The day the diesel died ...

[Rorzech]

There should be a way to install an idiot light indicating when the starter motor is running and when it shuts down.

[Kelkara]

Originally Posted by Rorzech

There should be a way to install an idiot light indicating when the starter motor is running and when it shuts down.

My smoke alarm is inside the main cabin. I'm wondering whether a smoke alarm inside the engine compartment itself would have triggered early enough so that there was still enough life in the starter to start the engine.

Or once smoke starts coming out is it already too late? At least my smoke alarm got me to shut it down before anything burst into flames.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Kelkara

..... I switch batteries and try again ... the same feeble sound. With the starter key in the cockpit I can't actually see if it is even turning the engine, so I place my camera on the cabin floor and set it recording a video, and try again. The starter does turn the engine, but with no oompf ... It'll never get it going.

So what to do next? .......

A tip for the OP, if your engine has decompression levers (and many do), operate them and then hit the stater, once the engine is spinning over at a good rate, release one lever and it is most likely to fire on that cylinder; if so then release the others and the cylinders will fire.

You don't need much oompf from a starter motor to get enough momentum into the flywheel when the cylinder(s) is(are) decompressed.

[Kelkara]

Originally Posted by Wotname

A tip for the OP, if your engine has decompression levers (and many do), operate them and then hit the stater, once the engine is spinning over at a good rate, release one lever and it is most likely to fire on that cylinder; if so then release the others and the cylinders will fire.

You don't need much oompf from a starter motor to get enough momentum into the flywheel when the cylinder(s) is(are) decompressed.

Unfortunately my engine (Beta) does not have decompression levers ... without both good batteries and a starter motor I don't think there's any way to start it.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Kelkara

Unfortunately my engine (Beta) does not have decompression levers ... without both good batteries and a starter motor I don't think there's any way to start it.

Gotta agree!

I love those Beta engines except for the lack of the decompression ability.

[rbk]

Assuming by your description that you were in one of two towns north of edgcume, and your description of the bay I can assume you were within 5nm of a small fishing village that gets upwards of a dozen float planes direct from Juneau daily. Any one of those fishing boats would have gladly towed you in free of charge (customary to buy a round or two at Rosie's or Coho's, guessing the later) and could have had a new starter in the next day or two and half the dock would've come out to help you install it whether you needed the help or not. Everyone is still civil up here and willing to help out at the drop of a hat. Glad you made it to Sitka safe. Alaskan's and northerners in general can be standoffish to outsiders but when you ask a few questions and are respectful we can be some of the most welcoming, helpful people on the planet, even the most grizzled fisherman. Just don't piss us off.

[model 10]

If you have more than one 12v batt it's easy to get enough power for a start. 2 almost dead 12v batts in series will get you going. You need to be carefull what you have turned on as even 18v will fry some some stuff but not a starter motor.

[Kelkara]

Originally Posted by rbk

Assuming by your description that you were in one of two towns north of edgcume, and your description of the bay I can assume you were within 5nm of a small fishing village that gets upwards of a dozen float planes direct from Juneau daily. Any one of those fishing boats would have gladly towed you in free of charge (customary to buy a round or two at Rosie's or Coho's, guessing the later) and could have had a new starter in the next day or two and half the dock would've come out to help you install it whether you needed the help or not. Everyone is still civil up here and willing to help out at the drop of a hat. Glad you made it to Sitka safe. Alaskan's and northerners in general can be standoffish to outsiders but when you ask a few questions and are respectful we can be some of the most welcoming, helpful people on the planet, even the most grizzled fisherman. Just don't piss us off.

I had started the day in Pelican and was about 20 miles south. I certainly considered seeing if I could get a tow back there. But on balance pushing on to Sitka seemed the better option. Once there it was just a half hour tow into harbour and lots of boats around, a fishing boat was with me within ten minutes of asking and happily (and expertly) towed me in ... yes people are certainly friendly up here.

[rbk]

When you said pulling through the islands into a protected bay I thought I had it pegged at Althorp and you were 3 nm from Elfin. If you were out of Lisianski and down the cost it's a toss up. Six foot swell can turn into ten foot breakers when they meet the ebb tide and getting towed through that can be nasty. Hope everything works out and you enjoy the trip.

[joel383]

Originally Posted by Kelkara

But apart from all that ... cruising here is still "rainbows and unicorns"

How long will you be there? We pulled in last Sunday... We are moving to sitka. We have a ferry ticket for the 21st, should be back in town for a few days. We have a grill and know how to use it!

[Kelkara]

Originally Posted by joel383

How long will you be there? We pulled in last Sunday... We are moving to sitka. We have a ferry ticket for the 21st, should be back in town for a few days. We have a grill and know how to use it!

I'll be in Sitka untill the engine starts nicely again. It'll be a few days I'm sure. If you're in town i'd be very happy to help you use that grill.

[jhulmer]

Originally Posted by jeepbluetj

Bye bye, that Alaskan sky
Drove my boat to the anchor but the water was high
The starter was gone, I'm sure it did fry
This'll be the day the diesel dies, oh this i'll be the day the diesel dies....

Excellent! I had this tune in my head the whole time I was reading this excellent Yarn!

NOW! how do I get it out of my head?

[Stenn]

Originally Posted by ejs

Hi, We had a similar failure and had to replace the starter while dragging anchor toward a reef, not so much fun. After having this experience, caused in my case by by the keyswitch internals failing (the actual key was in the correct position, but the starter was still engaged) We have an SOP of turning the key to the off position after we start the engine, and then back to the run position. Being a diesel, the engine doesn't stop, we do it when the engine is idling so there is no alternator current and it mitigates one failure mode. I've talked to too many other boats with similar stories to trust these switches in this environment.

Cheers, Eric
Currently Navadra Is., Fiji

Great tip Eric, thanks, now my SOP !

[Quebramar]

Fantastic writing, precise and colourful, Thanks much and well done on your longest sail!

When I'm on a broad reach for a couple of miles, I put on a preventer (end of boom to bow and back to cockpit on a clutch) it removes so much of the anxiety of jibing the boom. When DDW I take the main down and keep #1 genoa, sometimes poled depending on wind and waves conditions.
In both cases a much relaxing ride, allowing to focus on the course and the waves.

[senormechanico]

Originally Posted by Rorzech

There should be a way to install an idiot light indicating when the starter motor is running and when it shuts down.

Simple to do. One wire to ground, the other to the big wire going into the starter motor itself. That's the one exiting from the solenoid to the motor.
I would suggest a blinking LED with a 470 ohm 1/2 watt resistor in series.
Polarity matters with LED's so if it doesn't light, reverse the connections.
Blinking will definitely get your attention !
I put one on my inverter panel.