How to start a boat motor

Five Steps to Starting an Older 2-Stroke Outboard Engine:

Squeeze primer bulb till firm. Advance throttle in neutral to 2/3s. Turn key on, push to choke (or pull out choke) and crank at the same time. Release choke, return the throttle to neutral after ignition.

Note: Never start an outboard motor without a water supply—it must either be in the water or connected to a hose providing water. Water lubricates the vanes of the rubber water pump impeller, and running the motor without a water supply for even a few seconds can damage or destroy the impeller.

You may find a choke switch or the choke may operate by pushing the key in which activates an automatic choke. Hold the key in or use the choke switch and turn to the start position. Release the key or turn off choke switch as soon as the engine starts. Gradually move the warm-up lever to the run position.

Step 3 – Jump Starting

Connect the terminals of the boat battery and jump battery together, but make sure you connect positive to positive and negative to negative. Wait a few minutes to allow the battery to get some charge again. Turn the key in your boat as normal and the engine should start.

Get some water to the engine via a garden hose. Then put on some ear muffs and let the water run for a couple of seconds. Prime up the fuel, turn the key, and hopefully, start and run the engine! If you are going to let the engine sit and run for a while, (which is a pretty good idea to do).

If you can’t turn the motor with a bar – then it’s seized. You’re right, plenty of times you’ll see an engine overheat and it will still run, but your overheat must have been worse than it seemed.

One of the most commonly-asked questions we get is, “Is it okay if my boat isn’t running for a while in Fort Lauderdale, FL?” The answer is yes—but you have to do some maintenance beforehand. As long as it’s well maintained before going into storage, a boat can sit for a few months, a few years or even a few decades.

Re: Starting a flooded engine.

To restart when flooded, open the throttle all the way (with no choke), to admit as much air as possible, and crank the motor until the excess fuel is expelled. If the plugs are soaking wet, you can dry them first (with compressed air, or laid out in the hot sun), to aid starting.

Time is On Your Side

Usually, with a flooded outboard, time is your friend. If the engine’s flooded, wait for five minutes, then try to clear–flood start it. Regardless of the cause of the flooding, the clear–flood start works, even if you must repeat the process several times.

Perhaps the best remedy for a flooded engine is time. Simply open the hood of your car and let excessive fuel evaporate for as long as you can. After about 20 minutes try starting your car again without hitting the gas pedal. If this still does not work, you may have to check your spark plugs.

To clear, remove plugs, crank engine, or pull starter to expel excess fuel. Clean and dry plugs with cloth. Replace plugs, try to start with max throttle & no choke. If it starts, then dies, you can then try with a little choke as per a normal start.

Continuously running a flooded motor will degrade its components while subsequently reducing the life expectancy of your motor. Gas-powered boat motors require a precise mixture of fuel, air/oxygen, and heat. When there’s an imbalance of these elements, the motor may fuel with an excess amount of fuel.

The conventional remedy for a flooded carbureted engine is to steadily hold the throttle full open (full power position) while continuing to crank the engine. This permits the maximum flow of air through the engine, flushing the overly rich fuel mixture out of the exhaust.

Remove the air filter and shoot a one-second burst of an aerosol petroleum-based lubricant (not starting fluid, silicone or Teflon spray) directly into the carburetor throat. Try starting. If the engine starts and then dies, that confirms you’ve got a fuel problem.

If your motor is running lean, it will “sneeze” at low rpm, if it’s running rich it will smoke and foul the plugs. The needle valve should get you a happy medium at about a quarter turn counterclockwise from where the motor will sneeze.