My fishing partner has a 1986 V6 Johnson. On our last trip out the boat would not start. It was turning over but the starter was not jumping up in to the fly will and catching the motor. I was able to move the gear into the fly will by hand and start the motor but the boat would not get on pad even after it was started. Besides for being old and having a weak starter what causes a boat not to get on pad once running. It seemed as if it was not turning the RPMs it needed. Any advice or ideas before I start tinkering with it?

After you got the starter to engage, did it go back down after the motor was running or stay up?

red thats a good question I didnt think to look...I would be willing to bet it is still engaged

Not engaged.. I was able to get it turned over and it seemed to run fine with some ear muffs on.

Hey Kent Im Chris's dad, check the ground on the starter and then back track it to the battery making sure that the connections are tight.