The engine should have a heat position on the key (maybe a button you hold in) Give the engine 15 seconds of heat and then crank. My old 5411 diesel will not start without heat. Use staring fluid as a last resort, it can be a very bad thing for your engine.
Backing up. Use the burst of power and drift method. Then figure out how much your boat likes to walk to the side when backing up. Learn to use the walk to your advantage. You will be amazed at how tight a space you can turn in reverse when you go the way the boat wants to go. Against the prop walk and with wind against you too ... that's another thing altogether. Mark Tamblyn ________________________________ From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2007 11:26 AM To: [email protected] Subject: catalina27-talk: New Used Boat I recently purchased a 1982 Catalina 27 with a universal diesel engine and pedestal steering. I have 2 major questions that maybe some one can help me with. #1 Once started, the engine runs great however, it will not start on its own. The batteries are new and the starter seems to crank strong. We need to give it a shot of starting spray each time we need to get her started and the engine roars to life. Common sense tells me this in not normal. Has any one had this issue? Are there any suggestions as to what may be wrong? #2 We are in a marina and I am accustom to our previous 22' boat with an out board. It was easily maneuvered and backed out of the slip. I don't even have to back out of a slip with the new boat I just need to back out 25 to 30 yards to open water. Here lies the problem. The boat seems to be very uncontrollable in reverse. Are there some guidelines to backing up without taking out half of the marina?? ________________________________ AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com <http://www.aol.com?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000437> .
