pjsmith
Well-Known Member
Hi,
I'd just spent 2 days out on the boat at anchor and was returning home on the last day from Herm when I suffered what seemed to be fuel starvation on my engine, right near the narrow passage away from the island on a small tide. I knew I had enough fuel as had dipped the tanks and put another 10 litres in a few days prior. I checked the fuel primer bulb I had fitted some time ago and it was empty (not good). No fuel! I was very close to the rocks at that point. Luckily, small tide, not fast moving. I dumped in my spare fuel and tried to prime/bleed. Nothing. Checked position, a little time yet. Dipped tank, half full. Started checking engine. Noticed a tinyjet of diesel coming out of a pin prick hole in a copper fuel pipe from the tank. Very tiny, but enough to cause the issue. Right at the back of the engine in a small space, so hard to get to. Tried to tape it, but difficult. I had all the bits on board to fix. Spare fuel hose, sealing tape, hose clamps, but probably not enough time to do the fix before drifting into danger. I waved down the couple who owned the boat below (it was quicker and easier than calling coastguard etc. at this point) and asked them for a tow out of the danger zone so I could effect a repair. They very kindly offered to take me the couple miles back to the main harbour, where the Harbour authority was nice enough to help me back to my mooring with one of their small boats.
The couple were visitors to the area from the UK and I asked, but did not get their details. They said they hoped someone would do the same for them. I would, and have, and I hope it will always be the case with us boating people. I have never needed help before and until you get this kindness, you don't really appreciate what a bind they potentially got me out of.
Anyway, if you know the owners of a very nice classic style blue hulled motor boat, 'Sabre', from the Hamble, please tell them from me, 'Many Thanks!'. If you were a local boat, I'd have dropped a thank you off. I really appreciated your help. I'd had an amazing weekend out at anchor off the little islands and this really could have been a downer on an otherwise great couple days. I hope your trip home was less eventful than mine!
Best regards,
Paul Smith
I'd just spent 2 days out on the boat at anchor and was returning home on the last day from Herm when I suffered what seemed to be fuel starvation on my engine, right near the narrow passage away from the island on a small tide. I knew I had enough fuel as had dipped the tanks and put another 10 litres in a few days prior. I checked the fuel primer bulb I had fitted some time ago and it was empty (not good). No fuel! I was very close to the rocks at that point. Luckily, small tide, not fast moving. I dumped in my spare fuel and tried to prime/bleed. Nothing. Checked position, a little time yet. Dipped tank, half full. Started checking engine. Noticed a tinyjet of diesel coming out of a pin prick hole in a copper fuel pipe from the tank. Very tiny, but enough to cause the issue. Right at the back of the engine in a small space, so hard to get to. Tried to tape it, but difficult. I had all the bits on board to fix. Spare fuel hose, sealing tape, hose clamps, but probably not enough time to do the fix before drifting into danger. I waved down the couple who owned the boat below (it was quicker and easier than calling coastguard etc. at this point) and asked them for a tow out of the danger zone so I could effect a repair. They very kindly offered to take me the couple miles back to the main harbour, where the Harbour authority was nice enough to help me back to my mooring with one of their small boats.
The couple were visitors to the area from the UK and I asked, but did not get their details. They said they hoped someone would do the same for them. I would, and have, and I hope it will always be the case with us boating people. I have never needed help before and until you get this kindness, you don't really appreciate what a bind they potentially got me out of.
Anyway, if you know the owners of a very nice classic style blue hulled motor boat, 'Sabre', from the Hamble, please tell them from me, 'Many Thanks!'. If you were a local boat, I'd have dropped a thank you off. I really appreciated your help. I'd had an amazing weekend out at anchor off the little islands and this really could have been a downer on an otherwise great couple days. I hope your trip home was less eventful than mine!
Best regards,
Paul Smith
Last edited:
