Need Help With My Boat, My First One....... Fuel Advice

[Mud River Matt]

Ok guys, so I just bought my first boat. It is a 2002 Bass Tracker 165 with a 25 hp motor on it. The boat is in pretty good shape, has tilt and trim. My question / problem is that the boat hasnt been started since probably this time last year. There is still fuel in the tank. I am assuming that I need to remove this fuel before starting the boat. Also, should I add some seafoam or something to my fisrt tank of gas I run through the motor? Any and all help is much appreciated. Thanks a lot, Matt

[Fishing Rhino]

If you cannot be sure that the fuel was treated, drain the tank.  I'd recommend using some type of fuel stabilizer every time you add fuel.  It's cheap insurance and will help reduce the damage caused by ethanol.

 

You might want to consider changing the fuel lines.  The new fuels are tough on the fuel lines.  I'd change them all.  It could cost as much to have a shop check them out as it does to change them, if you do the work yourself. 

 

Fuel lines that are deteriorating can clog a fuel filter quickly.

 

If you are not comfortable doing it yourself, find a reputable outboard tech, and have them do it.  It can prevent all sorts of headaches on the water, not to mention ruining a day's fishing.

[jhoffman]

If its a two stroke i would run a can of seafoam through it. Be ready to swap plugs when youre done.

[Mud River Matt]

Yea it is a 2 stroke engine and I have a can of seafoam. What about changing my fuel filter???? Any thoughts on that

[slonezp]

Fuel filter and plugs are cheap insurance. You should also change the oil in the lower unit

[salmicropterus]

Drain the fuel, change the fuel line out with 2009 compliant line, and change the filter-do all of it or you might as well not do any of it. Also the advice to change the lower unit oil is always good. All pretty cheap fixes whether you do it or have a shop do it. You didn;t mention whether the motor was an injection type or carb. If carb, be prepared to rebuild the carb(s) or least replace the bowl(s).

[Mud River Matt]

How hard is it to change the oil in the lower unit. I am pretty mechanically inclined, but i have NEVER worked on a boat. I have rebuilt dirt bikes, crotch rockets, worked on cars..... So do you think I can handle chaning out the oil in the lower unit....

[slonezp]

Easy peasy japanesy. 

 

http://youtu.be/gkU-xdNW-3M

[Mud River Matt]

Thanks Slone, I appreciate it....

[quanjig]

Get a manual for the outboard, if you are mechanically apt, you should be able to do all of those things yourself!

[Traveler2586]

Don't forget the impeller in the water pump; the rubber can dry out, get brittle, and breakup while running and over heat the engine.  If you don't know when it was last changed out - do it.