Engine trouble

[DOK]

Actually managed to get the boat out of the marina today ( /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif). What with work pressure, a divorce and the bl00dy weather, this was the first successful outing since the beginning of June. Except that it actually wasn't successful.

Took 3 hours to drive to the marina (normally just over 1 hour) but no worries, it's a late tide and all I want is to get out for a couple of hours and give my parents their first trip out on the boat. Engines fire up first time, free flow has just started so off we jolly well go. Bit of a queue to get through the lock (and a hell of a current /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif) but we're afloat and moving.

Once we get past East Head I let my son take the helm and he takes us out of the harbour. OK. a bit more throttle says I; watch the boats coming towards you, and the catamarans criss crossing in front of us. OK, start to open up the throttles. Mind that yacht - damn, it's busy. Suddenly a turbo whistle is heard - who's that? B;00dy hell, it's us, what's happening??

I hadn't noticed due to concentrating on all of the other boats but as Son was opening up the throttles nothing was happening. The revs climbed to 1500 then stopped - then, after a few minutes, the starboard engine climbed to 2000 rpm and stuck there.

Played around with the throttles for a while and tried the lower helm position as well. Move the throttles right forward and the revs will climb to 1500 then stick. After a few minutes, the starboard engine will give a bit more but that's it. With the engines in neutral, I can rev both engines to max rpm but engage the gear and no joy.

So, we turned around and headed back to Chichester. Only had the damn things serviced a couple of months back, looks like I will be writing out another cheque to the engineer (and with the way my luck has been running lately, it's bound to be costly).

Time for another beer /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[pentane]

sounds like fuel trouble. unusual for both engines to play up. when were your filters last done? often admired your boat - we're on k with the 360. also could be worm growth on your stern gear - easily sorted with a trip to the sealift! we'll be back in later this afternoon if you are still around. currently anchored off itchenor.

 

[DOK]

[ QUOTE ]
when were your filters last done

[/ QUOTE ]

Must admit I assumed (almost certainly naively) that they were done when the engines were serviced.

Worm growth is highly likely - given the speed with which the damn stuff seems to grow in Chichester /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif. But (probably a silly question) would that limit my revs in this way?? I thought about growth on the bottom of the boat but, whilst I could see that slowing the boat down, I don't see how it would slow the engine down.

[ QUOTE ]
we'll be back in later this afternoon if you are still around

[/ QUOTE ]

Back home unfortunatey, cooking dinner for two hungry kids (and drinking a nice glass of red /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif ).

Hopefully catch up with you one day.

David

 

[PCUK]

If the boat can't accelerate it will hold the revs down as the prop revs can't increase.

 

[DavidJ]

[ QUOTE ]
Suddenly a turbo whistle is heard - who's that? B;00dy hell, it's us, what's happening??


[/ QUOTE ]
Do you mean the supercharger (or Compressor) whine as it comes in at about 1600RPM. A bit more explanation is needed on this since your explanation implies that you were surprised.

The big clue for me is that it's happening on both engines at the same time and since you have separate everything including tanks for each engine then it's something that both engines have in common.

I'd put a little bit of money on dirty props and bottom. After 2 months mine (in the Med) is in need of a dive down and scrub. Dirty (banacled) props will account for 80% of the problem in my experience. Can you hire a diver?

Best of luck (with everything!)

 

[burgundyben]

Dirty bottom I reckon, worth a slow run to Cowes to use the sealift for a clean.

 

[DOK]

[ QUOTE ]
Do you mean the supercharger (or Compressor) whine as it comes in at about 1600RPM. A bit more explanation is needed on this since your explanation implies that you were surprised.

[/ QUOTE ]

I was surprised because, as I said in my original post, the throttles had been advanced a few minutes earlier - it was the significantly delayed reaction from the engines that alerted me to the problem.

It is beginning to look like it might just be a badly fouled bottom, shafts and props. I had assumed (incorrectly it seems /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) that whilst such a scenario would slow the boat down, it wouldn't slow the engines. Now I can see that it might.

 

[whisper]

Went to the boat last week - hadn't been used for approx 3 months.
Couldn't get above 18kts and max revs was down by about 600rpm.

Next day cleaned blanket of barnacles off bottom and outdrive - YEE HAA /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif back to 30kts again.

 

[Its_Only_Money]

Went down to mine after not getting a chance to go out since Easter - flat out at 12kts and unable to plane /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Has now had annual service and antifoul so anxious to see performance restored asap!

 

[benjenbav]

I'd guess it's worm. We're on C in Chi Marina. We took the boat out for the first time for a few weeks last Thursday (lousy weather, various bits of boat fixing rather than boat driving etc) and neither engine would rev past 2000 under load but both engines revved easily up to 4000 in neutral.

A bit of a clue was the ball fender which sits in the water at the stern. When I untied it prior to setting off a dinner plate sized lump of solid wormy, cruddy yuk dropped off it and about the same again came off with the help of the hose.

Boat being lifted and scrubbed tomorrow. £178 inc VAT (Peters). This seemed a better bet than taking all day (at 9 knots!) to drive to Cowes for the Sealift.

Peters said that everyone is complaining of this, more so than usual. I wondered whether it is a combination of the heavy rainfall diluting the salinity in the marina plus the problems the Southern Water sewage treatment plant has had this year leading to a nutrient rich environment - but not one I plan to go swimming in.

 

[andyball]

nice prices at mdl each summer, still a drive though. £13/m lift/scrub/launch