Koeketiene
Well-Known Member
We're back... engine-less /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
When we found Guapa in Ramsgate yesterday, we found the engine in about 70cm of water. Our stern gland always used to weep a bit, now it seems it has started to cry me a river.
Anyway, enginewell pumped out and the engine fired up - for about 2 minutes. Adrift in the middle of Ramsgate outer marina pontoons... with the help of some onlookers (it is a blood sport, isn't it) we were soon back alongside.
Some fiddling with the damn thing and half an hour later we left our berth again. This time the engine stayed with us till just outside the outer breakwaters. Then some chugging sounds, then nothing. The thing's now seized up completely.
Sailed the rest of the way till the wind dropped and we were adrift just south of the Inner Sunk heading straight for Long Sands Head. Towed into safe waters by Haven Pilot Vessel Happy and then on to Harwich by the Harwich Lifeboat. This morning the worlds poorest Oyster owner towed us to our mooring.
So, there we are.
After discussions with various parties I'm faced with several possibilities:
1. With the engine compartment partly flooded the fuel filter was under water - some water may have found it's way in there.
2. Worst case scenario - cylinder pistons have drawn water.
3. It's simply a matter of a stuck exhaust valve.
The engine already is on it's last legs and replacement is next on my list of expensive boat things, so I'm hesitant to spend much more money on it. Good money after bad.
I'm looking for a decent mechanic in the Orwell area. Rather a 'man with a van' than an employee of one of the 'established' marine engineering companies whose meter starts running the moment he gets out of bed. He should also be flexible (work week-ends - I can't get any time off the next 2 weeks) and adventurous (we're on a swinging mooring) and last but not least - value for money (doesn't charge an arm and a leg).
If the engine fixable for not too much money (to last for at least a couple of more months) so much the better.
If not fixable (or only for an obscene amount of money) I will stick Guapa on the hard somewhere till our economic/financial situation improves.
Such is life.
This such a man/person exist, or I am asking for the impossible?
You recommendations - if any - much appreciated.
When we found Guapa in Ramsgate yesterday, we found the engine in about 70cm of water. Our stern gland always used to weep a bit, now it seems it has started to cry me a river.
Anyway, enginewell pumped out and the engine fired up - for about 2 minutes. Adrift in the middle of Ramsgate outer marina pontoons... with the help of some onlookers (it is a blood sport, isn't it) we were soon back alongside.
Some fiddling with the damn thing and half an hour later we left our berth again. This time the engine stayed with us till just outside the outer breakwaters. Then some chugging sounds, then nothing. The thing's now seized up completely.
Sailed the rest of the way till the wind dropped and we were adrift just south of the Inner Sunk heading straight for Long Sands Head. Towed into safe waters by Haven Pilot Vessel Happy and then on to Harwich by the Harwich Lifeboat. This morning the worlds poorest Oyster owner towed us to our mooring.
So, there we are.
After discussions with various parties I'm faced with several possibilities:
1. With the engine compartment partly flooded the fuel filter was under water - some water may have found it's way in there.
2. Worst case scenario - cylinder pistons have drawn water.
3. It's simply a matter of a stuck exhaust valve.
The engine already is on it's last legs and replacement is next on my list of expensive boat things, so I'm hesitant to spend much more money on it. Good money after bad.
I'm looking for a decent mechanic in the Orwell area. Rather a 'man with a van' than an employee of one of the 'established' marine engineering companies whose meter starts running the moment he gets out of bed. He should also be flexible (work week-ends - I can't get any time off the next 2 weeks) and adventurous (we're on a swinging mooring) and last but not least - value for money (doesn't charge an arm and a leg).
If the engine fixable for not too much money (to last for at least a couple of more months) so much the better.
If not fixable (or only for an obscene amount of money) I will stick Guapa on the hard somewhere till our economic/financial situation improves.
Such is life.
This such a man/person exist, or I am asking for the impossible?
You recommendations - if any - much appreciated.
