When she won’t start

DIY BOATING

nce you’ve exhausted the swearing, it’s time to clear the head and think logically. With outboards, the number-one cause of a no-start is a dislodged kill switch. On some brands this results in the engine turning over but not starting, while on others it won’t even turn over.

While checking if this is the problem, move the gear lever back and forth and make sure it’s in neutral. For safety reasons most engines won’t start if they’re in gear.

If the engine turns over, but very sluggishly, the problem’s almost certainly related to battery power or getting that power to the starter motor. The cause might be a poor connection – and note this can occur at any time, even