1. Use the full 4 digit year for everything you are asking your question about. Example: 1962, 1988, 2000, 2011
2. Include the correct name of your Whaler model. Example: Montauk 17, Montauk 170, Outrage 26, Outrage 260
3. Include the length when necessary. Example: 16, 17, 18, 20, 22
4. Do not post your email address anywhere on this site as it is already in your user profile.

Ran into shallows, now no power
blondegirl	#1  Posted on 10/13/07 - 2:55 PM
Member Posts: 4 Comments: 0 Joined: 10/13/07	Hello, this is Blondegirl, I'm new to the site and I have a problem with my boat. I have a Boston Whaler Outrage, 1990 model, and a Johnson 115 engine. My depth finder was out today and I ran aground in shallow muddy water, didn't know what to do but I kept the engine running and spun out of the shallows after about 2 or 3 minutes of running the engine. The engine was running in thick clouds of muddy water until I escaped the bank. Now it's at about 1/5th power. Have I ruined my engine?
Joe Kriz	#2  Posted on 10/13/07 - 3:22 PM
Site Owner Personal Page Personal Album Photo Albums Project Albums Posts: 11447 Comments: 452 Joined: 03/18/05	blondegirl, Hard to say for sure why you are not getting full power now. I assume you have a 1990 Johnson 115 hp model. Or is it newer? Did any alarm horns go off while you were trying to get out of the shallows? It is possible that you spun the hub in the prop and that is why you are not getting full power. Hopefully, this is the case. Besides checking the prop, I would make sure your warning horn alarm system is working properly. See this article: http://www.whalercentral.com/readarti...ticle_id=9 I would also like to know if the tell-tale water stream is still coming from the engine. Is there water streaming out of the tube? This will tell us if the water pump is working or the possibility of the system being clogged up. Until we know more, that is about all I can think of at this time. In summary, check the things mentioned above: 1. Inspect the prop for a spun hub. You might have to take this to a prop shop 2. Check you warning horn system for proper operation. 3. Check that water is streaming from the tell-tale outlet. This tells you if your water pump is still working or if the entire system is clogged with mud and/or debris. Let us know what you find out.
ioptfm	#3  Posted on 10/13/07 - 3:50 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 1533 Comments: 3 Joined: 10/28/06	I had a 115 Johnson about that era and if I recall that when the engine was not getting a full flow of water and began getting hot it would run at a little above idle speed. My handbook stated that you should run the motor in reverse for several minutes to clear obstrustions. I recall doing this on a few occassions and it worked. Tom 1979 Sport 15'
Derwd24	#4  Posted on 10/13/07 - 4:17 PM
Member Posts: 1607 Comments: 9 Joined: 05/09/07	As a quick test in addition to the above, I'd also ask how does the engine start and idle now? If there was enough engine damage to reduce power by 4/5, I think you'd notice it there with harder starting and a rougher idle? Edited by Derwd24 on 10/13/07 - 4:18 PM
blondegirl	#5  Posted on 10/13/07 - 6:20 PM
Member Posts: 4 Comments: 0 Joined: 10/13/07	thnx for the quick info!!... i ran some water through the engine just now. starts fine. sounded very rough and choppy. the water is draining from the sides like it should. I ran it in reverse for a while and then forward again. and after about two or so minutes it seems to have made a different tone, kind of kicked, and may have righted itself. it still sounds quite loud but i'm going to test it again on the water tomorrow. thnx y'all!!
Joe Kriz	#6  Posted on 10/13/07 - 7:04 PM
Site Owner Personal Page Personal Album Photo Albums Project Albums Posts: 11447 Comments: 452 Joined: 03/18/05	blonde, The tell-tale steam hose should be located under the bottom cowling of the engine. Water must come out there or water may not be going through the entire system. Yes, the engine will be much louder when not in the water. Take a look at this short video and look at the tell-tale stream under the cowling on the starboard (right) side of the small engine. You will see a nice stream of water.
ioptfm	#7  Posted on 10/13/07 - 7:54 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 1533 Comments: 3 Joined: 10/28/06	The sequence that I descrbed above of running it in reverse for a while.........this has to be done while in the water and not when connected to a hose. I don't think it will work for a heavy clog of the water system, but for times when you go thru soft mud that is sucked up into the system. Some may think I'm dreaming this up, but I distinctly remember reading it in my operators manual. I'm looking for an article on it now. If anyone is familiar with this please reply. Thanks Tom 1979 Sport 15'
blondegirl	#8  Posted on 10/13/07 - 9:21 PM
Member Posts: 4 Comments: 0 Joined: 10/13/07	Once I watched the video from Joe I realized that I had not seen that stream tonight from my engine. So I cracked open the hood and found that the thing was completely full of sand!! it took me a while to whip all the sand out of the hose. but now it's cleared and re-installed. but now I'm worried that there is some sand caught in the internal cooling system! I'm going to put crank it up in the morning to see... thanks for all your help here guys!!
Derwd24	#9  Posted on 10/13/07 - 9:28 PM
Member Posts: 1607 Comments: 9 Joined: 05/09/07	Before you run it again, I'd just suggest checking to make sure the overheat warning horn system is working properly as Joe advised in his link above...
blakesanborn	#10  Posted on 10/14/07 - 3:04 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 82 Comments: 2 Joined: 05/29/07	Man those guys sure did respond to you. Dont worry to much, living in South Carolina on the salt water will get you run aground. I did it this summer and the same thing happened to me. After clearing the sand you will get your perforance back but be careful. I would run it at idle for a little while as so the sand can work itself completly out.
sraab928	#11  Posted on 10/14/07 - 5:00 AM
Member Project Albums Posts: 1282 Comments: 13 Joined: 12/27/05	Im not sure if your engine has a thermostat and popit valve ( i know my 2 stroke Yamaha's do as I just serviced them) - but if it does it would be a good idea to pull them and flush them out. You really want to make sure you have good water flow through the engine. This includes water coming out the tell tale as well as the exhaust. Scott 1974 21' Revenge w Mercury 200 ProXS V8
blondegirl	#12  Posted on 10/14/07 - 5:04 PM
Member Posts: 4 Comments: 0 Joined: 10/13/07	Hello Again Men, i put the boat on the water today. some improvement. let the boat idle, ran it backwards for a while. about twenty minutes later I was at full power!! for about two minutes, then back to a grinding slow choppy engine, and then BAM, back on full power. so, I was hopeful, but then it would give out again. at this point it's running at about 50% power. so it's improved, but it's still giving me a headache..... it kicks in at full power after about 5 minutes of running at almost full throttle. do I have an obstruction? PLEASE tell me what to do, I want my boat back! how do I flush an engine? Signed, Blondegirl in South Carolina
CapnJs	#13  Posted on 10/14/07 - 6:52 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 135 Comments: 0 Joined: 04/21/07	blondegirl, I'd stop running the motor and get it to a shop. You could have sucked sand and mud into lots of places in that motor and running it backward or at idle probably isn't going to flush it out now. But running it at high rpm might not be good. If it were mine I'd at least have someone look at the water pump. Jack
Derwd24	#14  Posted on 10/14/07 - 8:48 PM
Member Posts: 1607 Comments: 9 Joined: 05/09/07	You didn't mention if the telltale had a strong stream of water or not?
fogwarning	#15  Posted on 10/15/07 - 3:01 AM
Member Posts: 5 Comments: 0 Joined: 06/01/07	If you keep running this engine, you risk burning it up. It sounds like you have an obstruction in the cooling system or when you got into the sand, the grit took out the impeller on the water pump. Right now, the engine is trying to protect itself by running at reduced RPMs when it gets too hot. That is the limp home mode. Strongly suggest you put it on the trailer and take it to a marine mechanic for repair.
sraab928	#16  Posted on 10/15/07 - 3:21 AM
Member Project Albums Posts: 1282 Comments: 13 Joined: 12/27/05	I have to agree - its probably time to take it to a mechanic. Scott 1974 21' Revenge w Mercury 200 ProXS V8