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PHANTOM STARTS

Capt steve

Well-known member
I think we have all heard stories of phantom starts, but I have never seen one, until today! Was pre flighting the boat for the day, turned the key on to check the fuel level and while I was writing the days numbers on the log, the engine just started on its own!!! Scared the shyte out of me. I’ve always been taught not to get in that cage unless the batteries are switched off, know I know why!!!

Please folks, as new to the game as I am, I’m gonna remind everyone to shut those batteries of before getting behind that cage!

Safe sliding.
 
Damn!

I’ve been running and riding in airboats for 50+ years, and have never heard of, much less seen, such a thing.

That’ll make you go to church (and buy a lotto ticket, too!) :angel4:
 
If I ever had that happen on a given boat and subsequently needed to enter the cage,
I don't think the Ol' Perko switch would provide me with the comfort level I would need to do so . . .

I would likely end up putting the battery across the street! :shock: :lol:
 
That ain’t a bad idea.

Now in all seriousness is the switch a 100 % as far as disconcerting those batteries or is it time to enhook the battery every time I have to get a water bottle out of there???

Also, none of you guys have ever heard of this?? I’ve been around these boats for a bit over a year and have heard stories. Very scary watching it happen!
 
I'm with Deuce, that freaks me out thinking about it,,What kind of engine and ignition was it??
 
Bro in laws boat had a small engine fire went out to hit it with some extinguisher had my arms inside the cage spraying it and it started cranking... very scary to say the least thought my hand got chopped when the prop came around. Not sure what the cause was but he didnt have a batt selector then!
 
Had the starter engage while running in my flat bottom V-Drive, short between hot and wire to solenoid , somewhere in harness. Broke a few teeth off flywheel. Ran new starter wire with a secondary push button switch. Now I turn key with one hand and push button for starter with other. It's hard on parts when starter engages at 7,000 RPMs. Mark
 
Replaced starter and switch. Seems to have solved the problem. However I will never get in a cage again without making sure batteries are disconnected.

I hope to never experience that again!
 
My VW trike started inching across the yard once due to a shorted ignition switch, went to perko marine ignition switch, push to choke feature made for perfect horn contact.
 
I had a ski nautique that the switch shorted in a nasty storm. Was covered, storm blew a limb down that went through the cover. Woke-up to what i thought was a tornado coming.
BTW it was the middle of the night. Made family get into the safe room. I kept hearing it and thought it was a repetitive sound. I went out the front door and could here it clearly, same sound over and over to a few step into the dark and firgured out it was my boat turning over. Key switch was almost melted,starter was turning motor over but luckly never made the ignition hot.

Tornado scare over, can laugh about it now.

And my uncle had a triumph spitfire that if you slammer the drivers door it would try to start, destoyed a mower and a washer one night. My papa thought he was drinking that night and he got in back the car, out looking at my uncle and slammed the door, and there went back into the mower and washer. Of course you were not allowed to laugh.

So, if it has power and it can try to start.
 
I'm still shaking my head I'm at work and have been thinking about this for a couple of hours I grew up in Daytona we've had a muffler shop for 50 years now worked on all kinds of cars airboat exhaust you name it dirt track racing at Barberville for half my life I have never heard of this... I'm thinking of the hundreds of times that I have gone through the back of the cage to get something out of the boat before I start it up whether I was in the water or just in the yard damn it man and I don't even have a cut off switch... everybody be safe and I will disconnect my battery next time
 
i woke up one morning and my jeep wasnt where i parked it. as i looked around i seen it about 100 yards across the yard up against a tree. it just got tired of sitting there and moved itself. i started unhooking my battery after that
 
pierson skunkape said:
I'm still shaking my head I'm at work and have been thinking about this for a couple of hours I grew up in Daytona we've had a muffler shop for 50 years now worked on all kinds of cars airboat exhaust you name it dirt track racing at Barberville for half my life I have never heard of this... I'm thinking of the hundreds of times that I have gone through the back of the cage to get something out of the boat before I start it up whether I was in the water or just in the yard damn it man and I don't even have a cut off switch... everybody be safe and I will disconnect my battery next time

Never go in there without disconnecting the battery. Just not worth it. I’m glad it was drummed into me from the start.
 
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