bummed about boat

[grown in Tx]

We went out to Dickinson bay Sunday boat was running good. We were fishing the north shore line of San Leon using the trolling motor for about an hour and a half. I went to start the boat and it would not start. I wore the motors battery down and switched to the trolling motor battery and still no start. I didn't completely drain it so we could use the trolling motor to get 2 miles back to the boat ramp. We made it about mile when that battery died, luckily a lady with her dog and 2 teens in a moomba towed us in. Sooo embarrassing. Anyway, got it back to the house and my battery charger took a dump. So now I feel I can't trust the motor. It's sometimes hard to start cold but once it fires up it was always good the rest of the day, just barely bump the key and it would start. Last time this happened in my first little aluminum boat with 25hp seahorse I never ran that boat and motor again. The motor went to the barn and the boat went to the scrap yard. I had my wife and youngest daughter with me. I don't want to do that again with this boat. Money is kinda tight and I don't want to go through that again so it looks like I'm out of the game for the fall and winter, Lord I hope I can have it going by next spring.

[kenny]

Buy a new battery.

[Ibtsoom]

Maybe it just needs a tune up. Start with plugs and go from there. Hopefully it's something simple.

[ROGUECUSTOMRODS]

Might just be something as little as corrosion on your connections or in your wiring. Had it happen to me before. Motor didnt have enough volts to start. Good luck bro. Dont give up

[Puddle pirate]

I would check everything that's not gonna cost me anything to check. Fuel, fuel lines, wiring, plugs,carbs. Not saying that you don't maintain your boat but maybe you missed something!

[grown in Tx]

It's time for a major tune-up, it's a '77 very strong running seahorse, while it's down I'm gonna replace all/most external parts including carbs so I don't have to worry about anything. I need to re-finish the hull also. I had planned on doing all this it's just a couple months sooner than I planned.

[Robalo]

Do you have a kill switch? Had mine corrode and wire come free on 2 different boats I owned.

[SCHU]

If the kill switch is off the key or corroded, it will not start. I'd start with something simple if it got you to where you were.

[grown in Tx]

That throttle/shifter lever and cable are the original from the looks of them. I'll start the trouble shooting process this weekend. Where's the best place for parts for old Johnson motors? I got my can kits from Wholesale marine and my steering cable from marine max. That's about the only 2 I know of.

[grown in Tx]

I really appreciate all the positive feedback, thanks

[grown in Tx]

I do have one performance question, I was told a long time ago you can use bigger carbs and get a little extra power? Just wondering if I can get a little more power after the "tune up" is done. it's a 85 horse, I'm not trying to make a hot rod but....I reckon it's like when we used to go get a 4bbl carb to replace that stock 2bbl on cars back in the day

[Root Canal]

Check and see if your getting fire to your plugs. That's were I would start first.
Remove all the plug wires and place a screwdriver in each socket.
See if you get a nice blue arc to the engine block on each one.

[kenny]

That throttle/shifter lever and cable are the original from the looks of them. I'll start the trouble shooting process this weekend. Where's the best place for parts for old Johnson motors? I got my can kits from Wholesale marine and my steering cable from marine max. That's about the only 2 I know of.

North Shore Marine has the parts.

[grown in Tx]

Well, 3 years later we finally got a new used boat so, we're back on the water. I never did figure out the problem on that old motor. We haven't even fished this whole time, i did find a hunting lease to occupy my time though.

[plugger]

Glad you are back on the water .