I was out last weekend and stayed overnight in PWS. It was getting late (read dark) when we left Whittier harbor so we didn't go very far before we decided to pull up for the night. I had pretty much everything turned on on the short run out, GPS, VHF, other GPS, fuel flow meter, electric wiper, and my nav lights. Then, while idling into a cove for about 15 minutes, I used my rooftop mounted spotlight to avoid any rocks, and while setting anchor. Then I had my anchor light on while we slept.
Well, as you may have gathered from the title of this post, the battery was too weak to start my 90 horse Johnson in the morning and I ended up pull starting it.
Turns out that it's not too bad of an operation. Just follow the directions... flip lever on fuel pump... squeeze bulb a couple of times... flip lever back... wrap rope... pull... pull... pull... pull... turn key to "run" position (OK, I added that one myself)... pull... pull... and whammo- it's running.
It actually seemed pretty easy once I turned the key on. But you do need a rope with a good handle. I happened to have a length that I practice my knot tying skills on that has a great monkey's fist tied into one end. Makes a wonderful emergency-pull-start-rope handle.
Anybody ever pull start your big mains? I would recommend giving it a try the next time you're out just to get familiar with your particular rope start procedure.
(BTW- I think, after a little internet searching this week, that my 1985 90hp Johnson may have come with only a 9 amp alternator. The parts to upgrade to a 35 amp unit are hard to find and expensive. I think I'm gonna have to add another battery at the very least...)
Well, as you may have gathered from the title of this post, the battery was too weak to start my 90 horse Johnson in the morning and I ended up pull starting it.
Turns out that it's not too bad of an operation. Just follow the directions... flip lever on fuel pump... squeeze bulb a couple of times... flip lever back... wrap rope... pull... pull... pull... pull... turn key to "run" position (OK, I added that one myself)... pull... pull... and whammo- it's running.
It actually seemed pretty easy once I turned the key on. But you do need a rope with a good handle. I happened to have a length that I practice my knot tying skills on that has a great monkey's fist tied into one end. Makes a wonderful emergency-pull-start-rope handle.
Anybody ever pull start your big mains? I would recommend giving it a try the next time you're out just to get familiar with your particular rope start procedure.
(BTW- I think, after a little internet searching this week, that my 1985 90hp Johnson may have come with only a 9 amp alternator. The parts to upgrade to a 35 amp unit are hard to find and expensive. I think I'm gonna have to add another battery at the very least...)
ya do have to have a good rope though. I would not want to have a bad back going-on durring the prcedure :|