I tow someone in. :smt021.

Your tow I would of charged you maybe $75 to $100 bucks. :smt001

 

[billnpat]

SWW, That really sucks .
WOW I'm not charging enough when I tow someone in. :smt021.

Your tow I would of charged you maybe $75 to $100 bucks. :smt001

Hey wayne...will you come get us and tow us to Oneida Lake N.Y???
:thumbsup: for drinks and food???? its only a skip and jump away :smt021

 

[Slippery When Wet]

SWW, That really sucks .
WOW I'm not charging enough when I tow someone in. :smt021

They can charge that much because they are licensed and authorized by Ins companies. I would never have paid that much out of my pocket. I am sure there were plenty of willing boats that would have towed me a mile and a half for $50. Hell, the guy that towed me 2-3 miles to Prescott didn't even ask me for money...his wife turned down my offer completely, but I didn't take no for an answer and asked her husband to take it, he only took $20 of the $40 I had on me.

Any clue what my problem could be? :huh:

 

[Summer Fun II]

No Bill. :grin:

Ok SWW, Lets start with the simple things first,
1 Do you have a electric fuel pump ?. If yes did it come on
2 Did you check all the fuses ?.
3 Was the lanyard plugged in tight ?

Thats all I can help you with. I'm a OMC guy. :smt001

 

[Slippery When Wet]

Ok SWW, Lets start with the simple things first,
1 Do you have a electric fuel pump ?. If yes did it come on
2 Did you check all the fuses ?.
3 Was the lanyard plugged in tight ?

Thats all I can help you with. I'm a OMC guy. :smt001

1. No idea?
2. Nope, I did not.
3. Yes, I did check that first thing...been there, done that. :grin:

Thanks!

 

[Firerooster]

I am with Wayne.... Given it's a 2002. I say it's a fuel pump fuse! Evenif the fuses look good... Start changing them 1 at a time. Don't ask how I know this....

 

[Slippery When Wet]

I am with Wayne.... Given it's a 2002. I say it's a fuel pump fuse! Evenif the fuses look good... Start changing them 1 at a time. Don't ask how I know this....

Where do I find this fuse?

 

[Firerooster]

Open the engine. Compartment. Looking at top of the motor. On your right there should b a metal cover that flips open. Attached to the top of the cover are three fuse holders. Gently lift the locking tab and slide the fuse and wires out. Change said fuse. Turn on the key. You should hear the fuel pump run for about three seconds and shut off. Seriously tho. Whether or not the fuse looks good. Try changing them one at a time.

 

[Slippery When Wet]

Open the engine. Compartment. Looking at top of the motor. On your right there should b a metal cover that flips open. Attached to the top of the cover are three fuse holders. Gently lift the locking tab and slide the fuse and wires out. Change said fuse. Turn on the key. You should hear the fuel pump run for about three seconds and shut off. Seriously tho. Whether or not the fuse looks good. Try changing them one at a time.

Thanks! I am about 17 miles from my boat, but I will run down there tomorrow after work to check it out. I am going to call the marina tomorrow too to get it in asap. I doubt they will be able to look at it tomorrow, so I will check it out myself in the meantime. I am hoping to get this fixed ASAP as there are only so many weekends in our boating season here in Minnesnowta. :smt009

Here is a pic of an engine like mine. Could you tell me more precisely where this fuse panel is? Is it right behind that oil filter?

 

[Firerooster]

Well mine is a 7.4l and has a cover on the right between the riser and the intake manifold. Urs does not. But from the pic it looks as if the fuses are mounted three in a row right next to the riser there on the right. They are in a water tight clip. Individual fuse holders.

 

[HIRISC]

Sorry about your troubles. That must have been a little scary with the current. Sounds like you handled it well.

G/L with your fix - hopefully it's just a fuse.

 

[Slippery When Wet]

Well mine is a 7.4l and has a cover on the right between the riser and the intake manifold. Urs does not. But from the pic it looks as if the fuses are mounted three in a row right next to the riser there on the right. They are in a water tight clip. Individual fuse holders.

Thanks, I will check it out tomorrow, and I will bring my manual(s) with me. :thumbsup:

 

[Firerooster]

Good luck my friend. Let us know if there is anything else we can do. Wish I coulda saved you the tow....

 

[Slippery When Wet]

Good luck my friend. Let us know if there is anything else we can do. Wish I coulda saved you the tow....

Thanks, no worries about the tow, my ins will cover that.

I just read through the manual and it showed those 3 fuses. But it also said to find the cause of the overload before replacing the fuse. Which makes sense...."something" caused the fuse to blow (if that indeed is the problem). I wonder if there would be a code in the ECM for something like this?

 

[Firerooster]

Honestly just try changing it. If it blows again then u know u have another problem.... But I have had mine go out. ( it looked fine not burnt, but changed it and solved my problem). I have changed a few for other boats out stranded on the water and they fired right up and have not had issues since. ( made a few friends from these fuses). For whatever reason they just go bad over time?????

 

[Slippery When Wet]

Thanks! :thumbsup:

 

[Firerooster]

Any luck?

 

[Slippery When Wet]

Any luck?

I am at work and won't be able to make it down to the Marina until early evening.