Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 20-10-2014, 07:22   #1
Registered User

Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Leavenworth, KS
Boat: 2011 Lagoon 450F
Posts: 1,147
Outboard Failure.. :)

So, my husband and I went sailing yesterday. Motored out of the harbor, and we get about 1/4 of a mile out, and were turning into the wind to hoist our sails, and the Motor cuts out.. we primed it.. started it.. and it cut out again. So, naturally, we panic. (we have no CLUE how to sail back into the harbor and back into our slip!)

We take a deep breath, and take a look at it... starting with the gas tank.. and working our way to the motor.. checking everything, and VOILA! there is a crack in the fuel line. We grab a scissors and some tape... tape it up and it started right up and ran, when we needed it to coming back into the harbor after our sail.

Why am I smiling? because it was our first Outboard failure.. and we fixed it!! I know am confident that I know how to repair a fuel line. Gotta celebrate the small victories.
scarlet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-10-2014, 07:27   #2
Registered User
 
colemj's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Presently on US East Coast
Boat: Manta 40 "Reach"
Posts: 10,108
Images: 12
Re: Outboard Failure.. :)

Congrats - it all builds confidence. That cracked fuel line is a very common thing, particularly on older ones and near fittings. If yours is old, just replace it. You don't need to buy an expensive pre-made one - just buy some fuel hose of the same length and diameter and make the connections yourself.

Mark
__________________
www.svreach.com

You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.
colemj is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-10-2014, 07:54   #3
Registered User

Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Leavenworth, KS
Boat: 2011 Lagoon 450F
Posts: 1,147
Re: Outboard Failure.. :)

Quote:
Originally Posted by colemj View Post
Congrats - it all builds confidence. That cracked fuel line is a very common thing, particularly on older ones and near fittings. If yours is old, just replace it. You don't need to buy an expensive pre-made one - just buy some fuel hose of the same length and diameter and make the connections yourself.

Mark
yup.. that was our plan.. good off season project.
scarlet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-10-2014, 08:37   #4
Registered User

Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: the Netherlands
Boat: Wibo 1100 36 ft
Posts: 66
Re: Outboard Failure.. :)

Quote:
Originally Posted by scarlet View Post
So, my husband and I went sailing yesterday. Motored out of the harbor, and we get about 1/4 of a mile out, and were turning into the wind to hoist our sails, and the Motor cuts out.. we primed it.. started it.. and it cut out again. So, naturally, we panic. (we have no CLUE how to sail back into the harbor and back into our slip!)

We take a deep breath, and take a look at it... starting with the gas tank.. and working our way to the motor.. checking everything, and VOILA! there is a crack in the fuel line. We grab a scissors and some tape... tape it up and it started right up and ran, when we needed it to coming back into the harbor after our sail.

Why am I smiling? because it was our first Outboard failure.. and we fixed it!! I know am confident that I know how to repair a fuel line. Gotta celebrate the small victories.
This was a warning. A warning to tell you that you have to learn how to sail back into the harbor. It's not hard.

Years ago the cable to the gas handle snapped and the engine went into idle. We stopped the engine, furled the genua about 50%, lowered the mainsail and slowly sailed into port and moored alongside the visitors pier. No need to furl the front sail completely to stop the boat, releasing the sheet is enough.
Draikhyan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-10-2014, 08:51   #5
Registered User
 
Terra Nova's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Marina del Rey, California
Boat: President 43 Sportfish
Posts: 4,105
Re: Outboard Failure.. :)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Draikhyan View Post
This was a warning. A warning to tell you that you have to learn how to sail back into the harbor. ...
It is also a warning about keeping up with equipment inspection and maintenance.
__________________
1st rule of yachting: When a collision is unavoidable, aim for something cheap.
"whatever spare parts you bring, you'll never need"--goboatingnow
"Id rather drown than have computers take over my life."--d design
Terra Nova is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-10-2014, 09:04   #6
Registered User

Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Leavenworth, KS
Boat: 2011 Lagoon 450F
Posts: 1,147
Re: Outboard Failure.. :)

[QUOTE=Terra Nova;1658666]It is also a warning about keeping up with equipment inspection and maintenance.[/QUOTE

Agreed!! Just learning. So, we should add this to our "check list"...
scarlet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-10-2014, 09:57   #7
Registered User
 
denverd0n's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 5,009
Images: 6
Re: Outboard Failure.. :)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Draikhyan View Post
This was a warning. A warning to tell you that you have to learn how to sail back into the harbor. It's not hard.
Ditto. No engine is 100% reliable, and you cannot always count on being able to fix it. Learning how to sail your boat well enough that this sort of thing doesn't panic you is the best peace-of-mind that you can get.

Good luck.
denverd0n is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-10-2014, 13:03   #8
Registered User

Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Currently in the Caribbean
Boat: Cheoy Lee 47 CC
Posts: 1,019
Re: Outboard Failure.. :)

Congratulations on your repair, there'll be many more to come.
Fixing stuff is sometimes rewarding, sometimes not.
Learning to dock under sail definitely will bring a smile to your face.
Good Luck.
lifeofreilly57 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-10-2014, 14:13   #9
Registered User
 
Reefmagnet's Avatar

Join Date: May 2008
Location: puɐןsuǝǝnb 'ʎɐʞɔɐɯ
Boat: Nantucket Island 33
Posts: 4,864
Re: Outboard Failure.. :)

That gut wrenching moment when the engine stutters and stalls. Usually at the absolute most inopportune time!

I've always found the bulb on an outboard fuel line is an excellent first (and most often last) point of diagnosis. If it's collapsed (vent closed/blocked) or soft (no fuel/air) - cha-ching!
Reefmagnet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-10-2014, 14:56   #10
Registered User

Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 170
Re: Outboard Failure.. :)

Good for you and the hubby scarlet. I know some people who would be hailing Sea-Tow.
Old Snipe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-10-2014, 15:00   #11
Registered User

Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 170
Re: Outboard Failure.. :)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Draikhyan View Post
This was a warning. A warning to tell you that you have to learn how to sail back into the harbor. It's not hard.

Years ago the cable to the gas handle snapped and the engine went into idle. We stopped the engine, furled the genua about 50%, lowered the mainsail and slowly sailed into port and moored alongside the visitors pier. No need to furl the front sail completely to stop the boat, releasing the sheet is enough.

That is exactly where I hope to be some day....... time will tell.
Old Snipe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-10-2014, 15:14   #12
Writing Full-Time Since 2014
 
thinwater's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Deale, MD
Boat: PDQ Altair, 32/34
Posts: 9,569
Re: Outboard Failure.. :)

Engine? My first boat didn't have no stinkin engine.

A fuel line is not an off-season project. It is a right-now project, before the boat moves again. Easy.

Realistically, there are some harbors and wind directions that will require a tow, but with luch and better maintance, you may never get caught.

Tip: let the engine run at dock for 5-10 minutes while loading. It will be warm and some failures will have the courtesy to happen at the dock or at least in the harbor.
__________________
Gear Testing--Engineering--Sailing
https://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/
thinwater is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-10-2014, 15:31   #13
Registered User
 
thomm225's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Lower Chesapeake Bay Area
Boat: Bristol 27
Posts: 10,460
Re: Outboard Failure.. :)

Quote:
Originally Posted by thinwater View Post
Engine? My first boat didn't have no stinkin engine.
Yep, same here. It's good to learn sailing on a boat with no engine and not a lot of ballast.

Here's my 1st and 4th sailboat and neither had an engine:



This one has the same sail area as my 6600 lb Bristol 27:, but it weighs about 300lbs



Check the prebend on some of the masts in this race (set specifically for the conditions that day)
thomm225 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 20-10-2014, 20:02   #14
Registered User
 
MBWhite's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Illinois
Boat: Rinker 24
Posts: 398
Re: Outboard Failure.. :)

After you've had a couple engine failures in airplanes wonky sailboat motors don't seem to cause such a big excitement, not that I'd recommend that form of therapy to anyone!

Congrats on troubleshooting and fixing your issue!
MBWhite is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21-10-2014, 05:29   #15
Registered User
 
denverd0n's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 5,009
Images: 6
Re: Outboard Failure.. :)

Quote:
Originally Posted by MBWhite View Post
After you've had a couple engine failures in airplanes wonky sailboat motors don't seem to cause such a big excitement...
To paraphrase thinwater... Engine? My first plane didn't have no stinkin' engine.

(Come to think of it, neither did my first boat.)
denverd0n is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
outboard

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
petrol cap gasket failure on brand new outboard charliehows Engines and Propulsion Systems 1 20-07-2012 02:54
Mercury outboard book? Or just outboard? Jack Long The Library 2 17-09-2008 08:33
rig failure? irwinsailor Dollars & Cents 3 18-02-2008 07:26
Chain plate failure, dismasting in the Southern Ocean GrayGoose Construction, Maintenance & Refit 1 27-03-2005 07:19
In the Event of Rig Failure GordMay Health, Safety & Related Gear 0 01-08-2004 04:36

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 16:30.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.