Thread subject: Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos :: Splash day, 75hp Merc overheats and stops

Posted by Jay Fitz on 06/11/12 - 12:42 PM
#1

So I took the wife and kids out on the river in the 'new' 78 Montauk with a 1986 75hp Mercury...got her off the trailer in the water, kids on board, start motor. All good. Until I notice no stream coming out of the motor. I ask a dockhand about it and then my wife says "There's a stream" and there was. So, off we go

About 15-20 minutes upstream, going 4-5mph the motor doesn't sound right and then just stops. It wont start. We are now floating with the tide coming in...staying calm, kids are good. I yell to a group of people on their dock that I'm dead...they are about 40-50 feet away. A guy comes over in his little skiff with a tiny, old Evinrude on it, maybe 5hp?? He turns out to be a marine engineer and ties up to us and brings us back to where we launched. Boat back on trailer and home we go. Thanks Mark...whoever you are! Need to locate that guy later and thank him properly.

He did mention the motor was scorching hot.

So, my question: how bad could this get within that short timeframe? What could be the issue and what could be worst case scenario?? Worst case I suppose would be that I need to re-power and I'm hoping I don't have to go there....

Posted by kamie on 06/11/12 - 12:52 PM
#2

No stream, no cooling. When was the engine last run, do you know? I would take my trusty string trimmer line and try to see if I could clear the cooling tubes. Go from the exit back into the engine. The other option is the water pump is shot, either replace it or take it to a mechanic and have them replace it.

Posted by Jay Fitz on 06/11/12 - 1:56 PM
#3

kamie wrote:
No stream, no cooling. When was the engine last run, do you know? I would take my trusty string trimmer line and try to see if I could clear the cooling tubes. Go from the exit back into the engine. The other option is the water pump is shot, either replace it or take it to a mechanic and have them replace it.


Thanks Kamie. I'm not much of a wrench at all, so to a mechanic I will go...the engine was run last summer and had a complete 'going through' last spring according to all of the receipts I was given when I picker her up. No water pump listed anywhere though...figures.