I am having trouble starting my boat when the engine is cold. I primed it but it wont turn over?

Question

It will eventually turn over, and start immediately after I shut if off and anchor for a couple hours. I prime it exactly the way the previous owner said he did. It is a 91 Larson with a 4.3L Merc I/O V6

Answer 1

Because it starts easy hot this sounds very much like a fuel problem.  If the choke is not operating correctly this could be the problem.  Look into the carb with the engine off and get someone to activate the choke - does anything happen?  I would not think it is plugs because after cranking for ages you would have flooded the engine - if it was a plug problem the longer you crank the worse this gets!

Answer 2

Your starting problem has nothing to do with priming the engine.If as you say the motor will not even crank over when it's cold,you have a starter problem and you will either need to have it rebuilt or replace it with a new one.As I said earlier,

pumping your throttle has nothing to do with your motor cranking over.Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Sound like fuel pump,fuel filter, fuel pickup or leaking lines.When its cold disconnect the fuel line from the carb,put a container under the line & crank it over, if you have good flow you will need to check fuel pressure next. If both are good you have a carb problem