Drifting, no wind, can't restart engine.... Any ideas?

Bobc said:
If you have a separate tank for the outboard, borrow the bulb primer from it, get it into the feed line somewhere (nearer the tank the better), and use that to push fuel through the input lines and expel any air. If you have any kind of blockage in the fuel line, you'll probably blow it thought with the pressure you'll create with the bulb.
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Or alternatively use the dinghy pump.
 
SAPurdie said:
Jury rig a day tank for the 4108 using o/b fuel tank or cans. Leave at least one filter in the system.
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+1

To OP: And as SAPurdie says, beware of the return flow which will mean the fuel in your can will disappear a lot quicker than you'd expect. Not a problem in open water, but check the level before committing yourself to anywhere where you don't want to lose the engine. I find having a second can with a syphon pump filling the first can help.
 
Devon805 said:
Got it thanks. I would have thought that there was enough exhaust pressure from a diesel to stop flooding but happy to learn from your advice. :encouragement:
Wont the pump run dry though as Graham asked?

Thanks guys
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Unless the engine is actually firing then you won't get that much exhaust pressure in comparison just from compressing a litre or two of air. The exhaust system is sized to clear the cooling water from a firing engine so the much lesser exhaust effect from a slow-turning starter motor is unlikely to achieve much.

You could probably run an impeller "dry" for a minute or so, which at idling speed would be around 800 revolutions assuming a 1:1 gearing. The starter motor probably turns the crank at around 100 - 200 rpm so an equivalent amount of dry running would be around 4 - 8 minutes on the starter motor. That would be an eternity of 10 second bursts on the starter switch combined with the fact that the pump will be trying to create a vacuum so is probably not really running totally dry as the water will not be being cleared in the same way it would as if you left the strainer lid off and it could start to draw air.

Richard
 
sailaboutvic said:
Have you though about getting closer in and anchoring , then you have time to rest and think things through , better change of getting a sea breeze too .
at the same time the battery will get some charge , and you have the option if you can sort it out to get someone who can .
On helpful ideas
If you thing there a blocks someone I would rig up a tank as suggest, bleed the system at less that will get you out of a problem .
Also it your started battery is separate to your house battery , use the house battery to start the engine .
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Had a similar situation some years ago off that coast, drifting with no engine & next to nothing in batteries. Some breeze sprang up toward nightfall, allowing us to sail toward unknown town lights on coast. When as far in as we dare, switched on depthsounder, got into 5m depth & anchored. When morning came, found ourselves in a bay close to the local club nautico & lots of sunday morning small boat fishing enthusiasts, one took owner ashore to buy new battery, which got engine started & moored up at club.
 
alant said:
Had a similar situation some years ago off that coast, drifting with no engine & next to nothing in batteries. Some breeze sprang up toward nightfall, allowing us to sail toward unknown town lights on coast. When as far in as we dare, switched on depthsounder, got into 5m depth & anchored. When morning came, found ourselves in a bay close to the local club nautico & lots of sunday morning small boat fishing enthusiasts, one took owner ashore to buy new battery, which got engine started & moored up at club.
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Perfect :encouragement:
 
I used to know a man who had spent three days on passage from Guernsey to the Solent in near calm conditions. His outboard didn't work but he had plenty of food and water, and was in no hurry, so he just soldiered on until he reached his destination.
 
parsifal said:
I used to know a man who had spent three days on passage from Guernsey to the Solent in near calm conditions. His outboard didn't work but he had plenty of food and water, and was in no hurry, so he just soldiered on until he reached his destination.
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We were fairly philosophical about it - we knew we were in no danger. But a fairly nasty 30kn wind was forecast for the next day and with our young son on-board, we didn't really want to be stuck out in that. It was all OK in the end, just very very frustrating (especially as it happened twice!).
 
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