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For a minute...

Finally got the boat launched and the good news is, it did not immediately sink. I took it for a quick putt around an island or two and the only issue seemed to be a problem with the motor. Despite running flawlessly in my driveway for an hour, it seemed to act like a fuel delivery problem. I had some older gas with stabil in it and added a gallon of new gas to it. I wonder if the stabil wasn't working or something? I'll try completely new gas next time in the boat. It did eventually seem to run better.

The current ballast fill valve seemed to work fine but I am replacing it along with the swing keel hardware and the cabling. Anything to pay particular attention to?

I also am having the rub rail replaced and a bottom job done. Then I will need to tune the rigging and sail it!

Thanks for all the help here. I feel like I'm close!

Excellent! Congratulations!

Shes a great looking boat. Glad to see a solid splash report. Should be years of fun ahead. Keep posting!

Very good! Boats that don't sink are highly prized, right?

I am fortunate to have a 2-cycle Tohatsu that, while balky now and then, starts consistently, runs dependably, and does not appear to be terribly picky about the age of the gas it burns.

I had a four-cycle a few years back and learned that they are very picky about their gas, so I always used fresh gas, even when it meant draining it after a few months in order to do so.

Something I do even with my 2-cycle is to run it dry after each use. I installed a petcock in the fuel line that makes this easy, and takes little to no cranking to get it started. I found it necessary with the new non-venting gas tanks to install the special valve that prevents flow except when there is demand from the engine. Otherwise pressure building up in the tank would flood the carb.

Tell me more about this valve? I wonder if that's what was going on? The gas tank I have does have a vent tho I think.

Pretty sure it's this one

Congrats. Looks great!!

Venting the tank could be an issue. My motor has a fuel pump and when I forgot to open the vent it collapsed the tank inward. Kind of scary.

I would check the simple things.
Bad gasoline will cause problems in outboards that a car would tolerate. Staybil has an expiration date.

Another big problem is water in the fuel. Ethanol attracts water and our boats are floating in water. Not a good mix. I therefore only buy ethanol-free premium gas for the boat. Just for good measure I also add some ethanol shield to the boat and my gas can at home for small engines.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014R ... UTF8&psc=1

Another time my motor started running poor it turned out to be a bad spark plug. Replacing them brought it back to full glory.

Good luck. Boat looks great.

Chumpy36 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 30, 2024 7:17 am Tell me more about this valve? I wonder if that's what was going on? The gas tank I have does have a vent tho I think.

Pretty sure it's this one

The new fuel tanks only allow air into the tank. This can result in an over-pressure condition on carburetor engines. If your tank starts bulging, or you start seeing/smelling fuel leaks at the outboard, this may be the issue. Flooding, hard starting etc are typical issues.

This is true of new, EPA compliant tanks. I don’t know about Amazon or other sources. If you have a cap with a true “open vent”, you are golden (but scandalously dumping fuel vapors into the atmosphere).

A pressure regulator can be installed in the line to limit the pressure.

If you don’t open the vent, it will run ok for a bit, then deteriorate as it becomes fuel starved. In this case, you may notice the tank surfaces getting concave.

Hi Chumpy36!

Congratulations!
You’re on the water!

Finally got the boat launched and the good news is, it did not immediately sink.

(Note: You have discovered the secret to a high success rate is to set expectations low…really low.
Just ask any sales rep financial services MBA at least the ones I’ve know… )

Glad you got out!

Best Regards
Over Easy