Go / No go ?

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Elemental

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So, this has been exercising us for a few hours.

The throttle cable on our Oceanis broke last weekend. No major problem and I was able to rig a control system using lines led through a couple of turning blocks. However, the boatyard are unable to effect replacement of the cable until after a planned trip this weekend.
The trip is with a very experienced crew (four adults), and under normal circumstances would involve a cross channel passage. We are confident handling the boat for berthing and anchoring purposes.
If be interested in the opinion of the forum on whether the trip should proceed as planned, with a suitable control system improvised or whether putting to sea with a known issue is a poor choice. (We have made our decision but I'd be very interested in your thoughts).
 
It's surely only a couple of hours work to replace a cable? If you're not happy to do it yourself, any half-decent marine engineer could do it for you. I wouldn't mess about with ropes and pulleys.
 
pvb said:
It's surely only a couple of hours work to replace a cable? If you're not happy to do it yourself, any half-decent marine engineer could do it for you. I wouldn't mess about with ropes and pulleys.
Click to expand...

What ever happened to "Practical Boat Owner".
Volspec, Seapower, French Marine or ASAP will no doubt have the cable
 
Sea_Spray said:
So, this has been exercising us for a few hours.

The throttle cable on our Oceanis broke last weekend. No major problem and I was able to rig a control system using lines led through a couple of turning blocks. However, the boatyard are unable to effect replacement of the cable until after a planned trip this weekend.
The trip is with a very experienced crew (four adults), and under normal circumstances would involve a cross channel passage. We are confident handling the boat for berthing and anchoring purposes.
If be interested in the opinion of the forum on whether the trip should proceed as planned, with a suitable control system improvised or whether putting to sea with a known issue is a poor choice. (We have made our decision but I'd be very interested in your thoughts).
Click to expand...

If you have to ask the question, then "no go", you are obviously uncertain the lash-up will work.
 
I wouldn't hesitate to go, so long as you are confident that a malfunction of your ad-hoc arrangement won't trash the engine. It's all auxiliary, unless you put yourself in a situation where a sudden burst of ahead or astern is required to avoid catastrophe (bearing down on a low bridge with the tide sweeping you under, charging into a berth etc).

Are your lines pulling directly on a lever on the engine?
 
alant said:
If you have to ask the question, then "no go", you are obviously uncertain the lash-up will work.
Click to expand...

There's no problem with an improvised mechanism, and it's not a matter of making a decision, I'm just interested in the thought process that people go through.
 
pvb said:
It's surely only a couple of hours work to replace a cable? If you're not happy to do it yourself, any half-decent marine engineer could do it for you. I wouldn't mess about with ropes and pulleys.
Click to expand...

That was my thought too. However, the yard sure me that they're going to have to cut the top of the wheel mount to get at the control as, apparently, Beneteau have assembled the throttle control and then joined the wheel mount to the deck. I'm not at the boat to check but that's the info I have from them
 
Having spent many years with a very grumpy engine I'd most likely go if the lash up was likely to last. If most boat bits work most of the time you're doing well :)
Anyway, quite healthy having to sail for real once in a while, keeps you on your toes .
 
I have never regarded a working engine as being essential for my safety so I would probably be happy to set out with a jury rig. I would perhaps pay more attention to the weather forecast to make sure I wouldn't get becalmed or caught in fog.
 
What's the problem; even if the lash-up failed, why not just have one of your crew beside the engine manually operating the throttle and gears as instructed?

A bit like the old ships ;)
 
Sea_Spray said:
That was my thought too. However, the yard sure me that they're going to have to cut the top of the wheel mount to get at the control as, apparently, Beneteau have assembled the throttle control and then joined the wheel mount to the deck. I'm not at the boat to check but that's the info I have from them
Click to expand...

That sounds a bit extreme! Does your boat have the engine control panel under a perspex lid in front of the wheel? If so, would removing the engine control panel give access to the back of the throttle control?
 
Crewed on a delivery to a regatta once using one of the lightweight spinny sheets tied to the throttle control on the engine and led aft to the helm. It wasn't too difficult to run it as the engine was amidships. By the end of the trip we were referring to it as the engine sheet.
 
Sea_Spray said:
So, this has been exercising us for a few hours.

The throttle cable on our Oceanis broke last weekend. No major problem and I was able to rig a control system using lines led through a couple of turning blocks. However, the boatyard are unable to effect replacement of the cable until after a planned trip this weekend.
The trip is with a very experienced crew (four adults), and under normal circumstances would involve a cross channel passage. We are confident handling the boat for berthing and anchoring purposes.
If be interested in the opinion of the forum on whether the trip should proceed as planned, with a suitable control system improvised or whether putting to sea with a known issue is a poor choice. (We have made our decision but I'd be very interested in your thoughts).
Click to expand...

I once attached a throttle cable to the pivoting arm using a vice grip. (On an Alfa) Would that work? It did for me.
 
I once rode an Ariel Square Four 1000cc motorbike through rush hour traffic in South London-Elephant and Castle to Ewell Village-with the broken end of the throttle cable tied to my crash helmet chinstrap. Fast and slow by raising and lowering my head. I had to lift the clutch once when I sneezed!

Crossing the Channel with a working jury rig seems tame by comparison.
 
Jury rigging anything as a get you home fiddle is fine. I'd not set out with a bugger's muddle but I usually sail alone or with just one companion. With a decent crew I might well contemplate it, even if it meant having someone told off to work the throttle.
 
rotrax said:
I once rode an Ariel Square Four 1000cc motorbike through rush hour traffic in South London-Elephant and Castle to Ewell Village-with the broken end of the throttle cable tied to my crash helmet chinstrap. Fast and slow by raising and lowering my head. I had to lift the clutch once when I sneezed!

Crossing the Channel with a working jury rig seems tame by comparison.
Click to expand...

+1 On a 750 Honda4. Cable broke somewhere under the tank (of course!) .As the 4 carbs were linked I managed by using a spanner as a lever (against the spring), operating by pressing down with my right knee. It worked.

It your temporary set up works, go for it? Have one crew ready to replace it if doing something critical?

Necessity is the mother of all temporary bodges... :)
 
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