Boat wouldn't start today

Drove all the way to the ramp today and when I tried to start the boat she wouldn't go. She cranked fine, but wouldn't fire up. I tried pumping the throttle with no luck.

Ran the boat home. Checked for spark. Had spark. Popped off the FA and the accelerator pump seemed to be squirting just fine. Still wouldn't fire up.

I poured a bit of fuel straight into the carb and she fired right up. Took her back to the lake and she ran great all day. No issues.

This is the first time since we've owned the boat where she wouldn't start. She only sat for two weeks since we last took her out. Filled her up with fresh fuel prior to heading out today.

No idea what to think. Not sure if I should be worried or not.

Input from you guys???

No lanyard on our '92. No heavy fuel smell near carb when it wouldn't start.

She fired right up this morning and each and every time we ran her today.

Weird.

After sitting for a few weeks, easy to think you were lacking fuel to start up, since you say you had good spark. But, if the accelerator pumps were squirting that would usually be enough to at least make it try to start.

I'd check fuel pressure first, get a gauge on it and see if your fuel pump is delivering to the carb OK.

Then, also wondering if you had weak spark and flooded a bit when cranking. A really good telltale would be, when that no-start happens, to pull some spark plugs and see if they are wet or dry. Good spark and dry, you need to look at fuel delivery. Plugs are wet, you might have ignition problems.

Harder to troubleshoot once it's running great again, but glad to hear you got her running and enjoyed a day on the boat!

Probably a dirty battery connection.

You said it cranked, never mind on the battery connection.

TRBenj wrote: If you have gas coming out of the squirters and good spark but an intermittent starting problem, I'd go with bad gas. How long has it been sitting, where did you get it (high or low traffic station/octane), how does it smell? Bad gas smells like paint thinner.

Gas was only in tank for 2 weeks, but I filled her up on the way to the ramp that day, prior to it not starting. I filled her up at my local 7-11 with 89 octane. Not the same station I always use. First time and last time filling up there (not easy to get around small parking lot).

The gas I poured into the carb when I got back home was what I use for my lawn equipment. It's probably 3-4 weeks old, but I always use stabilizer in it.

I didn't notice any weird fuel smells either. Actually didn't really smell any fuel, which is why I thought it was a fuel problem until I saw fuel coming out of the squirters. That's why it's so weird.

Thanks for all the help guys, I really appreciate it.

Had a similar scenario last month, got strucked by 2 different failures,

first problem was fuel related, boat was unusud for 2 weeks, went to start it, it would take more time than usual, it finally started but it had a rough idle, it then smooth out, so out i went, but still felt some miss, on the way to the gas station it stalled, thats where the 2nd problem arrised, it wouldn't turn over, so I got towed back to the marina.

On the first issue, removed the primary bowl, to find gunked gas like yello shots, it was plugging the needle and seat, so there was no flow of fuel.
Cleaned it, and it started, so up again to my river house...but seems more gunk was around as it would stall if I let of the throttle...so I made it to my house barely..again had to clean the carb, and made it back with the same bad running...during the week I head the carb metering block completey cleaned...
On the no turn over thing it was the battery cable, wich had some tape, removed the tape, and noticed half the cable was cut, and also corroded. I had this failure showing up randomly over the last years where it would turn over heavily or directly no start, but after some minutes it would start normally...
New cable placed, cleaned carburator, now she runs like a champ!

So do not over look this kind of thing! bad gas is everywhere, and the cables should be inspected periodically! I was at the point to change the battery! i would have been a waste of money!

I add it to every fill-up. The marine Sta-bil is expensive, but really over the course of a summer doesn't add up to much. I know I'm burning through gas relatively quickly, but feel better if every gallon is treated just in case.

Speaking of fuel filter. My 93 has a water separator/fuel filter. Spin on kind. Had a starting issue earlier this year. Turns out the fuel filter had vibrated loose a little and had lost prime. Took me an hour to find it!
Worth a check (and probably should replace it if you have not already)

Yikes that means fuel in your bilge

yeah those filters aren't under pressure and if they are upside down mounted I can see how they could pull in some air and not leak. I wonder if Tim Benjamin has checked the suction side of his fuel lines for air leaks on the 90?