Maiden voyage over the weekend, but a few problems....

[Markhammond]

After months of talking about it, I finally got the family down to Brighton to see and try out the Sealine S29 we bought.

Good Friday (which was also my birthday) couldn't have been better. My wife loved the boat as did my daughter. Whilst the weather was a bit cold, the sun was out and the sea was relatively calm. My sister and her family also joined us and they were also suitable impressed. When we took the boat out she performed wonderfully and I was able to get her out and back into my very tight berth without looking like a complete incompetent (and without pranging her). We followed this with a few beers in the cockpit with some chilled out tunes playing in the background and watched the sun go down before getting a takeaway and chatting into the small hours. Perfect. And to top it off my thirteen old nephew even smiled and said I was cool - very high praise indeed!!

Saturday was equally as good, not as much sailing as we focused on the other attractions Brighton has to offer for my wife and four year old, but again we all had a fabulous time.

Easter Sunday, however, has not proven so good. We already knew the weather was going to be bad and had decided to head home rather than stay for the rest of the weekend, but then the problems started. I'll describe these in the order they occurred, which was between 8.00 and 10.30.

1. Then the waste tank full light came on, which whilst not a big problem in itself meant pumping this out in the driving wind and rain, only to get back to the berth and find the waste tank full light is still on despite my efforts.

2. My Maxpower bow thruster stopped working. I had already replaced the battery a few weeks ago and checked all connections and the fuse but still no joy. Thank god I have twin engines, which made manoeuvring relatively easy - even for a newbie like me.

3. Then I couldn't get any water to flow from any of the taps despite refilling the tank to the brim.

4. Next I discovered the Jabsco toilet wouldn't pump dry and despite telling my four year old not to use it, she completely ignored me so I then had to empty the bowl by hand. Whilst it will pump water in, it simply refuse to flush and won't pump dry.

5. Then the port engine wouldn't start. The ignition turns, the electrics come on and no warnings show, but it wouldn't turn over.

So my word for Easter Sunday is AARGGGGHHHHHH!!!!

I'm now back home and have bought a large number of beers to console myself (I'll probably end up weeping into them later as I start thinking how much the total repairs may cost). The joy of boating huh!

Any suggestions, advice, words of sympathy or condolence, or recommendation for anyone who may be able to help would be grateful received.

And I hope you all had better luck than me this weekend!

Mark.

 

[Portofino]

Hi Sorry to here all this-Is there a user manual / hand book on board? Or another sealine owner nearby ?
1- open seacock B4 pump out of holding tank ?
2-re check conections -fuse master switch?
4-empty holding tank see 1-
5 -fuel issue -air leak or blocked filter ( s) -re prime first -and / or change both filters -ck fuel tap is on
3-pump switch on ? -fuse ? find the pump -electric ck conections power to it

Part of the " pleasure of ownership" is ending up a sometime engineer -you will soon learn new skills

Just a case of arriving at the correct ratio between engineer and skipper with MoBo ownership

 

[targa31]

Won't try and get into 'fixes' for you as there are far more qualified on here who will reply in detail.
If you have had a series of issues at the same time look for a link.
Is the toilet electric? Is the pump out using battery power?
Would start by charging batteries fully to see if some of the problems are resolved? Perhaps they are not charging properly?
Good luck and get used to it. That's boating and hugely satisfying when you resolve issues yourself which you will get better and better at!!

 

[longjohnsilver]

1) maybe a stuck sender? Did it empty, or is it still full? If still full, maybe why the toilet wouldn't empty?

3). Could well be an airlock in the water pump. Has been a regular problem for me on my last 2 boats, just need to slacken off the inlet pipe to the pump to get the water flowing to it.

No idea about the other issues but they sound as though they should be easily fixed. Hope that's the case and you get it all sorted soon.

 

[Bojangles]

Oh dear, sounds like an eventful weekend, sound like you got off to a nice start though.

For number 3, was the tank empty before you refilled, if so you have an air lock, open all the taps/shower etc and the water should start to flow.

 

[lisilou]

Port engine: was it fully in neutral by chance? (just a thought)
Holding tank: Sea cock open?
No ideas re the others tho, sorry. Hope they're easy fixes tho.
L

 

[superheat6k]

You'e suffering from a form of high speed boating experience, so get all the good stuff in in two days then all the bad in one, but at least for the latter it was all alongside !

Welcome to boating, but please be assured the first two days fun and immense experience will far outlast the experience today, so you will keep coming back for more. Just part of the learning, and believe me these first experiences of boating are amongst the best you will ever have, after that, like smoking crack, you just have to keep looking for more of the same, but don't worry you will fid it - enjoy, and don't fret too much after all you are still learning, indeed we are all still learning. When you stop learning its time to sell the boat.

 

[U4]

Port engine: was it fully in neutral by chance? (just a thought)
Holding tank: Sea cock open?
No ideas re the others tho, sorry. Hope they're easy fixes tho.
L

+1 for what Lisa said

I've done the 'throttle not in neutral' thing a few times.. Hopefully just a learning curve rather than expensive repairs!

 

[Gemini]

After months of talking about it, I finally got the family down to Brighton to see and try out the Sealine S29 we bought.

Good Friday (which was also my birthday) couldn't have been better. My wife loved the boat as did my daughter. Whilst the weather was a bit cold, the sun was out and the sea was relatively calm. My sister and her family also joined us and they were also suitable impressed. When we took the boat out she performed wonderfully and I was able to get her out and back into my very tight berth without looking like a complete incompetent (and without pranging her). We followed this with a few beers in the cockpit with some chilled out tunes playing in the background and watched the sun go down before getting a takeaway and chatting into the small hours. Perfect. And to top it off my thirteen old nephew even smiled and said I was cool - very high praise indeed!!

Saturday was equally as good, not as much sailing as we focused on the other attractions Brighton has to offer for my wife and four year old, but again we all had a fabulous time.

Easter Sunday, however, has not proven so good. We already knew the weather was going to be bad and had decided to head home rather than stay for the rest of the weekend, but then the problems started. I'll describe these in the order they occurred, which was between 8.00 and 10.30.

1. Then the waste tank full light came on, which whilst not a big problem in itself meant pumping this out in the driving wind and rain, only to get back to the berth and find the waste tank full light is still on despite my efforts.

2. My Maxpower bow thruster stopped working. I had already replaced the battery a few weeks ago and checked all connections and the fuse but still no joy. Thank god I have twin engines, which made manoeuvring relatively easy - even for a newbie like me.

3. Then I couldn't get any water to flow from any of the taps despite refilling the tank to the brim.

4. Next I discovered the Jabsco toilet wouldn't pump dry and despite telling my four year old not to use it, she completely ignored me so I then had to empty the bowl by hand. Whilst it will pump water in, it simply refuse to flush and won't pump dry.

5. Then the port engine wouldn't start. The ignition turns, the electrics come on and no warnings show, but it would turn over.

So my word for Easter Sunday is AARGGGGHHHHHH!!!!

I'm now back home and have bought a large number of beers to console myself (I'll probably end up weeping into them later as I start thinking how much the total repairs may cost). The joy of boating huh!

Any suggestions, advice, words of sympathy or condolence, or recommendation for anyone who may be able to help would be grateful received.

And I hope you all had better luck than me this weekend!

Mark.

Mark
Item 1 Did the Pump out actually work as its known to be probmatic, locate the tank and open the access hatch and check if actually full , could well be a stick float switch

item 2 Check the plug and play connection behind the B/T lever on the dash, these do come lose, if OK locate B/F and with someone at the helm operate the lever and listen for the relay to click to operate the solenoids /contacts. probably a loose or bad connection. if B/T motors spinning in both direction shear pin has gone on the drive shaft , these are replaceable from inside the boat check manufactures web site for replacement


Item 3 Check if pump is running, if not possible stuck flow switch, check breaker on main panel is On, there's normally a manual On?Off Valve between the tank and pump, also fine Filter, close valve and check filter for any **** etc replace Open tap or break accessible pipe joint , and see if drop in pressure releases the flow and flow switch

Item 4 These do not always pump dry they normally have water left in bowl same as domestic toilet, rarely they do sometimes drain out , but not the norm, if water pumps in the bowl will fill up , Nnow back to holding tank issue, if divert valve is set to holding tank and tank is actualy l full, not faulty gauge then the pump will not be able to pump against the head of water in the holding tank , 2 Options Try the pump out again or take the boat off shore and change pump out direction on the tank, there should be a set of valves that will need aligning to allow the tank to pump out , check the manual or try the Sealine owners club for info

Item 5 Very good chance the lever is not in Neutral move it to WOT position and then bring it back Neutral listen for a click , Micro switch dropping

Joys of owing a boat, All been there and have the Tee shirts.



Regards

 

[Portofino]

+1 for what Lisa said

I've done the 'throttle not in neutral' thing a few times.. Hopefully just a learning curve rather than expensive repairs!

Sorry both wrong Lisa + U 4
Reason chap says if you read the post the " engine WOULD turn over " therefore must have been in N ?

The throttle interlock with volvo,s prevents engine turning if its gear - which kinda makes sence

 

[U4]

Sorry both wrong Lisa + U 4
Reason chap says if you read the post the " engine WOULD turn over " therefore must have been in N ?

The throttle interlock with volvo,s prevents engine turning if its gear - which kinda makes sence

Ah yes, so it does!!

 

[Markhammond]

Sorry both wrong Lisa + U 4
Reason chap says if you read the post the " engine WOULD turn over " therefore must have been in N ?

The throttle interlock with volvo,s prevents engine turning if its gear - which kinda makes sence

Sorry that was a typo, the engine wouldn't turn over

 

[lisilou]

Have to say, I assumed the 'Would' was a typo so took it as 'wouldn't'.
L

 

[Portofino]

Sorry that was a typo, the engine wouldn't turn over

Then it's not in N -easy fix
Important distinction

Bog -did you open the seacock B4 pump out ?

 

[Markhammond]

Thanks for all the good advice. To answer some of the questions:

On the waste, the vac did pump out a far bit and I kept it going for a few minutes after the flow stopped.

On the port engine, I am kicking myself for not thinking of that myself!

Overall the experience was still an extremely positive one, so its far to say I am hooked, in fact I've planned the excursion already! The beers last night seemed to help as did reading through some of the trouble shooting sections of the user manuals that came with the boat. But as always the helpful advice from all you forum members is the most reassuring of all.

I now just want to get back to the boat and see if all your excellent advice works lol.

Thanks all.

 

[U4]

Thanks for all the good advice. To answer some of the questions:

On the port engine, I am kicking myself for not thinking of that myself!

I rented a pontoon style motorboat whilst on holiday in Cape Coral Florida many years ago. The engine cut out and refused to start so after bobbing about for what seemed like ages, the very expensive sea start (equivalent) man turned up, swiftly put the throttle in neutral and started the engine first time!!!

 

[lisilou]

Thanks for all the good advice. To answer some of the questions:

On the waste, the vac did pump out a far bit and I kept it going for a few minutes after the flow stopped.

On the port engine, I am kicking myself for not thinking of that myself!

Overall the experience was still an extremely positive one, so its far to say I am hooked, in fact I've planned the excursion already! The beers last night seemed to help as did reading through some of the trouble shooting sections of the user manuals that came with the boat. But as always the helpful advice from all you forum members is the most reassuring of all.

I now just want to get back to the boat and see if all your excellent advice works lol.

Thanks all.

Now there's a worry!
L