Followed FAQ's for summer start-up. No Luck. Please Help

[CougarBait]

I have remedial/no mechanical know-how. I taken on a second project boat. I couldn't stand watching my friend's 1978 Glastron Carlson sit, rot, and oxidize. I have begun wetsanding and polishing the metal flake gelcoat, replacing floor and carpet, new prop, etc.

My buddy only took the boat out once last July.The 1978 Merc 115 ran like a raped ape. Mechanically, it was sound. My buddy did not fog the carbs or otherwise winterize it. I changed gear oil. Last week, I took it out with fresh battery. Motor Turned over. Spun fast. Sounded like it would start up any second, but after 10 minutes of trying i gave up. The motor never started. It has gas. Hooked up and primed. Where do i start ? Is there anything special i need to do for the first time to get it to fire up ? I dont want to continue to sink money/effort into restoration of a friend's boat if i cannot get it running. It has to be something very simple for someone with a basic understanding of outboards, but that someone is not me.

Thanks from the motor city.

 

[CougarBait]

Re: Followed FAQ's for summer start-up. No Luck. Please Help

Ok...so...i cut fuel line short of filter and put in the my portable tank from my run about. Gas is fresh and has proper oil ratio. Check compression on all 6 cylinders and it was 120-125. I could have swore i saw sparks when i started playing with it yesterday...however tonight, I have NO spark. Battery is fully charged. Motor is spinning and 12 volts is getting to the starter. My buddy (who has a little more know-how than i) and I started working backward from the spark plugs to the battery. So, no spark at plugs. Put screwdrive in cap and no spark there either. Worked back to the coil. No Voltage there. Worked back from coil and the wires stray. Some go into a plate on the front of the motor (four hooked to screws on each side). Is that a fuse box/plate ? If so, how in the world is it accessed ? Is there a fuse block/plate on this motor ? Thats where the trail went cold. Presumably 12 volt are getting to this plate but not through to the coil ? Any thoughts ?