Broken Down in North Carolina, need to find a place

[captmikem]

You might have a second look at the engine. I was laying at a marina in Florida when a couple on a 36 (Catalina I think) was towed in. I spoke with them a few days later and they said a mechanic looked at their engine and said it was blown. They were trying to figure out how to afford a repower. They offered me a beer and I asked to look at their engine. I put my hand over the intake and there was plenty of suction as they cranked it over. I looked around and found the kill (fuel cutoff) stuck closed, freed it up and had them crank it over. It started immediately and ran fine. They left the next day.

Michael

[scottydaum]

It would help to know where they are. Maybe the info is there and I missed it. There are several places up the Neuse River near New Bern NC. My boat is at Bridgeton Boatworks. Duck Creek also comes to mind. It's a good ways up the River but a good area.

[hamburking]

Another vote for the outboard bracket.

In fact, every vessel equipped with an atomic 4 should install an outboard bracket.

A 15hp outboard should move the boat well enough, and will be excellent on the dinghy once you get farther south. Not a bad setup.

Also, get the A4 out of there. But you'll need to add weight for trim and balance...so put in a stack of batteries. Don't forget the solar panels...and now you've really got something!

[Time2Go]

Don't really understand all the anti A4 sentiment
Taken care of they run forever and you can start without a battery
Your friends should call the good folks at Moyer Marine and ask for help
Worst case scenario they could rent a van, drive to MD with their dead engine
And drive back with a new one. A 100% direct swap out
Could all be done in less than a week for about 5 grand
I had an A4 in my Ericson 27 for years and never blew myself up
Once even started it by the crank after some battery issues
There are most likley more A4s out there than any other single engine
I'll bet there have been way more boat fires caused by faulty wiring
then by A4s blowing up.
How do your friends know there engine is truly dead?

[Boatguy30]

SAILS

[hamburking]

Originally Posted by Time2Go

Don't really understand all the anti A4 sentiment

Its not really about the engine itself, its the original engine in a 40 year old boat. Most boats that age have been repowered by now. Agreed, if given good care, lots of oil changes, etc, it will run forever. But the others are now 40 years old, and wearing out.

I've owned 2 A4's in different boats. They suck back gasoline like a frat boy drinks beer at a kegger. A diesel replacement, at half the horsepower can quadruple your range for the same size fuel tank. That IS a big deal.

My personal examples:

C&C27mk2 with A4 - more than a gallon per hour.
C&C27mk4 with yanmar 2gm - 1 litre per hour!!!
Both had 75L (20gal) fuel tanks, so 75 hours on diesel, or 20 hours on A4 (and I'm being generous here, the A4 was a drinker).

Paceship 29 with A4 - almost 2 gallons per hour.
Pearson 30 with Volvo Penta 2002, 18hp - 2 litres per hour.
Again, both had about 20gal tanks (75L), so 10 hours vs 40 hours.

FWIW, my C&C25 with a honda 100 (9.8hp) chugged 1/2 gallon per hour.
with 5 gal tank, 10 hours range.

This isn't from a google search, this is actual fuel consumption from my own records. With the A4 I went from fuel dock to fuel dock. With a diesel I would fill up once per year, just before haulout.

If I'm heading out on a passage, I want as many hours as possible. Not just for range, but for battery charging as well. As you know, many boats carry extra fuel on deck in gerry cans on passages.

I do believe in the longevity of the A4. Well designed. When apes rule the earth, they will have boats powered by A4 engines.

Would I buy another A4? YES, definitely.

[hamburking]

Here's a working Atomic 4 engine for sale, good condition, $400 cdn. (thats like $200 US right?)

Winches, main sail track, deck hardware | sailboats | Kingston | Kijiji

Probably too far away to help though.

[cheoah]

Originally Posted by Boatguy30

SAILS

Plus an outboard, if they can't get a4 going....

There are reputable yards on the Pamlico River and have been mentioned already. McCotters, Sams. The marina is likely charging them for transient prices, they are businesses, w employees, and doing what they do. Hopefully they can find some affordable dockage. I'd be swinging on the hook if I had no money, and did for years.

Now they truly can sail down to Oriental where there are great yards also. Sailcraft and Deatons. The rivers and sound are a great opportunity to cover some miles. And so is Beaufort inlet for that matter.

Best of luck to them-

[Time2Go]

Originally Posted by hamburking

Its not really about the engine itself, its the original engine in a 40 year old boat. Most boats that age have been repowered by now. Agreed, if given good care, lots of oil changes, etc, it will run forever. But the others are now 40 years old, and wearing out.

I've owned 2 A4's in different boats. They suck back gasoline like a frat boy drinks beer at a kegger. A diesel replacement, at half the horsepower can quadruple your range for the same size fuel tank. That IS a big deal.

My personal examples:

C&C27mk2 with A4 - more than a gallon per hour.
C&C27mk4 with yanmar 2gm - 1 litre per hour!!!
Both had 75L (20gal) fuel tanks, so 75 hours on diesel, or 20 hours on A4 (and I'm being generous here, the A4 was a drinker).

Paceship 29 with A4 - almost 2 gallons per hour.
Pearson 30 with Volvo Penta 2002, 18hp - 2 litres per hour.
Again, both had about 20gal tanks (75L), so 10 hours vs 40 hours.

FWIW, my C&C25 with a honda 100 (9.8hp) chugged 1/2 gallon per hour.
with 5 gal tank, 10 hours range.

This isn't from a google search, this is actual fuel consumption from my own records. With the A4 I went from fuel dock to fuel dock. With a diesel I would fill up once per year, just before haulout.

If I'm heading out on a passage, I want as many hours as possible. Not just for range, but for battery charging as well. As you know, many boats carry extra fuel on deck in gerry cans on passages.

I do believe in the longevity of the A4. Well designed. When apes rule the earth, they will have boats powered by A4 engines.

Would I buy another A4? YES, definitely.

I mostly used my Ericson 27 for day sailing, so never realized
the gas consumption issue which could come into play while long distance
cruising.
Do you think these numbers would change with some engine modifications
such as electronic ignition, electric fuel pump and conversion to
fresh water cooling?

My plans are to purchase a boat in the 27 to 30 foot range
when the wife retires and we move to Fla. Budget is not going to be huge
and most boats that are going to be in my range will most likley
have A4s, unless they have been repowered by a PO
I am intrigued by the concept of an outboard and will soon start a thread
dedicated to the concept to get a discussion going on the pros and cons
Cheers

[Kayoko Monk 33]

NC where? I am in Belhaven, we have some reasonable prices here for dockage. Have they considered an outboard (Radcliffe Marine) with mount to get them on the way to where they are going? At least until they can get the rest of the ducks in a row. Contact me and I have a place here on Pamlico/Pungo river at very fair rates, no problem working on your own boat.
Jim

[Mayhemdog75]

My boat is at Captain Sams. Good folks and good prices.

[Kayoko Monk 33]

Originally Posted by waterdancer

My friends, a young Canadian couple just killed their Atomic 4 on their cruise down south. They need a place where they can dock their boat and repower ASAP before the winter sets in.
They were towed in into a marina from hell which wants to charge them by the foot ($1) and they have no showers and will probably have to stay for several weeks.
Somebody recommended a boat yard in Washington, NC
Anybody knows of a friendly boatyards in the are that could accommodate them to do a DIY repower ?
These are tight budget cruisers on a 1974 Tartan 34C
Thank You
Ahmet
S/V Waterdancer 1990 Irwin 34C
Tabasco 1973 C&C 25
Boston, MA

I looked for your friends this eve at the marina you had mentioned, I live down the street from there. Your freinds came and borrowed a shower the other day and also spoke with Henry Boyd, the Dockmaster at River Forest Marina, not the boatyard, its the place with the mansion here in Belhaven but they did not mention their troubles. Please have them contact Henry or Jim and we can certainly help them out. They can email at dockmaster@riverforestmarina.com. or call. I also spoke with Ricky Radcliffe of Radcliff Marine and he can set them up with an outboard and mount at reasonable prices, and we have a couple places we could set them up at very reasonable prices. River Forest Marina is under new ownership as of a year ago.

[hamburking]

When I've been sailing, I often visit new places. Especially sailing alone, it can be quite daunting to be in a new place. I have found that it just takes 1 person to be nice, and that gives a positive impression of the entire place. Conversely, if the first person I meet is a jerk, and I don't meet anyone else, then I'm left with a very bad impression of a place.

And when your engine is busted, and you are in somewhat of a crisis, then this effect is amplified.

I can imagine that this young canadian couple is under a ton of stress right now. Just getting to the dock was likely an epic tale in itself. I can imagine being on a tight budget, engine broken, and stuck at an expensive dock/marina that I think is going to bankrupt me in no time. Wow. Not fun.

So I am very happy to read the above posts of CF members actually going to see and help this young couple. And giving good info and advice. That is the good stuff of a sailing community. Kudos to you all.

If I were close enough, I would pack my toolbox, a pot of my famous "island stew" and head down to the marina to lend a hand.

If any of you get stuck in Kingston Ontario, or anywhere nearby, gimme a call...you've got a new friend waiting to help out.

Best of luck to our friends stranded in NC.

So there's a used A4 (good shape) in Hamilton ON asking $400. Anyone got a truck...I'm up for a road trip...if it helps.

[jeepbluetj]

Betcha that a4 is fixable. I've got one. They're a great engine except for how much fuel they drink. Good luck to them.

[Time2Go]

Just dug up my Moyer A4 manual
If your friends are still stuck and are considering
having a go at a repair PM me and I'll lend them the manual
All I ask is that they send it back when done
Cheers