I have a problem with my boat. It was running fine for about 1/2 an
hour today, pulling my daughter on the tube and the motor just stopped
dead. No coughing, no nothing. Stopped. I tried to restart it,
battery sounded a bit weak but it turned the motor and tried to start.
It weezed once or twice, sounded like it wanted to start but wouldnt'
fully start back up. It is an OMC 350 and OMC Cobra outdrive.

Got towed in by a fellow boater and thought maybe I was out of gas,
due to intermitent gauge. Filled up, still no go. I put my trim all
the way up and then it wouldn't go back down. Just a click everytime
I hit the trim down switch. If I hit the trim up, the motor would
whine and seemed to be working.

So ultimately, I got a boat that won't run and a trim problem as well.
DOn't know if they are connected.

I took the battery out, charged it, re-isntalled and still nothing.

Some key things to note:

1. I changed the gear oil in the outdrive Friday. I believe I put
in the proper level but now am having my doubts. With the boat in
neutral, the prop spins easy enough.

2. I'm brand new at boating. I have in previous 2 weeks run the
engine when loading and unloading with the outdrive almost fully up.
I've just today learned that is a big no-go which explained the crappy
noises I was hearing which was apparently the U-joint rightfully
complaining.

I'm taking the boat to a technician to have it looked at, but was
wondering if someone might have some suggestions before I do. The way
it just quit like it did, he strikes me as being electrical, loose
wire, bad ground or something. Not sure about the trim. It seemed to
work fine until today.

"Charlie Brown" wrote in message
...
I have a problem with my boat. It was running fine for about 1/2 an
hour today, pulling my daughter on the tube and the motor just stopped

One my boats had a 30Amp or so breaker , I believe it was tied in with the
trim circuit , I never had a problem in that area so I don't know what the
symptoms would be, may be worth checking.....

"Phil" wrote in message
...

"Charlie Brown" wrote in message
...
I have a problem with my boat. It was running fine for about 1/2 an
hour today, pulling my daughter on the tube and the motor just stopped

One my boats had a 30Amp or so breaker , I believe it was tied in with
the trim circuit , I never had a problem in that area so I don't know what
the symptoms would be, may be worth checking.....


I was thinking the same thing. When we had our '87 Scorpion w/250 hp merc
the boat died suddenly when pulling a skier.....in the end I had to push a
red reset button on the engine to get going again.

On Sun, 21 Aug 2005 18:06:15 -0400, "*JimH*" wrote:


"Phil" wrote in message
...

"Charlie Brown" wrote in message
...
I have a problem with my boat. It was running fine for about 1/2 an
hour today, pulling my daughter on the tube and the motor just stopped

One my boats had a 30Amp or so breaker , I believe it was tied in with
the trim circuit , I never had a problem in that area so I don't know what
the symptoms would be, may be worth checking.....


I was thinking the same thing. When we had our '87 Scorpion w/250 hp merc
the boat died suddenly when pulling a skier.....in the end I had to push a
red reset button on the engine to get going again.


Jim, a player that handles mp3's is a great idea. Then go to
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.1960s for some great music! I've got one cd with the top
20 songs from each year of the 60's (or pretty close). It's great!

--
John H.
On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD

On Sun, 21 Aug 2005 19:23:38 -0400, PocoLoco wrote:

On Sun, 21 Aug 2005 18:06:15 -0400, "*JimH*" wrote:


"Phil" wrote in message
...

"Charlie Brown" wrote in message
...
I have a problem with my boat. It was running fine for about 1/2 an
hour today, pulling my daughter on the tube and the motor just stopped

One my boats had a 30Amp or so breaker , I believe it was tied in with
the trim circuit , I never had a problem in that area so I don't know what
the symptoms would be, may be worth checking.....


I was thinking the same thing. When we had our '87 Scorpion w/250 hp merc
the boat died suddenly when pulling a skier.....in the end I had to push a
red reset button on the engine to get going again.


Jim, a player that handles mp3's is a great idea. Then go to
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.1960s for some great music! I've got one cd with the top
20 songs from each year of the 60's (or pretty close). It's great!

PS that's me, John H. I did a name change to give people something to **** and
moan about. But I'm turning over a new leaf (again!) after filtering Harry.
Hopefully he won't change his name also!

--
John H.
On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD

Charlie Brown wrote:
I have a problem with my boat. It was running fine for about 1/2 an
hour today, pulling my daughter on the tube and the motor just stopped
dead. No coughing, no nothing. Stopped. I tried to restart it,
battery sounded a bit weak but it turned the motor and tried to start.
It weezed once or twice, sounded like it wanted to start but wouldnt'
fully start back up. It is an OMC 350 and OMC Cobra outdrive.

Got towed in by a fellow boater and thought maybe I was out of gas,
due to intermitent gauge. Filled up, still no go. I put my trim all
the way up and then it wouldn't go back down. Just a click everytime
I hit the trim down switch. If I hit the trim up, the motor would
whine and seemed to be working.

So ultimately, I got a boat that won't run and a trim problem as well.
DOn't know if they are connected.

I took the battery out, charged it, re-isntalled and still nothing.

Some key things to note:

1. I changed the gear oil in the outdrive Friday. I believe I put
in the proper level but now am having my doubts. With the boat in
neutral, the prop spins easy enough.

2. I'm brand new at boating. I have in previous 2 weeks run the
engine when loading and unloading with the outdrive almost fully up.
I've just today learned that is a big no-go which explained the crappy
noises I was hearing which was apparently the U-joint rightfully
complaining.

I'm taking the boat to a technician to have it looked at, but was
wondering if someone might have some suggestions before I do. The way
it just quit like it did, he strikes me as being electrical, loose
wire, bad ground or something. Not sure about the trim. It seemed to
work fine until today.




There are a couple of large fuses on the Cobra that will give you
trouble, eventually, although they might not be blown. They are the
glass-tube type, around 20-30-40 amps, enclosed in the typical
rubber-covered boots and in holding clips on the harness. Moisture gets
in over the years and corrodes the fuses and connections - and it
doesn't look too bad visually, but it is a creamy-white buildup that
does you in. Clean the fuses and holders well and continue on for
another 5 years or so.

Rob

"Charlie Brown" wrote in message
...
I have a problem with my boat. It was running fine for about 1/2 an
hour today, pulling my daughter on the tube and the motor just stopped
dead. No coughing, no nothing. Stopped. I tried to restart it,
battery sounded a bit weak but it turned the motor and tried to start.
It weezed once or twice, sounded like it wanted to start but wouldnt'
fully start back up. It is an OMC 350 and OMC Cobra outdrive.

Got towed in by a fellow boater and thought maybe I was out of gas,
due to intermitent gauge. Filled up, still no go. I put my trim all
the way up and then it wouldn't go back down. Just a click everytime
I hit the trim down switch. If I hit the trim up, the motor would
whine and seemed to be working.

So ultimately, I got a boat that won't run and a trim problem as well.
DOn't know if they are connected.

I took the battery out, charged it, re-isntalled and still nothing.

Some key things to note:

1. I changed the gear oil in the outdrive Friday. I believe I put
in the proper level but now am having my doubts. With the boat in
neutral, the prop spins easy enough.

2. I'm brand new at boating. I have in previous 2 weeks run the
engine when loading and unloading with the outdrive almost fully up.
I've just today learned that is a big no-go which explained the crappy
noises I was hearing which was apparently the U-joint rightfully
complaining.

I'm taking the boat to a technician to have it looked at, but was
wondering if someone might have some suggestions before I do. The way
it just quit like it did, he strikes me as being electrical, loose
wire, bad ground or something. Not sure about the trim. It seemed to
work fine until today.




Most likely not connected, just may be a low battery on the trim now. For
the motor, requires compression, spark and fuel. Check for a great spark
first. One that will jump at least a 3/4" gap with bright spark. If spark,
pump throttle and see if fuel dumps in to throttle body. IF both, and no
fire, take it to a mechanic, to check the timing. If no fuel, pull fuel
line to carb and also disconnect hot wire to coil. put a container under
the fuel line and turn over and see if any fuel comes out. If not, probably
fuel pump. If no spark, sheck with a meter or test light to see if there is
voltage at the coil + (violet or red) wire terminal If there is no voltage,
trace line back to switch and see if voltage there. Mine has a fuse inline
in the violet, ignition power line. If voltage at the coil, check points
for opening and closing. If a real week spark, either a bad coil or bad
condensor on the points.

Charlie wrote:
I have a problem with my boat. It was running fine for about 1/2 an hour
today, pulling my daughter on the tube and the motor just stopped dead.
No coughing, no nothing. Stopped. I tried to restart it, battery sounded
a bit weak but it turned the motor and tried to start. It weezed once or
twice, sounded like it wanted to start but wouldnt' fully start back up.
=A0 It is an OMC 350 and OMC Cobra outdrive.
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3 D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
I had similar problems with my OMC Cobra w/305 engine. I changed the
50 amp fuses first, then took the 8 point cluster (on top of the engine)
apart and cleaned all the male contacts with crocus cloth (very fine
sand paper) and rolled it up in a tight roll and cleaned the female
contacts. After I did this and put it back together, everything
worked fine again. I've had to do this about every 2 years. My fuel
gauge was in-operative, too, and the cleaning restored that to
operation, too. Apparently this is a common weakness in the Cobra's,
because I've talked to others that have had problems with the 8 point
cluster. If I were a bit more electrical inclined, I would consider
bypassing the 8 point cluster with individual connectors, but I'm a bit
intimidated by that job.
..
As another poster mentioned, you could have a bad condenser or
coil. Both are cheap replacements and worth a try.


Hope this helps,
Norm