What's the proper procedure to start a cold engine?

[pessemist]

+1 on bringing up to temp before leaving.

I had the same thing just happen to me - in a hurry to leave before a tour boat in high winds. 200 people watching on the tour boat, I pull out of my slip start the usual forward/reverse turn around the end of my dock and one engine quits when I shift. :smt119
Scrambling to get things back in order I stop us inches from pushing my anchor into the back corner of the tour boat. Bonus entertainment for the tourists. :smt038
Don't be in a hurry and let them warm-up.

Agreed. I turn the blowers on as the very first thing I do at the docks (to clear out lingering gas fumes and avoid an explosion). Then after a few minutes I start the engine and let it idle while I go through everything that needs to be undone prior to departure. That way the motor idles a good 10 minutes or so (usually) from a cold dock.

Prior to pulling out of dock I review oil pressure, alternator output & temperature to make sure everything is where it should be.

For cold starts with a gasoline carbed engine you pump at least once all the way to the stop to set the choke. The set it at medium idle (1200 rpm or so).

Note that many alternators do not start putting out juice until the rpms pass 1250 the first time. If I don't hit that then the alt shows 12.8 volts (not charging). Once the engine passes 1250rpms the first time the alt jumps up to 14v or so.

For a carbed gas engine the hardest thing for the carb to do is to start & maintain a smooth idle. Hard starting & rough idle with known good gas usually means an old carb needs to be rebuilt.