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My marina got my boat into the water last week in a snowstorm. They wont start boats not "summerized" by their staff, so they left my boat at the gas dock next to the lift. I couldn't get it started, and as it was snowing very heavily, I decided to wait for thr next day.
The next day was clear and cold and I had three inches of smow on my decks. It wasn't like this in Alabama! I still couldn't get my engine to crank. It's a single inboard with conventional ignition, so I should be able to figure this out, no computers to make things odd, just air/fuel/spark and the grace of timimg.
It is supposed to be nice tomorrow, so I will have at it again. Any suggestions on where to look first, specific diagnostic procedures/sequences would be helpful.
I winterized with ample Stabil and ran enough to insure the carbs had been reached. I have not yet checked plugs and points, I usually change plugs after I run the fogging oil out. I'm suspecting moisture under the cap, or poor points. I'll report back on progress.
You say it won't crank, by this do you mean the battery won't turn the starter or that the started operates but the motor never cathes?
If it is the first then check the battery and battery switch to make sure there is electrical power. If the second, is there a safty switch that is not engaged. I've been caught several times this way by not having the "key" on the lanyard in or on the safty switch. I hope you know what I mean.
Check fpr moisture in the cap, this is probably the culprit. Also, is the fuel shut off turned back on? If you dry the cap and turn the fuel on and it still won't start, give a little shot of starting fluid down the carb and she should fire right up.
You had it correct. See if you have spark in a grounded plug (one or two cranks). Smell for gas in the cylinder. If the tank was not completely full, you may have water from condensation. With plugs out, crank to clear gas from the cylinders. Replave plugs, try to start. If no luck, you have water in the gas.
Thanks for the suggestions fellas. I have still not got this solved. The engine cranks smartly and I have spark. It seems like a fuel problem, but what I've tried so far hasn't worked. I poured an ounce of fuel directly into the carb and it ran for about five seconds. I checked to be sure the fuel valves were open and the vents clear. I changed the main fuel filter at the end of the season last year.
I decided to try bypassing that filter and connected an outboard tank with straight gas directly to the fuel pump. No go. I disconnected the fuel line downstream of the fuel pump to check if it was pumping. It is, but some crud and a little water came out. I changed the carb fuel filter(it was pretty dirty)and replaced the fuel line between the fuel pump and the carb. Still no go. I'm thinking I have a dirty, wet carb. It's a Rochester Quadrajet. Before I take the carb off and head for the shop, anything else I should try?
The fuel pump is a Carter and has a sight tube that is suppose to fill with fuel if the diaphram ruptures. It is dry. The only test for the fuel pump in the service manual is to test it with a presure guage while the engine is running. Is there a way I can check the pump volume while cranking?
I wonder if I caused the fuel inlet needle to unseat when I was messing around with the portable fuel tank?
Can you take off your carberator bowls? There may be water or crud in it. If this is the case, you might want to back flush your jets with something like Gum-Out before you put it back on.
If you dont already have one, you should probably add a water seperating filter to the fuel line and check it a lot until you're certain you've got it al out of your tank.
Good Luck!
A boat is like a lover. If you dont know what you're doing, expect unhappy results.
first start of the season. 
