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Runs great, then quits.

J

jnb

New member
This morning the boat started with the first turn of the key after sitting for weeks, but I soon found out that if I accelerated quickly or decelerated quickly, it would instantly die and take a few cranks to start again, then run fine. If I slowly increased or decreased the throttle, it would run with no problems. I anchored and 3 hours later it only started after I was almost ready to call for a tow. Then it ran fine at all speeds. Could this be water in the lines? Thanks for the input.
 
That sounds very familiar to me! I run great for the first half of the day, then I run out of energy and want to quit! :D

It would be very very helpful if you were to give us some information on this boat; Year/model, engine type, drive system (assuming V/P since you are in the V/P section)..... and what ever else you can provide.
This helps us help YOU! :)

I will make a suggestion for you to use in the mean time;
And that is.........; What ever you do in your attempts to find the problem, use the tried and proven technique of P of E ! (process of elimination)
If you will systematically move through your boats suspect sytems.... one at a time ONLY, and test each one, you will be a head of the game!
By doing one at a time, the individual focus is greater..... and given enough attention to it, you will either Eliminate, or Identify the source of the problem.

P of E, if used correctly, will NEVER fail us! :)

.
 
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Thanks Ricardo,
I have a 2005 Volvo Penta 5.0GXi V8 in a 24' Regal. I had the 100 hr. service when I bought it 2 years ago (it only had 100 hrs.) and have a fairly new alternator. Last spring/summer it died while idling at the dock and would not start again. I changed the fuel filter first because a friend at the same place just had the exact same issue. That solved it. I turned the old filter upside down in a jar for two days and a small amount of what looked like water came out. A couple of months ago it suddenly died while I was running, but started right back up and never happened again, so I didn't worry about it. Then this started yesterday.
 
Are any children helping Dad wash the boat?
Odd as that question may sound, kids like to aim the spray nozzle at things like fuel tank vent fittings. The high-loop is often not enough to prevent water under pressure from entering the fuel tank. Tell your kids, or don't let them spray the boat down.

Is fuel tank fill fitting O-ring seal good? (another common source of water intrusion)

If you keep having trouble, install a RACOR fuel filter system.

.
 
Thanks again. I don't have any children helping me and I try to stay away form anything that might get water in the tank. I will check the o-ring. For now I will change the filter and put some dry-gas in there and see how it goes. The biggest problem when it won't start while we are anchored is the frightened and sobbing 3 year old, who freaks out the 7 year old, who really sets off the 40 year old wife, who...you get the picture.
 
re: " the frightened and sobbing 3 year old, who freaks out the 7 year old, who really sets off the 40 year old wife,"

A prime example of what we used to call "cascade failure chain" in systems engineering.
A SeaTow or TowUSA membership may be good payment for drama reduction.

That said, even if no one "Washes down" your gas tank or pieces thereof:
1) There have been documented cases of the gas tank's vent being poorly placed causing spray from sea water entering the tank.
2) If your day/night temp varies by more than a just few degrees, the temp change will cause the gas tank to "pump" moisture laden air in and out the vent line. Ethanol just LOVES this moisture and quickly binds to it. When the ethanol can't sop up any more moisture from the air, it precipitates out and sits in the bottom of the tank.
 
What is amazing about that "cascade failure chain" is that it can also go in the exact opposite direction, like last week when I found what was left of a $50 bill jammed in the shredder.
 
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