Scary experience today.

thejonesey

thejonesey

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Remember those films that say drop it into gear while tied up to check all is well before casting off? Well I did that today on our new (to us) boat, marvelling at the lightness, once again, of the electronic controls.

Suddenly, the port engine takes on a life of its own, clicks into reverse (both throttles definitely in neutral) and picks up RPM. Luckily the ropes hold but the pontoons all start to creak as I dived for the stop buttons!

Tried again, same problem but quicker to the stop buttons this time, so trip to the Folly aborted....

Will get hold of someone tomorrow to look at it. Moral of the story...click engines into gear while tied up.. the alternative doesn't really bear thinking about!
 
thejonesey said:
Remember those films that say drop it into gear while tied up to check all is well before casting off? Well I did that today on our new (to us) boat, marvelling at the lightness, once again, of the electronic controls.

Suddenly, the port engine takes on a life of its own, clicks into reverse (both throttles definitely in neutral) and picks up RPM. Luckily the ropes hold but the pontoons all start to creak as I dived for the stop buttons!

Tried again, same problem but quicker to the stop buttons this time, so trip to the Folly aborted....

Will get hold of someone tomorrow to look at it. Moral of the story...click engines into gear while tied up.. the alternative doesn't really bear thinking about!
Click to expand...

I had something similar once (with evc-b2). Resolved by cleaning the connectors on the back of the throttle head, and then recalibrating the controls. Bit unnerving when it happens though.
 
What controls do you have? I heard of a similar experience with aftermarket electronic controls. Wasn't Volvo. Can't remember the name now but I'm sure I'll remember if it's the same make.
 
Wow, a bit scary that!!

I'm a bit surprised that the system architecture can allow such a fault to develop.. I'm assuming Volvo EDC/EVC rather than a bolt on system (Morse KE4 etc....)?

I do enjoy using electronic controls on a friends boat (F43 - you remember them! ;) ) but I'm also quite pleased with my 1980's teleflex controls and mechanical engines - my boating budget really doesn't extend to expensive repairs.

I'd be interested to hear what the fault turns out to be.
 
What engines, what controls?

I have VP 63p's 2001 vintage with EC controls.

I have not had the problem you relate to but I had a an episode when I went astern on one, ahead on the other trying to screw the boat around and the boat effectively had both ahead,

Not good
 
Reading this would not instil great confidence in anyone considering fly by wire controls. However, I must add my bit by saying I had a single engined boat which I refitted myself with a Volvo D4 210 and EVC, couldn't fault it to be honest, it was fantastic to use.
I'd be interested to hear what went wrong with your system, perhaps calibration as previously mentioned? Good luck sifting it and I hope the final outcome will be that you have 100% confidence in your installation.
 
I remember way back servicing a nice then new Squadron 50 , it had the 122D engines but with micro commander controls, now if they had been factory fitted they should have been wired through a breaker and if correct the engine should not have started until the breaker was on. This one didn't so as I'm cranking the engine it sort of burst into life but luckily it had air in the fuel system so gave up. I climbed back down in the engine bay to bleed the filters again and for some reason noticed the pump throttle lever in the flat out position. Checked the gearbox that was in forward gear. Checked helm, controls in neutral. Checked flybridge to find the controls in flat out forward gear due to the fly cover having a nice swimming pool weighted down and opened the throttle up. Moral is never trust someone else's build even though you know it should never have been fitted that way. If it had been wired correctly the engines should not have started as they have I gear start protection. A couple of years later the boat caught fire in the front cabin, seems the bow thruster had burst into life.
Then not so long ago in York city centre the whole boat went up in flames and sank. Omen or what!!
 
Not quite the same but I nearly rammed a couple of Stellas (clinker sailing boats for the youths) when a sticky throttle meant I went from idle to a lot of throttle - at which point the thing stuck in that position when the cable sheath came free. I would like to say I learnt from that but it was 45 years ago and long forgotten till this post. No idea what the moral is unless it's that they'll get you one way or another so no guarantee just because it's manual - this was a manky old yard launch. It is a bit scary when the thing has a mind of it's own though.
 
thejonesey said:
Just reflecting on this and thinking how badly it could have turned out. Should I kick up a fuss with Cummins as this is a potentially dangerous fault.
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Cummins do not manufacture the controls, could be Mercruisers own, ZF Mathers or Glendinning, without even knowing which controls or proper failure analysis who can tell.............Cummins certainly cannot.
 
Boats, throttles and moisture issues ! Sorry Rob I really feel for you - hardly a confidence builder in a new (to you) boat.

If you need any help happy to assist if I am around the yard.
 
thejonesey said:
It turns out that it is Glendinning but also that there are lots of people with horror stories! I have someone on the case tomorrow who think it is probably a moisture issue. We will see....
Click to expand...
I would suggest VaSi Marine, nobody come close on controls, nothing fundamentally wrong with Glendinning, however I have come across some real screwy installations, for example Cummins specify motors being wired permanently hot, some 'experts' change that set up, other 'experts' fail to understand significance of 'idle validation' switch, seen too much bonkers stuff to make a judgement at this stage.
 
Rob, suggest you also check out the Cummins warning system a friend had an engine overheat and melted exhaust because he was unaware the water temp had risen as it only showed on the LED display in the tacho and it was not the one on display(as you have to cycle through them ).
 
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