Not all weekends go to plan!

[rbcoomer]

A good day out on Sunday, but didn't quite end as planned. Having gone out early Sunday awaiting a couple of other boats, we had a mooch around Torbay and up the coast to Teignmouth testing newly fitted smart tabs. Original plan was Salcombe but mechanical issues with one of the other boats delayed the start so apart from a quick nose around Berry Head, we didn't venture further West. Having finally been joined by the others, we headed back over to Babbacombe for the third time for some flat water so one of he guys could ski (the entire Bay was flat in the morning, but wind meant a bit of chop was starting to build). After a snack at anchor early afternoon, we decided to head back as we had the smallest vessel and the wind speed was increasing.

That's when things went awry - outboard wouldn't restart! tried all the obvious and switched back to main tank (down to 3/4 during the morning) but couldn't resolve so colleagues offered a tow back to Brixham. Given the time, changing conditions and not wanting to flatten the battery, we chose this as the best option...

Swell had built a little and a little 'lumpiness' around Hope's Nose saw a few gallons of seawater slide nicely over the screen (and occupants ). Thankfully ample battery retained for bilge pump and VHF so we picked our way back around into Torbay and after a brief toying with the idea of a dash to Torquay for recovery, we decided the worst was behind us so plodded back over to Brixham!

All's well that ends well and with two other vessels for company we were never at risk, but fitting an auxiliary has moved up the list! The weekend before we were out solo for the powerboat racing and may have needed to resort to a call for assistance. Had we have been on our own Sunday, I wouldn't have entertained the idea of trying to head back around, but would instead have paddled into the beach and got a taxi back to the car at trailer and recovered from the beach.

So, a few positives - smart tabs performed well and a good day out. A few negatives too - got pretty wet and carb needs cleaning I think but will tackle that this weekend...

Thanks to Sheppy for the tow and to Guy for the pictures - a couple below just to remind us it's not always plain sailing and blue skies! A great day all the same...

(Last one looks like we're sinking, but not even close just dropped into a trough - of which there were many!)

 

[JerseyDiver]

Hard to tell from pics but the tension on the tow rope would suggest you could at least double the length to make towing a lot more comfortable???

 

[rbcoomer]

About 30'... It was only around 6 miles and at about 5 kts - looks much worse than it was The tow boat was 25' however so made a half decent hole in the water - although it did flatten some of the chop which was on starboard bow all the way back...

Edit: actually more like 50' I think:

 

[Andy Bav]

Glad you got back ok. We have experience of a flat calm at Anstys / Hopes cove only to get around "the nose" and think oh s#$ ! as it has been blowing up in the bay. Can imagine the tow across to Brixham would have been "interesting" to say the least !

Still, at least you have another project to get your teeth into.

 

[STEVEDUNSTABLE]

nice write up with pics..... im sorry if I cant see the wood for the trees but, have I missed the traced fault on the engine ??..(I have been up 26hrs)!!!!..... glad all ended well.

 

[rbcoomer]

nice write up with pics..... im sorry if I cant see the wood for the trees but, have I missed the traced fault on the engine ??..(I have been up 26hrs)!!!!..... glad all ended well.

Hi Steve, not conclusive yet but I think it's dirt sucked up from the aux tank. I have a 25L plastic tank below the splash-well which is only a few years old and this is my main tank which I used during the morning for the two runs around the Bay etc. When I met up with the others in Brixham, I swapped to a 20L steel aux tank in the bow ski locker - running via a long fuel line back to the stern. This was fine out to Elberry Cove and then over to Babbacombe but is an old Evinrude and unknown history as brought s/h. I had used earlier in the year (May) but rarely run long enough to need to switch over thus fuel is also old. The outboard did restart at one point, but only ran for a few minutes and when we went to accelerate out of Babbacombe Bay, stalled and wouldn't restart on either tank. Been at work the last couple of days, but may have a go at cleaning carb etc and starting tonight as I suspect fueling issue.

 

[rbcoomer]

Glad you got back ok. We have experience of a flat calm at Anstys / Hopes cove only to get around "the nose" and think oh s#$ ! as it has been blowing up in the bay. Can imagine the tow across to Brixham would have been "interesting" to say the least !

Still, at least you have another project to get your teeth into.

Hi Andy, Yes it pays not to get too complacent doesn't it! Dartmouth is even worse - you get lulled into thinking all is well and then head out around to Brixham... I'm a lot more cautious usually but safety in numbers and although we were aware it was starting to liven up a little, it wouldn't have been an issue at all under our own power. We can cope with up to a couple of foot of swell if needed, but only quite slow and picking a careful path which is more difficult under tow. As you'll know, the waters around Hope's Nose get a bit confused anyway due to headland and shelving effects and that was where we got wet once into Torbay, the water was more predictable. It was a thoroughly enjoyable day anyway - if a bit of a wakeup to the areas we need to improve on! I have a small auxiliary that I always carried, but when I swapped the 30hp outboard for a 50hp earlier this year, it won't now fit on the transom so seemed no point in taking. Auxiliary bracket next on the list...

 

[Andy Bav]

I remember Dartmouth was our first "big trip" in our 18 footer a few years ago. We got there in perfect weather not realising we were merrily trundling along with wind and tide, and didnt notice it was blowing up a bit when we were walking around the town.... and for the return journey, after the tide had turned, it was like sitting there with someone throwing buckets at water at us every 20 seconds. At least it was nice and warm and sunny but when we got into the bay ......... flat calm.

Let me know when you are out next as we should have ours back by the weekend of the 28th of September and I would like to think we have a good few weekends left before we start think about battening down the hatches for the winter.