Outboard engine will not start:

• Check the gear lever is in neutral (many outboards will not pull start if they are in gear).
  
• Is there fuel in the tank?
  
• Are fuel line connections secure... at each end?
• Is fuel tank vented?... Cap slightly open.
  
• Is the choke still on... maybe engine is flooded?
  
• Is there water in the fuel... tank or engine?
  
• Check and clean spark plug... Often a spare spark plug is in your outboard tool kit.
  
• If all else fails, read operating manual... if it is available and on-board.

Also see Trouble shooting guides to outboard engines.

First aid for dunked outboard engines

Submerging your outboard engine during a sailing yacht charter must always be considered a pretty serious matter...and as you stand there looking and feeling very dumb, dollar signs swim freely around your dazed mind. However provided you can recover the outboard engine (and very often you can) it need not be a complete disaster and much can be done to limit the extent of the damage to the engine... provided immediate first aid is given - otherwise some corrosion may begin almost immediately.

Whatever you do, do not try to run your outboard engine straight away, if the water has been ingested into one of the cylinders and it does fire, the resulting hydraulic lock can and will blow the cylinder head off or buckle and bend the piston and/or con rod... Plugs out first, please!

First aid to get rid of the damaging salt water before it has time to affect vital parts, can be easily carried out on board your bareboat or in the tender.

If the outboard engine was running when the engine went under it will have sucked seawater into the cylinder and this too will need immediate special attention when giving treatment.

Although your charter boat operator will have to send the outboard engine back to an authorised dealer for a complete checkout, the following steps taken immediately when the engine is retrieved will keep the damage - and subsequently the repair bills - to an absolute minimum.

1. Thoroughly wash away mud, salt, seaweed, etc. off the engine using fresh water from your bareboat.
   
2. Remove the engine spark plugs and face the spark plug holes downward to allow water, mud or contaminants to drain form the motor. Try to access the magneto, if not, spray WD40 into inaccessible areas.
   
3. Drain the fuel from the carburettor - and clean well using engine petrol. Allow to dry.
   
   Note: If your main outboard fuel tank also went under (as well as the engine) you'll also need to flush out the tank and fuel lines with fresh water. Then rinse with methylated spirits and allow to dry.
   
4. Feed engine oil through the carburettors and spark plug holes while cranking the outboard engine with the manual starter or emergency starter rope (often you will have 'top-up' engine oil onboard).
   
5. Lay all removed parts out in the sun. Blow out all petrol lines, empty the carburettor. Dry off everything possible, including all electrical leads with a cotton rag, being careful not to leave any cotton strands or threads in the machinery... Spray with WD40, but don't soak.
   
6. Using a pressure pack lubricant spray, force lubricant into every possible engine opening to drive out remaining moisture.
   
7. Squirt a couple of drops of lubricating oil into the engine crankcase, and any bearings which should normally be oiled. Turn the flywheel slowly by hand backward and forwards.
   
   If any gritty sound is heard coming from your outboard engine in the vicinity of a crank case or cylinder - or anywhere else for that matter - the first aid treatment should be terminated immediately... There is no alternative then but to organise a replacement outboard engine with your bareboat charter operator.
   
8. Replace all parts, turn the motor over and check for a spark. If not check and/or replace all leads and connections until spark is there.
   
9. Heat up the spark plugs on your gas burner until hot - replace. Check the engine HT leads for fit.
   
10. Fill fuel tank with fresh fuel (or old fuel with seawater settled and removed), add a little excess oil in the mixture and add 1/3 cup of methylated spirits (if available) to the outboard fuel. This will mix with any water remaining and be burnt off on combustion.
    
11. Start motor... And good luck!

Remember: don't pollute the beach or water with petrol or oil.

Trouble shooting guides to outboard engines

Engine starter will not operate

Outboard engine will not start

Outboard engine idles irregularly or stalls

Warning buzzer sounds or indicator lamp lights

Outboard engine power loss

Outboard engine vibrates excessively