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Started By
Message
Boat surging/bogging down - Optimax
Posted on 5/29/13 at 10:26 am
Posted on 5/29/13 at 10:26 am
I bought a second hand bay boat about a month ago. 2008 Nautic Star 18 ft with a 90 Merc Optimax. When I got it, I replaced the battery and drained the 35 gallon gas tank since the boat had been sitting up for a year. I replaced the racor filter. I took the boat out for the first time and ran it for about 2 hours with no problem. I took it out again this weekend and the boat ran perfect for the first 10 minutes, but started bogging down and killed. I checked the primer bulb and it was soft, so I pumped and started on first crank. Got going again, only to start bogging down again after 2 min. I had a buddy keep checking the primer bulb when the engine started to bog down. Each time, he said it was going completely flat. I could keep the boat from dieing by throwing it back into Neutral. I bought a new primer bulb and will replace it soon. No alarms went off on the motor, so I'm thinking this is some sort of fuel issue? Any mechanics or anyone with advice, its greatly appreciated.
5
Posted on 5/29/13 at 10:28 am to Lee4heisman
fuel pump.... but i just sell esurants.
Posted on 5/29/13 at 10:55 am to Lee4heisman
Pretty much the same exact thing happened to my neighbor Friday.
Bought a used boat, took it out no problems. Took it out again this past weekend and it continually died.
Needed a new fuel pump
Bought a used boat, took it out no problems. Took it out again this past weekend and it continually died.
Needed a new fuel pump
Posted on 5/29/13 at 11:00 am to MNCscripper
I have had a similar problem but it was not the fuel pump. It was a bad bulb. Changed it and the fuel filter and all has been well for a year.
Posted on 5/29/13 at 11:02 am to Motorboat
It could also be the fuel line and not just the bulb. If you replace the buld and it's still doing it check the rest of the fuel hose.
Posted on 5/29/13 at 11:09 am to Motorboat
quote:
It was a bad bulb. Changed it and the fuel filter and all has been well for a year.
Start with the cheap stuff first.
Posted on 5/29/13 at 11:11 am to Lee4heisman
Does the motor have injectors? Also, I would replace the fuel filter.
Eta: Must have missed the racor filter part.
Eta: Must have missed the racor filter part.
This post was edited on 5/29/13 at 11:12 am
Posted on 5/29/13 at 11:12 am to bbvdd
Check the fuel take vent. Next time you run it and it starts doing what it is doing now, just unscrew the tank fill line cap .
What happens is that there is a loop in the vent line. If that fills up with fuel, a vacuum builds up in the tank and then starvation of fuel to the motor. Not good to run it lean if the bulb is going flat.
Oh, there is a fuel filter on the motor. $35 each, unscrew it and dump in something to check it there is junk in it.
Also, the fuel pump has a screen in it that can plug, but I don't think the filter or screen is your problem. Everything is pointing to your tank or fuel line.
What happens is that there is a loop in the vent line. If that fills up with fuel, a vacuum builds up in the tank and then starvation of fuel to the motor. Not good to run it lean if the bulb is going flat.
Oh, there is a fuel filter on the motor. $35 each, unscrew it and dump in something to check it there is junk in it.
Also, the fuel pump has a screen in it that can plug, but I don't think the filter or screen is your problem. Everything is pointing to your tank or fuel line.
This post was edited on 5/29/13 at 11:16 am
Posted on 5/29/13 at 11:20 am to fishfighter
Thanks for the replies guys, greatly appreciated. I will try to find the fuel take vent. My tank is in the floor, any idea where the vent would be?
Posted on 5/29/13 at 11:26 am to Lee4heisman
The vent vents out the side of your boat. Pull the deck cap that is over the fuel tank. The small hose is the vent line. Should be about a 3/4" line. Blow air thru it. An air compressor will do the trick. The vent on the side, there are screens to prevent bugs getting in. Check to see if they are clear.
Forgot one other thing. Inside the fuel tank there is a screen on the fuel pick up line. Remove the primer bulb and blow back into the tank. Have the fill cap off and listen for bubbles.
Forgot one other thing. Inside the fuel tank there is a screen on the fuel pick up line. Remove the primer bulb and blow back into the tank. Have the fill cap off and listen for bubbles.
This post was edited on 5/29/13 at 11:33 am
Posted on 5/29/13 at 11:34 am to fishfighter
I do have a hole with a screen near the plug. I'm guessing that is it. Ill check this after noon. Much thanks!
Posted on 5/29/13 at 11:38 am to Lee4heisman
quote:
I do have a hole with a screen near the plug.
At the bottom of the transom? If so, that is a livewell suction intake.
Fuel vent will be above the water line closer to the rub rail.
Also, the tank vent could be built into the fill cap.
It sounds like you really need to take it to a shop not knowing much about boats or a friend to show you around your boat. Were do you live at?
This post was edited on 5/29/13 at 12:27 pm
Posted on 5/29/13 at 12:09 pm to Lee4heisman
quote:
I do have a hole with a screen near the plug. I'm guessing that is it.
Lee, you seem to have gotten some great advise on here.
I was hoping the guy was still here helping you when you mentioned you thought the vent for your gas tank would be below the water line near the plug!
I don't know your money situation, but just buy the bulb, hose, and pump and be done with it.
Posted on 5/29/13 at 12:13 pm to fishfighter
I had a similar problem with my 250 pro xs about a month ago. Came in from offshore & went fishing the next morning. Boat had been sitting for about 45 days or so. Got 30 gallons of gas (1/2 a tank) & headed out. Boat ran fine for the 1st 2 hrs. Ran out to the jetties & ran down the beach about 15 miles. On the way back the motor started spitting & spuddering real bad. Only thing that helped was continously pumping the bulb. I got it back on the trailer & took off my cowling. I dumped my fuel box into a cup & discovered that I had water in my gas. I had just bought 30 gallons & it already had 1/2 a tank in it so I apparently mixed 30 gallons of bad gas with the 30 gallons that was already in it. 
So I put the boat back in the water at a launch on the river close to my house & proceeded to run up & down the river all afternoon long. Each time it would start doing it, i would stop & drain the fuel box. I drained it 6 times that day.
I managed to burn about 35 gallons before dark. I got 3 bottles of water remover fuel treatment (enough to treat a full 60 gallon tank), new fuel filter & filled the boat back up with premium. also added a bottle of octane booster for good measure...
Problem solved, she runs like a scalded dog again!!!
So I put the boat back in the water at a launch on the river close to my house & proceeded to run up & down the river all afternoon long. Each time it would start doing it, i would stop & drain the fuel box. I drained it 6 times that day.
I managed to burn about 35 gallons before dark. I got 3 bottles of water remover fuel treatment (enough to treat a full 60 gallon tank), new fuel filter & filled the boat back up with premium. also added a bottle of octane booster for good measure...
Problem solved, she runs like a scalded dog again!!!
Posted on 5/29/13 at 12:48 pm to jsmoke222000
Borrowed the FIL boat a while back and had the same problem. Swapped the bulb out and she purred like a kitten.
I would start there
I would start there
Posted on 5/29/13 at 12:51 pm to the LSUSaint
quote:
Lee, you seem to have gotten some great advise on here.
I was hoping the guy was still here helping you when you mentioned you thought the vent for your gas tank would be below the water line near the plug!
I don't know your money situation, but just buy the bulb, hose, and pump and be done with it.
.....I'm new to this man. That's why I asked.Posted on 5/29/13 at 12:52 pm to jsmoke222000
To the OP: I have the exact same boat and motor. I am currently experiencing the same issue except my gas ball stays full/hard. The problem doesn't happen all the time (maybe every third trip or so), and only for a small portion of the day, the rest of the day it runs fine.
I have been thinking it may be ethanol gas because I mistakingly filled up one time with it. I was planning on getting a gas treatment (get rid of the water in the tank). If that doesn't work, I'll try the fuel line.
I have been thinking it may be ethanol gas because I mistakingly filled up one time with it. I was planning on getting a gas treatment (get rid of the water in the tank). If that doesn't work, I'll try the fuel line.
Posted on 5/29/13 at 1:16 pm to TIGERSby10
quote:
I was planning on getting a gas treatment (get rid of the water in the tank).
Make sure you get fuel treatment that is ok for 2 stroke outboards & make sure you get enough to treat a full tank of gas. It's only a couple of dollars a bottle, so regardless of how much gas you think is in the tank, get enough to treat a full tank.
Changing the fuel filter is cheap & very easy to do also. Never a bad idea to change it if your motor is running rough.
This post was edited on 5/29/13 at 1:17 pm
Posted on 5/29/13 at 1:48 pm to Lee4heisman
i blame anything i can on ethanol. fish are not biting Ethanol ducks are not flying Ethanol Tigers having a bad game, Ethanol crappy weather Ethanol. Bad Ceracote on your 1911 Ethanol!
Posted on 5/29/13 at 1:54 pm to Cracker
quote:
blame anything i can on ethanol
If I knew it was going to frick up small engines this bad, I would have opened a small engine repair shop/sports bar and serviced the crumbling fuel lines while you quenched your thirst on a frosty beverage served by some busty skank in cutoffs and ripped up tee shirt.
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