Hey fishraiders,
Long post " Need to vent "
My troubles with my small 1989 25hp Tohatsu runabout started about a year and half ago when i took it for a service at a Tohatsu specific service centre in Taren Point.
Before then i enjoyed a year of fishing and cruising with the boat around botany bay with no problems at all.. So i wanted to do the right thing and take it for a service at a tohatsu specific place.
After a 600 plus service and what seemed like that changed a lot of things that apparently needed changing (Im not expert thats why i rather pay people to do it) the problems started coming up.
The boat would start fine first time everytime from the day i bought it and continued to do so. Though when out fishing or stopping for a few hours at a time the boat would not start again (after the service of course) So i would think its flooded and do various things to get it started after sitting for 30 mins or so and just waiting she would finally start and straight home cutting fishing trips short.
I took the boat back three/four times (paid each time) and stated what the problem was and even paid for time on a walk through just incase i was doing something wrong on my end. Nope everything seemed fine i changed service stations just in case the fuel was dodgy always used 95 unleaded at this stage.
Anyway it became a habit to start the boat every 20 mins or so and let it run for about five mins while fishing to avoid this problem until one day it would start at all and we got towed out by good people from the coast guard (sent donation of course).
I had a biz card left on my car at the boat ramp from a mobile mechanic and i thought would give the other guys the flick and called him up. He came and could not get the engine started took it back to the work shop and another 600 or so dollars later came back with the boat starting and sounding awesome.
Swapped fuel to premium was suggested and cleaned out my tank, changed carb, fuel lines heaps of expensive little parts etc.
This was about 3 months ago did not use the boat as i was in Europe for 7 weeks and first thing i did when i got back was take the boat out. Sounded terrific went to a few places for fishing and the last place we stopped it flooded for no reason at all. Left it for about 20 mins then started trying to start it for about 5 mins until it kicked over (electric start in neutral)
had the guy come back and told him my problems and he said i should start the boat reving in no gear and this should avoid my problems.
Well last night (Sunday) went out about 5pm for a fish infront of the novotel in brighton and guess what she didnt start up again had to call the 000 and get towed out. Was waiting for 2 hours nearly as they had to wait to see if any other serious matters that the water police had to attend to before coming to get us.
During that time was constatly trying to start the boat with no luck..
I just dont know what to do anymore it has cost me nearly over $1800 trying to solve whatever is going wrong with the motor.
Is it worth taking it somebody like Huey or should i just throw in the towel
Sorry for the long post.. All i want to do is fish like the rest of us
Regards
Phil