Short version:
The *&^%$#@ recalcitrant boat is "ready" for a long fishing weekend.
Long version:
Last year we paid ANOTHER pile of money to get the bloody boat working, then used it ONE time before the cool weather hit. This spring we figured "good to go" and headed out to the lake just to cruise around while the kids were at school. Even thought of pulling up to one of only a half-handful of restaurants that have a lakeside dock.
So we cruise the absurdly long "no wake" zone then come up on the plane and head out; just then I spotted a cove I hadn't noticed before, so we pulled in to see if it would make a good spot to picnic with the kids next time, or just to go necking. Sure enough, nice place, and we WILL go there again. But the goal was to get to a restaurant, so off we went.
I noticed the boat felt sluggish turning around, but I hit the throttle and it BOGGED. I have felt that feeling TOO MANY TIMES.
The Volvo Penta has a "U-Turn" main cooling hose that seems to blow thru about once every year, so I figured "head for the ramp". Of course, there was the usual flooding water showing itself out from under the engine cover, so Sally grabbed a "Big Gulp" cup and started bailing as fast as she could (the bilge pump wasn't keeping up, and it was a good trot back to the ramp). This time the leak was WAY more than usual.
We took turns bailing and driving, and we were both getting worn out, but JUST made it back to the dock, standing in ankle-deep water.
I had just installed the boom crane on the back of my truck which made it easy enough to drag the unbelievably swamped boat up onto the trailer. I took the engine cover off and noticed the hose was not torn in the usual spot. Pretty cool, that crane has REALLY come in handy. So, once the 100 gallons or so drained out, we headed for the ranch where I covered the boat and peeled out leaving it for dead (again).
I called the boat guy and told him what happened, and mentioned that FOR ONCE, it WASN'T a torn cooling hose. His first reply was "I'll bet your block cracked in the freeze". That was in March.
Day before yesterday, I pulled the engine cover with flashlight in hand and started nosing around. IMMEDIATELI, I spotted a rotten freeze plug sitting in the bilge pan! The second one was pushed out, but hadn't dropped out. Off to O'Reilley's for 2 new plugs, popped them in, hooked up the feed water to the garden hose and noted NO LEAKS! Wow. Too easy.
So, I put it on the battery charger and left it overnight. In the morning I hit the keyswitch and NOTHING. Usually I get a click or four, then it will kick the solenoid in and spin. I knew what had to happen next (no need to ask HOW i knew this). The flooding had of course infiltrated the cheap starter (expensive, but cheap, you know what I mean?).
Rebuilt it (sure enough, it was a mess), then STILL couldn't get a click out of it. I shorted the main terminals and it spun, and hot wired the solenoid and it clicked and kicked, so it must be the keyswitch.
I'll eave out the long version of my SON'S boat story, it's a doozie. Short version: HIS boat, that 4 of us were counting on for this weekend fishing trip that is pre-booked, non-cancellable, was dependent on HIS boat which is flakier than mine (not typically, just this time).
So, I was under the gun to get mine WORKING by today at 2PM when we load up and head out.
So, yesterday afternoon it was back to the auto parts place for a momentary contact starter button; hot wired it in, and IT WORKS. Took 2 cranks to get it to stay lit (carb was dry), but it settled into a perfect idle.
So, the *&^%$#@ recalcitrant boat is "ready" for a long fishing weekend. (fingers AND toes crossed)
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. After looking at his tool shelves he caused me to reflect on my pile of tools.
