www.iFourWinns.com

Two couples were joining us for cocktails on the boat last night before we motored to dinner, as everyone was enjoying said cocktails, i scurried about and set the fenders, fired up the blowers and readied us for departure. The time came to start the engines and...nothing.
Not even a click. Batteries were fine. It was at this time that the two guys became involved and offered suggestions. A dock mate was walking by and asked about the batteries, then asked if it was in nuetral, it appeared so. Just to be safe I put into forward then reverse. Tried it again and it fired right up! Lesson learned, always check the obvious to avoid unneccessary embarrasment!

Thought all would enjoy...Have a safe boating weekend everyone!!

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Michael Bova


"Swept Aweigh"
2003 Four Winns 328 Vista

Previous Boat
2003 Crownline 230CCR

Been there !

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

Yes, it could have been much worse. Similar thing happened to me last weekend, fortunately it was just me and the admiral on board. Boat started fine, but when backing up out of the boat lift the engine mysteriously cut out. Tried to restart and nothing. Start checking the basics and found that the tether was off. I pushed it back on, started the boat, checked my '6' and hit reverse only to have the boat cut out again. After running through it all again, and this time watching the shifter instead of where I was going, I found that the part of the tether that is supposed to clip on the pilot somehow was laying on top of the shifter such that moving to reverse pulled the tether off immediately killing the engine. Really had me going there. I was just glad I didn't have a boat full of people mocking me and offering 'helpful' suggestions.

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2007 Horizon 200
4.3L GXi/ SX 225 HP

+1 on the tether....Always check it even if it looks like it is on correctly. My kid was playing around on the boat at Lake Mohave and had apparently pulled it off and "put it back".

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2002 Funship 214
VP 5.7 GX Si
2003 Tahoe

Been there.... luckily (in hind sight) my last boat had a finicky Neutral Safety Switch.

So far this year I have:
1) wrapped my dock line around the prop (luckily only while at idle), with no damage to either.
2) ran my stern drive into some rocks, fortunately not even nicking my brand new hi-five
3) managed to get my anchor out inverted twice in a row (so it wouldn't "dig in"). It was a bit windy too.

If my season gets no worse than that, I should be VERY happy.

I may go out on the Mo River Sun, then will be at LOTO for a week after that!

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Walt B
"Debt-Charged"
Black '07 H210SS
6.2L Bravo One turning a 21P HIFive
Wakeboard Tower with Perfect Pass Stargazer version
Missouri River; Kansas City, Mo.

Had a somewhat similar problem the very first time out in our new boat. I thought I had set the shallow alarm on the depth finder but had set the deep alarm also. It kept beeping so I knew I could turn off ignition and reset. So I idled down, turned off ignition and then it would not start. After a startled minute, checked the throttle position and sure enough, not in neutral!

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Terry
Current: 07 Crownline 255 CCR cuddy - 350 Mag MPI/B3 "Casi Cielo"

Previous:97 245 Sundowner 5.7GI/SX

Tow vehicle: 1986 GMC 2500 Camper Special 454/TH400

Been there done that on both. The tether and the neutral switch.

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Troy
2008 Centurion Avalanche
1994 Four Winns Horizon 180 SE 5.0L OMC Cobra (Sold)
2002 Ford F150 Harley Davidson Edition (http://www.nhtoc.com) 378 hp & 465 tq at rear wheels
2008 Honda Accord EX-L w/Nav

BTDT. Even went so far as to crack the engine hatches to check them. Took a good 10 minutes (while bouncing around in chop) to step-by-step recheck the starting procedure...

D'OH!

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista