jamieo
Member
On Friday I made my first Pan Pan call - not something I'm proud of.
We were around 25nm south of The Needles in the Channel, 4 crew in total but 2 inexperienced (and suffering a little with seasickness). Swell was around 1m, wind had just turned from W to SW and varying F3. We had several hours of tidal window to take the flood through The Needles where we'd have wind with tide and expect a good safe passage.
The wind started to die off and our progress slowed. We had plenty time but in order to be on the safe side and give us the maximum tidal window, I asked to turn on the engine to gain a couple of knots. I also wanted to ensure we got the right angle to approach The Needles and weren't forced too far west to make that a more difficult approach.
The engine clunked, semi turn over and wouldn't start. Couple of tries and no joy. I'm not massively experienced with Diesel engines, happy to diagnose electrical issues and fuel issues but this was out of my knowledge and experience. Keeping a few books onboard, with the boat sailing reasonably well, I spent maybe an hour reading and trying to diagnose the problem. My working assumption was that the engine controls had taken a knock and hadn't checked it was in neutral before starting. Turning the gearbox and prop was too much for the starter and that had further locked up the gearbox.
I was getting a little concerned. We were sailing and in no grave danger but we're in a little risk of making a more difficult angle into The Needles due to the set of the tide and our slowed progress. My bail out plan to Poole seemed a no go, but I figured, despite fighting the current, we'd be able to sail to Swanage and anchor under sail. Still getting into the Solent was my preferred choice with other options to anchor under sail and get assistance.
At this stage I decided I needed some help - not immediately then, but when we got into the Solent and possibly before. I called a Pan Pan and Solent Coastguard were very professional, supportive and it was reassuring. They asked to keep them informed of progress and position every 30 mins.
I continued to try to figure out the problem and tried turning the engine over by hand with a big spanner on the nut of the pulley driving the alternator belt. It was stiff, turned, then stiff. I got it moving a bit more freely. At this point we tried the engine again and managed to slip it out of gear and it started first time. A huge amount of relief!
Cancelled the Pan Pan with Solent Coastguard - they'd helped with some advice and very thankful to have someone to speak to I such circumstances.
Just in case my assumption was incorrect, we kept the engine running but sailed back into the Solent and moored up in Lymington. Glad of the engine to help with offsetting some of the current to align us through The Needles (my second passage through there). Engine has started and run fine since - so believe it was down to getting stuck in gear.
Lessons learned:
- Always make sure in neutral before attempting to start!
- Carry tools, v glad I had a big spanner onboard
- Glad I had books to help advise and diagnose
- Very glad I had planned pretty conservatively so I had plenty time to deal with the problem
I'll admit it, the experience shook me up quite a bit but one of those times you just need to keep a level head.
Appreciate any thoughts and comments.
And thank you Solent Coastguard!!!
We were around 25nm south of The Needles in the Channel, 4 crew in total but 2 inexperienced (and suffering a little with seasickness). Swell was around 1m, wind had just turned from W to SW and varying F3. We had several hours of tidal window to take the flood through The Needles where we'd have wind with tide and expect a good safe passage.
The wind started to die off and our progress slowed. We had plenty time but in order to be on the safe side and give us the maximum tidal window, I asked to turn on the engine to gain a couple of knots. I also wanted to ensure we got the right angle to approach The Needles and weren't forced too far west to make that a more difficult approach.
The engine clunked, semi turn over and wouldn't start. Couple of tries and no joy. I'm not massively experienced with Diesel engines, happy to diagnose electrical issues and fuel issues but this was out of my knowledge and experience. Keeping a few books onboard, with the boat sailing reasonably well, I spent maybe an hour reading and trying to diagnose the problem. My working assumption was that the engine controls had taken a knock and hadn't checked it was in neutral before starting. Turning the gearbox and prop was too much for the starter and that had further locked up the gearbox.
I was getting a little concerned. We were sailing and in no grave danger but we're in a little risk of making a more difficult angle into The Needles due to the set of the tide and our slowed progress. My bail out plan to Poole seemed a no go, but I figured, despite fighting the current, we'd be able to sail to Swanage and anchor under sail. Still getting into the Solent was my preferred choice with other options to anchor under sail and get assistance.
At this stage I decided I needed some help - not immediately then, but when we got into the Solent and possibly before. I called a Pan Pan and Solent Coastguard were very professional, supportive and it was reassuring. They asked to keep them informed of progress and position every 30 mins.
I continued to try to figure out the problem and tried turning the engine over by hand with a big spanner on the nut of the pulley driving the alternator belt. It was stiff, turned, then stiff. I got it moving a bit more freely. At this point we tried the engine again and managed to slip it out of gear and it started first time. A huge amount of relief!
Cancelled the Pan Pan with Solent Coastguard - they'd helped with some advice and very thankful to have someone to speak to I such circumstances.
Just in case my assumption was incorrect, we kept the engine running but sailed back into the Solent and moored up in Lymington. Glad of the engine to help with offsetting some of the current to align us through The Needles (my second passage through there). Engine has started and run fine since - so believe it was down to getting stuck in gear.
Lessons learned:
- Always make sure in neutral before attempting to start!
- Carry tools, v glad I had a big spanner onboard
- Glad I had books to help advise and diagnose
- Very glad I had planned pretty conservatively so I had plenty time to deal with the problem
I'll admit it, the experience shook me up quite a bit but one of those times you just need to keep a level head.
Appreciate any thoughts and comments.
And thank you Solent Coastguard!!!
)
