Search results

  1. Captain Caveman

    Pontoon boat vs. Open Deck for Lake - Total newbie

    We have boats of every kind on our lake. What I generally see are pontoons pulling young kids on tubes in a straight line. If you have kids that want the thrill of twists and turns, you'll need a more nimble boat. Used pontoons are/were a reasonably priced option, which could pair well if you...
  2. Captain Caveman

    Who has starting doing all their own maintenance?

    I am 45 and do most of my own maintenance on my 60yr old small outboards, and also my 2009 Suzuki 90hp. With 12 years of use under its belt, I took the Suzuki in last fall and paid $725 for them to do a full winterization, impeller, plugs, etc. This spring I noticed that they didn't tighten the...
  3. Captain Caveman

    What does the choke do on a Suzuki EFI??

    I didn't write that very well. My boat motor has the new IAC valve in it, so it is starting and running great now. The shop gave me the old IAC valve. That's what I was trying to send 12v through on the bench. You are right. I can't make it properly work.
  4. Captain Caveman

    75hp Suzuki running hot

    What makes you think that it is overheating? Having you checked the temperature? My Suzuki is newer so I am not familiar with whether or not yours has a temp alarm like Sea Rider mentioned. This could be so many things beyond just overheating. If it is pushing out water and the same rate as...
  5. Captain Caveman

    What does the choke do on a Suzuki EFI??

    I got my boat back with the old IAC valve. It is stuck in the closed position when I try sending electricity through it. It is running great again, starting without issue.....Case closed.
  6. Captain Caveman

    Claims its a cracked engine block

    First of all, this isn't your problem legally. Morally it could be but it doesn't sound like it to me. The buyer, who knows nothing about boat maintenance, is relaying what a friend (who might be some kind of mechanic) told her....that it's a cracked head caused by lack of winterization. I...
  7. Captain Caveman

    Why's the boat leaking?

    Adding a float to a manual bilge pump is super easy. If I remember you just slap it on the bottom, tighten a few screws, and voila. You can also cheaply buy a flexible camera for your cell phone. They sell them in hardware stores to help you see behind walls, in pipes, etc. Using that to see...
  8. Captain Caveman

    Going electric vs marinas

    As with all things, it doesn't happen in a blink of the eye. J.B. Straubel who was one of the guys that started Tesla (before Elon Musk) started a company called Redwood Materials that is focused on closing the battery loop so that they are 100% recycled. Not there yet but there are people...
  9. Captain Caveman

    Very Disappointed, Thoughts

    I'll be honest, I don't know why you're even telling any of us. They obviously either sent you the wrong one or didn't follow through correctly on your order. Call the lady, tell her that you will ship it back on their nickel, and ask her to read all of the specs to you before promising to...
  10. Captain Caveman

    What does the choke do on a Suzuki EFI??

    That's exactly what I was thinking, because normally the IAC shouldn't affect startup unless it died and stayed well below the 60% open position.
  11. Captain Caveman

    What does the choke do on a Suzuki EFI??

    The dealer talked with Suzuki techs and have narrowed it down to a faulty IAC (idle air control) valve, that led to fouled plugs and other issues. I'm waiting for them to get a new IAC installed.
  12. Captain Caveman

    Going electric vs marinas

    My assumption is that he is talking about re-charging a boat in transit from Point A to Point B, not just charging in a slip at the end of the day. On the big inland lake where I boat, most resorts have a slip or two at the end of the docs next to a gas pump. If you have to charge multiple...
  13. Captain Caveman

    Tying to dock/reaching it

    ....or pull you out of the boat. It's probably my #1 rule with guests in the boat. Stay seated until I have the boat tied up. If I need your help, I will ask and give you specific instructions. Do not stand up and grab a post outside of the boat!
  14. Captain Caveman

    Tying to dock/reaching it

    At the single boat launch that I use, I pull up to the other side of the dock and tie up from the driver's side. Then I hook up my landing rope, back in my trailer, and then manually push my boat around to the other side while also using the landing rope. You could also ease up to the end of...
  15. Captain Caveman

    What does the choke do on a Suzuki EFI??

    Looked at a few parts diagrams and you're right, it is a fast idle lever. I always assumed it was a manual choke to close the butterfly on carbureted motors. That is why I was confused as to why it did anything on my EFI. Now I know that it is an idle lever. Case solved. Much obliged!
  16. Captain Caveman

    What does the choke do on a Suzuki EFI??

    My 2009 Suzuki DF90A was on the fritz this weekend. I was 20 miles away from my cabin when the low voltage alarm went off. It turned over but wouldn't start, tilt/trim wouldn't work, etc. I disconnected everything from the battery, cleaned all of the connections, tightened everything, squeezed...
  17. Captain Caveman

    Getting out of the boat

    Some of the lakes here in Minnesota (White Bear Lake) with the worst power loading damage have signs asking boaters not to do it. To the OP - shimmy down as others said. I bought grip tape and put it down the lengths of my trailer frame so that when it gets wet I won't slip into the water as...
  18. Captain Caveman

    How old is your outboard?

    Main boat has a 2009 Suzuki, but my 12ft Starcraft has two options: a 1957 Johnson Seahorse 3hp or a 1960 Johnson Seahorse 5.5hp. I channel my inner Walter Matthau when sneaking up on my fishing holes.
  19. Captain Caveman

    To Replace Or Not Replace

    I guess that you're right. I always do them at the same time, so I guess in my head, I was thinking that they were linked. Thanks!
  20. Captain Caveman

    Engine Alarm At Idle, Then Slowly Fades Out. Possible Idle Overheat

    I guess my first test would be in the water again, playing with the trim to see if that continues to cause the alarm. If so, it sounds like an electrical problem. You could also change the motor's trim in different water depths just to ensure that it's not causing the problem. Other things to...
Top