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Old 10-26-2011, 12:11 PM   #1
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How do you start you boat?

Seems like a simple question but some people go thru a lot of procedures to start up the motor.

Most of us have a key to start. I have seen some with a key and a push button.

I have installed a button in the ER so when I check the oil and I am right there I can start her from the engine room. I run the boat solo often. I like this because if there are any issues I can see them right away.

What do you do?*

*How do you start your boat?

SD

*


-- Edited by skipperdude on Wednesday 26th of October 2011 01:17:23 PM
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Old 10-26-2011, 12:20 PM   #2
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RE: How do you start you boat?

Turn the key to the first stop (On?), listen for the low oil pressure warning, turn the key to the next stop (Start?) and hope she turns over.* Once she fires up I run to the stern to make sure cooling water is coming out of the exhaust.

The only button is for the solenoid that chokes off the fuel flow for shut-down.
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Old 10-26-2011, 12:41 PM   #3
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RE: How do you start you boat?

That solenoid thing sounds like a good idea. For safety reasons like a runaway.

I'll put it on the list.

SD*
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Old 10-26-2011, 12:41 PM   #4
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RE: How do you start you boat?

Power "on" with the key. Push the start button to fire up. Stand by the helm until the low oil P buzzer stops and I see pressure, then I raise the rpm a tad (to*700 ish) to smooth her out while she's cold. Then I go look over the transom to make sure*she's pumping water.

*
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Old 10-26-2011, 12:44 PM   #5
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How do you start you boat?

I also have a key. Here is SOP for me:

1) Check fluid levels.
2) Check fuel management system for correct settings.
3) I installed a new preheat button for cold days.
4) Set throttle to half.
5) Turn key to 'ON'
6) Turn key to 'VROOM'
7) Pet the dog that is now sitting on the sofa saying, "Oh crap, here we go again."
8) Head up to flybridge to enjoy the ride.

Check gauges should be #6.5 (oops)


-- Edited by GonzoF1 on Wednesday 26th of October 2011 01:45:10 PM
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Old 10-26-2011, 01:17 PM   #6
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RE: How do you start you boat?

First start of the day, I put my hand over*low oil pressure alarm (very loud). Turn on and then turn to activate starter. I then step out the wheelhouse door and check the tell-tale out the side of the boat for cooling water. On subsequent starts, I don't bother checking for water.

Turning off, first push a big red button which de-activates the fuel solenoid and then turn the key off. Occasionally someone turns the key off first, the solenoid doesn't de-activate, so they need to turn the key on again to stop the engine.
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Old 10-26-2011, 01:46 PM   #7
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RE: How do you start you boat?

Turn on engine-room exhaust fan.

Turn on engine-room lights.

Open port-side floor hatch for access to engine room.

Check transmission and engine oil levels.

Close port-side hatch.

Check fuel levels of fuel tanks.

Open starboard side floor hatch to engine room*and confirm/change fuel flows.

Close starboard-side hatch.

Turn off engine-room lights.

Put gear shift in exact central/neutral position.

Adjust throttle to one-third

Turn the key.

Push the start button.

Adjust speed to idle.

Turn off engine-room blower.

*
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Old 10-26-2011, 02:51 PM   #8
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RE: How do you start you boat?

On my sailboat I installed a push button along with spring loaded key switch. I did this after the key switch stuck when I did not know it. I found out when smoke filled the cabin.
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Old 10-26-2011, 02:57 PM   #9
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RE: How do you start you boat?

Skipperdude,
Shutting down the injector pump with the solenoid switch won't stop a diesel from a runaway. The fuel for the engine is coming from another source.
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Old 10-26-2011, 03:25 PM   #10
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RE: How do you start you boat?

Quote:
GonzoF1 wrote:
I also have a key. Here is SOP for me:

4) Set throttle to half.
5) Turn key to 'ON'
6) Turn key to 'VROOM'

-- Edited by GonzoF1 on Wednesday 26th of October 2011 01:45:10 PM
*

Vroom would indeed be the desired result.* Does your engine manufacturer actually recommend starting with half throttle?
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Old 10-26-2011, 03:26 PM   #11
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RE: How do you start you boat?

I send my butler down to prepare my yacht for me and make sure the gin and tonics are properly mixed before I get out of our limo.....

In reality though, I check fluids, turn the key and push the start button, then check for water out the exhaust. I had to fire my butler some years ago- good help is hard to find!
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Old 10-26-2011, 03:44 PM   #12
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RE: How do you start you boat?

Don't forget to keep the blower running on warm/hot days...it's not for explosive gasses on a diesel boat (often they are mounted high with no hose going low)...it's to keep fresh cool air coming to the diesel for better performance. A blower to get rid of explosive gasses is still a good idea especially if you carry gasoline or propane, etc...onboard...
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Old 10-26-2011, 04:15 PM   #13
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How do you start you boat?

Quote:
skipperdude wrote:
*How do you start your boat?
*Grand Banks boats, at least the ones made before the early 90s, don't use keys.* They're like Boeing airplanes--- the only key is to the flight deck (main cabin) door.

On our GB starting the FL120s is*a dirt-simple process.* After the pre-start engine room checks, we always start the port engine first, then the starboard engine.

1.* Turn on the port electrical switch that energize the hour meters, oil pressure and coolant temperature*alarms,*and closes the start button circuit.

2.* Per operators manual, advance the port power lever 1/4 to 1/3 of its full travel.

3.* Push the spring-loaded start button on the DC panel.

4.* When engine starts (usually within two seconds of pushing the start button) release the start button and adjust throttle down to 1,000 rpm.

5.* Confirm (from person on aft deck or go back and look) that the water flow out the exhaust is the correct volume and that there is no rust in the water behind the boat*from the initial burst of exhaust water.

6.* Repeat 1-5*for the starboard engine.

The FL120 does have a cold start lever on the injection pump that is connected via Teleflex cable to pull-knobs on helm consol be we have never needed to use them in the PNW even though we boat through the winter.

*


-- Edited by Marin on Wednesday 26th of October 2011 05:24:25 PM
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Old 10-26-2011, 04:37 PM   #14
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How do you start you boat?

Quote:
Marin wrote:*
*Grand Banks boats, at least the ones made before the early 90s, don't use keys.* They're like Boeing airplanes--- ...*we always start the port engine first, then the starboard engine.
*Is there a reason the port engine is started first?* Is it a carryover from starting plane's engines: engine #1, 2, 3 ... in that order?

I asked*a former Boeing*B-17 copilot (my*93-year-old father) about the order of starting the plane's engines.* His memory is vague, but he thinks the engine order was from one side to the other (1, 2, 3, 4) as a routine.


-- Edited by markpierce on Wednesday 26th of October 2011 06:09:08 PM
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Old 10-26-2011, 04:54 PM   #15
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RE: How do you start you boat?

Thanks, Marin. Now that Mark knows we don't need a key to start a Grand Banks he can walk two slips down to my boat and drive off!
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Old 10-26-2011, 05:02 PM   #16
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How do you start you boat?

I'm tempted Ray, but I should have my boat back from the yard in a few days.


-- Edited by markpierce on Wednesday 26th of October 2011 06:11:49 PM
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Old 10-26-2011, 05:30 PM   #17
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How do you start you boat?

Quote:
markpierce wrote:
*Is there a reason the port engine is started first?* Is it a carryover from starting plane's engines: engine #1, 2, 3 ... in that order?
It's the reason I start our engines that way.*But there is no rule or instruction in our*boat's operating manual that suggests that order be followed.*

Aircraft engines are numbered left to right*relative to the pilot in his seat,*and they are typically started in that same order.* Since I've been around machines that start their engines in this order since I started flying planes*in the early '70s and now at Boeing,*that's the only order I think of when starting multiple engines.

But there is no reason that I can think of on a boat to always*start engines in this order, or in any order.* The WWII vets I've interviewed for my current writing project told me the three engines in a PT boat were generally*started starboard to port.* While nobody told me why, I suspect this is because the duty motormac sat in a seat bolted to the inboard rocker box of the starboard engine, the transmission shift levers all came together next to him, and the engine instruments were in front of and beside him.* So they started the closest engine and worked out.

*


-- Edited by Marin on Wednesday 26th of October 2011 06:39:16 PM
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Old 10-26-2011, 05:33 PM   #18
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RE: How do you start you boat?

Quote:
markpierce wrote:

Marin wrote:*
*Grand Banks boats, at least the ones made before the early 90s, don't use keys.* They're like Boeing airplanes--- ...*we always start the port engine first, then the starboard engine.
*Is there a reason the port engine is started first?* Is it a carryover from starting plane's engines: engine #1, 2, 3 ... in that order?

I asked*a former Boeing*B-17 copilot (my*93-year-old father) about the order of starting the plane's engines.* His memory is vague, but he thinks the engine order was from one side to the other (1, 2, 3, 4) as a routine.


-- Edited by markpierce on Wednesday 26th of October 2011 06:09:08 PM


I start my stbd engine first. Reason is that it is farthest from the battery bank, longest cable run- so most likely to fall victim to low voltage.
Having said all of that :biggrin: I would prefer to "hear" that engine and starter as it spins.
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Old 10-26-2011, 05:35 PM   #19
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RE: How do you start you boat?

Quote:
Jay N wrote:GonzoF1 wrote:
I also have a key. Here is SOP for me:

4) Set throttle to half.
5) Turn key to 'ON'
6) Turn key to 'VROOM'

-- Edited by GonzoF1 on Wednesday 26th of October 2011 01:45:10 PM
*

Vroom would indeed be the desired result.* Does your engine manufacturer actually recommend starting with half throttle?

*Actually, knowing what I know about cold starts, this is a compromise. Here is a clip from the Ops Manual:
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Old 10-26-2011, 05:43 PM   #20
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RE: How do you start you boat?

Insure that sea cock is open. Set throttle to about 1/12 (about 3/16" up from idle at the end of the lever). Turn key to the left for 6 or 7 seconds (or 10 seconds if in cool weather) to get the heaters red hot. Turn key to the right to crank the engine about 2 seconds and (after starting) adjust idle speed if need be. Half the time I don't need to. Check the exhaust for water at the stern. Check oil pressure.*

I can't believe you guys are starting your engines w so much throttle.*

Ray, * You're GB looks VERY nice. I especially like your railing. Mostly the low height.
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