www.iFourWinns.com

Hey guys, new to this forum. My parents purchased a new (to them) boat last fall. I test drove it, at which point it started and ran perfectly fine. Part of the agreement with the seller was that he winterize and store the boat for the off-season.

Like the title says, 2007 Horizon 200, carbureted 5.0L. 58hrs on the boat, it is in mint condition...or at least we thought.

Well, long weekend in May rolls around, and the boat is out of storage, we get the battery charged up, back the boat into the water, turn the key and click.......silence (slight hum from the fuel pump).

We did prime the Engine, but that's unrelated as it will not so much as turn over.

The boat is kept +/- 2hrs away at the lake, so it is rather difficult to get out there and trouble shoot.

What are you thoughts. my quick research as let me to checking with a test light/multimeter the ignition switch, the neutral safety switch and the starter solenoid.

Any help is appreciated, and hopefully we can get back out on the water to enjoy it shortly!

Check safety lanyard, check for corrosion on starter terminals and battery connections.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Safety Lanyard is what I would look closely at. Also, is there an ignition/starter circuit breaker in the engine compartment that could have popped? When you turn the key on, do the gauges come to life? Does the tilt/trim work? Do you get the loud beep when you turn the key on?

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

+1 on the safetly lanyard and other suggestions above and in addition, make sure that it is actually in neutral.

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2002 Funship 214
VP 5.7 GX Si
2003 Tahoe

Good work. All the first things that came to mind as to what I would check as well.

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Paul
2007 Four Winns Horizon 220
Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI w/ Bravo III Drive
2004 Ford Explorer Limited (V8-AWD)
Pomme de Terre Lake (Southwest Missouri)

If it's the safety lanyard, would the fuel pump be running as described? I had problems with the switch the lanyard clips into pre-season, nothing would work until I sprayed in some contact cleaner and rotated the button a few times.

Graham

I was thinking if it's a lanyard issue, the engine will crank but not start. I could be wrong on that.

Sounds like battery or battery connections to me.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

For once, you are wrong. Don't ask how I know.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

He stated "turn the key and click.......silence (slight hum from the fuel pump)." Four Winns is new to me, but my old Crownlines & Bayliners would turn over and not start, if it was the lanyard. The boat is a "07", which means the battery could be that old too. I would do a load & voltage test on it. Better still, if it is that old, don't bother, just replace it. Most wet cells only last 3 to 5 years anyways.

I am sleeping on mt boat tonight, if I remember, I am going to start it with the lanyard pulled out.

I would start there for now.

OH!!! The Mercs have a interrupter switch based upon which drive you have. Would anybody on this forum know if this is true for Volvo's too? As someone else sad "in addition, make sure that it is actually in neutral." Press the button in & then move the stick forward. Make sure it stays in.

Dang. I've disgraced myself. Where's my sword?...

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Well.... I could still be wrong myself. It's been 7 years since it happened to me on our 268. But it sure seems
like it did nothing with the lanyard off. I have visions of jumper cables connnecting, keys turning, swear words flying,
and no cranking of the engine.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

You could "still" be right!!! It depends on HOW the lanyard is wired!! I just know that my other 2 boats, it turned over but would not start. They were Mercs! I just put my boat in the water last weekend, so I don't have much experance with Volvos and Four Winns.

From another thread, so it has happened to others....



Here is a link to that thread, which has some trouble shooting information that may be of some help.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=6476

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

My '03 VP wont even attempt to turn over without the safety clip (deadman) connected completely...

A good 1st step anytime your engine wont start is to remove and reattach the safety clip (well, after making sure that the battery switch is on...) - my kid had been playing on the boat, and even though the safety clip appeared to be attached, it wasn't on there properly. Remove, re-attach and see if things have improved. If not, continue on with the next troubleshooting step.

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2002 Funship 214
VP 5.7 GX Si
2003 Tahoe

Thanks guys for the feedback; I will try to touch on all points.

The safety Lanyard; we did not remove it from the clip, however, we did firmly press it "into place".

When the key turns on, the gauges all light up/adjust to the current reading. A short alarm does sound. Battery gauge read 12V.

After the first unsuccessful start, the battery was removed and charged over night; even boosting it with the truck battery in the AM did not change the situation. Terminals and battery connections are very clean; tough to tell what the connection was like on the starter since it is at the back of the engine under the manifold and was tough to see.

Appreciate all of your input, hopefully we can make it up to the lake once again before my dad calls a service guy in and spends some valuable boating gas money.