Dead engine sailing

[john_morris_uk]

Numerous numerous times. Many for practice but some out of necessity.

Two occasions of note jump to mind although there are many more.
One was when the studs holding the gearbox onto the engine on a JSASTC Nicholson 55 broke and I had to sail it into the berth in the little Marina at the US naval academy in Annapolis. (No pressure)
Second of note was when I spent nearly an entire Cowes week sailing on and off the town pontoon in our then 26’ long keeled SCOD. Cowes harbourmaster was aware and very supportive. There were a few interesting moments sailing up the Medina - yachts everywhere. People would just stop right in front of us and several times I’d have to shout, we’ve got no engine and please move. (Sometimes I’d have to add “…and we weigh 4.5 tonnes”)
The harbourmaster would come and give us s push onto the raft of boats we were joining if it was impossible to sail the last few yards.

 

[LittleSister]

'One thing I have learnt about seamanship, and other things, over the years is not to take advice from people who boast', he boasted.

 

[john_morris_uk]

'One thing I have learnt about seamanship, and other things, over the years is not to take advice from people who boast', he boasted.

Quite.

But I’m with Capnsensible; it’s a skill worth having and it’s great to be able to teach it and give confidence to others.

 

[LittleSister]

That accords with my experience. Many years ago I had an engine fail and sailed back to Chichester marina. On the approach I called them to explain my predicament. I was asked if I was comfortable sailing through the lock. I said yes. They opened the lock for me. I sailed through. They met me inside with a workboat.

I have a vague recollection of enquiring about (or maybe hearing about such an enquiry) about getting a marina to tow a boat in, and the marina saying their workboat (or perhaps just the available staff) wasn't licensed (or insured?) to operate outside the marina, but if the boat could be sailed (or towed by someone else) into the lock they'd sort it from there.

 

[LittleSister]

That's a bit different from sailing onto a berth in a marina, which is what some have advocated.

For me it goes without saying that one would be aiming for the easiest/least hazardous available berth, whether that be the fuel pontoon, hammerhead or something more challenging, and then sorting it out from there.

'Sorting it from there' might or might not involve the marina's workboat. Depending on circumstances, one might be able to warp the boat to where it needed to end up, paddle it round, tow it with a dinghy under oars or outboard, or perhaps even sail it round if appropriate (e.g. having checked out the lie of the land/wind/current etc. and perhaps recruited assistance to fend off from neighbouring boats or whatever).

Perhaps years of sailing long-keelers, and earlier a boat with outboard behind the rudder, has made me not so much unstressed by manoeuvring around marinas under only limited control, but more used to being stressed!

 

[Buck Turgidson]

I have just disconnected mine. Its reading is a total work of fiction and my calculations are a far more accurate measure of what is onboard.

I haven't. got one. I use a stick and a watch.

 

[Poignard]

I haven't. got one. I use a stick and a watch.

Whoever made the diesel tank for my Twister kindly provided it with a screw-in brass dipstick, calibrated in gallons.

I have, regardless of expense, and in recognition of the widespread adoption of the metric system, superceded this with a length of wooden dowel, notched every 5 litres.

However, I had better hang onto the original dipstick as certain highly-placed individuals seem confident the UK will soon revert to using imperial measures, and I wouldn't want to to be thought of as unpatriotic.

 

[flaming]

The only time I've ever been faced with a real life dead engine and a pontoon to sail onto, as soon as we started shaping up for the approach a marina launch appeared alongside and offered a tow. Would have been churlish to refuse....

 

[AntarcticPilot]

The only time I've ever been faced with a real life dead engine and a pontoon to sail onto, as soon as we started shaping up for the approach a marina launch appeared alongside and offered a tow. Would have been churlish to refuse....

I wish that had been the case the only time I had to do it for real in pitch darkness! Trying to get alongside a pontoon I couldn't really see was character forming, at best! I must have gone round at least 5 times before getting close enough that my wife could get onto the pontoon with a line.

 

[flaming]

I haven't. got one. I use a stick and a watch.

I like my fuel gauge.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

View attachment 157818

I like my fuel gauge.

I have a sight tube. Simple and straightforward, and yes, there's a valve to close it off that would also be a useful drain point for the tank if ever necessary.

 

[flaming]

I have a sight tube. Simple and straightforward, and yes, there's a valve to close it off that would also be a useful drain point for the tank if ever necessary.

I should probably also add that that photo was taken from the viewpoint of someone sat on the bog.

 

[johnalison]

I should probably also add that that photo was taken from the viewpoint of someone sat on the bog.

Obviously. We can see the bucket.

 

[john_morris_uk]

View attachment 157818

I like my fuel gauge.

Call that a fuel tank?


We have a dip stick as well as a Tek-Tank gauge to measure how much fuel we’ve got. 32” is a full 180 litres.

 

[flaming]

Call that a fuel tank?
View attachment 157820View attachment 157821

We have a dip stick as well as a Tek-Tank gauge to measure how much fuel we’ve got. 32” is a full 180 litres.

180 litres....?

That's not a tank, that's a bunker...

25l is a much more acceptable size.

 

[Poignard]

I haven't. got one. I use a stick and a watch.

What is the capacity of your Twister's tank?

Mine is 55 litres, which seems unnecessarily large for an engine using 1.7litres/hour at cruising speed.

 

[Wansworth]

What is worse is and engine with intermittent fault.Sailing from Southampton to Cowes in the approximation of Cowes. the engine wouldn’t start.Wind was across the mouth west to east so we bore away intending to gibe and get clear of the moorings.With a good force five in relatively new boat itwas stress ful.Being a schooner we decided the gibe took us away forthe moorings with a clear run out to the east.After execution of the gibe the engine decided to start so we downed sail and came round in a circle to enter the Medina,once running the engine was perfect.My lack of engine knowledge led to various problems and ending witha water locked motor in the fog off Vigo.The problem was the starter,a problem that should have been fixed but time was a problem.

 

[Supertramp]

Much of the chaos in marina berthing stems from too much engine and failing to respect and use wind, tide and the boat's handling character. And as others have said some marinas offer berths that are not practical under sail.

I used to sail regularly on the Norfolk Broads and we would do everything under sail. Shooting Potter Heigham bridge under sail with a quick mast lower and up is probably banned now. Almost anything was possible but certain situations were "no go" due to wind or tide. Most apparently irretrievable situations come good when you lower sails (quickly) and focus on not T boning anything using head to wind or tide to take way off. A quant pole was a useful aid but tricky to justify on a coastal boat.

I agree that everyone should practice. Turning the engine on before lowering sails for example avoids a valuable chance to learn how a boat behaves under reduced or no canvas. How will she sail with main alone? What control have I got over speed and direction? I love exploring this but not when there are lots of witnesses present!

 

[Concerto]

You need to fit a fuel gauge!

A dip stick works well - when I remember to use it. The tank holds 40 gallons, so rarely needs checking.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

A dip stick works well - when I remember to use it.

Not too useful when the filler hose has an S bend in it.