Good Service

Phoenix of Hamble

Phoenix of Hamble

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 Aug 2003
Messages
20,966
Location
East Coast
mishapsandmemories.blogspot.com
We've had some engine troubles.... OK... lots of engine troubles.... its busted!

So, with the boat stuck in Dover until we can get an engineer out this week to sort it out, I thought i'd just publically thank someone who went out of their way....

Tim, of Highway Marine, based at Sandwich, left his comfy office late on a Saturday afternoon of a bank holiday weekend, and drove all the way to Dover to make a diagnosis for us, and then wouldn't accept any money for his time or troubles, as he was unable to do any of the neccessary work for a couple of weeks due to his workload backlog.....

Top bloke, who seemed to really know what he was talking about, and totally unexpected to not be charged in today's marine industry.

Thanks Tim.
 
Neil

Sorry to hear of you problems.
How is it busted?

Hope you get it sorted soon.

I have a working Beta 10 that has nothing to do at the moment /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
You are welcome to borrow it.

Clive
 
Neil

Sorry to hear of your problems but in reaction to your blog totally support your stance by informing the Coastguard and not requesting a lifeboat.

Yes it was a pain for you at the time but as you say you have a well equipped boat and the crew were up for the challenge. Big pat on back to SWMBO & the Kids who I expect quite enjoyed the 'adventure' in hindsight. Something a bit differents when asked at School what did you do in the Summer Holidays!

You'll be entering the Jester next. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Hope it all gets sorted quickly and at reasonable cost. Reminds me of our first holiday in the caravan about 4 years ago when we arrived in Cornwall on the back of a tow truck, had a new gearbox & flywheel costing £1000 and then had a blow out on the way home! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Clive, it sounds like either a dropped valve, or possibly just as simple as a blown head gasket....

But will only know for sure when the engineer pulls the head off on Tuesday....

couldn't fix it myself, as I don't tend to carry either spare head gaskets, or more importantly a head skimmer aboard... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

the root cause of my problems...
Dscf0588.jpg
 
Neil

Did you change that during the winter service?

Unfortunately I can't see it being a head gasket.
That would not stop the engine straight away.
A valve may if it gets jambed between the piston and the head.
I don't think I would have tried starting it again with an instant stop.
I would expect damage to the head and the piston and maybe the bore.

I hope it is not that bad.

Clive
 
Yes, that was my initial reaction too Clive, but the engineer said that besides the valve dropping, there is also a classic known scenario with these engines where the gasket goes between cylinders and forces compression levels pressures into the next cylinder which is inletting and stops it dead....

He did turn her over on the crank bolt by hand, and besides the fact that she turned quite easily, you could hear the engine 'plink' every time one of the cylinders hit TDC, hence his initial diagnosis of a dropped valve, or a failed spring/seat on another valve being pushed by pressure blow through from another cylinder...

Time will tell!
 
Neil,

sorry to read in your blog about the stressful end to the cruise; still, it must feel good to have worked your way through it with a bit of logic, determination & seamanship. Glad that it had a positive outcome, but I feel for you regarding the prospective dent in your wallet...
 
Yes..... me too!

It would have been slightly less painful had we made our home berth.... but instead we are paying a princely sum each day to keep the boat in someone else's berth while our home marina rents ours out..... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Currently sitting here waiting for the engineer to call and tell me that its not as bad as my imagination is currently telling me........
 
Hi Neil, sorry to read of your bad luck.

In my limited mechanical knowledge, it sounds like a dropped valve, but the engineer will confirm! fingers crossed there is no major damage.

Saw another Morgana on the Orwell on sunday afternoon! you have a rival!

I think the impeller breaking up was just a coinsidence! bit alaming though! How long had it been in there?
 
12 months..... so was due a change anyway....

The other Morgana is not only on the Orwell, but in the same marina!!!!!

Its caused confusion once or twice when calling for a lock out..... the lock master now refers to us as Morgana Beneteau and Morgana Westerly!
 
Shout if you need some help getting her back from Dover at short notice Neil, don't think I would want to have to pay for mooring there any longer than she has to be, not with the prospect of a mechanics bill too. Can drop most things if you need a hand
 
And do shout if you need a lift anywhere in the area - we live at Herne Bay so just up the road. An email to the webmaster at the website below will get to me quickly if we are here. Just ask, happy to help if we can.
 
Thanks..... but our luck hasn't been all bad.... we live up in the East Midlands, and last night I managed to get a pair of one way train tickets for SWMBO and I from Peterborough to Dover for £26..... bargain /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Now all I need to know is how many of my kids I need to sell to pay for the engine repairs......
 
Latest news.....

Its isn't the engine... its the gear box..... which is being removed today, and sent to a gearbox specialist for work....

Does mean that the boat will be stuck for at least another week longer than expected.... but does mean that its is repairable....

Not sure whether it'll be good or bad news financially yet, but at least its progress.....
 
Cross post from PBO..... apologies)

OK, so here's my dilemma....

My gearbox is broken... don't know how badly yet until its dismantled by a gearbox specialist....

I can source a brand new gearbox (Hurth HBW10) for £500 for delivery by 5:00pm tomorrow

If this can be installed by the weekend, against the £500 I can offset an additional weeks mooring fees at £150

So... having never had a gearbox repaired, and therefore no idea of the potential costs, what is the esteemed panels views on the best way forward, bearing in mind that every penny counts!
 
For what it's worth Neil, had a gearbox repaired a few years back and it was never the same again, given your circumstances I would go for a replacement any day. The cost of repair and mooring in the meantime could easily out strip the cost of replacing it
 
Neil, trust me I am a Doctor.

Buy the Gearbox new. 500 quid is only 10 hours labour, and you cant fix eff all for that.
 
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