Boat wouldn't start yesterday

jamespjackson95 · Outlaw Joined: 17 May 2012 Posts: 113

So yesterday my family and I decide to go out on the lake and take two boats. We take my sisters newer I/o and we take my 1989 direct drive maxum ski challenger. So we let in and my boat starts up fine first try. We ride around the lake and begin to wakeboard for a few hours. Still fine starting. I do notice after a while though that it starts to have trouble starting first shot and before I start i have to push down the throttle 3-6 times while the boats off and then crank it to get it to start. So anyways I manage to keep pulling riders. Later we decide to anchor my boat and get on the other one to ride the tube for a little while. We come back to pick up the boat an hour later and it has even more trouble starting. I would still have to pump the throttle a couple times to get it to start but occasionally it would cut off after it decided to start. I keep trying to get it to start it it kept getting more difficult each time until it finally got to the point where it would not start. The batteries were both good and I had plenty of fuel and the boat was not running hot. Any help on how to fix would be awesome. Thanks

ridininmd · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 1231

sounds like vapor lock. Try leaving the dog house open or at least cracked when you shut it off for a while when the motor is hot. If that doesn't help you might have to think about insulating the fuel lines.

jamespjackson95 · Outlaw Joined: 17 May 2012 Posts: 113

Ok thanks so much. I was so worried about what was wrong my parents were going to make me take it to the shop. I read the other thread about vapor lock and I'm pretty sure this is it. My boat doesn't have a blower b/c it has like an intake in the front for the air. Maybe I should invest in one also. How would you go about insulating the fuel lines of the boat?

ridininmd · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 1231

They sell fuel line insulation and heat shields but you can usually get away with wrapping them in aluminum foil.

Take a look at your fuel line and see if it comes real close to your exhaust manifold at some point, that's probably where the problem is, you can either wrap it there or if there is room move it further away.

Have you tried to start it since then when engine is cold? If it starts right up like normal than the vapor lock seems most likely, if it doesn't start then there are other things to check.

Ps205Rider · Outlaw Joined: 14 Jul 2012 Posts: 130

A fast solution is to pour some water on the fuel filter, and on the fuel lines.

Ski Supreme · Criminal Joined: 10 Mar 2012 Posts: 50 City: Las Vegas