DOH! Sunk my boat!

[brussell]

Wife wanted to go for a boatride so I put it in the water before lunch at 11am. Went out around 2 and I had forgotten the drain plug. Anyhow it's only 5 feet deep so I dove in with my others boat plug and we pushed it on the trailer. My 83 CJ w/4.10 gears and a Detroit locker in the rear burned rubber in 4 wheel low but it came out. Anyhow, I drained it pulled the plugs and drained the carbs and cranked her over a few times a blew a good amount of water out. Its a Glasstream runabout w/ a Evinrude '88spl. I sprayed a bunch of WD40 in her and there she sits. Am I doomed on this one.

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: DOH! Sunk my boat!

No, but you've got to act quick before it starts rusting. Dump a bunch of isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol down the carburetors as best you can and turn it over with the lanyard pulled to crank that stuff through. Then dry the plugs and re-install them. Then drain the carburetor bowls, and then try to get the engine started (put the lanyard in!). It may take a little squirting of fuel/oil mix into the carbs to get it to fire. Use a windex type bottle for that.<br /><br />Once it's fired, let it warm up and run about 1/2 hour to get good and hot and all the water evaporated. After that, pat yourself on the back.<br /><br />WD-40 sprayed all over the engine is a good idea too. Keeps the ignition system from getting water logged.<br /><br />I'm assuming clean fresh water here. If muddy/sandy you've got to quickly tear down the engine and clean it. If salt, go double on the isopropyl to help clean out the salt right away. Even fresh water is better than that.

 

[brussell]

Re: DOH! Sunk my boat!

I'm not sure I follow. What is a lanyard? Do I need to run out there right now or can I wait till morning. I sprayed the WD40 and cranked her over with plugs and carb plugs out. I sprayed some more in trimmed it up. I was told WD40 soaking in the cyliders overnight would blow any water out when I cranked it. The fresh gas and some Seafoam. I 'll run out there right now though if I need to.

 

[brussell]

Re: DOH! Sunk my boat!

its fresh

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: DOH! Sunk my boat!

Sorry, I just assumed your outboard had a kill switch lanyard; something you clip on yourself which will stop the engine if you fall out of the boat. You just need to disable spark somehow, perhaps you could just ground the black with yellow tracer wire.<br /><br />WD40 does not mix with water. Rubbing alcohol will. You need to get this engine started right away - rust will take out the bearings in no time. Then a rod, then the block when the rod comes through it.

 

[funpilot]

Re: DOH! Sunk my boat!

I would do exactly as Paul says. The laynard is the safety switch that cuts the engine if you fall overboard. You want that disconnected to turn the engine over without starting it. And yes, do it now.<br /><br />Paul's method is to assure that you've removed as much water as possible, then start the engine and cook the rest out so you don't corrode your bearings, reeds, cylinder walls or crankshaft journals.<br /><br />good luck,<br />fp

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: DOH! Sunk my boat!

d/p

 

[funpilot]

Re: DOH! Sunk my boat!

I would do exactly as Paul says. The laynard is the safety switch that cuts the engine if you fall overboard. You want that disconnected to turn the engine over without starting it. And yes, do it now.<br /><br />Paul's method is to assure that you've removed as much water as possible, then start the engine and cook the rest out so you don't corrode your bearings, reeds, cylinder walls or crankshaft journals.<br /><br />good luck,<br />fp

 

[Xcusme]

Re: DOH! Sunk my boat!

Originally posted by Paul Moir:<br /> You need to get this engine started right away - rust will take out the bearings in no time. Then a rod, then the block when the rod comes through it.

Hey Paul,<br /><br />Don't sugar coat it, tell him like it really is!<br /><br />Just kidding....of course, it's amazing how little time it takes for the rust to set in, hope he catches it in time.

 

[brussell]

Re: DOH! Sunk my boat!

OK it has a lanyard. Will Seafoam work as alcohol? I'm goin' to get fresh gas now. Hope it works. I wish I had trash can big enough for the motor. I guess I'll drop it in the water.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: DOH! Sunk my boat!

Just leave it on the trailer and back it in enough to cover the water pump. Then start it.<br /><br />General rule of thumb is that you have about 4 hours before stuff start rusting after air hits it. Probably a little longer since its fresh water.<br /><br />If it has no spark or wont turn over with the key, disconnect the big red cannon plug and manually jump the starter solenoid. <br /><br />Get it running ASAP!!!!

 

[Dhadley]

Re: DOH! Sunk my boat!

Just as an afterthought -- if it's on the bottom, there's really no need to put the plug in. And with the plug out it'll drain as it comes up the ramp on the trailer. Might be a little easier on the tow vehicle.

 

[brussell]

Re: DOH! Sunk my boat!

Well It was still floating and I put the plug in because if I lifted it the bilge output was above the waterline. I didnt want anymore water filling while I pushed it on the trailer, about 2 minutes is all it took. Besides that plug fell out somewhere in there, it didnt fit I guess.As soon as I git it out i turned on the pump and it strted draing. Then I pulled the plugs, water came out, and the carb bowl plugs, water then came out as well. After 45 min or so of draining I cranked her over, just bumped 5-6 times and water came out of the plugholes. The guy at the marina here said use fogging oil and turn it over. Being late in the afternoon now I couldn't get any so I used WD40. Anyhow I'm loaidng up the tank now to get rid of the bad gas. I should have it in the water in a hour or so. Keep 'em crossed.

 

[brussell]

Re: DOH! Sunk my boat!

Alright,<br />Got the alcohol and fed it into the carbs. Put the carb bowl bolts back on( a real ordeal let me tell you, I dropped two down in the engine and had to take of the throttle cable, power cable and fuel filter to get them back, dang brass screws!) Did some hand cranking, with lanyard off. Then bumped it with the key.I got fresh gas with seafoam and put in the water . It took 3-4 minuted but it fired up. I let it sit and run for 30 min. Then sprayed some Deep Creep into the carbs and let it sit. By the way that motor has a carb cover that has to come off before you can even get to the darn things. It runs pretty good but won't idle(it never did very well) and if you shut it down its a pain getting it going again. Any ideas? Are the carbs due for a rebuil? What about plugs and plugwires?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: DOH! Sunk my boat!

if it never idled wel while you are at it a good overnite carb soaking , blow out with compressed air, and rebuild kit won't hurt it. plugs and wires are always good to replace if you don't remember the last time they were changed. this is for starters. luckily it wasn't running.

 

[brussell]

Re: DOH! Sunk my boat!

She could have probably used a tune up and carb kit b4 she went under. I'll try to drive it tommorrow and we'll see. Thanks for all the replys.I've been hangin' on these posts to save my butt for 5 years now!

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: DOH! Sunk my boat!

I'm glad to hear it's alive and well. Normally I don't want to sound like an alarmist but you've got to get on those sinkings fast or they get expensive faster.

 

[brussell]

Re: DOH! Sunk my boat!

problems just beginning. The celebration was short lived. I put the boat in and when I finally got it started it had NO power. Does the same thing as my Bomber w/650 merc. You hold it wide open and it goes about 5 mph. No power at all. Carbs? I dunno.

 

[OBJ]

Re: DOH! Sunk my boat!

Check your spark to each cylinder. Make sure you got them all. Drain the carbs then run on a portable tank to make sure there is no water getting to the carbs. There should be a screw plug on each bowl to drain them.

 

[brussell]

Re: DOH! Sunk my boat!

It feels as if its only running at half power. I had a bad plug wire that would come lose anytime I took the cover off. I 'd change the plugs, leave the slew and would noitce it was slow. I'd stop and reconnect a plug wire and it was fine. Now it fells like 2 cycliders aren't firing. What would cause it?